by ERIN BEDFORD
“Meaning you’re just gonna wait and see?” Dale scoffed, grabbing my arm to stop me. When he noticed how many students were around us, he lowered his voice. “What happens if she attacks you again? You just going to stand there and take it?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course not. If she attacks, then I’ll fight. Well, as good as I can with my underdeveloped powers.” I pulled out my phone and checked the time. I had less than two minutes to class. “Look, I’ll talk to you about this later. I have to get to class.”
Turning on my heels, I tried to head toward my first-afternoon class but was intercepted by the headmaster.
“Ah, Miss Norman. Or are you going by Mancaster now?” Swordson stopped in front of me, his cheeks red as if he had been running.
“Still Norman,” I told him, bouncing on my heel.
His eyes moved down to my feet, and he smiled. “I see you are antsy to get to class, but I’m afraid you’ll be missing your afternoon classes.”
I frowned. “Why’s that?”
Headmaster Swordson cleared his throat and laced his fingers in front of him. “It seems you have some visitors. They are waiting in my office.”
Frowning harder now, I cocked my head to the side. “Visitors? Who?” I knew it couldn’t have been my parents. They were elbows deep in Egyptian sand right now.
“Seems word travels fast, not just here on campus but the magical community as well.” Swordson paused for longer than normal, making me nervous. “Your grandparents are here to meet you.”
My grandparents? What the hell did they want?
Chapter 16
Thankfully, on the way to the Headmaster’s office, Dale left. Right now, my head was spinning with why my grandparents would show up out of nowhere. Dealing with Dale and his kissing would have to wait.
I followed Headmaster Swordson back to his office, feeling very much like a bad kid being sent to the principal’s office. I guess it wasn’t too far off though. However, what was waiting for me behind that door was not a paddle or a lecture, but some old people I’d never met before. Ones I’d never wanted to meet before.
“This way, Miss Norman.” Headmaster Swordson opened the door for me, and I walked inside.
The two chairs that usually sat in front of the headmaster’s desk were occupied. Two heads of gray hair sat with their backs to me. One who I could only assume was my grandmother had her hair twisted into a sophisticated knot on her head, an expensive-looking flower pin clipped to it. The other one had a stiff back, so stiff that I suspected someone might have shoved a stick up their spine. Or his ass. I was assuming the latter.
They didn’t turn when I entered the room or when I cleared my throat. In fact, they didn’t move until Headmaster Swordson sat down behind his desk and gestured over their shoulder. Then when they did move, they stood up as a unit. No twisting in chairs for them. Oh, no, that would be unsightly.
Their clothes were just as pristine as their hairstyles. My grandfather wore a suit that screamed both designer and bespoke while my grandmother wore a pale pink skirt suit along with low matching heels. They had the blue eyes that were on my mother’s face and on my own. That was the only distinguishing feature that made me think they were related to me at all. If my mom looked more like them, I couldn’t tell. Time had taken its toll on the pair of them.
The expression on both of their faces wasn’t encouraging. They were speculating, judging, and at last disappointed.
Well, screw you too.
“This is her?” my grandmother asked, her voice stern and full of disbelief.
Before the headmaster could answer, I stepped forward, my best petulant child on my face. “Yes, this is she. What do you want?”
My grandfather snorted, lacing his fingers in front of him. “She looks exactly like her mother, and that attitude is definitely Margaret’s.”
“Peggy,” I corrected him, earning me a disgusted look from my grandmother.
“Oh, dear god, Harold. Our child’s name has been reduced to that of a dirty swine.” My grandmother clasped her hand to her chest as if she were having heart palpitations.
Grandfather chuckled slightly, but it sounded more like a cough. “Come now, dear. It’s been almost twenty years, you should be used to it by now. Besides, you don’t want to estrange your granddaughter now that we are finally meeting her. This is our second chance.” He smiled at me, a kind smile that made me think better of him and less about the stick up his butt.
My grandmother sniffed, not at all affected by my grandfather’s chastising. She did, however, move closer to me, her eyes scanning me up and down. Suddenly, she grabbed my chin and turned my face this way and that.
“Hey!” I griped, jerking my face away from her. “Do you mind?”
Ignoring my question, she circled me. “At least, she’s pretty. Mancaster blood, of course.” She finished her full circle and stared at me. “She’ll do, I suppose, but we have to do something about those clothes.” My grandmother gestured two fingers at my jeans and t-shirt. “So unsightly.”
“I’ll have the shop set you up a line of credit,” my grandfather announced, pulling his phone out of his pocket and typing in something before closing it. “There. They will be expecting you at your convenience.”
“Once you have been properly dressed, we will talk about getting the official paperwork done to make you a legitimate Mancaster. Then there will be an announcement in the Daily Scribe, and we’ll need to hold a party for her coming out.” My grandmother ticked off the things to my grandfather, not once asking my opinion. “Of course, she’s a bit old for a coming out, but it’s better late than never, I suppose.”
I’d had just about enough of being talked about like I wasn’t there. Now, I understood why my mom left them behind.
I held my hands up and shook my head. “Woah! Hold on just one freaking second. I’m not changing my name, and I’m not buying new clothes. What I have is fine.”
“But you cannot—”
“No,” I snapped, cutting my grandmother off. “I am only meeting with you because it is polite, and the headmaster asked me. While I wish I could say it was nice to meet you, I have class.” I started for the door.
My grandmother started to protest, but it was my grandfather who made me stop. “Maxine, please.”
Those two words tugged on my heart. The desperation in those words alone froze my feet to the floor. I slowly turned back to them and, for the first time, saw the hurting in my grandfather’s face. My grandmother only looked pissed off and hadn’t stopped yapping.
“Nina, quiet,” my grandfather barked at my grandmother, startling her. To me, his voice softened. “You’ll have to forgive your grandmother, she just gets a bit ahead of herself when she’s excited.”
I snorted. “That was her excited?”
A hint of a smile crept up his face. “You should see her when she’s upset.”
Wincing, I had a feeling that wasn’t something I wanted to see.
“Maybe we should start over?” my grandfather suggested, a hopeful gleam in his eyes. I glanced to Headmaster Swordson, who had been quiet this entire time, and saw a bemused expression on his face. When he saw me looking, Swordson nodded his head as if giving me the go ahead.
Sighing, I nodded. “Alright, fine. But no name changing or any other kind of changing. And I don’t need a coming out party or an announcement in the Daily Scribe whatever that is.”
My grandmother gasped, finally daring to speak again. “You don’t even know what the Daily Scribe is? What have they been teaching you?” She shot an accusing glare at Headmaster Swordson.
“Now, now, Nina. It’s not the school’s responsibility to teach them all about the magical community, only how to control their powers.” My grandfather placed an arm around her shoulders. “Where is your mother, by the way?”
I didn’t bother asking why they didn’t know. I knew they hadn’t spoken since she married my dad. It would be surprising if they knew.
“
Cairo. Dad has a dig.”
“Still playing in the dirt, is he?” My grandmother sniffed and turned her head away. “I never understood what would possess someone to want to dig around for dead things.” She shuddered.
My grandfather squeezed her close and spoke to me. “I’m assuming they left before being able to teach you the basics?”
I shrugged. “Mom taught me some, and we went to a shop to get my school supplies. She’s had limited phone access since I’ve been at school.”
My grandfather smiled. “Well, we’re here now. So, feel free to ask us anything you like. Maybe we’ll even give you a tour of some of the magical places right here in town.”
I nodded and smiled in return. “I’d like that.”
“Nina?” my grandfather asked, looking down on my grandmother.
She shifted in his arms uncomfortably and then glanced my way. “I suppose that will be alright. But only if you allow me to purchase you some new clothes.”
“Nina ...”
“No,” I interrupted my grandfather. “It’s alright. After all, I’ve never had grandparents around to dote on me. Dad’s live too far away. So, I figure I’m a bit overdue for some spoiling.”
My grandmother rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.
“Don’t mind her.” My grandfather patted her on the arm. “She’ll grow on you.”
I wasn’t sure he was right about that, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
“Alright, we’ve taken up enough of your time today. I’m sure you want to go to class.” My grandfather reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a business card. “Here’s our address. You can come by any time. It also has my number on it, so we can set up a time for a tour and maybe dinner?”
I agreed and then took my phone out and sent him a text. “There, now you have my number.”
My grandfather took out his phone and beamed down at it. “Indeed, I do. Technology. I’ll never get used to it.” He slipped his phone back into his pocket and then nodded to the headmaster. “Headmaster.”
“Mr. Mancaster. Mrs. Mancaster. Have a pleasant evening.” The headmaster stayed behind his desk, his hands folded over each other, a polite smile on his lips.
Grandfather led my grandmother to the door, but as they passed me, she grabbed my arm. “Will you think about going by Mancaster? At least, in the magical community? Please.” The last word seemed painful to get out, and I had to throw her a bone.
I placed my hand on top of hers and smiled softly. “I’ll think about it.”
Taking my answer positively, she inclined her head and let me go. Once they were out of the door, I indicated to the headmaster I was going to leave.
“Miss Norman.”
Shoving back an annoyed groan, I turned back to the older man. “Yes?”
“I heard there was a bit of disturbance during lunchtime involving you and Sabrina Craftsman. Anything I need to worry about?”
Giving him a tight smile, I shook my head. “No, nothing to worry about. Just a petty scrabble between friends. We’ll figure it out on our own.”
Nodding approvingly, the headmaster moved his attention to his computer. “That’s what I like to hear. Have a good day.”
“You too, headmaster.”
I bolted out of the door before he could stop me. Once outside, I took a few deep breaths in and out. Once I had found my center once more, I kept moving. Instead of heading to class, I started toward the library. I had every intention of hiding myself away in the stacks until dinner. I’d had about enough drama for one day.
Chapter 17
The hallways were pretty empty on my way to the library. It made the campus silent and somehow creepy. However, creepy or not, it worked for me. The fewer students I ran into, the better. It meant that they were all in class, and I wouldn’t have a chance of running into Paul or Ian.
I had little doubt that the rumor going around was just a rumor, especially with what I knew about the two Broomstein brothers. More than likely one of them found out that the other was going to ask me, and so the other decided to do it as well.
Well, they had another thing coming. I wasn’t going to give them the chance to ask. I would just avoid them both until the Halloween Mixer, and that would solve that. This would mean that I would have to bring out my stealth ninja skills. I had to be alert at all times, keeping an eye out for enemy forces. Maybe I should find out their schedules? Then it would be easy to make sure I wasn’t where they were.
Except I already knew one place I couldn’t avoid Paul. Professor Piston’s class. I groaned and scuffed my feet on the ground. Since Paul was Piston’s teacher’s assistant, it would be near impossible to keep away from him. Maybe I could just make sure I got there right as the class starts so that he won’t have a chance to talk to me. Then, as soon as class was over, I would run like a bat out of hell.
I continued grumbling to myself on the way to the library, trying to figure out the best way to stay out of the sight of the Broomstein brother for another few days. Unfortunately for me, that meant I wasn’t really using my ninja skills to be aware of my surroundings, which also meant I didn’t see the very focus of my thoughts standing right outside the library doors until it was too late.
“Max, what a delightful surprise.” Ian smirked at me, moving off the wall he had been leaning on.
My eyes widened, and I stopped in my tracks. For a moment, I almost broke my vow to pretend they didn’t exist and then I remembered. Ducking my head down, I quickened my pace. I almost made it into the library, but Ian was quicker than me, jumping into my path and blocking my entrance.
“Now, don’t be that way.” Ian frowned, his arms crossed over his chest as he tried to fill the whole doorway. “I just want to talk.”
“I’m busy. Go away.” I sidestepped to duck around him, but he moved with me. We danced for a moment, me going one way and then another only to be blocked by Ian every time. Sighing in defeat, I placed my hands on my hips and tapped my foot. “What will it take to get you to move?”
Ian grasped his head with a grin. “Do I sense a bit of déjà vu? Didn’t we do this before?”
I grimaced. I had said those very words to him before, and as I recalled, the price was exactly what I wanted to prevent. I contemplated pretending to give him what he wanted but then thought better of it.
“Forget it. I’ll just go study in my room.” I turned to leave, but a hand clamped down on my shoulder.
This time, Ian’s voice lost its playful conceited tone when he called my name. It made me want to hear what he had to say. Rubbing a hand over my face, I cursed my big heart.
“Look,” I started, forcing my voice to soften. “It’s not that I don’t like you. I mean, I hardly know you, and while you are nice to look at, you come with a lot of drama. Namely, your brother. So, if you don’t mind, I’d rather we didn’t.”
Ian had begun to smile halfway through my explanation, and I had a feeling my words had gone in one ear and out the other.
“So, you think I’m nice to look at?” He puffed up his chest and gave me a salacious look. “Just nice? I don’t think I’ve ever been called that before. Hot, sexy, panty melting, but nice?” He sighed dramatically and lifted his hands up. “It seems I need to up my game if that’s all I’m putting out there.”
“Of course, that’s the only part you paid any attention to.” I rolled my eyes and moved to leave again. Once more, my path was blocked by Ian’s muscular form. “Ugh, how are you doing that? You can’t possibly be that fast.”
“Magic, honey. Magic.” He winked at me. When I didn’t grin in response, his smile dropped. “Fine. You want the truth?”
“That would be refreshing.” I crossed my arms under my breasts and shifted my weight to one side as I waited for this so-called truth from him.
Ian inched closer to me, his hands in his pockets and his face pointed downward. “I’ve never met a girl like you. I mean, besides the obvious attraction I feel
, you’re not like the other females on campus.”
“You mean, I’m not ensorcelled by your charm and good looks?”
His hand clutched his heart in mock dismay. “You wound me, but yes, that is part of it. Another reason is because you didn’t grow up in this world. You don’t know your protective magic from your defensive magic.”
“So, it’s because I’m a unique being? Something you can say you did and put in your record book?” I bit out, not liking the way he was talking about me.
Ian quickly became defensive. “No, no. That’s not what I mean at all. I mean ...” He sighed dejectedly, dragging a hand through his dark hair. “I’m not explaining this right, am I?”
I watched him curiously, trying to figure out what exactly he was trying to say.
“What I mean to say ... is you don’t judge. You don’t look at me and see ...” He waved a hand over himself with desolate eyes. “... what everyone else sees. You just see me.”
I pursed my lips and stared at him. “What am I supposed to see? You just look like you.”
“See!” Ian pointed at me, getting excited. “That. Exactly that. You don’t see that I’m different, and that’s what I like.” Ian shook his head and chuckled bitterly. “Most girls won’t date me.”
That surprised me. I thought he had all kinds of admirers. He definitely looked like one of those guys who could get any girl he wanted.
“Surprising, I know, right?” Ian gave a wry grin. “But if any of the girls here were interested in me, it’s for a one night only experience. I’m just something they can say they did.”
When he quoted my words back at me, I winced. Okay, now I felt bad.
“So, why don’t they want to date you?” I relaxed slightly, no longer ready to bolt. I wasn’t even going to think about the fact that I’d pretty much forgot about my mission.
“Let’s just say that I don’t meet their criteria for a perfect wizard,” Ian said evasively. “Anyway, I wanted to see if you had a date for the mixer this weekend?”