Nile's jaw was clenched so hard I thought his teeth would break. "What are you doing?"

"Sitting."

"Okay, why are you sitting here?"

"To eat my lunch."

The seriousness with which Thomas answered made me bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling. I steal a glance over at him and see his lips quirked into a taunting smirk. The plate in front of him was piled with a variety of fruits, like he had made his own fruit salad, with some toasted bread on the side. I felt myself let out a breath of relief that he didn't choose one of the meat dishes, I don't think I could handle the smell.

Turning my focus back to my plate, I drizzled the dressing on my salad before taking my first bite; it was the most delicious salad I've ever had. The lettuce was light and crispy, the carrots had the perfect crunch with a hint of sweetness, and the croutons were dusted with garlic. Lily wasn't lying when she said everything was made with fresh ingredients. The flavors melded together in the best way. If the salad tasted this magical, I could only imagine how good the fruit was. Popping a grape into my mouth, the chilled juices burst onto my tongue as my teeth pierced through the skin with a satisfying snap. Each thing was just as delicious as the last, nothing was too ripe or not ripe enough.

One glance at Nile, though, and anyone with eyes could see his displeasure that Thomas had joined us, but I chose to ignore the obvious tension between the two boys. Whatever issues they had between them, it was their business and nothing I wanted to be a part of. It appeared that Thomas had the same idea because he didn't spare Nile another look before digging into his lunch. Despite his casual demeanor, I didn't think it was a regular occurrence to see the two boys at the same table.

"Annabelle, this is Thomas Daughtry." Lily, it seems, could not just ignore the tension.

"We've met already," Thomas replied before I had the chance.

"Oh?"

I give a hum of affirmation, popping another grape into my mouth. Even if I hated everything else about this place I definitely didn't hate the food. Soon my plate was empty and I couldn't help but wish I had more of those delicious grapes. The moment I considered going back up for more Thomas placed a small bowl of the purple berries in front of me.

"Thank you," I say in surprise. "but I don't want to take your food."

He shakes his head, picking up his now empty plate and standing from the table. "Don't worry about it." He says as he started to walk past. "I don't like grapes."

I felt a notch form between my brows as I watched him put his dishes on the designated counter and walk out of the dining hall. Lily looked equally as confused as I felt, whereas Nile was scowling at the bowl like it had somehow offended him.

Lunch went by with Lily making polite conversation with Nile and asking how my classes had gone. Soon all our plates were empty and we had to leave the grand-looking dining hall. Lily's next class was on the opposite end of the academy so Nile offered to walk me instead. I almost refused but I didn't want to make Lily late for her class and she had already helped me so much today. We wave each other goodbye and instantly I miss Lily's presence. I was never good with small talk and without Lily to start the conversation I couldn't find any way to fill the silence.

Nile broke the silence first. "So you know Daughtry, huh?"

"I mean, I wouldn't say I know him," I shrug. "we met the other night."

He gave a noncommittal hum like he was contemplating his next words.

"You should avoid hanging out with him," he says as we turn the corner, finally making it to my next class. "he can't be trusted."

I didn't get a chance to tell him that that wasn't his call to make because he turned and left before I could. By the time classes were over I was more than ready to take a nap. The last bell rang and to my surprise, it wasn't Lily or even Nile waiting for me at the door. Leaning against the wall next to the doorway was a pair of honey-brown eyes staring at me.

After I made my way over to him he pushed off the wall, hands in his pockets, and smirked at me. "Done for the day?"

I looked at him wearily despite my confusion with his sudden appearance to get me. Nonetheless, I nodded, truthfully I felt like my head would burst. Everything was so different and so strange that I craved any sense of normalcy. However, my curiosity won out. "What are you doing here?"

His smirk grew ever so slightly. "Well, everyone else got to walk with you so I figured it should be my turn."

"You wanted a turn to walk with me?"

His only response was to shrug and I was too tired to question him further. We walked a few steps so that we weren't blocking the door before he decided to match his pace with mine. He didn't try to make idle conversation which I appreciated. Before long we walked through the familiar double doors into the gym. The mess from last night was cleaned up well, no signs of how I unintentionally blasted everything across the room. Almost everything that Professor Azure had tried to use last night was nowhere to be seen, in fact, and standing on the other side of the gym was her son.

"So, Azure's the one in charge of training you? Figures." Thomas snorted though nothing about his tone sounded amused.

"I take it you don't like him?" I ask. What am I doing? I decided I didn't want any part of their little feud so why did I open my mouth and ask that?

"I trust him about as much as he trusts me." He replied with a shrug, angling his head down to look me in the eye.

"He said that you couldn't be trusted," I say, looking into his eyes that seem darker now that they were turned away from the light. "he thinks I should avoid you."

That pulls a chuckle from him, his voice a low rumble. "Well, it's good that you don't pass judgment based on other people's opinions."

"What makes you say that?"

"For one," he starts, leaning down so I can feel his breath against my cheeks. "you're talking to me right now while Azure is over there looking at us like he's ready to freeze my heart in my chest."

Glancing at Nile I can see what Thomas means. Nile's fists are clenched tight and his eyes are set in a harsh glare. "And for two?"

I can smell the sweetness of fruit on his breath, strawberries, watermelon, and something else I can't place.

"That's a secret I think I'll keep a little bit longer."

He's gone, giving Nile a taunting smirk and a wink as he strolls out of the gym before I can come up with a retort. Weird. All of this was so weird and I am actively choosing to ignore it. With that, I turned and walked over to where Nile was waiting. Instantly his expression shifted from the harsh glare to a relaxed grin.

"Are you ready?" He asks, acting like he wasn't just glaring daggers into the side of Thomas Daughtry's skull. "We're gonna start with the basics first."

"Basics?"

I watched him nod as he brought his hands together, cupping the air like he was holding something fragile. I looked at him confused and my confusion only grew as I watched a small pulsating silver ball form in his palms.

"All magic is energy, so you just have to figure out how to channel your energy into magic." He says that like it's the easiest thing to do. Forget the fact that up until recently I believed magic to be the stuff of fairy tales, I also barely had the energy to do anything other than go to bed.

"I don't know what you expect from me 'cause I can't do..." I gesture vaguely to the strange magic ball in his hands. "that."

"Try not to think too hard about it." He chuckles, his voice sounding more light and melodic than Thomas's. "Once you can channel your energy into your magic, everything else will fall into place."

I didn't think I believed him. Knowing my luck everything will end up being unnecessarily difficult. I guess my skepticism showed on my face because he laughed again.

"Just trust me." He takes my hands, positioning them so that they are cupping the air like he was earlier. "Now, what color is your magic?"

What?

"Let me rephrase; what color do you imagine your magic to be?"

I didn't realize I said that out loud. I must be more tired than I thought.

"I have no idea," I shrug, once again feeling childish as I stand there holding nothing. "I've never thought about it."

"Well, then that's where we'll start."

"I can tell you're not taking this seriously." I heard Nile sigh.

We've been at this for what feels like forever, even though it has probably only been half an hour at most. Time only flies when you're having fun and I don't think either of us is enjoying ourselves right now.

"That's because I feel silly." I huff. I wish I had a hair tie, so I could keep the long blonde tendrils of my hair out of my face. They kept tickling my nose and I was now fighting not to sneeze. "You're telling me to imagine a magic glowing ball into my hands."

"Okay, I think I have another idea." He steps in front of me, his face more serious than it was when we first started. "Close your eyes."

"Excuse me?"

"Just trust me and close your eyes."

I didn't really want to close my eyes but the more I thought about it the more I realized that if I just did what he said then maybe I would have enough time to take a nap before dinner. Begrudgingly I closed my eyes, still hyper-aware of where he was. I did not want a repeat of the last time I was in this gym. If I felt even a little bit unsafe then I was fully prepared to run like my life depended on it.

"I'm going to touch you." His voice was soft like he was speaking to a scared child.

Hearing that I took a step back, though I kept my eyes closed. Maybe I was just a scared child. "What? Why?"

I feel his fingers gently close around my wrists to keep me in place. His skin was cool to the touch, not freezing but cooler than normal making my skin erupt in goosebumps at the sudden change in temperature.

"Just trust me." He scolded quietly, though there was no real anger in his tone.

"I barely know you," I point out.

I have a feeling that he rolled his eyes but I guess I'll never know. I feel him release my wrists before I feel his fingers grazing my temples making me tense up.

"What are you doing?"

"Relax," he shushes me. "Envision your energy flowing through you. Imagine it following my fingers, okay?"

I wanted to tell him how ridiculous that sounded but the promise of a nap in my future made me bite my tongue and do as he said. "Fine."

His fingers ghosted over my cheeks, trailing down to my shoulders. I had to fight not to shiver at the chill his touch left along my skin. I tried to imagine as he told me to but no matter how hard I tried nothing came to mind.

"I can't do it." My teeth and fists clench as I try to take a deep breath.

"Yes, you can."

I try to shake my head but his hands come back up to my face, holding it gently to stop any movement.

"Keep your eyes closed,"

"This isn't work-"

His grip on my head tightens ever so slightly. "If you can't see it then try to feel it."

Feel it? I take a moment to release the tension in my jaw and wiggle my fingers free from my fists. His fingers return to my temples slowly retracing their path down my cheeks to my neck and then to my shoulders. I focus on the physical sensations, his chilled skin contrasting the warmth of my own, the trail of goosebumps he leaves behind, and finally the faint tingle of something flowing in my veins. It felt both foreign and familiar, like a food that you've smelled being cooked time and time again but are only just trying for the first time.

I concentrate on that feeling. Letting it follow Nile's touch as his fingers move to my arms, slowly making their way to my wrists. When he finally reaches my hands I feel a gentle warmth sitting in my palms. I expected to see his hands in mine when I opened my eyes but instead, I found a small glowing ball. It was golden in color, unlike the silver one Nile had conjured before. I felt my breath stop in my lungs as I looked down at it flickering like a tiny star.

"See," I heard him whisper but I couldn't take my eyes off of the glowing energy I was unbelievably holding. "I knew you could do it."