Jessica is gone, I don't mean from school but from the room. Most of her things aren't in the room and sh left a message of my bed, which I read because after my walk with Caleb I was in a better mood and was ready to hear her apologize again.

I picked up the note and read the letter.

Cami,

I've apologized and I will continue to apologize until you forgive me. I am so sorry for what you walked in on. It was never my intention to make you feel uncomfortable in your own room. And like I said earlier I wasn't thinking, it was the moment and I'm not saying this as an excuse. I just want you to understand that it wasn't deliberate.

I know how you feel about your space and I don't want to intrude especially at a time like this. So I'll go stay with Ari and Brie until you feel like you can forgive and talk to me again.

I miss you and I'm sorry you came back to that. I love you and I miss my best friend.

Yours, sagey mage.

Her letter calmed me, I knew we were going to be okay. I went to sleep with less ache in my heart because no matter how angry I am at Jessica, she's still the person that showed up for me and that makes a permanent member of my team, I couldn't prolong my grudge with her because it would be me that'll lose.

Waking up in my room for the first time this semester is a painful reminder that I'm a junior and I'm not sure how to deal with it. I want to begin with some excitement, I wasn't able to be a student last semester because of the living changing event, I would like to change that and after everything that's happened, it got me thinking how life's too short to be wasting away. I could have died but I'm alive and I will make the best of it going forward.

No more rebel Cami. No more lack of enthusiasm for school Cami. I will try my best to be a student for once and make my parents proud, my adopted parents.

Giving my outfit one last look in the full length mirror, I head out. I've never been the one to follow rules and I know I said I want to be a good girl but I can't be myself without breaking some rules, so wearing the complete uniform isn't part of good girl Cami plan. Instead I swap for the school skirt that stop above my knees with a black tights covering my exposed legs. The ash vertical cable knit single layer turtleneck sweater is tuck inside my skirt. I'd woken earlier to curl the tip of my hair. A new look for me. It's been long since I've done anything to my hair especially dye. I should check to see if I can see a spell that can dye my hair.

I grab my backpack off the floor and make mental note to get a cellphone.

Part of what I lacked last semester was not getting the chance to fully explore and get to know this place. I'm not sure about the procedure on how to leave the school works. Normally I just leave the school with either Jessica or Damian, but I want to do things the right way now. I'm in need of some supplies and there's nowhere I can get them around here. I guess I'll have to ask the headmaster to see what he can do. It's been long enough and I don't think I can go any longer without my phone.

Damn me and my anger

Locking the door behind me, I go down to the kitchen but don't bother to enter when I hear some voices. The staff are inside and I don't want to run into any of them. I try not to groan when I realize the last choice I have is eating in the cafeteria. The place I hardly eat breakfast.

I make my way to the cafeteria and grab a tray by the tray stand and move to treat myself to a full english breakfast that includes two fried egg, sausage, mushrooms, baked beans, toast, grilled tomatoes except bacon, I don't eat bacon. I top it with coffee.

Gripping the tray at both ends, I head over to my usual table. After my unfortunate incident with Penelope, students have learned to keep their distance, and when I started sitting at that table with Jessica and Nate, they dimmed it mine, so no one seats there except me and anyone that wants to join.

It's West High all over again, there no one dared come near me and it's happening here too. Not sure how I feel about that.

I get to table and see the empty chairs. I drop my tray on the table and look around the room for Jessica and Nate, sure I didn't want to eat with the both of them but after Jessica's note, I thought I would at least see her, I was expecting to see her here. To hear apologize some more but when I see the both of them sitting with Calvin, Alyssa and Alicia, a frown crosses my face.

Of course, they went there. I mean, I can't blame, I haven't been around for two weeks, I don't even know how they've been doing.

I take my seat before they can notice me staring daggers at them. Jessica of all people knows exactly how I feel about those people, she shouldn't be sitting and dinning with them unless she didn't mean what she said in her note, and this is a way of hurting me more. Not everything is about me, I know but I can't help but to think that. How could she do that to me? I'm not her keeper, she can be friends with whoever she wants but Calvin and Alyssa? I mean, Alyssa? I won't mind if they sit with Ari and Brie but those guys are my nemesis.

Speaking of nemesis, I haven't seen Penelope anywhere.

Guilt curls inside me about the things I haven't told her. Penelope was Roman's girlfriend. And his sister, the twins, they–

"The full english breakfast, are you missing home or something?" A familiar voice pulls me out of my thought.

I lift my head to see Caleb smiling at me. He's in his uniform, the same one he had on yesterday and he didn't pack his hair today, the locks falls on his shoulder.

"Why would it remind me of home?" I question and break eye contact. The bell for the first period will ring soon and I need to be there before it does. I dig in and start eating.

"Good morning, Cami. Do you mind?" He asks, raising his chin towards the empty spaces.

I wave my hand. "Help yourself, it's all free." It's not like I'm expecting anyone to sit there.

"Did you sleep well?" He asks at the same time I glance at his tray to see what's on it.

I nod. "Yes. What are you having?"

He smiles and drops his messenger bag on the table beside his tray. "Breakfast burrito bowl. I woke earlier to work with the chef to make this. Apparently they aren't many vegetarians in the school. It's just taco seasoned potatoes, scrambled eggs with creamy chiptle sauce."

"Sounds healthy," I comment and sip my coffee.

"Yours look better but I like going over top. Are you excited about starting classes today?"

"Not really. I hate school. You?"

I know I said I'll give it my all but I've hated school all my life, it'll take some time to adjust to the new direction my life is taking.

He shrugs. "I love school but I'm still trying to find my foot here. It's not everyday someone transfers from a human school to magic school. This morning I have basic spells."

I groan. "Yeah, me too." I failed last semester basic spells, now I have to retake the course.

Welcome to your new life, Cami. Argh! I haven't even started first period and I'm already stressed.

Fair not, you can do it!

"Really? That's great! We can walk to class together," he suggests.

"Look, Caleb, you–" I drop my spoon and look at him. My eyes freezes on his and something washes over me like a compulsion, there's something about his eyes and expression that makes me retract my invisible claws, I can't tell what it is but it's not normal. "why are you sitting here?" I find myself asking him in a tone different from the harsh tone I began with.

"Because you are," he replies and shrugs.

I shake my head. "No, I mean, here. There are empty tables." I say, waving my hands around the room to show him the empty spaces. There aren't actually empty tables but unoccupied seats are much.

He sighs and speaks. "I don't know how this place works but it seems like there's a system. And everyone is all friended up. I've been eating alone since I got here and today I saw you...alone."

Right. It's a pity companionship.

I don't say anything after that and he doesn't either. We eat our breakfast in silence and when I get up and begin to pack my plate inside the tray, my eyes shoot forward and connect with Alicia. Smile spread all over her face as she raises her hand and waves at me. I return it with a small smile and raise my hand to wave but stop when the rest of the table turns their heads to follow her gaze. Jessica's eyes goes wide when she sees me, she wasn't expecting me to be here. Nate gives a hesitant smile because he knows I'm mad at him. Calvin just looks away while Alyssa rolls her eyes and gives me her middle finger.

How I wish I know the spell to melting bones, I would liquify her without regret and I will enjoy every minute of it.

Caleb nudging my arm pulls my attention from them to him. "Come on, let's go."

I grab my backpack and tray and follow Caleb, making sure not to look at their direction again. I can feel eyes on me but I don't react. I drop my tray and walk out of the cafeteria with Caleb.

We find our class and settle in the last seats. I don't like sitting in front, not sure about Caleb, he just takes the seat beside me. I think it's because he doesn't know anyone yet and he needs someone to talk to. It takes some time before student start filling the room when the bell rings. I open my backpack and take out my textbook and notebook. My hand stops on my sketchpad, I upgraded from notepad to a sketchbook since I started my comic and it's been amazing. I zip my backpack and return to my straight sitting position.

Goosebumps spread all over my body as the door slam, I'm not sure why but when the back of a familiar somebody comes to view, I know intact why the goosebumps erupts. I felt him before I even saw him.

Fuck!

He goes to stand behind the teachers desk and look through the notes on the table. "Settle down." His voice carries some weight that throws the rest of the class in silence. He stands straight and dips his hands in his pocket, something I realize now that he can't do without. He looks forward. I keep my eyes on him and wait until we make eye contact.

Why is he here? I never expected to see him again and definitely not so soon.

"Welcome to your basic spells 101 class. I will be filling in for your teacher until she returns from her maternity leave. Open your textbook to the first page." No introduction, no nothing. Just down to business. Typical him.

"Excuse me, sir." An unfamiliar voice speaks out, I look away from him briefly to see the girl in the front raising her hand.

"Yes, Bryony."

Bryony. I don't know anyone by that name. I guess I need to start speaking to people more often. I mean this is the year I intend to be normal and what other way to be normal than making new friends.

"You know my name," she says in a low tone but it's enough for the whole class to hear and listening from her voice, I can tell she's blushing. I mean, who wouldn't? "What's your name?" She asks.

"Call me Damian." He answers and she speaks again.

"Okay, Damian, I–"

"My number one rule is to never speak unless spoken to. Now, who can tell me about the seven sacred herbs?" He asks and his eyes roams around the class, finally settling in me. His gaze doesn't flutter or change, it's like he knows I'm here. Of course he knows, the man isn't human and he can smell me from miles.

Three student in the front raises their hands.

"Camille," he calls my name and I almost shrink at his tone. Fuck! He's not supposed to be having this kind of effect on me. I hate him. Why can't my body get that message.

I meet his gaze again and hold it.

"Care to join the class and answer the question."

What the hell? I wasn't even doing anything. He wants to play games with me. Fine! I'll play. He's forgotten I play dirty and never follow the rule.

"What was the question again?" I fire back with a glare.

'Camille.' his voice rings in my head as a warning.

"The seven sacred herbs." He repeats himself, something I know he hates.

Anyway what the hell are the seven herbs?

"I don't know."

"Mei Lin."

"The seven sacred herbs are Vervain, Monkshood, Primrose, Pasqueflowers, Mistletoe, Cloves and Henbane."

I scoff and mutter, "show off."

"Thank you, Mei Lin. We know these herbs are sacred and have healing properties but what most of you don't know is that they also have magical properties." Damian begins to explain the magical properties of the seven sacred herbs.

Minutes into the explanation, I lean closer to Caleb and say, "I thought only the mountain ash has magical properties. Why is he not saying about the Rowan plant?"

"They all do," he whispers back

"Then why isn't mountain ash included in the list?"

"Maybe because it isn't as sacred as the others."

"Funny. Do you know their magical properties?"

He nods. "Yes."

"How?"

It's like I'm the only person in this class that knows nothing about the herbs.

"I studied them. I went to human school but I still studied those stuff in case of emergencies like the time my family went camping, and my dad got stung by something we couldn't recognize. We tried using magic to heal him but it didn't work, the venom was too strong and spreading fast. My mom was able to save him with some herbs. It was scary and after that time I begins to study because magic can't heal everything."

"I can argue with that. Magic can do anything." Literally everything, you have to know which magic to use.

His face falls as he responds. "Not everything, Cami. Magic didn't bring my sister back and trust me I have tried."

Yeah, he's right. It reminds me of Roman.

"Oh... I'm sorry. How did she–"

"Camille, what's the spell to levitate object?" Damian choose the moment to interrupt. Great!

I clear my throat and lean away from Caleb. The whole class are looking at me, waiting for me to answer the question. I don't understand what Damian is trying to do by putting me out there but I won't let him humiliate me with things he knows I don't know. I don't know the spell to levitate things because I skipped it after I started moving things with my mind. Who needs a spell when you have the power of telekinesis?

"Ignisia." I whisper the spell of fire and it's spreads all over his desk. A wicked smile appears on my face.

His expression doesn't change as he snaps his fingers and the fire stops. "Camille–" I cut him off before he can give me any shit.

"Oops, Mr. Wallace," I cover my mouth and fake a sorry expression. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to set your desk on fire."

"You will see me after this class." Again with the authoritative tone. Who the fuck does he thinks he is?

"I mean, I could see you. I might but don't bet on it."

Most of the students turns around to look at me again, probably wondering why I'm speaking to our nineteen year old teacher like that. Okay, he's over a thousand years old but nobody knows that.

"You will see me after this class," he repeat again, his eyes bore into mine. 'You know how I feel about repeating myself and I've done that twice now, don't make me repeat myself the third time, you will not like what I will do.' he communicates through telepathy.

How I wish he doesn't have that power.

I roll my eyes. "Fine! Whatever." I press my back against my chair and wrap my arms around myself.

"That was badass," Caleb hails besides. "What did he ever do to you?" He doesn't sound like he's curious or anything, he's just teasing.

I don't bother to look at him when I whisper.

"You have no idea."

This is going to be a long day.