Part of Something 

The rest of my week was 'First Year's Introduction'. Which was just a fancy way of saying that we had to spend the rest of our week reading our new books. 

I passed most of my time by hanging around in Meraella's room reading or listening to her chatter and, quite often, complaints of Amie. She never once mentioned Remi and although Meraella ignored him, it didn't really work out as he didn't even talk to her in the first place.

Which only added fuel to her fire.

The weekend came all too quickly and I was dreading it. When I had first received the visitor passes I had immediately sent one to Misty. Now, I had to bear the consequences of having sent a pass to someone who probably hated me for taking her place in the Academy

Maybe she wouldn't come—after all she would be mad at me for getting into the Academy... Or she might because she was mad at me and wanted revenge.

Knowing her, I had a feeling she would take the second option and it was only a matter of time before she turned up.

I heard murmurs of chatter outside my door. I frowned, who was hanging outside my door? Was it Meraella coming to visit me?

I eased it open softly and was met with a sight out of my worst nightmare.

Outside, were Robin and Misty.

Crap.

"Omigosh! You're Robin Rochards!" Misty gushed, "You know, my friend Nightingale? She's in the Academy, but she was just a mistake- I'm sure I was meant to go."

"I would think that the Academy is free of mistakes." Robin replied, a bored look on his face.

My jaw nearly dropped—Robin half defending me was very surprising.

Misty lowered her voice conspiratorially, "How can Night get in? She knows next to nothing about anything and she doesn't even have any powers!"

Robin raised an eyebrow, "And you do?"

Misty smiled, "Well, I can make force-fields so..."

What? She had the power to make force-fields? I wondered how she had hidden that from me for so long. It was surprising and very unwelcome news to my ears.

Robin paused and raised his eyebrows; obviously deep in thought.

"Let's say I believe you. I would help you, but it isn't very easy to prove that the Selectors' decision is wrong. In fact I think it's impossible." Robin seemed slightly different, a bit more smiley and a bit less suspicious.

Oh no.

"Well," Misty smiled flirtatiously, "If we go straight to the Headmistress, I think it would be easy. What's more, if I get Night to admit she hates the Academy and wants to go back home, it'll be even easier."

Robin grinned roguishly at her and I forced myself to look past it and into his inner ugliness, "I'll help. After all, my parents are the Ruling Royals—they're pretty convincing." 

But as he turned away from Misty and he came past my door, his smile dropped and I heard him murmur, "Anything to get rid of Willow."

What did I do to invoke such deep hatred?

**

Misty held my casual Academy uniform to herself and looked into the mirror. After shamefully plotting against me, she shamelessly sashayed into my room, dumped a suitcase on my floor and smiled at the room like it was her own. Then she proceeded to look at my clothes in my wardrobe.

"This uniform's a bit short and quite loose around the waist area... and the colours are a bit..." Misty wrinkled her nose, "I would think the Academy provided better fits and style." 

They did. This was just clearly not fitted for you I wanted to say, but decided not to.

Misty tossed my uniform onto the ground and walked out of the wardrobe. "Hey Night, can you come to with me to the Headmistress's office? I just need to verify a few things."

"By verify you mean go to the office and demand I get kicked out of the Academy and you take over my spot?" I asked, anger making me slightly more talkative than normal.

"Great! You understand!" Misty got a firm grip around my wrist and dragged me out of my room and into the space between my room and Robin's.

"Robin, where are you?" Misty called out in a sing-song voice.

Robin emerged from his room in jeans and a crumpled hoodie, looking irritated.

Gosh, he looked good.

What on Anatosia just crossed my mind? I gave myself a mental slap.

He saw Misty gripping my arm in a not quite soft hold and forcibly smiled, "Are we going now?"

"When else?" Misty laughed her tinkling laugh, other hand covering her mouth.

Robin turned and with a stiff, "Follow me." He descended the stairs. 

I made sure to go extra slow—just for Robin.

As we reached Meraella's level, I contemplated screaming for help. Although if Meraella was out somewhere in the gardens then it would look dumb... really dumb.

But when we reached the next level, we were met with a problem. 

Amie.

She looked at us and scowled at Misty, "Where are you going?"

Obviously, two people with similar personalities didn't really get along

"Why would you care?" Misty responded haughtily looking at Amie with a surprised expression.

"Er... let me think," Amie said sarcastically, "because she's my friend maybe?"

Misty burst out laughing and I could tell it wasn't even fake, and through gulps of breaths and tears from her eyes, she managed a few words, "Night... has a... friend... that's not... me?" But as Misty calmed down and realised that Amie wasn't joking, her smile faded.

"I don't like you, red head, but someone as established and—I hate to say it—pretty as you, could do way better than to be stuck with Night as a friend."

Amie laughed and raised an eyebrow, "Having Royal parents doesn't mean I can't have Night as a friend, what are you—stupid?"

Misty's eyes widened in shock and her mouth opened, but before she had a chance to retort—a clear voice rang out.

"What is going on?" I looked up and saw the headmistress. Misty saw too and released her grip on me to give a small curtsy. A curtsy? I nearly giggled at the absurdity of it.

"Headmistress! Hello, I'm Misty Lowes and my friend here," she dragged me level with her, "and I need to clarify a few things."

"Clarify away," The Headmistress smiled warmly at Misty.

What if I really did get kicked out? And it was all a mistake?

I realised that during this short week, I had things going more interestingly than it had in my whole life.

I had a friend who actually valued our relationship.

I had people who liked me and I liked.

Everybody—save for Robin—was nice.

I realised that I actually liked my life in the Academy. But what could I do to save that life?

"Headmistress. I believe that there is a terrible mistake. My potential must have rubbed off into Nightingale. I," She pointed to herself, "have the power to create force-fields, unlike," she glared at me, "her."

"How wonderful, when you grow up you should make good use of your powers." The headmistress replied, smile still on her face. What if she realised her mistake? 

"I am fully aware that Miss Willow has not developed her powers yet. As a matter of fact, the Royals who are strongest all developed their powers later than anyone else in their year. I believe that—you—Mr Rochards, have both sets of parents that developed their powers much later." Robin's whole body stiffened and he clenched his jaw, but for some reason, I felt that the anger was not at the situation but at something else. 

She sighed, "Ah, the good old days, where all accepted the choice the Selectors made." The Headmistress bore her eyes through Misty.

She snapped her fingers and the confusion on Misty's face grew stronger. Invisible hands grabbed Misty and as she struggled and kicked, teleported her most likely outside the Academy gates.

"Now back to enjoying ourselves, students, do not waste your weekend standing around." She frowned as we stood there, stunned, "Off you go."

I broke out of shock and turned away up the stairs, Robin following sullenly behind me.

I didn't need to do anything to save my spot at the Academy.

I was already part of it.