Page 130 of Class Studies

Roisin narrowed her eyes.

I pouted. “Ah, fine, I did that a lot.”

“Good. Admitting to your faults is how you fix them.” Roisin pointed at my loft. “Now, go get dressed. We’re meeting Sandy and the Gibsons in twenty minutes.”

After pulling on my uniform, Roisin and I descended from my tower in fits of giggles, Vac at our heels. A few students pointed at me and whispered, and phones came out of their pockets. I picked at my gloves, tugging them down to ensure they covered my scales. I’d avoided Mêler for the last two weeks, and I’d avoid it forever if I could.

Everything was changing. And I believe in those changes. Hell, I’d pushed for them.

Mercedes spearheaded a student-driven sit-in before classes even started back up. Abe, Alice, Nurse Norah, and a handful of other staff joined it. Combined with Officer Keres's report, this place would be a real school. A true haven.

If that was the right thing to do or the wrong, I didn’t know. But, I trusted my moral code, and changing this prison into a school felt right.

But in doing so, I trapped myself.

The first step was getting rid of the students who didn’t need to be here. Mages like Alrick, Cozbi, and his goons went to a real prison. Mages who should’ve graduated would.

A student in a cap and gown passed me.

The reason I didn’t want to attend this event hit me in the face. My guys were graduating—three of them, anyway. The other two were in a constant state of limbo. Professor Garnet lived here, but he didn’t live in my tower. Ashe went back with Officer Keres. He got special permission to use the portal to see me, but it wasn’t the same.

They were leaving me behind.

The noise in the massive foyer distracted me from my self-pity. The administration turned it into a stadium of sorts. In the center, a raised platform held a podium and a couple of chairs. Students milled about the rest of the space, standing on stairs and landings between levels. Indistinct voices bounced around at almost deafening levels. Roisin grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd.

Three areas had been sectioned off in front of the stage. One was already full of teachers. I spotted Abe standing between Nurse Norah and Alice. The trio gave me a wave, and I waved back, giving Abe an extra-long look.

We were at a stalemate. She still knew my secrets, though not many still mattered. Me and my guys were the only ones who knew Tederwinkle stole my Beads of Will from the hidden pantry in her office.

Abe’s lizard-like smile didn’t reach her eyes. She held up her candy bar before turning back to her friends. I smiled. She was still a piece of work, but she’d grown on me.

Saffron’s mom flailed, trying to get my attention from the section set aside for parents. She lit up like the sun when I waved back and opened her arms. Vac pushed in front of me. The crowd parted for him, giving me a clear path to the woman’s bear hug.

Saffron’s dad looked darkly at Vac before giving me the cold shoulder.

Vac whined and sat on my feet. I pet his head, very aware I couldn’t please everyone.

“Please, can I have your attention?” Director Flemmings said into a glowing ball. Her voice boomed around the space without echoing. Although it sounded odd in the live acoustics, her words were clear as day.

The crowd didn’t settle.

“Please, be quiet!” She yelled before smiling sweetly.

The room quieted.

“It’s standing room only, so we’ll move this along.” The director brushed her hair. “This is no longer the Charbon Institute but the Charbon Academy for the Gifted.”

The room erupted into cheers.

This time, she waited for them to calm down before continuing. “However, the Aptitudes are still in place. The criteria will be known to each student, and a visible points system put in place, designed by a team of your own led by Derek. Associating with other students will no longer bring down your scores!”

Clapping and cheering broke out, echoing around the space. Someone lifted Derek onto their shoulders and tossed him up and down.

After doing recon for Ashe, Mercedes gathered everyone she could to help us fight, including Derek and his friends. Angry about being manipulated, he eagerly joined the end of the battle and proved himself more than capable.

I squeezed my phone. My freckled friend sent me an apology text, along with another exploded potion, swirling with two colors that shouldn’t exist together. We weren’t quite back to normal, but I couldn’t see either of us staying mad for long.

“Now,” The Director said. “It’s time to congratulate our first ever graduates!”

---