Page 29 of Spelling Disaster

I elbow Blaire. “God, no. Just him, whether he’s poor or otherwise. But you’re a wealth of information. And advice.”

“Of course I am! You stick with me, and I’ll never lead you astray.” She casts me a sideways grin. “I’ve got your back. Even if the truth sucks, I’ll be real with you. It’s the best thing one friend can do for another.”

“It’s been a long time since I felt like anyone—” I break off.

I don’t know why, but guilt stirs for feeling like Blaire is one of the only people who has seen me for me and not what I can bring to the table.

In any kind of relationship, friendly or otherwise.

“Hey, it’s fine,” Blaire says. “You don’t have to get all mushy with me right now. We’re roomies. We’ve got time to get to know each other better.”

“Plus, I’m beat,” I add.

We make it back to the room just in time. Gus jumps up from the small bed he’s made on my desk and twitches his whiskers in greeting.

Took you long enough.

I grin. “It’s good to see you too, little buddy. Hopefully you found ways to keep yourself occupied today.”

What occupied me was being stuck in this house. Don’t worry, I’ve memorized the escape routes just in case.

“Oh, yeah. By the way—” Blaire rushes to close the door behind us. “You shouldn’t let anyone see him or you’ll get into trouble. This place…likes magic they can contain. Predictable magic.”

My spine straightens. “You think they’ll make me get rid of him?”

No. Hell no. There’s no chance I’m sending Gus away.

“Familiars are not predictable magic,” Blaire explains. “Just be really careful that no one sees him anywhere or else it’s not going to end well. There are definitely some rules you have to adhere to. The clothing? It’s harmless. Familiars? They don’t always play within the rules.”

“Noted.”

I’ll have to keep Gus hidden. Because he’s not going anywhere.

ChapterTen

It takes me a few weeks to get used to the adjustment of living oncampus. The rules help, the schedule helps. Those are things I’m used to. Waking up at a certain time, knowing what to expect out of my day, it all helps. There’s a different sort of continuity to this place, one I can appreciate.

Even with Blaire grumbling about how the rigidity makes her uncomfortable.

And because my mother made sure to pass all those things along to me to prepare me, I’m actually decently ahead in my classes. Not just caught up, the way I’d hoped. Ahead.

My initial week of feeling hexed and clumsy gives way to feeling more at ease when I raise my hand and call out the right answer.

Or whenever we’re paired up to execute a spell and my skill shines through.

Even getting tested for my powers and still being placed in X House can’t dim my slow budding joy.

The professors say I’m quite advanced in my studies and astute in witchy ways.

The first time I heard one of them say it, I squirmed in my seat fighting off a smile. I always thought to myself that I’d be behind if I had to go to a regular class. It’s a nice surprise to be told the opposite.

Studying comes easily to me, too.

At least, it does unless I’m around Theo.

We have a few classes together and the first time I saw him sit a few rows ahead of me, I turned to mush. Every brain cell did a little happy dance before checking out for the day.

With him, I turn into a blubbering mess, and I have trouble remembering my own name. I stare at his back until I’ve memorized the planes of muscle beneath the fabric of his shirt.

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