Page 46 of Magical Academy for Delinquents
“They’re only supposed to use their left hand to create magical shields,” Zavier explained, when Emelia asked about the gloves. “But everybody cheats.”
I looked up again at the glass bubble.
“Seems like they’d crack that thing.”
Zavier chuckled. “Nah, it’s reinforced. And the sphere has gravity all around, so that competitors can walk up the sides, or even fight upside down. First couple times you see it, it’s pretty cool. But after you fight in there …” he shook his head. “I don’t like to watch it as much.”
I glanced over, wondering why that might be. But Zavier’s eyes were on the competitors climbing the ladders. When his face turned back toward me, he was in silly mode again.
“There’s more,” Zavier waggled his eyebrows. “But I won’t ruin the surprise.”
Emelia started to climb the stairs to find a seat, but Zavier grabbed her by the back of her collar. “Nope. We can’t sit there.”
She reversed and came back down, her tongue ring clacking against her teeth as she asked, “Um, why?”
Zavier steered us farther into the gym before he answered. “That’s where the Zoo sits.”
Emelia’s eyes immediately widened. I leaned around Zavier so I could look at them. I’d researched all the individuals here, but their files didn’t necessarily give their gang affiliation.
The Zoo was a gang made of Unnaturals who did major weapons and drug runs through the Midwest. I eyed the five students who sat huddled together. They all looked like fifth years, but other than that, they were different as could be: a blonde girl, a skinny Asian dude, two black guys and a Hispanic guy. All of them wore navy colored shirts. And the way that they sprawled out in their section showed they had utter confidence.
“The Zoo always sits on the northeast side. Fangs sit on the southwest.” Zavier said as he put his hand on my back and helped me up the bleachers to a spot at the top. We sat and I looked around. We had a good view above the floating net here, but not the best view of the opposite side of the gym. I had to twist and crane my neck to try to see the Fangs. Other than vague forms, I couldn’t really make out faces.
“They’re the all-wolf gang, right?” Emelia said. “I read an article that said they have a commune and a huge wooded area not too far from here.” Emelia’s face scrunched as she tried to remember.
“I dunno. I just know to stay out of their shit here. Zoo, Fang, or Crush—stay away.” He’d named off Grayson’s gang in that mix. The motorcycle gang members were true, then. Zavier grabbed a lock of my hair and started to twirl it. He leaned into me and changed the subject. “If you get scared, feel free to clutch onto my massive biceps.”
I laughed. Hard. Until tears came to my eyes. When I repeated what he’d said, Emelia laughed too, until Zavier got pouty.
“I think I’m gonna go sit where my biceps are more appreciated.” He huffed and moved down a couple rows but glanced back with a fake pout that let me know he wasn’t really hurting. Of course, he ended up sitting right next to Evan—that was just my luck. They laughed—of course, they did. Zavier could make friends with anyone, the big jerk. The guys glanced back at me and then bowed their heads and started talking earnestly. If it was just Zavier and some rando, I’d have sworn he’d done it on purpose to make me paranoid. But with Evan … there was a lot of shit Evan could tell him about me, like the time I puked all over the back seat after we went to Haunted Flags, the magical theme park. My inner gossip peaked around the corner wielding binoculars, tugging on my shoulder and making me wish I had time to write an eavesdropping spell.
Emelia sighed, rubbing her stomach after all the laughter. “He’s something else,” she said, gesturing at Zavier.
“Right?” I shook my head. “I’ve never met anyone more ridiculous.”
She sighed. “I’ve met a few crazies, but none quite so amusing. It’s too bad he’s got a record.”
I glanced down at him. That wasn’t something I could judge him for, because pretty soon I’d have my own. But I glanced over at Emelia. “So, you like the good boys then?”
She shrugged, and opened her mouth to answer, but just then, theSpace Jamtheme song started to play—because I don’t think any school has updated its ‘pep rally’ music since CDs were a thing.
The competitors reached the platform just below the sphere. They stood facing each other until the cheesy music faded. And then a trapdoor on the bottom of the sphere opened and they both used their arms to lift themselves inside. The trapdoor closed and sealed itself just as two red-tinted spotlights came on and outlined the students.
The guys bowed to each other. And then, somewhere on the floor, a professor blew a whistle.
The first punch echoed through the loudspeakers and made me cringe.Shit!They must have had that sphere magically hooked to the sound system. Around me, my classmates roared.
“Go Julian! Fuck him up!”
“Come on Chris! Get him!”
The blows went back and forth. Punches, kicks, sideswipes. My heart raced a mile a minute and my stomach twisted. I was not a fan of this level of brutality. I kept expecting the professors to call it off. But, other than Emelia, who stayed quiet and pale beside me, the other students were standing, screaming, roaring encouragement.
And then something strange happened. The side of the sphere closest to me flickered orange in the middle. Immediately, both the fighters froze, pitch black outlines highlighted by red spotlights. The guys stared at the orange light on the sphere. Then they sprinted for the opposite side. They ran up the wall just as the orange color burst into magical flames.
“Shit!” Emelia jumped in her seat and clutched my arm.
I was just as surprised, but I’d had more practice hiding my emotions. My eyes widened, but that was my only tell.
