Page 102 of The Holy Academy of Witches

I chanced another look Theo’s way, his stare still burrowing into my soul. I fidgeted, running my hand through my long hair, his eyes following the action. I tugged my sleeve down, self-conscious of the irritated skin at my wrist and he narrowed his eyes.

“So you’re here, in the Christmas vacation to what… study?” He asked, a frown on his face. Oh Gods did he think I’d come to ambush him when he wasn’t ready?

“Ye-“ I coughed, choking on my own saliva and wished I could just rewind time.

Bloody Sage and her stupidly hot brother. I didn’t make a fool of myself like this… ever. Dorcas would eat me alive right now. Not that she’d ever be caught dead at a place like this. Sage was looking at me like I’d lost my mind.

Maybe I had.

“So, Adeline… Alva, isn’t it?” His voice was harder than before, unease flared in my gut, “What makes you better than everyone else?”

“Theo!” Sage said in shock.

I looked from Sage to him slowly, his eyebrows were raised… waiting. Baiting.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, you know what I mean… Best grades, most popular… Headmistress’s daughter. Came first in the run trials didn’t you?” He knew I did, “Oh I’ve heard all about the great Ice Queen, Adeline Alva…” His eyes darkened, “The boys… They sure have a lot to say about you.” I could feel the magic pumping through my bloodstream.

“Theo Williams… What has gotten into you!” Sage scalded her brother but I held my hand up stopping her. Which only fuelled his attitude further, his smirk widening. The atmosphere had gone from emotional to cold, brittle in a matter of moments as my worst fears were realised.

“I’m sure they do. Let me guess…” I pretended to ponder for a moment, tapping a glossy black nail against my chin. “I give good head?” I continued, “Or is it the truly imaginative… I’m easy? …Clearly not all the Williams family are gifted with intelligence.”

“Did you guys want drinks? Yeah? Yeah.” Sage was backing away in panic without even waiting for an answer, not understanding but eager to get away from the tension. My fingertips burned with magic as anger flared in my gut at his personality shift. So this was the real Theo. Teddy was just some kind of joke.

“Nah, I’m alright Sis,” Theo interrupted, he looked down at my hands, which were fidgeting, and back up to my face, “I’ve seen all I need to see.” What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Sage frowned, “What…”

“No. Do you know what,” I interrupted, “…I’ll leave. This…” I looked in his eyes, “This was clearly a mistake.” I walked swiftly to the front door, wrenching it open. The retriever, who had watched the entire exchange, followed me out of the door.

Apparently not the only one, Sage called out as I stormed back up the path, my boots crunching on the icy ground.

“Adeline, wait.”

I paused to lift the latch on the gate, opening it wide enough to allow me to slip through but not so wide as to let their dog escape.

“Adeline for goodness sake, stop!”

“What?!” I snapped, turning to face her. She blanched as though I’d hit her. “Go on… What do you want? I would have thought you’d have been happy to get rid of me… Don’t worry I won’t darken your doorstep again.” I turned to leave.

“My brother’s a dick!” she blurted, “…Sometimes.”

“Why aren’t you defending him?”

“Why would I defend him? He was being an absolute asshole and clearly even Fudge thinks so!”

“What?” I asked in confusion. She pointed at the dog, who was now laid at my feet, his chin resting on my shoe. His warm brown eyes met mine, well that explained the name.

I looked towards the house, ivy and flowers frozen in bloom crawled up the front of it, wrapping around the windows. The warm glow of the Christmas tree lights winked mockingly at me through the open door.

“…But you’re his sister.”

“And? You’re my friend.”

Was I? “I… Suppose.”

“There’s no suppose, Adeline. We spend most evenings together studying. Not to mention the extra time we’ve been spending with the… book. I talk to you more than I talk to my own family.” She was right, and I certainly tolerated her more than the room mates I’d known for years… who I did call my friends. She was incredibly smart, passionate about her studies, kind-hearted and stood up for what she believed in. I respected her. I looked at her as though with new eyes. She smiled at me tentatively, “I’m sorry Adeline but that sounds an awful lot like a friend.”

---