Page 60 of The Holy Academy of Witches

Adeline: I’ve got a sneaky suspicion it’s not x

Teddy: I think you might be right… Oh well! Could be worse!

Adeline: Indeed!

Teddy: Well?!

Adeline: Well…

Teddy: Don’t keep me in suspense… how did it go??

Adeline: Oh! I won my round. Pretty sweaty and exhausted, as we speak. LOL

Teddy: Prove it!

Adeline: How?!

Teddy: Pic or it didn’t happen!

I sent an emoji of an eye roll but clicked on my phone camera, anyway. With a glance around my surroundings, I smoothed my hair back and took a picture of my face in all its sweaty, bloody glory. My cheeks were slightly flushed and I had pouted just a little, even with the fat lip. I pressed send and waited for his reply nervously. Dots appeared as he typed then promptly disappeared. I frowned. It dawned on me that this would be the first time he had seen me since that night near the woods… and I looked like a train wreck. Great Adeline. Not that I cared! I didn’t care…

Adeline: Why is it taking you so long to reply?

Teddy: Why are you bleeding?

I blew out a breath I wasn’t aware I’d even been holding.

Adeline: Oh! I just had to put one of the girls in her place, that’s all.

Teddy: Fuck. That’s the hottest thing I’ve ever heard.

My stomach clenched. My skin feeling hot as I read his message over and over.

Adeline: You’re ridiculous x

Teddy: What’s ridiculous is how hot that picture is ngl… I had to just sit and stare at you for a while. Who knew sweaty and covered in dirt could look so good!

Gravel crunched nearby, and my head whipped up like I had been caught doing something obscene. A couple of younger witches put their heads down and hurried past me. A veil of mist still hung in the air as the sun struggled to break through the thick layers of cloud. I hated cold weather. I hastily shoved my phone away and retreated to my dormitory, a smile tugging at my lips the entire way.

* * *

I opened the heavy oak door to my dormitory and on seeing the tight lipped smiles of my room mates I felt my stomach sink. With a sigh that I internalised, I closed the door softly and waited.

“Nice of you to join us,” My mothers sharp voice sliced through the room like a whip.

“I wasn’t aware I was hosting…” I gestured around the room, “Whatever, this is.”

“Don’t be smart young lady. I’ll wipe that arrogance off your face in the blink of an eye.” Her vipers eyes held my own before softening at the edges, a faux-pleasant smile appearing on her face as she turned to my room mates, “Gemma, darling, fetch us a cup of tea won’t you? Loose, not bagged and steeped for two and a half minutes, no sugar.”

“Already sweet enough Professor Alva?” Lillian said, her voice trembling with nerves.

My mother laughed in reply, clearly fake and high-pitched like broken china, “Quite.”

Lillian paled and mumbled something, throwing me a look of guilt… apology… regret… before fleeing the room. One down, two to go.

Gemma busied herself making the tea, the only sound in the room the clinking of the cutlery. I sat down opposite my mother, she was poised, ever the picture of elegance. Her eyes wandered over me, a sneer forming on her painted lips as she took in the mud soaked into my clothes, the dried blood under my nose and my swollen bottom lip. “I see you haven’t bothered to tidy yourself up. Honestly Adeline, one would think you’d want the school to think you some kind of heathen.”

“As you can see I am just now arriving home, when would you have me shower and change? In the middle of the track in front of everyone?” A squeaking sound came from Lillian’s room, indicating that she was currently pressed against the door listening to every word.

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