Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School, #1)(22)

This classroom is the prettiest one I have class in. No creepy gargoyles staring at me while I fumble for an answer. This room reminds me of a church with its stained-glass floor-to-ceiling windows showing famous moments in Enchantasia history. There’s one of Ella’s wedding, one of Rose awakening from her slumber, and a picture of Rapunzel in her tower. I could stare at those windows for hours…and at those brass rings holding back the velvet drapes. If those babies are real, I could fetch a pretty penny for them at Arabian Nights Pawn Shop.

“I had a really nice weekend, Professor!” says Maxine. She’s so much larger than many of my classmates that her knees barely fit under her desk. “My friends and I had a picnic near the remains of Galmour Castle.”

“Like you have any friends,” I hear Jocelyn mumble from across the classroom.

That witch really gets under my skin.

“Excellent, Miss Maxine!” Wolfington says. “Anyone else?”

A pretty raven-haired mermaid in a fish tank holds up a mirror. I watch as words magically appear on it. It says: “Went deep-sea fishing and found where Prince Harrison’s ship wrecked. I am going to write my next report on him.”

“Good, Miss Clara!” Professor Wolfington says approvingly. “If you want to write an essay for extra credit, you can. I won’t be assigning another paper for two weeks.”

A pixie sitting on an oversized desk glares at Clara. She’s had her hand up for a while, but I’m not sure Professor Wolfington saw it. Her hand is pretty tiny.

“I went canoeing down Quarry Cannon,” says a gnome in a pointy hat that has funny fake ogre ears glued to the sides. “That guidebook you gave me was awesome. Who knew how many sites were left over from the Troll War?”

Why is everyone here kissing up to the Wolf? Are they that scared of being eaten? Or do they genuinely like the guy?

“Good, Mr. Helmut,” our professor says as he strolls row to row. “Finding something that helps you mellow out is an important tool—and look at all you learned at the same time. We all need anchors.” Another hand shoots up and Wolfington smirks. “Ah, Mr. Ollie. What wisdom would you like to share with the class today?”

“I have more of a question than an announcement of an extra-credit kiss-up paper,” says Ollie, who happens to be Jax’s roommate. Short and stocky, with dark skin he says he got from so many days on the high sea (rumor is he was a stowaway on a pirate ship), what Ollie lacks in height he makes up for in friendliness and storytelling. Jax says he’s really good at magic tricks. (“It’s how he landed in this place,” Jax says. “He was always making people’s things disappear into his pocket.”)

“When you say anchors, do you mean metaphorical anchors or actual anchors that we can haul around as good luck charms?” Ollie asks. Half the class groans. “Anchors are pretty heavy.”

Before Wolfington can answer, Miri’s mirror starts to make noise and glow. I notice everyone in the class sit up straighter.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

“Sorry to interrupt, Professor.” Miri’s voice comes through loud and clear. “The headmistress needs to see Helmut immediately.”

The gnome’s face drops. “I didn’t do it.”

“Do what?” Wolfington asks calmly.

“Break into the cafeteria last night and eat two apple cream pies,” the gnome says. The follow-up burp doesn’t help his case.

“Funny, I see things differently,” Miri chirps. The mirror begins to glow a rainbow of colors and then an image fills the screen. It’s Helmut clearly picking the lock to the kitchen, and yep, there he is digging into a pie. He’s a fast eater. Helmut hangs his head.

Whoa. Miri is such a tattle tale.

“Helmut sighs and grabs his books. “Sorry, Professor Wolfington.”

Wolfington straightens Helmut’s hat on the way out. “Good luck, Helmut. So, anchors. I mean figurative ones, Ollie.” Ollie nods, and Wolfington stops at Jax’s desk. “How about you, Mr. Jax. How was your weekend?”

Jax mumbles something and then goes back to doodling in his notebook. I wonder if Wolfington bought my story about Jax trying to sneak outside my first day here to get my notebook. Somehow, I don’t think you can pull one over on the wolf man like you can on mousy Professor Grimes from our recent assembly, “Your Life, Your Career in Enchantasia: How to Find a Nobel Profession That Is Legal.” She let half the school go to the bathroom at the same time! They never came back to the great hall to hear the rest of the lecture.

“Isn’t that correct, Miss Gillian?”

Fiddlesticks. Wolfington is speaking to me now, isn’t he? What would a wolf man ask me the first five minutes of class? “Yes, I’m sleeping great. The pillows here are fantastic.”

“Pay attention, Cobbler!” Jocelyn says, and someone laughs.

I play with the collar on my white shirt. “Uh, the mattresses are kind of firm, but…” Kayla, who is sitting two rows ahead of me, shakes her head ever so slightly. The professor’s blue eyes go right through me. “That wasn’t the question, was it?”

Wow, werewolves smile! “I said, you’re pretty new to our school having only been here a week, correct?”

“Oh! Yep. Brand spanking new,” I say. Jocelyn sighs loudly.