Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School, #1)(27)

I look for another exit, and that’s when I see a giant fish tank shimmering in the darkness. Fish of every size and color swim by, dodging between bright coral and sea plants, and hiding among the giant rocks nestled inside. I put my face near the glass and peer into the tank, which seems to go back for miles. Aren’t we inside a castle?

The torches flicker and then the doors open. Several students run—or fly—inside. It’s mass chaos to get in before the final bell. When it tolls, the doors shut behind us, and with another slurp, I hear them seal shut again.

“Hey, sticky fingers.” Jax smiles. “How are you feeling?” He’s changed out of his uniform and is wearing an FTRS T-shirt and gym shorts that show his bandaged legs.

“Okay,” I say. I have no dirt on Flora that could spring me early, and I can’t tell anyone that the gargoyle statues around school came alive and attacked Jax and me. I am just super. “Yesterday was…weird, huh?”

Jax’s face is filled with shadows in the low light. “That’s one way to put it.”

“What do you think those things wanted?” I whisper. “Where’d they come from?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care,” Jax says, twirling his book bag’s strap in his hands. “Look, we almost became gargoyle stew yesterday. You need to think like a thief. Stop worrying about what Flora’s doing, and worry more about yourself.”

Think like a thief. I always have…and now I’m stuck here unable to help my siblings. Is anyone making sure Hamish doesn’t eat glue and Felix doesn’t stay up all night by candlelight to read? Are they getting enough to eat?

A light in the aquarium grinds our conversation to a halt. I turn toward the tank and watch as a blur shoots toward the glass. Once the water stops moving, I see Madame Cleo, who until yesterday I’d only seen in that mirror frying up gargoyles. She is the most beautiful mermaid I’ve ever seen. Her purple hair is decorated with sea flowers and shells that match her shell top. Her skin and long, dark green fishtail shimmer brightly.

“Hello, darlings!” Madame Cleo’s voice echoes through the room. How does she do that? Other mermaids have to hold up cue cards in class to talk. I guess being the ultimate sea siren makes for powerful magic.

“Good afternoon, Madame Cleo,” we say in unison and either bow or curtsy.

Since I have little use for curtsies, mine is rusty. I bang into the girl next to me.

“Watch your step, clumsy.” The girl turns toward me, and I stare into the eyes of someone who is definitely half cat. Or maybe werewolf? Who can tell?

“She didn’t mean it, Gayle.” Jax wastes no time in moving us to a less hostile place on the floor.

Madame Cleo’s voice is like a song. “I’m disappointed you’re in detention, but if you’re here, you might as well learn something that will enhance your lives.” She claps her hands and a sparkly disco ball descends from the ceiling as music begins to play. “Today we will be concentrating on the dance of love. The Fire Step.”

The Fire Step is a complicated dance that is usually done at weddings. When Mother and Father thought they were getting an invite to Ella’s wedding (they didn’t, FYI), they practiced for a month and still couldn’t figure it out. I’ve never attempted it.

“First, let me take attendance for our headmistress.” Madame Cleo swims around the tank, playing with her pearl necklace. She looks right at Jax. “Jackson! Lovely to see you again.”

I snort. “Jackson?”

Jax’s face colors. “Not a word,” he says through gritted teeth.

“And Gillian.” Cleo smiles. “We meet again. Now where is Jocelyn?” Cleo asks and immediately people start to squirm. Helmut tries to squish himself behind a rock jutting out of the wall. “Jocey?” Madame’s voice goes up an octave. “Don’t be shy. You can’t get more detention in detention.”

There is a poof of purple smoke and Jocelyn materializes in the middle of the room. Dressed all in black from head to toe, she looks a lot like Harlow. “Good afternoon, Madame Cleo!” Jocelyn does a perfect curtsy. “Sorry I’m late. I was with my sister.”

Madame Cleo laughs, and her hair slowly turns from purple to turquoise. “I know when Harlow starts talking, it’s hard to get her to stop! Thank you both for the lovely coral arrangement for my birthday.”

“Of course!” Jocelyn says. “Harlow and I would never miss your special day. And I would never skip detention, especially when there are so many interesting people in here having such fascinating conversations.” She looks directly at me and Jax and grins.

Did she hear us talking about the gargoyles? How?

“It’s a pity you’re even here, Jocey, but since so many students saw you cast that spell on Maxine yesterday afternoon, I had no choice.”

I’d heard the news from Kayla this morning. At her evacuation station, Jocelyn got bored and cast a spell on Maxine that made her right ear as big as her head. She was in the infirmary recovering. I visited Maxine at lunch to check on her. “It’s okay,” she’d said when I asked what happened. “I’m used to Jocelyn picking on me.”

Well, I still don’t like it—and I don’t like Jocelyn either.

“It’s not true. I have no idea how that happened to Maxine.” Jocelyn shakes her head. “But like my sis, I take my lumps with dignity.”