Smoke and Wishes (Best Wishes #1)(5)
"Holy shit, really?" Sadie's eyes widened as she leaned closer to me, "you didn't whisper any enchantments or spells? See any runes on the bookshelf, ladder, on the book maybe?”
"Nope. I just was frustrated I couldn't reach, and get this, “I leaned forward, my elbows coming to rest on the table. My left hand lifted to the side of my mouth to discreetly cover mouth from anyone outside our booth, “there was a guy who saw it and said it was something he hadn't seen in a long time."
"No kidding, if it was what I think it is, it's some kind of reality manipulation. That shit's really rare. Holy shit, my roommate's a badass!" She clapped her hands together as she whispered eagerly, her body buzzing with excitement. "This is going to be a good year, I think. I can't wait to see what the other students can do. Wait,” she slapped the tabletop, “you said there was a guy at the library? Was he cute?" Her voice returned to an average level as she propped her chin in her right hand. The fingers of her left drummed against the side of her lemonade, waiting expectedly as she changed topics, yet again, with dizzying speed.
"I didn't spend much time with him, but he, uh, was definitely attractive," I admitted feeling my face heat up as I remembered the walking, talking, sex-on-a-stick from the library. Thoughts of him inevitably led to thoughts of the cutie from the study area. I was sure my face was now bright red. I looked out over the dining room taking in the different customers and employees flitting from table to table to avoid eye contact with Sadie, hoping she wouldn’t see the flush creeping up my neck and cheeks.
"Girl, yes! Don't worry, we'll find him again so you can snag yourself a man! You don't have a boyfriend right? Or girlfriend, I mean I don't discriminate, I actually just got out of a relationship with a girl back home," she rattled on, firing one statement and question after another.
"Nope, no girlfriend or boyfriend, but for future reference, I prefer the male species," the statement ended there. No way am I diving into my shitty love life, Sadie seems great, but no one needs that dumped on them. We continued to make idle small talk about classes as well as other hotspots we wanted to hit around town in the near future until our food came. It was definitely a change to have such lively conversation with someone that wasn’t my best friend, Charlie. Don't question it.
When both of us were stuffed beyond capacity, we proceeded to waddle ourselves, and our food babies, back to the dorm where we parted ways at our bedroom doors. While I was tired, I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep right away, so I sank into my rolling desk chair. I dug into the rulebook that I had been given at the move-in orientation, the white pages smooth under my fingers. Some of the rules were expected, basically don’t be an idiot, go to class on time, but some were things I hadn’t expected coming from my human life.
1. Unless given express permission, using powers on another student or any members of staff or faculty is strictly prohibited. Any use of powers that result in injury will result in suspension or expulsion.
2. Do not attempt more advanced magic unless under the proper guidance of a teacher, tutor, or approved student. Previous practice in class or tutoring must be signed off on by the teacher before practicing alone.
3. It is allowed and encouraged to use protection magic on personal property. If caught messing with others’ items including, but not limited to, roommates, students, staff, classrooms, without permission will result in punishment.
4. Be smart, stay safe. If you have a question or any doubt, find and ask a teacher, advanced student, or tutor.
I closed the rulebook, my eyes drooping the longer I read. My mind wandered to when I was accepted into RSU.
“Hey mom, I’m home!” I called out from the front door as I slipped off my sandals and placed my keys in the bowl on the entryway table. I have the mail clutched in one arm, flipping through the stack, careful to not hit any of the injuries on my arms with the different sized envelopes. I noticed a heavy-duty cream envelope about halfway through the pile. The face was adorned with small, precise cursive addressed…to me? I flipped it over to open it and noticed the wax seal and paused. Wait, what? I thought, re-reading the name on the seal.
I stood stunned for a few moments before walking the last couple of feet into the kitchen where my mom is sitting at the small round table flipping through one of her many recipe books. “Mom,” I called out hesitantly, “why am I getting a letter from Redwood Supernatural University?” Surely it’s a mistake, but when I look at my mom, I have the overwhelming feeling that I’m not going to like the upcoming conversation. Her mouth is pursed. Eyes glued to the page while her fingers fiddled with the edge of the recipe card. When she looked at me, her light blue eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“Oh sweetheart, I knew I would have to explain all of this one day, but I was hoping it could wait until the end of summer,” her silvery voice cracked. She swept a stray curl of dark brown hair out of her face and behind her ear. “Come sit down Lucie, I’ll make some hot chocolate for us,” she closed her recipe book and placed it in the ever-growing stack on one side of the table.
I placed the unrelated mail on the tiled counter, clutching the thick textured envelope in my hand against my tightening chest. I sat slowly in the other chair on the empty side of the wooden table and tucked my right leg up, my other hand resting on the scuffed table top. I rested my right cheek on my knee and looked over to my mom.