Tales & Time (Lost Time Academy #1)(22)
“Like Merlin the wizard? You guys are wizards?” I ask, and I must be getting used to hearing random things, because I’m not actually surprised.
“Not exactly. We have control over six elements. Though I’m better with fire, water and air, Knox has mastered earth, spirit and healing. We also each have our own particular strengths. I have enchantment powers, and Knox can pull anyone to another dimension he created,” he tells me like it is nothing. “We also can talk in our own dragon language. Though there aren’t any dragons around anymore for that skill to be useful.”
“Damn, that’s pretty awesome!” I tell him, smiling up at him. “Remember when I told you I desperately wanted my letter from Hogwarts to turn up one day, and you told me I was a geek? Well, now who is the wizard, huh?” I tease him. All the guys hated watching Harry Potter on repeat with me, as they didn’t like watching movies more than once, but I loved it. I guess I kind of got what I wanted, just a more fairy tale version of it with no powers to show. Okay, this isn’t half as cool, but at least I know two wizards, it seems.
“You’re still a geek, I see, just a very sexy one now. Not that you weren’t always pretty,” he says, twirling a strand of my hair around with his hand on my shoulder.
“Like Hermione?” I ask, ignoring the way my heart pounds at his compliment.
“That’s your reply? No ‘thanks for calling me sexy’? No red cheeks?” he asks, and I nervously laugh. “I guess that I’m going to have to work on my game.”
“Sin, that kiss was just once, and I think we would be better as friends now. This is complicated enough, so no need to work on your non-existent game,” I tell him, my thoughts straying to Quinton and how betrayed he would feel to see me flirting so soon after leaving him.
“I don’t think we are better as friends. That kiss has haunted me for years, and I have no intention of letting you go again, Madi,” he says, stopping me in the corridor and stepping in front of me. I look up at him as he stares at me, and I shake my head.
“Quinton and I—” I start off, and he presses a finger against my lips to stop me saying anymore.
“I know, and you must be feeling all kinds of fucked up since you left him. I know how that feels, Madi. I left someone I was in love with once as well.” His honesty completely shocks me. I can only stare as he continues talking. “But life is short. Quinton was not meant for you, well, at least not just him. When you’re ready to move on, I will be waiting. I’ve waited years to see you, a little more time isn’t going to bother me.”
“Oisin…” I whisper, watching as his serious expression turns playful once more.
“We have class, remember?” he says, winking at me and offering me a hand, making it clear he doesn’t want to talk about this anymore. I slide my hand into his and let him silently lead me to class as I think over and over about what he said. I don’t know how to move on, I never really have. I always secretly hoped the brothers would come back, and I am still secretly hoping there is a way for Quinton and me to be together, even when I know it is likely hopeless.
Chapter 13
“Here,” Sin offers me his bottle at the end of the ten laps as I lie on the floor next to where Tavvy has collapsed; both of us are worn out like most the class of twenty students sitting around us. Well, all of us except for Oisin, Noah, Knox and Tobias who are still standing. Tobias and Knox are jogging on the spot like lunatics. If I could lift my arms, I would find something to throw at them. I groan and look away, staring up at the white tiled ceiling.
“Thanks,” I breathlessly say, accepting the bottle of water and drinking some big gulps before handing it back to him where he is hopping from foot to foot. “Seriously though, you guys are no fair.” He laughs at my breathless grumble and runs off to his brothers who stayed at the front of all the runners the entire ten laps. I lie back down, calming my breathing down before looking over at Tavvy as she sits up and drinks some water.
“You did good, Madi. You only got hit with water like three times, right?” Tavvy asks me, and I shake my head.
“Four. I couldn’t help but count the times the freezing cold water hit my backside. Though most of it got on my hoodie, and I took that off somewhere out there,” I say as I sit up and glare at the sporty teacher who I know is evil from that run alone. She has dark brown hair up in a ponytail, a perfect skinny body, and she is wearing brown joggers with a white shirt. No part of her looks tired. I glance over to see Ella standing next to three guys, and she doesn’t look that tired either. Though she has a little sweat on her skin, so she is at least a little bit normal like the rest of us.
“That was the easy part guys, I can’t believe all you suckers are still tired! Maybe we should do extra running to build up your strength?” After nearly every person in the class protests instantly, the teacher laughs. “Alright. Alright. I was just messing with you. Everyone come here in a circle.” I groan, making myself stand up even though most of my body protests against the idea. Tavvy links her arm with mine as we walk to the middle of the group and stop as the others join us. The brothers all watch me from the other side of the circle, and I look to my left as an arm brushes against mine, seeing a tall guy stood next to me, and he smiles. The guy is built like a tank, with a very small head, considering the size of his body. I think my head is the size of his arm. I look back to the teacher who is looking my way.