Blazing Academy: Semester One (Academy For All Things Scorching #1) - Avery Song Page 0,59

bullying me since the day I arrived at my latest school, calling me a freak and other degrading words. The day where the whole incident happened, he crashed into me, which made all my food fall to the floor. I get anemic if I don't eat on the regular, and I guess he somehow found out about that, but he's the guy that I basically sent flying out the school windows. He seems to be in good health though, minus the cane."

"That's not an actual cane," Westley answered. "It's a magic artifact, but we can explain that subject later when we start learning about them in class."

"As long as he didn't touch a single hair on your head," Keru concluded. "He can go take his magic rod and shove it up to his ass for all I care. Just as long as he stays away from you."

"Why did you guys come back?" I asked.

"You two were taking too long," Gabriel replied. "It's common for fights to break out on the first day of school."

"Why?" That seemed peculiar.

"Take out the competition." Keru grinned like he'd just won some sort of game. "He must have noticed you and Westley and figured he could hit two birds with one stone."

"Marvelous," I noted. "Aren't we going to lose our seats then?"

"Nah." Keru shook his head. "I got some fan-girls to save us a spot. Let's head over there."

"Um." I stopped them before they could take a step forward. The three of them returned their attention to me, and I gave them a shy grin.

"Thanks for standing up for me." I had to hide my hands behind my back to hide the slight tremble in them. "Out of all the incidents I've dealt with at all the schools I've attended, no one has ever stood up to the bullies. They all quietly blend into the background and wait for the professors to take over and deem me the problem. I didn't show it because I hate being walked all over or taken advantage, but I was worried things would repeat themselves before I even got a shot at this academy life."

Lowering my gaze for a moment, my smile widened as I looked back up at them.

"It feels good to be able to defend myself and have people behind me. It means a lot. More than words can express. So...thank you."

The three of them grinned and nodded in response.

Westley offered his hand to me.

"Let's get going to orientation, girl-friend." My face burned from his deliberate emphasis on “girlfriend”, and Keru chuckled. "I guess Alice's official nickname is Blazing Queen, huh? That kinda just came out of my mouth for no reason."

"Same." Gabriel sighed. "Don't think you're getting away with me calling you Troub-"

"Let's go," I declared, placing my hand in Westley's and tugging him forward until we were racing down the hall.

"Hey! I'm not done speaking!" Gabriel called out. I couldn't help but giggle like we were now running from the feds.

Westley squeezed my hand, keeping up with my pace as he questioned, "Do you even know where you're going?"

"Nope!" I laughed even harder, running off of this unknown surge of elation.

Westley picked up his pace and tugged me to turn right. "I'll lead the way." He looked back to wink at me, and I grinned from ear to ear.

This was the fresh start I needed to embark on this new semester.

Hopeful Semester Ahead And Massive Potential

"Need an ear to listen to your concerns?" Keru asked, setting down a mug of chamomile tea onto the kitchen island. I lifted my head to view the steaming hot liquid and gave him an appreciative smile.

"How'd you know that tea calms me when I'm anxious?" I inquired.

"I heard Chambers say something about it." He pulled out the stool opposite me and sat down. "He said how when his wife was always troubled, she'd drink tea to calm herself down, a trait his daughter picked up from her."

"That was from my mom, huh." The mention of her made me feel a little sad, wishing I could have grown up with her in the picture instead of my past predicament.

Would it make this transition easier?

"You were so excited, even after the whole discussion with Mrs. CloverSpell," Keru recalled. "Why do you look so burned out?"

"I'm a little hungry," I admitted. "And tired."

He frowned and slid off his stool. "Why didn't you say so? Let me make something while we wait for Westley and Gabriel to get back. It may take them