Blazing Academy: Semester One (Academy For All Things Scorching #1) - Avery Song Page 0,78

we'd talked last week," she referred back to Westley, his intrigued eyes on me rather than her.

"Right," he replied.

"I didn't know you had access to these parts. You know it's mostly for Horsemen potentials and all." She gave him a flirtatious look, and her tone was a clear indication that she was trying to 'grab his attention'.

That attempt wasn't what annoyed me. It was the fact that she was bringing up this Horsemen thing. It had to have some sort of status in this place. Whatever it meant, it was obvious she was only intrigued with Westley over him looking apparently "different" without his glasses, and now his status, that landed us here.

"My boyfriend is rather talented, isn't he?" I was able to catch her attention with the boyfriend card, noticing her confusion and the bits of infuriation flickering in her blue eyes.

My smile was priceless, one of pride as I soaked in her envy and continued, "Apparently when he wears his glasses, he looks like a different person. That's at least what he tells me. Always intrigues me when people judge individuals by their looks and status."

I reached for my drink and swirled the cubes around as I watched the two-tone color of the drink swirl with my clockwise motion but never mixing into one another.

"Half these people are powerful potential horseman but if you saw them in the halls of Blazing Academy, you never would have guessed it." I shrugged and took a sip of my drink. "Guess the saying is true. Don't judge a book by its cover, right?"

My remark was directed to the server in question, and I batted my eyes in innocence while it almost seemed as though steam was going to come out of her ears at any second.

"Eliza! Stop wasting time and get back in the kitchen. We're back-logged with orders!" A girl with red hair that was styled in tight curls came walking towards our booth, her burning red eyes glaring daggers at the server named Eliza.

She frowned and quickly composed herself.

"Your order will be here soon." She directed the comment to Westley, but he wasn't even looking her way as he stared down at the dance floor.

When the redhead arrived, she bowed her head in apology.

"I'm terribly sorry. You're waiting for your main dish, correct?"

Westley then looked to the new arrival and smiled. "Yes. We ordered the Blazing Platter A."

"It'll be here shortly!" she assured us, and her eyes darted to Eliza, who was surprisingly still here. "Eliza! To the kitchen!" she snarled at the blonde.

"Right! Going." She spun around but looked over her shoulder to give me a menacing glare.

I had a strong feeling this was going to bite me in the ass later, but I didn't care. She was flittering with my man - err...date - and it was about time she scrambled somewhere else.

The woman bowed her head again in apology.

"I'm terribly sorry," she apologized again, looking between the two of us. "We hired her since she's the current blazing horseman of this semester, and we can't really deny their request to work within this level unless they prove incapable."

"Her flirtatious attitude may be enough to fire her," Westley huffed. "I'm obviously on a date."

I blushed at his blunt declaration, my stomach flipping at the reference of being his girlfriend for the night.

Relax, Alice. We're just playing roles.

"Oh trust me, it was very obvious. Mr. Simmons, correct?"

"Yes," Westley replied. "Good memory."

"We're actually in the same classes," she revealed. "Clara's the name. You've obviously seen me a few times here since my older sister owns this house. I help manage this floor on my downtime."

Turning her attention to me, she grinned. "You're Alice Blaze, I believe."

"You know me?" I inquired.

"Definitely," she replied and leaned in closer so no one else could snoop in on the conversation. "You’re the one Rick's interested in, aren't you?"

Rick?

"Interested?" Westley questioned dryly.

His tone didn't intimidate Clara as she nodded. "Apparently a few guys have been interested in Alice. Figured I'd warn you since he's on the second floor celebrating his new status and all."

"Well, if the message floats around, he'll hear she's already off the dating block," Westley announced. "He should have moved faster showing his interest instead of bragging about it."

Clara grinned and nodded in agreement.

"Totally agree, but you didn't hear it from me," she practically sang. "Information is a good exchange, as is food on the house."

As if on cue, a male server came and lowered the massive platter of various finger