Blazing Academy: Semester One (Academy For All Things Scorching #1) - Avery Song Page 0,84

a few parts that I had to admit were tricky, but with all the questions I'd asked throughout the last five weeks from both my professors and the guys, I'd come to enjoy our curriculum and the daily bits of discovery I'd experienced when I learned something new.

I was absolutely shocked that so much time had gone by, and to think we were already at midterms and I'd yet to get in trouble, threatened, bullied, or put on the chopping block.

This semester had consisted of a lot of learning, enough to give students daily headaches if they didn't keep up. The heavy load of information was tricky, and even with my working ahead strategies and habits, I'd struggled a bit last week.

Thankfully I had the best dormmates - and current boyfriend - ever. Gabriel may be an annoying ass half the time, but he was an awesome teacher.

Whenever I couldn't find the solution to something, I could go and ask. He wouldn't give me a lecture like he would with random commentary, and he'd break down a question with the reasoning behind A, B, and C so that I could refer back to it in various situations.

His specialty in Holy Thunder was especially helpful when we learned about various healing techniques. It was so intriguing how healing was an exchange that resulted in the healer having to endure a fraction of the pain of the wounded individual.

Some felt that it was unfair because the healing was out of good intentions, but Professor Daily had explained that every action in the world requires sacrifice, regardless of whether it affected someone directly or indirectly. That sacrifice also didn't just mean individual to individual, but also included wildlife, mother nature, and the magic that lived among us in the environment.

Keru didn't only focus on Dark Flame abilities. He was also really knowledgeable about various magic techniques that we'd start to implement next semester. There were certain spells that also required knowledge of numerology and other astrological research, and he was totally into that as well.

I was a little excited to start implementing what he was teaching, but we still had six more weeks left of our semester. At least this would be our shortest semester, and that would mean a longer Christmas break for me to get ahead, prepare, and start diving into the magical arts of fire.

Westley was basically my study buddy boyfriend, the two of us at the same pace during the entire five weeks since we decided to date.

I could still recall when we announced it to Keru and Gabriel.

* * *

"Huh?!"

The two of them darted their eyes towards us, noticing our joined hands as I nervously looked everywhere but at their expressions while Westley yawned and rubbed his eye with his free left hand.

"We're dating," Westley repeated. "Can I go to sleep now?"

"Hell to the flaming no you can't!" Gabriel snapped back. "When did you guys decide to start dating?!"

"Yesterday," I replied.

"I'm not sure whether to applaud Westley for being a smooth, sleepy opportunist, or question my flirting skills." Keru crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes to actually think about it.

Gabriel sighed and rolled his eyes in irritation.

"There is no way you guys can know each other for a week and suddenly want to date."

"You're making it seem like he asked me to marry him," I confronted. "You're acting worse than my d-"

The way he arched an eyebrow at me triggered my memory and shut me up before I could say the final word. I quickly added, "What's the big deal?"

"You don't know each other."

"That's why we're dating: to get to know each other," Westley casually replied and yawned again.

"That's not how you learn about someone!" Gabriel argued. "You could be friends or something."

"I don't see how one week versus six or twelve weeks of being friends would change much of anything," Westley muttered. "My interest in Alice wouldn't have changed. All it would do is grow stronger, based on my level of affection for her."

"Wow, he's serious-serious," Keru commented, observing Westley with an intrigued look. "Did you bribe him with a new mattress or something, Alice?"

"No," I defended. "Jeez. The feeling is mutual. I thought we said that in the beginning?"

"I was still dealing with the impeccable moment of shock that whiplashed into my face and left the love in my heart for dead."

"I feel you're making far too much of a big deal over it." I sighed.

"That's because of Gabr- akmsaksmasa." He couldn't