would be on the same team as Liam. Obviously, the universe hated her and was determined to make her pay for some past discretion that she probably didn’t even know she’d committed. She swore she could practically feel the smug approval rolling off of Liam from behind her.
Terrick continued. “The fourth team will consist of Ender, Colt, Aston, Professor Fernis, Professor Jax, Rush, Brianna, and Darby. The fifth team will be an assistant team. They will offer support when a team gets in critical situations. That will include the triplets, Atticus, Shaw and Omar, the air soul-bonded couple, Riggs and Lark, Giana, Jase, Crew, Lincoln, and Professor Bernhardt.
The headmaster continued to speak, but Gabby couldn’t hear a word he was saying because she was trying to work out an argument that would get her switched to a different team. There was no way she was going to be able to be around Liam for any extended amount of time. One of two things was bound to happen. She’d either kick his ass or attempt to molest him. Either option was equally embarrassing. Kicking his ass would make it clear that he was getting under her skin, which is what he, no doubt, wanted. And molesting him, well, for obvious reasons, that would be completely and utterly shameful. She glanced at Professor Frost, who was actually staring right at her. The professor had a little smirk on her face as if she knew exactly what Gabby was thinking. Frost gave her a small shake of her head. Is the professor shutting me down before I even have the chance to make my plea? She has to be. Damn her perceptiveness.
“We are going to give you time to gather any necessities you may need,” Terrick said. “I would highly recommend a heavy coat and your cell phones so that contacting each other will be easy. Conjuring portals simply for the sake of passing information will take too much attention away from your tasks.” He glanced around the room and asked, “Are there any questions?”
When no one spoke up, Aviur said, “Shelly and Ra, I would like to speak with you privately in fifteen minutes. I will meet you on the training field.”
“Everyone else will meet there in a half hours’ time,” Terrick added. “From there you will leave for your designated destinations.”
Chapter 4
Murmurs moved across the room as the meeting broke up. Gabby forced herself not to bolt from the room. She needed a few minutes—or fifty—to gather her thoughts and mentally prepare to be in Liam’s presence. And she couldn’t let her face betray those thoughts. Otherwise, someone might ask her what was wrong. Then there would be stabbing … and possibly burning. No one wanted that.
She felt a hand take hers and glanced down, following the arm up until it attached to Shelly. This was the second time the girl grabbed her without asking permission. The chick had serious boundary issues. Not that Gabby would ever actually give permission for anyone to touch her.
“We need to have a BFFF meeting before we are portalled off around the globe,” Shelly said before she reached out and grabbed Tara’s hand as well and began dragging them from the room.
“Is she always this bossy?” Gabby asked Tara.
“Always.”
Out in the hall, Shelly pulled them to a stop and released them before retrieving her cell phone from her back pocket. “Gabby, we need your contact info,” she said, her no nonsense tone indicating she expected to be given the required information immediately and without objection. “I expect you both to check in with me on a daily … no, hourly basis. If you need to be rescued at any point, I happen to know a damn fine Egyptian king who can literally go to hell and back to rescue a damsel in distress.”
“Um, what are we? Chopped troll guts?” Liam’s voice echoed in the hall, and the heads of all three girls whipped in their direction.
Gabby had been yanked into the hall so quickly and unceremoniously, she hadn’t even noticed Elias, Liam, Ra, and Aston had followed them. The guys seemed to be an extension of Tara and Shelly, like annoying shadows, always where you didn't see them. I may have to keep my distance from these two chicks when we aren’t out saving the world. Which is going to be a little difficult if the skinny one doesn’t quit latching onto me and forcing me to follow her around like a freaking puppy. Which