Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic #1) - Rin Chupeco Page 0,8
Alex’s Teacher’s Breakdown Is Viewed Millions of Times on Social Media
Three important things happened the autumn Tala turned seventeen, nearly a year later: Arizona officially signed the Emerald Act into law, legalizing commercial use of category two magic for the first time, the thirty-third state to do so; her history teacher went viral on social media in the worst possible way; and Ryker Cadfael asked her to the upcoming bonfire celebrations.
Obviously the last one was the most consequential because Ryker Cadfael was so far out of Tala’s orbit that his planet had yet to be discovered within her system. He still was. She’d remained oblivious to any form of interest from his direction until Alex had insisted that the boy liked her. She didn’t believe him, even when Ryker started hanging out with Alex whenever she was around. Even when he started walking her to class on occasion. Even when he started flirting. Or maybe he was just teasing her? How did one know the difference? Alex was the only person she could ask, except Alex was also the last person she wanted to ask.
Cool. Super cool. She had an algebra test next period, and overthinking this was not the distraction she needed.
“But it’s the distraction you deserve.”
“Shut up, Alex.”
Alex rolled his eyes and reached out to swipe at Tala’s lunch—lumpiang shanghai, chicken adobo, eggplant torta, and rice—with a fork, snagging one of the spring rolls before she could protest. Despite his newcomer status, he was on the varsity baseball team and was therefore several rungs higher up the social ladder than Tala, enough that hanging out with her barely affected his popularity cred. “It’s not like you haven’t been flirting back. I didn’t even know you were capable of giggling.”
“Shut up.”
“You’ve both been making goo-goo eyes at each other for like a month now. What’s the holdup?”
“Because it’s Ryker Cadfael.”
“The one and only.”
“The basketball player.”
“The school’s star basketball player. Keep up, Tally.”
“The one with the nice abs.”
“I have nice abs,” Alex protested, looking hurt.
“Yeah, but they’re not connected to Ryker Cadfael. Stop stealing my food. Didn’t Lola make your lunch today too?”
“Yeah, but I’m a growing boy and need more food than you. Besides, I see you brought your mom’s famous adobo, and I know she’d want me to have some.” He took a piece of chicken, ignoring her glare. “Why are you acting like having a crush is the worst thing in the world?”
“It’s not a crush,” Tala lied. “I can admire people from afar without any expectations.”
“You’re in denial. You do like him.”
Of course she did. Blind people could hear how gorgeous he was. Ryker was even more of a newcomer than Alex; he’d only moved here a few months earlier. His father was apparently some hotshot real estate developer, and there had been talks to purchase several tracts of land in the area for some important urban projects. Why they chose Invierno of all places remained a mystery, but it brought Ryker to town, so the rest seemed unimportant in comparison.
Alex stole another piece of eggplant. “Did you know how many questions he pestered me with at the start before I told him to quit bugging me and just talk to you?”
Tala’s face flamed. “Since when are you even friends with him, anyway?”
“I have English and history with him.”
“Maybe he’s interested in you?” Tala kept her voice low. Alex had made it quite clear early on that he had no desire to come out in a place where the majority of the population still thought dinosaurs were a cosmic practical joke.
He snorted, but his voice was equally as quiet. “He’s as straight as a metal ruler. Besides, he’s not my type. I prefer green-eyed guys with messy curly hair and British accents.”
“That was strangely specific.”
It was his turn to blush. “Shut up.”
“You’re making fun of me,” Tala repeated, but with none of the conviction. They rarely talked about their respective secrets nowadays, an unspoken agreement they’d made and reinforced, but Alex was also the closest thing she had to a best friend, and it wasn’t like him to pull something out of nowhere.
“Is it so ridiculous to think that a cute guy might be interested in you?”
“Yeah, Alex, they’ve been breaking down my door these last few years.”
“So, you’re coming with me to Sydney’s bonfire party this weekend?”
“Absolutely not.” There were two kinds of bonfire parties at Elsmore High: the regular desert bonfire party everyone went to once the championship games ended, and the bonfire party