I mean, yeah, I’m not denying it’s been a weird day. I haven’t seen Jaxon or Flint since I went off on them this morning. But even though Jaxon hasn’t shown up at any more of my classes, Byron was waiting outside my art class with an extra parka when it let out—so I wouldn’t have to go through the spooky-as-hell tunnels again, thank God. Rafael sat with Macy and me at lunch plus walked us to AP Spanish, the one class we share. And Liam walked me from Spanish to PE.
None of which went unnoticed by the other students and none of which has exactly worked in my favor. I mean, I wasn’t looking to make a bunch of friends here, but I also don’t want to have to dodge flying basketballs every second of the day, either.
“You sure you’re okay?” Macy asks, frowning at the way I’m wiggling my fingers and shaking my hand.
I stop immediately. “I’m sure. I’m fine.” The last thing I want is for Macy to make a big deal out of something that could have been a lot worse.
She shakes her head but doesn’t say anything else about the basketball. And if I catch her glaring at some of my classmates, I’m not going to call her out on it. I’d be pissed if someone was messing with her, too.
Still, it’s past time to change the subject, so I ask, “What’s all this?” gesturing to the black leotard, tights, and sequined skirt she’s wearing.
“Dance team,” she answers with a proud little grin. “I’ve got one of the solos at Friday’s pep rally.”
“Seriously? That’s amazing!” I squeal, even though I’ve never been a big dance team enthusiast. But Macy obviously loves it, and that’s enough for me.
“Yeah. I’m dancing to—” She breaks off as the coach blows a whistle.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“It means the period’s over. And since this is the last one, it also means you’re free.” Macy grins. “I’ve got practice for two hours after school, but I’ll find you when I’m done, and we can go to dinner together. If there’s not another earthquake, that is.”
“Right?” There have been several more tremors this afternoon—nothing big, just aftershocks, but they’ve definitely set most of the students, me included, on edge. “Who knew I’d experience more earthquakes in four days at the center of Alaska than I did my whole life living on the coast in California?”
“It’s weird,” she agrees, looking baffled. “Sure, we have a quake every once in a while, but we haven’t had this many in a row in a long time. Maybe ever. You must have brought them with you.”
“Sorry about that,” I joke. “I’ll try to tone it down.”
“You do that,” she answers with a grin. “See you after practice.”
“See you.”
I shoot her a little wave before heading back toward the locker room. No one bothers me as I change, but no one talks to me, either. And I gave up trying to talk to people somewhere around lunchtime. I can only take so many cold shoulders before I get the message.
I get dressed in record time, then grab my backpack and head out. I probably should go back to my room and get started on my homework, but I’m not used to being cooped up in one room all the time.
Back home, I was always outside—in the pool, at the beach, running through the park. I even did my homework on the front porch swing, watching the sun set over the water.
Going from that to being stuck inside almost all the time is more than a little rough.
I think about heading to my room and changing into all those outdoor clothes so I can go for a walk. But nothing about me is particularly thrilled at the idea of putting on half my closet just to brave the subfreezing temperatures, either, so in the end, I decide on a compromise. I’ll wander around the castle, getting to know it better, since there are huge portions I haven’t set foot in yet, even with my classes taking me all over the place today.
For a second, Jaxon’s warning from the first night flits through my head, but that was for late at night. Just because the sun outside the castle has been down for a couple of hours already doesn’t mean the halls aren’t safe now, while everyone is awake and going from one activity to another. Also, I’m not going to spend the next year and a half afraid of the people I go to school with. Those guys the other night were assholes, no doubt about it, but they caught me unprepared. No way am I going to let it happen again. And no way am I going to become a prisoner in my own school.