Chapter 344: Lonely
The moment I entered the lecture theater, my eyes settled on the Dumont brothers. Great, was I destined to spend every damned class with the pair of irritating fleas? Clearly that was the case. The only thing I could do at this point was ignore them.
As my gaze drifted over the gathering students, I caught sight of another familiar face. The half-smile and wave I began froze in place as Sashenka's eyes flickered away from me. She slunk down in her seat a little, not looking my way at all, though I knew she'd seen me. Lovely, just lovely. Whatever I'd done to make her hate me wasn't going away. And since she obviously didn't want me around, I'd have to do something about our little living arrangement. As much as I hated the thought of defeat, of having to ask Mom to change my roommate, there was no way I was spending the entire year with someone who didn't want me around.
Since Sashenka would prefer I didn't sit with her or even acknowledge I knew her, I slid into a lower row closer to the front, one where no one else was sitting, found the center of it and planted myself with resolve. The new and improved Syd didn't need anyone, thanks. Sashenka Hensley could take a flying leap for all I cared. I had everyone and everything I needed and some coven's second daughter shunning of me wasn't about to get me down.
Surprise, surprise, I was alone by the time the main door closed and our teacher strode down to the front of the class. I looked down at my notebook, refusing to let any of this get to me. I was a Hayle, damn it. So what if no one wanted to sit with me? So what if no one liked me? I was a good person, a powerful witch, co-leader of my coven. Yes, I was alone, but I could handle it. All those years of being the odd one out was to strengthen me, to teach me to be self-sufficient. There was no one to come to my rescue. I had to do my own rescuing.
Besides, loneliness was going to come with the territory of being full leader someday. Look at Mom, carrying the weight of the Council on her shoulders. Not like Dad was around much now that he was a Demon Prince of the Second Plane. And she couldn't very well confide in my little sister. Though I did regret the loss of Sassafras to the pair of them. He would have whipped me into instant shape with a sharp tongue-lashing.
There was always Gram, too. I had her in my head 24/7. My demon. Shaylee. Silly Syd. I was the least alone person I knew.
I could hear the brothers whispering, laughing, but they didn't bother me anymore. In fact, I felt my heart swell open, new confidence rising. I could handle it. More than handle it, I was born for it. I could do anything, had conquered more things in my short eighteen years than those sniping brothers or my ungrateful roommate or any other witch in this room had ever endured. Let's see them survive an attack on their coven, being burned at the stake, rescuing a vampire from a virus devouring him, save their mother from certain death.
Yeah, let's just.
The main door swished open then shut again as the teacher turned to face us, his round face looking bored, voice a dull monotone. I ignored the latecomer, basking in my new resolve, soaking up my internal power until my demon hummed in happiness and Shaylee preened at how amazing we all were. I was well aware this was only a tactic, a protection mechanism, but I needed it right now and wasn't about to turn away the tools I had on hand to survive.
Whoever joined us late took a seat right next to me. I steadfastly refused to turn my head, keeping myself to myself, a little rigid, hoping the other witch would just back off. After all, the whole row was empty. Did he have to sit next to me?
It was a he, I could tell from the size of his knees out of the corner of my eye, catching sight of the faded denim of his jeans. There was a familiar aroma about him, a mix of earth and fabric softener. But it wasn't until his hand reached over and touched mine that I gasped and understood.
Green magic snaked between us, the surge of Sidhe power drawing my head around. Liam smiled at me, his hazel eyes sparkling with green flecks as he bent forward so we were gaze-to-gaze.
"Hey, Syd," he whispered. "What did I miss?"
***
