Chapter 350: The Girls
It was my first visit to the campus café and I had to admit I felt pretty nervous, even with Sashenka beside me and Charlotte guarding my back. The place was packed with other students, mostly freshmen from the excited looks on their faces. I almost backed out when the stares and whispers started all over again, but by then a small group of girls were waving and smiling at us and Sashenka had a firm grip on my hand, pulling me toward them, Charlotte standing off to one side and doing her best to look like a statue.
"Syd," my roommate gushed, "these are the girls. Girls, meet Sydlynn Hayle."
They stared a little, but were still smiling. The one on the right of the table with the curly dark hair and the palest skin I'd ever seen, offered her hand.
"Josie Ambrose," she said. "Hensley family. Nice to meet you."
That broke the ice. All at once I was introduced to Nicci Mortimer (dirty blonde hair and a hand full of freckles on her cheeks), Donalda Pierce (tall and skinny, all elbows and knees though her long face was pretty because of her wide gray eyes) and Tippy Meeks (luscious red hair and curves I envied).
They pulled up an extra chair for me and proceeded to chatter on like I'd been their best friend forever. It was a little freaky, but pretty awesome at the same time. Though I admit after about a half hour of giggling over the latest movie star or peering at fashions I'd never be caught dead in on the screens of their iPhones, I was feeling a little overwhelmed.
"Don't look now, but there's the Dumont brothers." Donalda actually snorted, long, thin nose twitching as if she'd smelled something awful that turned her stomach.
Tippy batted her long lashes, popping a large pink bubble from the gum she chewed with excessive aggression. "Too bad," she said. "All that jerk trapped in those delicious bods."
Sashenka giggled while I glared across the cafe at Jean Marc and Kristophe. Both waved at me, Kristophe tossing back his blond hair to blow me a kiss before striking one of his model poses.
"Seriously," Nicci rolled her eyes, lips wrapped around the straw of a soda as she looked heaven-ward. "No way, even if they suddenly turned nice. Gross."
Good to know I wasn't the only one who couldn't stand them. "They think they're all that."
Tippy leaned forward and grabbed my hand, showing off a bit more of her substantial cleavage than I would have liked. "Girl," she said, "I heard you've had some run-ins. Are they the kings of ew or what?"
"Totally." I found myself laughing despite the fact the Dumont brothers normally elicited anything but amusement from me. "Smarmy is the nicest word I can come up with."
The girls all giggled, and even Charlotte let out a soft laugh. Holy. Did I really make friends just like that? I had to thank Sashenka later. And Sass for making me deal with this.
I had to work on my trusting people skills.
Tippy flipped a wave at the boys. But when Kristophe winked at her and moved to join us Tippy's salute turned into a very rude gesture involving one very specific finger. I laughed out loud, eyes locked on the brothers as Kristophe scowled and turned away.
I know they would have left on their own. I felt the cold wave of disapproval heading their way, coming from most of the patrons of the cafe. It amazed me to realize no one really liked them.
How awesome was that?
I think that's why I cringed when Mia stormed into the cafe, blue eyes ablaze, and stomped her way up to the brothers. The ranting shrieks of fury following were enough to make everyone wince and turn away, pretending not to watch as the Dumont leader proceeded to make a fool of herself. The brothers slunk off halfway through her screamfest and she followed them, still shouting orders at the top of her lungs which could be heard even through the door as it closed behind her.
The girls let out a collective sigh of relief. "I do not envy her that job," Nicci said, slurping up the last of her drink, shaking the ice on the bottom of her glass.
"Me either." Sashenka shuddered, turning to me. "She's a friend, isn't she?" They all looked at me with sympathy.
"Yes," I said, not ashamed to admit it. "I wish I could help her." The fun was gone out of me all of a sudden. It was clear Mia was out of control, had no hold over her coven at all if she was forced to perform such obvious displays in front of everyone.
I reached out to her, wanting to assist if I could. But the moment my mind touched hers, she slapped me away.
Mind your own business, Hayle. She slammed her shields against mine, hers flickering and violent as she struggled to control them. I'd forgotten how little she knew, how new she was to being a witch, much less a coven leader. Her power had been cut off her entire life, only unsealed the night the Wild Hunt showed up at my house to destroy us all. She might have had some training with the best out there, namely my ex-Enforcer grandmother, but Mia was still only a newbie.
Thrown to the wolves. Or those who held wolves as slaves. Even worse.
Mia. I kept my tone calm though I wanted to beg her to listen. If you need anything-
If you try to interfere with me again, I'll file an official complaint with the Council. Like I'd tried to interfere. But she had her back up, because of the boys, and who knew what else.
I pulled away and let her go, heart heavy for my friend, but knowing there was nothing I could do. And yet, if the Dumont coven imploded, wasn't that everyone's problem? I made a mental note to mention it to Mom despite being fairly certain she wouldn't do a thing about it.
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