Page 27 of Darkness Defined

“I told you, I’m nobody. As for being special or the teacher’s pet, I never met Vera before she showed up three weeks ago.”

“I don’t believe you.” George pointed aggressively at Matt. “You’re hiding something.”

Matt’s quiet calm evaporated in the blink of an eye. “How many times do I have to tell you…” Matt’s words trailed off even as his fists clenched by his side.

George snickered at seeing Matt’s reaction. “What are you gonna do? I’ll tell you what. Nothing. Because you’re a scared little chicken.”

“Don’t call me that,” Matt gritted through clenched teeth.

“What? Chicken? Or Little?” George’s snide response sent a wave of snickers rippling through the rest of the class.

Even from across the room, I could clearly see Matt’s fury.

I have to stop this. I’ll worry about him hating me later.

Just then, the door flung open and Vera herself waltzed into the room. She casually strode between the hostile pair, sparing Matt a disapproving glance. His furious gaze immediately switched from George to her.

Vera pointedly ignored his look and took a position in the center of the room. My classmates shuffled around her, thoroughly cowed now that a higher authority was here. “I have decided that in light of—certain circumstances,” she began.

I frowned and glanced around at everyone else who seemed no more enlightened about these “circumstances”.

“Rather than random assignments, each of you will pair with your roommate for training. I mean, class,” Vera quickly amended. “Hopefully, the simple fact that you share living quarters will keep you from tearing apart your sparring partner.”

My gaze slid to where Matt was still hovering by the door. He turned to look at me, and for the second time that day, our eyes met. Once again, my mouth went dry. Rubio was cute, but Matt was a dream. Maybe if he was forced to interact with me, I’d have a better chance at winning him over.

That’s right. Forced. Because that’s the only way a guy like that would ever talk to you. Daniel’s voice was an unwelcome intrusion in my thoughts.

That’s not true, I countered, doing my best to squash the insecurity. My efforts were met with a degrading chuckle that echoed in my head.

We both know it is, the voice insisted. You aren’t worth his time. You were barely worth mine. The words stung, and I grimaced.

“What are you all standing around for?” Vera scolded when no one moved. “Pair up.”

Mumbles rose as the cliques I’d been observing broke apart into room assignments. Vera walked through the class, pointing at where she wanted groups stationed from now on. Matt spared one final glare for George before rolling his shoulders and walking over to where I stood.

“Hey,” I said in a greeting that he didn’t return.

Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall in the same spot I’d been before.

“The nerve of that guy, right? I mean, is it really worth getting kicked out of school just to give you a hard time?” I laughed awkwardly.

Matt’s gaze flicked to me, then refocused on a spot on the floor.

Vera clapped her hands, claiming my attention. “Good. Now that everyone is sorted, we will not be sparring today.” A few disappointed murmurs greeted the declaration. “Quit your belly-aching. We’ll get to that eventually. First, we need to figure out where all of you are developmentally.”

I glanced at Matt out of the corner of my eye, fully aware that this would not help my case where he was concerned.

“We’ll start simple enough. I want each of you to focus on the thing inside of you that is different. For some of you, it may feel like a still lake, or other body of water, others like the night sky. However, it appears to you, I want you to reach out and touch it. Nothing drastic, just like a get to know you hand shake.”

Someone in the back made a rude comment, earning themselves a glare from Vera.

“The time to be juveniles is done. Whatever reasons brought you here, know this. Without this training, you will die.” She scanned the suddenly pale faces, adding even more weight to the dire statement. “It may not be today or tomorrow, or hell, even in the next five years, but it will happen. Your powers, your potential, is raw and untapped. Without the proper guidance, they run the very real risk of taking over. Who here has heard fairytales of soulless demons?” She paused, giving the class a chance to respond.

A few hands, including mine, made their way into the air.

“That is what happens when your powers win. You become the monster everyone already assumes you are.” Her gaze continued to travel the room. Eventually, she reached the part of the room where Matt and I were standing. “Don’t let them decide who you are for you.” The statement was clearly directed at Matt, but I felt it just as pointedly.

I glanced back at where he was still stubbornly resting with his arms crossed. He shifted his shoulders as if her words made him uncomfortable. She let the warning sit for a moment, then went back to addressing the class.