Chapter 1 The New Boy
Here we are. Another year at Spellbound High. Thankfully it's our last year! We've been waiting for so long to get here! The top of the school. We are going to have so much fun this year! It has nothing to do with being popular, there are quite a few popular kids who like to look down on the underclassmen... But that's not us. We just want to have fun.
I giggle as I look at my best friend in the whole world. Her golden hair shines in the early morning sun. I swear she was born with sparkles in her skin... There is just something about her that just... shines! It may be her beautiful personality.
"What do you think is gonna happen this year Nadia?" I ask, unable to keep my enthusiasm in. I'm hoping this will be the best year ever! It's not like we are leaving or anything. We'll all be going to the Enchanted Forest University next year. Our Fates are more or less intertwined and we will be best friends forever.
Nadia is a fairy. She is a gently soul and pretty shy... But that's why I love her. Of course it isn't the only reason. She is very intuitive, and if there is something wrong, she knows exactly what to say to make me feel better. She is the closest thing I have to a sister... I've been stuck with a big brother, not that I don't love him, but there are some things you just can't tell your brother!
"I don't know. Hopefully something awesome!" she giggles, leaning over and giving me a side hug. "This year we'll finally be old enough to join the council... Maybe we'll find boyfriends too?"
"You know it's gonna be great!" Phoebe snickers, bumping shoulders with me. "After all it's our final year! Our training will be complete and we will have our own place and destinies to fulfill."
Phoebe is a phoenix. She has a twin brother named Knox. He's a thunderbird. Together, they are unstoppable! She is one of the strongest girls I've ever met. She doesn't put up with crap from any of the school bullies either. Not that there aren't plenty who wish harm on her or our friends. But she can hold her own if she needs to.
Chloe sighs wistfully. "I hope its gonna be our best year... we can't exactly do it over again," she states. "Unless one of us can figure out how to turn back time... Not that I would do that even if we could. It could really mess up the time line."
Chloe is technically a Forest Nymph, but she prefers to be called a wood sprite... Either way, she's probably the most mellow of the group. She's what I like to call a nature freak... all good naturedly of course! She's very environmentally minded, always trying to help out Mother Earth. She is the very definition of a flower child.
"Well, I vote we rock this year!" Cheers Selene, bouncing on her toes like an excited three year old who had eaten too much sugar. If there was someone I would classify as a cheerleader, it would be Selene... Only she despises the cheerleaders in our school. They are all snobs and Selene is just too cheerful.
Selene is a siren. She has the most amazing voice! And yeah, I could totally see her luring men to their deaths... if she wasn't so freaking sweet! She really does love to sing, and it doesn't matter what it is that comes out of her mouth, she could lull a gang of bikers to sleep... But she only puts her magic into her singing when she's nervous.
"Hey, guys," a masculine voice calls from behind me. One I've memorized forever. My heart starts to pound in my chest. I need to calm down before I'm able to look up at him... But what is he doing here?
I turn around to find Trey, Nadia's older brother. His eyes are a sparkling blue and that cocky smile he always has. There is just something about Trey that I find dreamy. I don't know what it is that is so alluring, his eye, his smile, his scent... Or if it's just him. But I always feel better when I'm with him.
And then my eyes drift over to Jaxx, my older brother... and Cassie (his bitch of a girlfriend. Why the hell did he have to bring her here when he knows full well that none of us like her?) smirks down at me like she's the queen bee, as they gather round us.
My breath hitches as I look back up at Trey... Yeah, I've been in love with my best friends brother for years... don't judge! I'm pretty sure everyone knows I'm in love with him, except him.
I've never come out and said anything, but it doesn't stop my girls from teasing me every time they see us together... It's super embarrassing. What would happen if he ever figured it out? Would he laugh at me? Would he let me down gently? I really don't want to find out.
Trey smirks down at me, and I can see mischief in his eyes. "Well, I just got an assignment from the council. It seems I'm to be your guard, effective immediately. So I get to hang out at school with you," he winks.
That wink sends my heart up into my throat. Did he say he was assigned to be my guard? I don't understand why I need a guard, but if it means that he gets to spend more time with me, I'm not going to complain... As long as I don't get distracted through school.
Selene looks over at Jaxx with his arm around Cassie and tries to smile, but I can see the strain in her face as she watches the witch slither all over my brother. She's not the only one who loathes the fact that the slut has her hands all over my brother. All of us think he could do so much better than her.
Then, I noticed the presence of someone new... And hot! Suddenly everyone's focus is on this new boy. I hear gasps and giggles from the other girls, and I'm embarrassed to acknowledge the fact that a small giggle accidentally slips through my own lips. What is it about this new boy that seems to draw us all to him?
"Oh, yeah! I was supposed to introduce you guys to Amir. He's new here, and Anastasia wanted to tell you guys to let him feel welcome," Jaxx says when he notices my gaze. He doesn't seem too happy about this, but he would never go against Anastasia's wishes.
And just like that, Amir pushes to the front of the group with a gorgeous smile. He has deep brown eyes and onyx hair. His skin is a deep tanned color. You can tell by the way his shirt pulls at his torso the guy is built. There is something in his face that says he can charm any lady he wants... And with his looks, I wouldn't doubt it.
He pushes his way past Trey, moving like a beautiful predator. "Hello, beautiful, and who are you?" He whispers, looking me up and down, causing my body to flush red. How can he make me forget everything but the way he is looking at me?
I'm stunned for a moment, forgetting my own name... But Trey seems to bring me back to my senses as he pushes Amir away from me and puts a protective arm around my waist. He grits his teeth as he answers, "Amir, this is Calliope, Jaxx's little sister. You don't need to get too close to her!"
Jaxx little sister... Yeah, I know this is how he always sees me. He will never see me as anything more. He is a year older, and has known me for my entire life. He's always protective of me, and I guess this is no different. He just wants to keep me safe.
"Really?" Amir chuckles, looking between Trey and me. I have no idea what it is he sees, but I see a sparkle in his eye... And I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. His gaze lingers on me just a second too long before his attention is diverted.
Then he waltzes up to Nadia and smiles down at her. "And your name?" he teases, stroking her hair from her face, looking at her like she was the most important person in the world.
Nadia blushes. "I'm Nadia," she twitters like a little bird, unable to move her eyes from his handsome face. I normally don't see a look like this on her face, and I gotta say it's kinda cute. Her being all flirty and blushy.
"Nice to meet you Nadia," he whispers, leaning over to run his nose along the length of her neck. He hums in satisfaction before he pulls away with a smirk firmly on his face.
Then he turns to Phoebe and smiles down at her. She smirks at him and answers before he can ask. "I'm Phoebe, and a phoenix... You better be careful around me or you might get burned," she teased, running her fingers up his chest.
"Noted!" Amir smirks, winking at her. It seems he has taken her warning as some sort of challenge. I'm really not sure how I'm supposed to feel about the fact he is flirting with all my girl friends... but I won't fault him for it. They are all beautiful in their own right.
He turns his head in Chloe's direction, and gives her that devastating smile that makes his whole face shine. "And you are?"
"I'm Chloe," she smiles shyly to him.
"Beautiful," he smiles, before he sidles right up to Selene, placing his arms around her waist. "And you, darling?" he whispers, nuzzling her neck like she belongs to him. I can hear her sigh from the contact, not that I can blame her. There is something addicting about his touch.
From the corner of my eye I see my brother stiffen as he watches the display. Not sure why, seeing as he has his girlfriend in his arms. Cassie doesn't like his reaction, and stands on her toes, placing a soft kiss on his neck. "Don't worry, baby. He's just getting to know the girls," she whispers.
"Selene," her voice could barely be a whisper on the wind. She does this when she's nervous. She's not this shy around guys, but something about Amir has her a bit starstruck, especially when he pulls her closer to his body.
"How enchanting... I can't wait to get to know you all better," Amir smiles down at her. Then he looks over at Jaxx with a smirk on his face. "If I'd known I'd be meeting a bunch of beautiful girls this morning, I would've come sooner."
Jaxx doesn't say anything, but he doesn't look happy about the situation. He looks between Selene and Amir, but then he just sighs and pulls Cassie closer to him, and nods at Amir.
Trey has not released me from his grasp, but as Amir passes me, he traces my cheek with one of his fingers and leans is and whispers, "I'll be seeing you soon, princess," and then saunters away.
I can hear Trey grinding his teeth. He is growling like an angry beast, shooting daggers at Amir's retreating body.
Almost as though some spell has been lifted, I sigh and blink my eyes. What exactly was that? I turn in Trey's arms and look up at him. I don't know why he is looking at me like this, but I don't like it. What's going on in his mind right now?
"Is something wrong?" I ask him.
His usual cocky smirk is no longer on his face... In fact he looks really upset. Why is he acting like this? Surely he isn't jealous... he can't be. To him I'm just Jaxx's little sister.
"Nothing... Let's get you to your first class," he says, attempting to look unaffected by the whole situation. I'm not sure what he's thinking, but I'll let it go for now... Maybe I can get it out of him later?
"Okay, I'm ready," I smile up at him.
Behind us, shouts and cheers from the girls ring through the air as we make our way to our first classes of the day.
