Chapter 1: Gravel, Asphalt, and Cardboard cutouts
Do I look alright?" I stand in our family kitchen as my mother stares at me. Her lips are crinkled like she's just sampled a sour grape. The flowers on the table wilt along with my self-confidence. "Mama?" I repeat the title in hopes she'll stops torturing the flora and lighten up a bit.
"You look grown," she murmurs wringing a dirty washcloth in her hands. She's always dusted in soil, never quite clean. "Go on now, don't be late for class," she shoos me away like an errant fly. So much for a happy sendoff.
My converse crunch on the gravel beneath me. They're getting old I can feel every little shape as I walk the sun dappled pathway and let the shadows paint tree branches on my limbs. I used to play little games with myself as I walked the seemingly unending path to the bus stop. Now I just think.
"Holy shi-!" I freeze as I nearly stumble into a massive wolf. As quickly as I'd panicked I calm down. Our neighbors kept a female wolf-dog as their son's familiar. They'd been talking about getting her a mate for ages this must be him. Stupid druids that don't believe in leashes.
“Nearly gave me a heart attack handsome. You need to stay closer to home, a new place is hard huh?" I coo scratching the massive dog behind his ears. He's a white blondish color and surprisingly not filthy from running around outside. He seems to like the attention so I carry on soaking up canine affection while I can get it.
I squeak when the large beast makes the genius decision to nose his way under my maxi skirt then press his nose right to the tiny shorts I have on beneath them. I jump back. "Hey Bud not your personal tent and that's a little too friendly." He tilts his head giving me the fakest innocent look a dog can give.
"Don't look at me like that okay? I'll get you a snack then I've got to get to the bus stop and you've got to go home. You shouldn't get close to the road" I scold him as if he understands me; simultaneously digging a ham sandwich out from my bag. "Okay you can have the-" He just snatches the sandwich out of my hand swallowing it whole. "-ham." I sigh. "I guess the rest won't kill you but I don't think you're supposed to have tomatoes or mayo or bread."
I sigh checking my watch. I needed to hurry. "Now go home don't get hit by a car okay?" He just stares for a moment then rubs against my legs like a cat. I chuckle petting him. "pretty boy I've gotta go okay? Bye bye." I walk away and thankfully he doesn't follow. I walk faster this time having to speed up to a jog so I'm awkwardly out of breath once I step onto the bus. I can't tell if the look the bus driver gives me is one of sympathy or pity. Oh well, I suppose I'll live either way.
A familiar face sits in the backseat. Amaya.. Amaya C. She's not my friend but she's not mean or anything in fact she's super sweet but a fully human girl from a non-magic family. I'm pretty sure my crazy Druid parents would give her a heart attack. I almost invited her over in middle school but the next morning squirrels built a nest in our couch and I decided maybe having people over wasn't the best idea. I've stuck by that ever since.
I smile and nod at Amaya but don't say anything. It's my go to move for people that I've "known" since I was in diapers at daycare but don't really know. I gingerly unwrap my earbuds like an action hero defusing a bomb in one of those movies I wasn't supposed to watch but still did anyway. The poor things are ancient and only work if I pinch about an inch from the lighting connector and tug it at an angle. The things I do because I'm on a budget, I swear.
Soon the bumpy country roads fade into slightly less bumpy asphalt. A sign we are in the suburbs approaching the city. The bus stops picking up two Draculian girls. One has a broad sunhat with a pink ribbon to shield her from the sun while the other opts for the hood of her sweatshirt. I'd never survive as that species of vampire I'm a baby about plain old sunburn.
Just as I'm relishing, with mild surprise, the all female bus, I am rudely interrupted by a herd of Marcillian vampire guys arguing over which one of them some girl on the street liked better. "Bro she was totally into me she was blushing and everything!" Another boy interjects. "She's Draculian she was just sunburnt not getting the hots for you."
Before they can get in more bickering a girl jumps onto the bus (literally jumping from the pavement over the steps) waving a pink sticky note. "Read it and weep bitches I got her number!" The boys groan in unison. "Carmilla!" Her name is a bit on the nose if you ask me. Naming your kid off the most notable Marcillian vampire whom the entire species was named for. Still pretty though.
The bus settles down slightly. At the last stop a few second year mages get on, color coded robes draped over their shoulders, on their bodies, or sticking out of their bags. I must go starry eyed at the sight of the wind mage uniform because the guy attatched to it calls out from across the aisle. "Hey feather brains! Like what you see? I might consider fucking you now that you're not a stick anymore, better get it in before your freshman fifty though." He grins mockingly.
Of course Andrew Parsons feels the need to poke at one of my sore spots; my ever fluctuating weight. I feel good about myself now, I'm healthy enough but he wants to slip back into our old dynamic of upperclassman bully and fresh meat. I had not missed him my senior year after he graduated. Asshole. I simply glare at him and sink into my seat. I'm already dreading the upcoming introductions in my classes. The endless repetition of "Yes my name is Feather. Yes it's my real name, no it's not meant to be Heather."
The bus stops and begins to unload on EACC campus. Banners that say "Welcome East Arcana Elephants!" bombard my senses with their enchanted shimmering letters and realistic elephant trumpet sound. Curse whichever sorcery or Wizarding student made that a thing.
The crowd jostles me and I bump into a cardboard cutout. A handsome man with dark hair and blue eyes. I remember in the moment thinking "Oh crap at least I didn't break it" in hindsight I should've been thinking "Run!"
