~ Sebastian Caine ~
Okay, so I could understand a teeny bit why Jenny had gone all gaga. He really did look like a darker version of David Beckham. He was what most people would call perfection, but he did nothing for me whatsoever. Growing up amongst witches, I was used to super gorgeous guys. This guy was a three compared to some of the boys I'd met through my dad's connections on the Council. Xavier definitely topped out at a ten, though. I closed my eyes and groaned. I needed to stop doing that. I wanted Sebastian's attention. Not Xavier's.
"Melinda James?"
I nodded, doing my best to try to mimic the reactions of the girls around me. Think Blonde, I told myself over and over. Think Blonde.
"I'm Sebastian Caine. Mrs. Moore needs to see you about your paperwork in the office. She asked if I could stop and bring you by."
"Shouldn't you be in class?" Xavier countered.
"I have third period free," Sebastian said calmly, but the irritation was plain on his face. I got the feeling a lot of people didn't question him.
"Uh, sure," I said softly before standing up. "Do I need to bring my things?"
"I would." Sebastian gave me a warm smile before heading off to explain to the teacher. I think he meant to put me at ease, but it only made me nervous, and not in a good way. Like Mandy, there was something in his eyes that didn't sit right. It wasn't the malignant look she'd had, but it was something.
Xavier caught my hand as I was about to walk by him. "Be careful, Rose. I don't think you know what you're getting into."
Rose? No one called me that. I frowned at him, but said. "You're wrong. I know exactly what I'm doing."
His eyes said otherwise, but I didn't let it bother me. Much, anyway.
Sebastian walked with his hands in his pockets, like he was preoccupied, as we made our way to the office. I tried my best to look awed, but I'm not sure I pulled it off. He kept giving me odd glances as we walked.
"So," he finally said. "Everyone says you're a witch."
"I am," I answered honestly. I'd never made any pretenses about who I was, not even in LA. Most accepted it there because of how I dressed. Not that they thought I could do real magic, though. The majority of the population refused to believe in magic.
"Like a Wiccan or something?"
I laughed. "No, I'm not a Wiccan."
"But you just said you're a witch." He stopped and turned to face me. There was an openness on his face that shocked me. He seemed more than just curious.
"I'm a witch. I deal in witchcraft."
"There's a difference?"
I nodded. "Wicca is a religion. Its followers rely on gods and goddesses to perform their magic. I don't. I utilize the five Elements around us to do mine. Wicca is typically white magic as well. Witchcraft is a blending of both white and dark magic. There are no clear lines in witchcraft."
"So you do black magic too?"
"When I need to, sure."
"You're not at all impressed by me, are you?" he asked after a moment, the first real hint of smile tugging at his lips.
I could lie, but I didn't. He'd busted me, and if I wanted him to trust me, I had to be honest. "No, not really. I get that you're cute and all, but I've met cuter."
"Like Xavier?"
"He's cute, but he's obnoxious, so his looks don't impress me either."
Sebastian laughed. "Why don't you come eat lunch at our table today? Mandy and the rest of the gang would like to get to know you better."
I got the distinct feeling I had just passed a test. "So I passed the Caine test, huh?"
He laughed again. "I've never heard it called that, but yeah. If you don't fall all over yourself around me, then you get a chance to meet our group. I know exactly what I can do to women."
"Real charmer, huh?"
He smiled a smile that made my legs go slightly weak. I wasn't expecting it. I was female, so my hormones responded to a smile like that on a face like his. Human genetics. His fingers brushed my cheek. "Oh, yes, Ms. James, I can be quite the charmer when I want to be." He leaned closer, and I forced myself to take a step back, which earned me another chuckle. "Trust me, if I decide I want you, I will have you."
"In your dreams, Mr. Caine," I told him with a steady voice. Brownie points to me. I had a grip on myself again. He was just a wolf in very cute sheep's clothing. I knew what he'd done to my sister. There was nothing on the face of this Earth that could blind me to that. I walked into the office without a backward glance.
"Then I'll be dreaming of you tonight, Ms. James," he called after me. "And I'll save you a seat at lunch."
Hook, line, and sinker. I had the attention of the wannabe witches. Just where I wanted to be.
"Excuse me," I interrupted the nail filing of the receptionist. "I'm Melinda James. Mrs. Moore wanted to see me?"
She waved me to a seat, never looking up from her nails. Ten minutes later, she finally rang back and told the guidance counselor I was waiting, and I was ushered back to the administrative offices.
Mrs. Moore was the exact opposite of what I assumed the guidance counselor at this school would be like. For one thing, she had on jeans and a tee shirt. I'd expected a skirt at least, but no. Her brown hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and she had a local radio station playing quietly in the background. I'd expect this back in LA, but not here.
"Mrs. Moore?" I asked quietly. She seemed involved in the dance she was doing around a corner of her desk.
She jumped and then stomped hard. "Got you, you little sucker!"
My eyebrows shot up. So un-Stepfordville.
"Sorry," she apologized. "That spider and I have been going round and round all morning."
"Spider?"
"Yeah, I hate the little suckers. Creepy as all get out." She shuddered before turning her attention to me. "Melinda?"
I nodded, unsure of why I was here. "There's a problem with my paperwork?"
She took a seat and pulled out a file, presumably mine. She opened it and then turned it so I could see it. Staring back at me in all my glory was the Goth me. My eyes went slightly round in horror. How had she gotten that picture? I stared at her, nonplussed.
"For some reason, your file got sent to us twice. The pictures in them are so different, I wanted to discuss it with you first, Melinda. Why do we have two different pictures?"
I could do this. I'd lied to my dad on more occasions than I really wanted to own up to.
"It was a phase," I told her, my voice and my eyes as honest as I could make them. "I was the typical teenager looking to rebel against her father. My dad's great, don't get me wrong, but he wasn't home a lot the last couple years, and I wanted his attention when he was there. So I got into the whole Goth look. When I do something, I don't just dabble, I go in head first and immerse myself in it. So I went completely Goth." I paused and took a deep breath. "My sister died last year, and it made me think about what's important. The whole black look didn't really do anything but piss my dad off, so I gave it up."
"I'm sorry to hear about your sister," Mrs. Moore said softly. "Losing someone close to us will always bring what's important into perspective."
"Yes, ma'am, it does."
"The pictures?" She opened another file with the blonde picture and slid it beside the one with the Goth picture.
"I knew this school's reputation, and I really, really wanted to go here. It has one of the best science programs in the country, and science is my thing. I knew if you guys saw the Goth picture, you'd take one look and pass without considering anything else. So I switched out the picture on the file. I'm sorry if that was wrong, but I just really wanted to get into this school."
She sighed. "I understand why you did it, Melinda, but I am going to have to report it to the headmaster. While you didn't lie on your application, you did deceive us just a bit. That worries me. If you could deceive the school on something as simple as your appearance, then what else might you deceive us on?"
Oh, crap. Mrs. Sunshine here was a stickler. No way was she screwing me over now.
"Sands of time, winds of change,
I call upon thee to listen as I speak,
Blind her to what she sees,
Erase this memory that she seeks
And forever let it be."
I reached over and pulled the file with my Goth picture from the desk and put it into my backpack. Memory spells were sometimes tricky, but seeing as how she'd never see this file again, I wasn't as concerned with her memory coming back unexpectedly.
"You said there was a problem with my paperwork?" I asked her. "I don't know what it could be. I made sure everything was in order before I came here."
She blinked at me and then looked down at the file folder on her desk. She scanned it and then shook her head. I knew she must feel a little fuzzy at the moment. Memory spells did that to a person, especially if you erased a memory.
"I don't see a problem, Ms. James," she said, frowning. "I'm not sure what I was thinking, but you're right. Everything is in order."
"Was there anything else?"
She shook her head and smiled at me. "You'll have to forgive me. I'm just a little rattled this morning. How are things going for you? Settling in okay?"
"Yes, ma'am. The classes are really interesting, and I have the Science Fair coming up in a few months. Mr. Simon has to order some stuff for me, but I should have everything in time for Nationals."
"You must be very excited."
"A little nervous, actually. I am going outside my comfort zone and building an organic robot to work in hydroponics farming. I'm utilizing chemistry, physics, and robotics. It's taking a lot of work to make everything run properly."
"An organic robot?"
I laughed at her expression. Most people had the same reaction. "It's mainly comprised of organic material that will eventually break down and release tiny Nanos to monitor growth and development of the plants while they grow in the water."
"I can certainly see why you've won the competition the last few years," Mrs. Moore said. "We are all very glad to have you here, Melinda."
"Speaking of science, I really need to look over my Chemistry notes before class. We are doing a new experiment today, and I want to make sure all my equations are correct. If we're through here, may I go so I can do that?"
"Oh, yes, of course!" She nodded. "If you have any problems or just need to talk, my door is always open."
"Thank you," I said and left the office, breathing a small sigh of relief. How had that file landed on her desk? I made sure there were no pictures left of my Goth self to send. Where did it come from?
Maybe the Fates were starting to work against me.