Don't Just Speak Love

  Chapter 3

  Horrific First Training

  If looks alone could kill, I would have been long dead by now.

  My digital math textbook was open on my desk, but I wasn’t paying it the slightest attention. I knew I had to get my math homework done before Mrs. Bernadette’s class, but I couldn’t focus.

  Trying my best to avoid eye contact with anyone, I fidgeted in my seat. Uneasiness was crawling all over me, and my back was sticky with cold sweat. Jace was nowhere in sight, but Acacia’s resentment toward me was apparent, and everyone else was obviously avoiding me. Nobody wanted to go up against Acacia—she was that much regarded here.

  I sank further into my seat, kicking myself mentally the entire time. Seriously, of all people, why did I have to clash with the most influential ones? I sighed tiredly. But oh well, just damn it. I’d have to keep looking forward.

  Eyes on my textbook, I prayed hard for Ms. Psychotic to step into class and start homeroom already. Annoying murmurs buzzed on in my ears until Ms. Psychotic entered the classroom, together with the Japanese boy who’d zapped into my bedroom with Albion and Atward Savant last night.

  How could a person go from one place to another in a flash? I rolled my eyes every time I thought of it, frustration smothering me. I must be out of my mind if I hadn’t been dreaming.

  “As you can see, we have another new classmate this morning,” began Ms. Psychotic unenthusiastically. She threw a nasty glance my way as she spoke, and I immediately regretted praying for her presence. By now, it was very clear that she had something against me, though what in the world I’d done to offend her was beyond me.

  “This is Sasuke”—Ms. Psychotic’s enunciation of the Japanese name was way better than Sir Albion’s—“your new classmate from Tokyo.”

  Coolly, Sasuke—a tall boy with a radiant face and model-thin frame—gave the class a quick wave before turning to Ms. Psychotic. “Can I have the seat in that corner?” He pointed to the unoccupied seat directly behind me.

  When Ms. Psychotic nodded impatiently in consent, not failing to send me another nasty glare, Sasuke sauntered to the last seat by the window. Without Atward Savant standing next to him, he looked so much taller.

  As Sasuke passed me, he gave me a small, cordial smile. His was the first friendly face I’d seen today, since Chaste was off representing the school in some kind of interschool competition. She’d told me she’d only be back in school at around 4.30 PM—an hour after our last lesson.

  I returned Sasuke’s smile as the bell rang, signalling the end of homeroom and the start of our first lesson for the day. While everyone else milled and shuffled to their first language classes, I grabbed my things and bolted far, far away from Acacia and Ms. Psychotic.