Laced In Shadow- Watcher Academy Book One

Normality

*Not edited*

  Stinging red welts wrapped around my body. My wrists were rubbed dry and bleeding like they had been shackled. I lightly touched my fingers to my side and winced. The dreams were getting worse. I sighed and shrugged on a black zip-up over my uniform. First day at the Academy and I had gotten no more than three hours of sleep. The day was already off to a bad start.

  A loud bang sounded from my room. I rolled my eyes. Every single time. I made sure my wrists were covered one last time and exited the bathroom.

"You both know Aunt Andrea doesn't care if you use the door...right?" I winced when Lillian's long black hair got caught in the window as it slammed closed behind them. She yanked it out with a yelp and stumbled the rest of the way into my room.

Lillian pointed an accusing finger at Tab. "She insists on using the window every damn time! I'm tired of this. If I have to room with you at the Academy I'm leaving! I'll drop out and move to another country."

"Every time I pass Andrea she's lecturing me on my grades. She's worse than Lillian." Tab let out an exaggerated shutter. "I still have nightmares from when she chased me with a Warrior Training for Dummies manual." We all laughed but it didn't last long. The nervous tension in the air was almost suffocating.

"So...how do you guys feel about today?" Lillian asked as she fiddled with the golden rings on her hands.

"I didn't get much sleep last night so honestly, not great."

Tab chuckled. "Yeah, we can tell."

I gaped at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You look like you just dug yourself out of your own grave." She tried schooling her expression but only a second after she had said it her freckled cheeks puffed out and she let out a loud snort.

"You're such a great friend, Tab," I said sarcastically.

She wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pecked a small kiss on my cheek. "Yeah yeah, I know."

"Girls!" My Aunt's voice came from down the stairs. "The car is here."

"Damn it, we left our bags at your house, Lil."

Lillian's eyes widened and she was already headed towards the door. Tab snapped her fingers. "No!"

Lil stopped, a look of confusion crossing her freckled face. "What?"

Tab crossed her arms and her face twisted into a scowl. "I already told you! I'm not running into Andrea today."

"You're not even going to say bye to her? It's not like she doesn't know you're here."

Tab scoffed at Lil's words. "Heaven's above no."

After tiring of their bickering I finally cut in. "Listen," They snapped their heads towards me. When I had something to say most people knew to listen. My notorious lack of patience was no exception to even my two closest friends. "If I have had to deal with Aunt Andrea every day of my sixteen years of life you guys can too."

Tab rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay. Fine." She finally gave in. "But only because despite Andrea's demeaning words and heavy books I would rather not make you angry. The day when I beat you in hand to hand will come and when it does I'll kick your ass so I don't have to give in to your demands anymore."

Lillian snorted out a laugh, Tab and I followed soon after. We all knew Tab was the most stubborn one here and if she didn't want to listen to me she wouldn't. She was just a big softy and liked making her friends happy. She may not have wanted to admit it but it was true.