Destiny's Witch (BxB)

Chapter 3: Jerks

Perry

The drive to Solstice High School is usually a short trip—until today.

The worn red brick of the welcome sign is telling. The first signal, besides the "est. 1901," that the school is older than any school should be. Though, to be fair, the school has been updated since then.

For instance, the brick on the building is now brighter, and the white columns and roof look cleaner than in previous years. The ridiculous number of windows on the buildings is absurd.

That sentence was absurd, but it tells the tale of how I feel about the unusual appearance of the building.

The renovations make going to school bearable. This extends to the library, quad, lounge, cafeteria, gym, football field, pool, auditorium, and school basement.

Well, I'm guessing on the last one. I have no intention of wandering down there. The school itself is as close to Hell as I can think of.

They even made a show about it in the nineties. I just hope I'm being dramatic.

Alan drives past the stone-and-brick sign welcoming us to campus and pulls our cerulean SUV up in front of the school. I sigh as I watch other students head in through the oversized glass doors. My enthusiasm has suddenly evaporated. The real tragedy? I'd rather be in school than in this car. My desire to leave the car now overrides my desire to avoid school. I try to open the door—and the locks click down.

"What was that stuff with your mom, about not leaving Solstice?" Alan asks.

"Al—Dad."

"You call me and your mother by our names in your head, don't you?" he asks.

"I—how could you possibly know that?"

Alan laughs. "We're more alike than you give us credit for," he says. "Look, I know things are strange right now, but I don't want you to think this is a death sentence."

"Isn't it?"

"No. Being the Zion is a facet of your life, not your whole life," Alan says. "Son, things change. Sometimes, you have to go through the bad to get to the good."

"I'm good, Dad. I solemnly swear not to leak any deception to the other parental unit."

"That—that's not why I'm saying this. You're a bright kid. You've got the world at your fingertips. You can do anything."

I chuckle. "I think you mean on my shoulders. And it's fine."

Alan is about to respond when the locks click open. He warned me about this. I am, above all, a witch. My powers are rooted in magic, giving me unpredictable bursts of access. When I asked why I can't use my powers at will, he didn't have an answer.

His experience with magic is one-sided, so helping me harness any magical ability hasn't exactly been in his wheelhouse. Our mystical training took a backseat to punching demons.

I thank him quickly and hop out of the car. Alan honks the horn and waves like a complete idiot before driving off. I close my eyes at the sheer embarrassment. The low chuckles around me confirm that others saw—and were amused. Without opening my eyes, I head toward the school. I only open them again when I reach the double doors.

The bustling hallways of Solstice High are a reminder that I'm back. The familiar sight of the stalwart, Uncle Lurch-like Todd Lowe and high-strung cheerleader Connie Trammel arguing provides just the dysfunctional normalcy I need.

An outburst of obscenities and a flip of Connie's silver hair resolves their argument. She storms off with Todd bounding behind her like a sad, confused golden retriever.