Wingspan(Paranormal, Young Adult) MAJOR EDITING**

thirty five

As we entered the classroom the first thing we noticed was that Ms. Donovan had rearranged our desks into stacked rows of two. First item on her list today appeared to be a new seating arrangement for us. The class shared a collective groan; they weren't happy about this, and I couldn't say I blame them.

It wasn't about the socializing for me. I could make conversation. It's just that I had a bad experience with partners and not much luck in getting along with them.

For the most part I did about as well as expected with lesson plans, and I learned that what the professors taught in Starkhouse wasn't all that much different from what they taught at my old school. If you didn't count the dissimilar classes Starkhouse offered like Agriculture and Wildlife, that is.

It didn't matter what region of the mountains I moved to, some people were just naturally good at taking tests and doing homework while others, with a little effort, passed with flying colors. I had to study at regular intervals just to keep information in my brain. It just so happened that the partner Ms. Donovan placed me with was neither of those things. Darcy liked to copy off of people, which was fine and dandy, but that meant I couldn't count on him to help me with this new assignment the professor handed over. I had to do all the work solo. Not that I'm complaining because for all of Darcy's annoying habits I had to say, I liked his silence most of all.

Paying attention to Ms. Donovan wasn't difficult in spite of all that I had going on. While I couldn't wait to talk to Chanel, I welcomed the distraction and put all my efforts in this one assignment with so much confidence that there was no way I could do bad. Or so I thought.

Though graduation was still months away student counselors were already disrupting class to pull their seniors out and discuss options. I already knew what was in store for me, so I had a speech in place for when my time came.

The people I ate lunch with were already writing their essays for their preferred college campuses, and even Josh was talking about taking a year off to go abroad to help with a couple of children's foundations that his father donated to.

And although neither Mason nor Wesley mentioned their plans, I was sure their parents' wealth and status would impress the most prestigious alumni throughout the world.

College wasn't for me. In regards to my future, I hadn't devised a goal; I only knew that I wanted - to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit. Wasn't happiness the most important thing when it came to living as an adult?

I wasn't setting myself up for less than I deserved; my philosophy was to stay unprepared, that way I was open to excitement and could play it by ear.

My eyes flickered from student to student and stopped on Kira who, at the moment, was the poster child of pissed off and brooding. I could feel the resentment and unexpressed rage radiating from her petite body. Hmm. Interesting.

I bent my head to the side and got a better look at Kira.

Kira pulled a morose face, her eyebrows knitted together as she sulked in repugnance from the last row in seat number three. It was so obvious by the way Kira acted that she was not happy that she had Tasha for a partner.

When I looked at Tasha I didn't get any strong vibes from her at all. In fact, she seemed to be doing her thing as always, sitting up straight and smiling at everyone she talked to.