Alpha Academy: Misfit's Rise

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Allies

As it turned out, it wasn't a question I was prepared to answer the next day either. Or the day after that. Or after that. Probably because I wasn't making any progress on improving my magical performance either. My desperation forced me to resort to measures I'd been avoiding: studying.

I quickly scanned over the titles in front of me, finally pulling out one that at least looked remotely related. Lucian had once said something about improving the flow of energy through my body to make my magic more connected, though I'd had no idea what he meant by that. And now, I couldn't ask him.

I gripped the book I was holding so tightly it wrinkled. I'd promised myself I wouldn't think about Lucian because doing so made me too angry to focus. I hadn't spoken to him since the day they kicked me out, and he pretended I was invisible when we past in the hallways. I guess it made sense why he was ignoring me. What was the point of tutoring someone who was getting kicked out anyway? I'd just thought with how much slack he gave the rest of his psycho friends, he could find a place for a struggling Misfit. But he probably didn't want my failure tarnishing his perfect record.

"Billie?" I jumped at the sudden voice behind me and nearly dropped the book I was holding. That wouldn't have been good. The librarian already had it out for me because I'd accidentally bumped into her freshly organized display and knocked over all her carefully placed books.

"I'm sorry." Thea stepped back, looking shocked at my violent reaction. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's fine," I mumbled. It wasn't her fault I expected Helena to pop out from behind every corner and demand I do five-hundred burpees. "Don't apologize."

"Right, so—" She managed to catch herself before she tagged a rry to the end of that word. She swallowed before straightening her hair. She wanted to say something but didn't know how to say it, so she was doing a million other things to avoid standing there awkwardly. I'd watched her do this enough to know it was pointless to try and speed up the process. I would just have to wait until she either spat it out or gave up and walked off.

"Is it true?" she finally blurted out. "Have they really decided to send you back to the Rustlands?"

I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat. This wasn't something I wanted to discuss, but if Thea had mustered enough courage to seek me out to talk to me, I owed her an answer.

"Yeah," I grunted, before turning back to my book.

I'd hoped she'd take the hint and leave, but she didn't budge. After a pause, she said, "Is there nothing you can do?"

"Thea." I did my best to keep the edge out of my voice. I didn't want to be rude, but she wasn't someone I wanted to discuss this with. "Is there a reason you're here?"

She looked down quickly, where she was fidgeting with her hands again. "I never said thank you," she finally said. At least the pause was shorter this time. "For what you did. At the festival."

I raised an eyebrow. That was over a week ago, but they did say better late than never. "Don't mention it."

Once again, I returned to the bookshelf, and once again she just stood there, not moving. Biting back a grumble, I stood there too, waiting.

This pause was longer than the other two combined, and then, "I saw what you did after, for Jumong." Her voice was so quiet I could barely hear her. "Why did you?" She started talking louder, and faster. "I know he's a fellow Faerie, but he tried to hurt you, twice. And you were no match for Artemis. You could have gotten yourself seriously injured, which was really rather short-sighted of you—"

"Thea," I couldn't keep the edge out of my voice this time. "Do you have a point?"

She fell silent again, but her hands stayed still by her side. Instead of looking down she looked me straight in the eye. "Why did you do it?"

And now it was my turn to be silent. I hadn't really thought about that question before. It had all happened so fast, there hadn't been time for a why.

"I don't know," I said with a shrug. "I just did."

She stared at me, eyes wide, before realizing what she was doing and hastily looking away. "Right. Course. I'm sorry to bother you. I just wanted to say thank you. And now I have, so ..." Her mouth stayed open, but no more sounds came out. She fidgeted awkwardly for a second, like there was more she wanted to say, but in the end, she just turned around and scurried away from me as fast as possible.

I stared after her for a moment, eyebrow raised. I never would have guessed it from our first meeting, but Thea was quickly becoming the most confusing person here.

But if I thought her actions were confusing that morning, it was nothing compared to what happened a few hours later.

"There she is, just give it to her," someone said.

I looked up from the paragraph I'd read five times without understanding anything, to see, for the second time that day, Thea awkwardly standing in front of me. Only she wasn't alone this time. Iris was with her, toting another book that was wider than her tiny body.

They caught me staring at them, and their faces turned red. They didn't bolt, like I expected Iris too, but rather walked forward.

"This is for you," Thea said, while Iris gingerly handed me a book.

Slowly, I reached out to take it, and Thea gasped. I wasn't sure why, until I realized she was looking at my palm. Thanks to my shoddy first aid skills, I had a big old scar where Helena and Jumong had sliced me open. Thankfully though, Thea didn't ask about it.

"What is it?" I asked, turning the book over in my hands.

"Nguyen's theorems on energy flow," Iris piped out before Thea could say anything. "They're much more comprehensive then Leymore's, and his methods are more effective with Fae."

I blinked, stunned. That was the most words Iris had ever said in my presence, by a long shot.

"I saw the book you were carrying earlier," Thea said, misunderstanding my confusion, "and I told Iris, and she said this one was better."

"Uhh ... thank you," I said, because it was the best way to avoid more awkward silence. Especially since Thea was once again shifting, like she had something she wanted to say.

"You're going to try to change their minds, aren't you?" she asked quietly.

I bit my lip. I hadn't told anyone about my plan. I didn't want the administration finding out and shutting me down. But once again, honesty seemed like the best policy. "Yeah. Sure."

"Well, good," she smiled nervously. "That's good, wonderful even—"

"Thea?" I interrupted, because she was starting to drum her hands nervously on her thighs. "Why are you helping me?"

Her eyes widened, like my question surprised her. She swallowed, and glanced down at her lap as she said, "Because this school needs you."

It was my turn to be surprised, but then I shook my head, laughing weakly. "You think?"

But Thea wasn't laughing. "Yes." She didn't look down this time. "I do." For a moment, we just stared at each other, but it wasn't awkward this time. For whatever reason, she really believed what she was saying.

"We don't want to keep you," Thea said, characteristically averting her gaze as she strode away. Iris started to follow, then stopped long enough to give me something that resembled a smile before disappearing.

I stood there, stunned. The only thing I'd brought to this school was chaos and confusion when I'd shook up their beliefs about Misfits and messed with their social order. I'd always thought prim and proper Thea feared all that chaos, but now she was telling me it was what this school needed.

I glanced down at my hand. What would she think if she knew what they were planning to do to Sedna, and that I was considering turning a blind eye?

And then there were the tears again. I didn't deserve this. I didn't owe Sedna or this school anything. I should be able to focus on my magic without all this guilt weighing me down. But deserving or not, here I was, and whining wasn't going to change my situation.

Sighing, I pulled the book closer. Sedna ... or my plan to show off to the administration? Both would require a mastery of magic that I was nowhere close to possessing, and I was running out of time.