Freaks: Year Two

Wizard School Can Be Fun!

Christopher was on his third cigarette and his classes had not even started yet.

It was the middle of May and his first exam was in mid-June which meant he had just a month to study his head off in hopes to understand the material and somehow pass his classes. He didn't think he was going to pass, he barely knew anything from any of the subjects, he realised. He kept forgetting basic facts and as his stress levels rose, he just smoked another cigarette.

At this point he didn't even care about the exams, he felt like he had bigger and more important things to do–like helping the Odairs with the spell in the box so they had something that worked all year-round. He and Jasper had been working on it for months, but they still were having trouble figuring out how to ensure the shield charm stayed in the box. The problem with the idea is that it seemed impossible for the spell to just stay in the box. And even if they did figure out that part, would the spell work if they opened it?

Christopher let out a heavy sigh as he slammed his textbook shut. He rummaged through his knapsack until pulling out another book. A book he had gotten at the start of the year and had been looking at since then.

He casted the reading spell as he didn't want to miss a single detail.

"...you have to be cautious and aware of the trauma they may have. Here..."

"You don't have to yell it out," Christopher muttered. He was about to continue to listen when he heard the door open and he swore under his breath, shutting the book, making the words stop. He quickly stuffed the book into his bag and stuffed the now burnt out cigarette in his pocket.

Pandora popped her head into the room. "What are you doing in here?"

"Studying."

"Well, we have class now, come on, you don't want to be late."

Christopher rolled his eyes and stood up. He slowly made his way out of the common room with Pandora, hoping that she was not suspecting anything, but so far she had not said a word.

"I have some good news," she finally said.

"What?"

"My parents signed the form for your Education Plan," Pandora said with a smile. "So now you will be able to use the spell and get extra time on your written exams."

"They didn't have to do that."

"Well, they did, just like I said they would be," said Pandora, promptly. "You don't have to worry anymore." Christopher grumbled something under his breath. "What? I thought you'd be happy?"

"They didn't have to do that. That's a waste of their time."

"But Christopher, you need accommodations."

"And they didn't need to do that!"

Pandora pursed her lips. "I don't understand you sometimes. This will help you."

"That's the problem Pandora," Christopher snapped out. "Not every kid can get that."

"So that means you don't deserve it?"

"Yes."

"No, it doesn't–"

"Yes, it does! You don't get it!" Christopher exclaimed, his stress getting to an all time high as he thought about the Odairs and even the Jacksons, because even though he hated them, the things he had heard and seen...

Pandora let out a sigh as she watched him go up ahead, back to mumbling unintelligible words under his breath. He really needed to learn how to talk to people, but even after years of knowing each other, she felt like she had barely gotten a glimpse into his mind.