Rabidity (Jane Loft-series #1)

Chapter 7

I'm showering when someone pounds on the door.

"Jane! You've been in there for half an hour! I need to brush my teeth and get dressed!" Trevor's voice yells, still pounding on the door.

"Don't you dare rush me, June!" I reply from under my hot stream of water and I splutter when I get shampoo in my mouth. "It's 11 a.m., so if you had to be anywhere very urgently, you should've got up an hour earlier and brush your teeth then!" But I hurry, anyway. I don't know why, I guess it's the magic in the air, but I'm way nicer to everyone since I'm in Macaria. Strange people who start a conversation with me don't get snapped at, but get a smile and a nice 'hello'. I look in the mirror for a second, wrap a towel around my body and comb my hair. Trevor is still waiting at the door and I curse myself when I realize I haven't brought any clothes with me. I thought everyone would have left already and I would be able to walk to our room without anyone seeing me. That's not going to happen, obviously.

"Trevor?" I ask hesitantly, blushing furiously.

"Yeah," he replies. "What's up?"

I get a hand through my hair and put my pride at the side. "I'm coming out, but I need you to turn around when I do, alright?"

I hear a soft chuckle when he answers. "Sure."

I walk towards the door and turn the doorknob, opening the door. Trevor is standing with his hand over his face, facing the wall. For the first time since I know him, he's being a gentleman and from what I see, he's not trying to peek through his fingers or see my reflection in the mirror in front of him.

Maybe he's not interested in seeing you half naked, an annoying voice in the back of my head tells me. I don't know why, but that hits me like a wrecking ball hits a brick wall. I shake the feeling off and hurry in our room.

"Thanks, Trevor," I say and I close the door.

"Always," I hear him reply and I walk towards the wardrobe. I pull it open and wonder what I'm supposed to wear. I've got no lessons today, and since it's so hot, I'm not feeling like working out in a heavy, hot armour in the Arena. I pull out a skirt and a tank top. It's not really my style, but since we left Zickenbridge in a hurry (remember the Mushkas?), I didn't have much time to pack my favourite clothing. I'm in my underwear when the door slams open.

"Trevor!" I yell and his gaze falls on me. His eyes go from my face over my body and end at my feet before he's able to control himself and turns around.

"Sorry!" he apologizes. "I didn't mean to look at you. It just... it just happened. I'll knock next time and I'll never look at you again. I mean, I will look at you when we're talking or when you want me to look at you –"

I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest. "Trevor," I cut across him, "get out."

"Yes. Great idea. I – See you later."

He closes the door behind him and I fall on the bed next to me, only to realize I'm on the very edge. I turn to the wrong side and fall on the ground, blushing furiously for what just happened.

oO0Oo

In Zickenbridge it was autumn when we left, but apparently the summer just started in Macaria. The clock just struck noon and it's already searing hot. No one wants to practice in the Arena because of the heat, so my friends and I search an empty spot on the grass beneath a tree and we install ourselves. Dana is back with Phostius because she's supposed to attach herself to the new Circle, not to me, although I completely disagree. Xavier brought an electric device he calls a radio and we enjoy catchy music while laughing and relaxing. Nobody talks about it, but we're all dead nervous about the Festival tonight. The bracelet I almost didn't notice the previous days, weighs heavily on my wrist and I fuddle at it every second of the day. I know Xavier and Fang are nervous, too. If Xavier doesn't get sorted in a Circle, he'll become a guard or a permanent teacher in Macaria, and even though I don't know him very well, I'm sure he'll hate that life. He needs action, danger, mystery, not a life behind a desk or locked up in a building.
Fang would get peace with that life – eventually – but he wouldn't be happy. Thinking of which, I don't know what I would do. If I don't get in a Circle, I would probably quit my magical life. I would finish high school and get a job. After all, there's nothing in this world that reminds me of my parents. That's the thing I miss the most in this world. My parents. I have missed them in Zickenbridge too, obviously, but there I had a place to go to when I felt alone. Here... not so much. Here, I have to fight monsters and my instincts to push everyone away from my life so I don't get hurt.