Bound by Duty

Chapter Six

All day long I was well aware that Comp class was coming and I was dreading it. I didn't know how to handle Aidan. It wasn't like we were officially dating, but there was clearly something there. There was more than casual banter and we both knew it. Now, I had to stop it. I was essentially breaking up with him before we started dating.

I worried that I would see that look again, the one he'd worn as he walked away from me last week. Under my own constant waffling, I could feel my power fizzing and popping angrily in its little corner, threatening to burst out. While being around Aidan set my magic off in an entirely different way than I had ever known, it had never been negative. I always walked away from him feeling a sense of happiness I had never found anywhere else.

I was sitting on a picnic table outside, lost in my own thoughts. I hated knowing what was coming. Knowing that even though it technically was my choice to walk away, it didn't feel like one. It wasn't the choice I wanted. Suddenly, I heard a loud thwack and a backpack landed next to me. Micah plopped down at the table, sitting opposite of me.

"Um, can I help you?" I had successfully avoided him and his prying questions for a few days, but I couldn't outrun him forever.

"I have been looking for you, Amelia." He cocked his head, his blond hair getting a little wind-blown since it wasn't tied back. He shoved a hand through it, putting me directly in the path of his bright blue eyes. "We need to talk. I think you have some explaining to do."

I honestly had no idea what to say. I just stared at him, wondering what to do next. I was shocked when he leaned in with a mischievous gleam in his eyes and whispered, "We Mages have to stick together, you know." My jaw dropped and was still hanging open when Bethany swooped in moments later. By the look of it, she knew Micah would be finding us at lunch today. She was in her favorite skinny jeans with the sparkly design on the butt, a flowing electric-pink top, and four-inch stilettos. I had never been happier to see her than in that moment. Micah didn't miss a beat, he scooted over and gave her a killer smile.

"I swear I'm going to fail French," she whined as she tossed her silver Coach handbag on the seat next to her. It was more of a luggage piece with handles, but "a girl could never be unprepared". I was fairly certain she could save a small country with what's in that bag. I focused in on Bethany, refusing to acknowledge Micah and his blatant admission. I'd seen his eyes after the incident with Aidan and I'd assumed he was also a Mage, but I'd never known a Mage to just out themselves like that.

"The instructor hates me," she continued. "I don't understand all the verb tenses and I can't even figure out how to ask where the bathroom is. Does she not understand growing up in Mississippi means I've already mastered what most consider a foreign language?" Bethany dropped her head back and groaned loudly, pulling me out of my own head as I stifled a laugh at her theatrics.

Micah also chuckled as he turned to face her. I wanted to be happy that he was giving her so much attention, but I had to keep myself from scowling at him as I wondered what he was doing with a human. How was it that he was lucky enough to get to make his own choices? Then, as Aidan crept into my head once again, I realized that was the pot calling the kettle black. I couldn't stick around to witness him being able to have the thing I was about to give up.

"Well, I'm going to let you guys sort this out. I've gotta get going anyway. Later!" I couldn't move to grab my backpack and untangle myself from the table fast enough. As I turned to walk away, I caught a look from Micah that clearly told me our conversation wasn't over. Bethany gave him a shove and demanded his attention again, taking his focus off of me. God love her, I was so happy she could keep him occupied. "Bye, Ame! See ya later," she chirped. The last thing I heard was her giggle as I hurried away.