Out of the Lamp

Chapter 4: Licked

AN: don't forget to comment! (Vote too but yknow I prefer the comments really)

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Alia

I follow the silver plaque signs to the ground floor lecture theatre. Students have long since filed in and I'm running a few minutes late.

Great, just my luck.

I slip in through the back doors and grab the back row, it's empty and I sigh in relief. The lecturer is tapping away on his computer, logging in. Slumping into the seat I grab my iPhone out of my backpack.

I drop a quick text to my dad;

Me: Just got booked - again. You'll laugh at this one. Drama script trigger.

I knew he'd worry, like he did with all my wishers, but I wasn't going to keep him from this part of my life. The MIA mother of mine was enough to deal with.

Normally, they cleared up within a day or two. Being impulsive and greedy had its perks. The longest I'd been stuck with a mortal wisher, was around a week. That owing to the fact it was a little five year old who kept forgetting about me and couldn't decide on her wishes. Never. Again. I hate kids. They can be so evil.

'Hey stranger,'

I look up to see the blondie camera guy from earlier. His smile is friendly and hard not to return, no matter how glum my mood is right now.

'You ran away before we could thank you, or catch a name.' He slides in to the seat next to me, throwing his bag down between our feet.

'Alia.' I extend a hand, to which he shakes firmly.

'Formal, I like it.' He smiles, 'Mathew.'

Before we can say another word, the lecturer starts.

***

Two hours of utter bull. I sat there through an induction lecture that was like any other induction lecture: boring. Fire hazards and exits, health and safety, codes of conduct, university policies - blah. Freaking blah.

'Man, that was awesome.' Mathew brushes his hand through his golden locks, rolling his eyes sarcastically. 'If I don't sit through another one of those, it'll be only too soon.'

I chuckle and nod in agreement as we walk towards the cafeteria. Obviously we didn't sit in silence for two tedious hours; within that time, I learned a few facts about the blonde bombshell. Not only does he have killer cerulean eyes, but cheekbones to rival Angelina Jolie. No, like seriously - how was his bone structure so defined? I was getting some serious bone envy here! Mathew had just turned twenty, on the older spectrum of my academic year group. He was studying pharmacy starting this year, unlike my English Literature and Creative Writing degree. So seeing him around wouldn't be impossible, but not the easiest. As we walk side by side, I admire the way his figure looms over mine, barely do I reach his shoulder. Imagine hugging him - face smushed against his chest: cute!

The thought makes me blush instantly and I have to look away as he talks animatedly about all this uni related stuff.

'...so - how'd you know that guy from earlier?' He gives me a knowing look and raises an eyebrow in suggestion. 'Seemed to run off somewhere quick...'

I grimace at the implication. Though his question takes me by surprise and for a second, I consider telling him the truth - that I didn't know him. Then the nagging thought of the first wish makes me reconsider. This guy was clearly going to be trouble in the company of others - so why not help myself out a little? A smirk crosses my face.