Castleside Academy

Chapter Fifteen: Lexi

The next few days are rainy and depressing. New Year’s Dinner is silent and confusing. Toby and Hazel are suddenly no longer a couple, Luther comforts me silently when he finds me crying for my abandoning parents, and I’m falling apart from all the secrets I’m keeping from them.

Quite a way to end the year, isn’t it?

I’m officially adopted on the fifth of January. Lady Talon and Lord Talon say that I can call them Mom and Dad if I want, but I’m not so comfortable with it. They said that I didn’t have to rush, though. Some things seemed nice, but with the rain continuously pouring down, nothing was truly happy.

January seventh, we all go back to school. I’m even more upset that we missed the holidays, Luther and I. It all passed too soon. And while everyone else was either mourning our “deaths” or opening presents dully, Luther and I were struggling to survive at the bottom of the gorge. Wonderful. I still didn’t get a single Christmas present, mostly because someone took them when they were under the tree, and I believe Maya and Henrietta when they say that when they came back from breakfast, they were gone. But hey, I’m engaged to the most charming boy (in my opinion) in school. I’m a princess again.

Drama Class once again. The time has come. And I’m ready.

“Good morning, children,” says Lady Austin, coming in from her office to the classroom.

There’s a murmur of “good morning” throughout us, even if it’s neither good nor morning.

“Let’s get to work, shall we?” she asks.

Even Lady Austin is tired and dull.

We pile into our small practice auditorium and gather onstage for her instructions. She sits in one of the chairs in the audience and looks at us. “I just want you all to know that I’m proud of all of you for making it through the holidays. I know that they were tough, frightening, and confusing. I’m just glad that Luther and Lexi are safe, Hazel is home again, and none of you all were hurt in the panic of it.”

Everyone smiles weakly at each other. Luther puts his arm around me and pulls me to his side.

“We’re going to start the last scene, but Lexi—you and Luther really don’t have to really kiss if it makes you too uncomfortable.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s all right. In fact, I’m looking forward to it,” I say.

“Me, too,” says Luther, giving me a knowing, ever knowing look.

And for the first time this period, everyone chuckles or makes a whistle when Luther and I separate from everyone to our spots back stage together.

“Go for it!” Lady Austin calls, and I can almost catch the humor in her voice from what just previously happened.

Luther and I walk together on stage, hand-in-hand.

I’ve read my lines; I’ve practiced everything but the very last kiss in the last few seconds of the play. I know it by heart except for that one little bit.

“We’re married now,” Luther says, gazing at me with bright eyes.

I nod my head, tilting it a bit. “But we still need a place to live.”

Luther turns me to him and takes both my hands in his. “That kingdom the innkeeper told us about. I will find us that place there. I will find a job. I will work harder than ever. All for you.”

“Jasper—” I begin.

He smiles and interrupts. “It won’t be hard, my darling. I’ll make enough money so we can have children for sure. More than one.”