Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 9

"We need to pick up our schedules," I remind Tessa.

The tournament has concluded and we are walking off the field as we weave through the throngs of people who are leaving the bleachers. There is a strange energy hanging over the other students, like a tension I can't quite put my finger on. Though it hasn't been a very normal opening ceremony. 

I'm an Unfamiliar and everyone just watched a top student try to kill another. 

Not exactly the best way to start off the school year. 

"Shoot, you're right, I almost forgot I still need my schedule too," Tessa mutters, snapping me out of my thoughts. 

She starts for the edge of the crowd where she manages to break free and I jog after her. I glance back to see that Astrid and Luke are trailing behind as they tag along before Luke catches up and walks by my side.

"So how did you do that?" Luke asks in a low voice.

"Hm?"

"You know-," he makes a broad gesturing motion, "control the other familiars on the field?"

I shrug at this as heat rushes to my face, "I honestly don't know, I just...did it."

He frowns at this, a puzzled look filling his expression. 

"Sometimes seniors will pull pranks," Astrid speaks up as she brings up the rear, "it's a cruel trick, stupid really, Unfamiliars are dangerous, they're practically painting a target on your back."

"Oh," I say softly, as I can't help but feel crestfallen.

But I could have sworn I could feel the others power on the field. I could swear I had been the one actually getting to control them.

There's no way what I did wasn't real. 

"Cheer up, you'll get a chance to conjure your actual familiar, I'm sure it will be great," Astrid adds when she sees my disappointment.

I nod, but it feels like a hard pill to swallow. For once, it felt like there was hope for me. 

"So how was your summer?" Luke asks, easily changing the subject as his long legs keep pace with my short ones.

"It was good, just busy," I say as we follow a rock path around the side of the lecture hall.

"Same, we need to hang out some time to catch up," Luke suggests and I can't help but glance over at him in surprise.

"Uh, we'll have to see," I murmur as I focus on walking instead of the fact that my cheeks are suddenly warm. 

From behind him, I can see Astrid raise an eyebrow at me and I quickly look away. 

There are still a couple of stragglers that are being dropped off out front in the circle drive. We pass them by as they trek up the sidewalk while Tessa ducks through a door a couple of yards down from the bell tower. A small office is on the other side and a secretary sitting behind an old, gothic style desk glances up from a computer as we enter. The woman smiles kindly at us as we approach her, our footsteps making the ancient, wood floor creak in a few places.

A placard with the name, 'Ms. Laroche' is propped on the edge of the desk. The woman pushes back a few strands of her shiny, black hair and tucks it behind her ear. She has almond skin and her eyes are dark and warm as they focus on Tessa, who walks up to the desk first.

"Hi, Anaya," Tessa chirps as she stops at the desk and casually leans against it like she's comfortable being here, "just here for my schedule."

"Of course, Tessa, just a moment," Ms. Laroche says as she taps away at her keyboard.