Strained

Chapter Eighteen

Finally, it was Friday. I had been looking forward to the weekend all week. It wasn't because I had any real exciting plans, but the Weekends were full of seeing Jamie. Usually, we spent either Saturday or Sunday together, sometimes both days. After going to Jamie's dorms, I found out how much I liked being alone with him. Tomorrow, he was coming down to take me to his dorms again. I did feel bad about how much gas he was going through, but he said he didn't mind. I was in bliss. 

Which is why when I saw Ivelyn in the halls, I tried to avoid her. I ducked through the halls, skipping a trip to my locker just so I could leave without her seeing me. Unfortunately, when Ivelyn wanted something she usually got it. In this case, she wanted to talk to me so that was just what she was going to do. It was frustrating how determined she was. Or maybe it was her stubbornness that drove her determination? I wasn't sure.

"Moreau!" I cringed when I heard Ivelyn call my name. I had been spotted. She was behind me, so I thought I might be able to keep walking. "Moreau! You're like one in three redheads, I know it's you." She yelled down the hall, making me spot instantly. She was right, there was a limited number of people with my hair color. 

"Shit," I hissed, then spun around. She was smirking. At least, she was happy with herself. I hitched up my backpack and closed the space in between us. "What's up?" I tried to sound casual. She was dating Seth now, so she should understand wanting to leave school to see your boyfriend. Although, boyfriends were foreign to Ivelyn. She was the type to use a guy then ditch him. 

"The Coven meeting is tonight," her chilling green eyes were the color of gently spun jade. She really should have been born with blue eyes, they conveyed the type of coldness that was behind them. She flipped her raven-colored hair over her shoulder. 

"Okay, I'll see you at your house later," I turned to leave. I had been trying to miss this meeting. There wasn't much to say, well that wasn't true. There was a lot we needed to talk about, but I didn't want to. We knew we had to wait for December thirty-first and I was trying to spend as much time with Jamie as I could. There was a chance I wouldn't make it to January first. I didn't want to leave this place without maximizing my time with Jamie. 

"It's at Erik's this time," this surprised me. We always had our meetings at Ivelyn's. Her house had both room and privacy. 

"Why's that?" Although, Erik's house was a lot closer to mine so that was nice. I didn't mind going to Erik's, it was just alarming that Ivelyn wasn't hosting. She was born to be a hostess. 

"My dad's home and he's going to be home for a while now and I just thought--

"Wow, so this is about your dad? What he doesn't like the idea of his Witch daughter having a Coven meeting? I didn't really get that vibe from him." I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn't like her dad. I think everyone, including him, knew this. It wasn't just that I saw him go into an empty bedroom with my mom. It was his arrogance and pretentiousness. 

"It isn't like that," she narrowed her eyes at me. "Be careful Moreau, my dad and I are very close and I won't let someone talk badly about him. You might have a shield, but I'm quick and you can't hold your shield up twenty-four seven." She took a half step forward, fists clenched at her sides. I thought I saw a flicker of a flame in her palms. We were in a crowded High School hallway, she couldn't expose us here. It would be the Witch Trials all over again.

"Okay, whatever, but cool it or you're going to expose yourself." I looked down at her hands. She did too and the flames went out.

"Sorry, I get a little aggressive when people talk about my dad like that. You might not be close to your dad, but he's all I have. My mom never wanted kids and I don't have any siblings, at least you have Dara." I never thought about it like that. She was right, she didn't have anyone but her dad that knew about her magic in her family.