Anomalies (working title)

Chapter 17

Josephine (Jo)

Staring up at the old-timey castle, Jo was filled with several emotions. Excitement, happiness, protectiveness (for the small group beside her), and absolute, bone-shaking, teeth-chattering fear. She wasn't the only one, either. Waves of different feelings bombarded her aggressively, each one stronger than the one before.

Sadness

Nostalgia

Terror

Excitement

Curiosity

Wonder

Gay

Euphoria

Nervousness

Jo shivered at the feelings and grabbed Blue's hand.

Anxiety
Awkwardness

Astonishment

"Alright, children, grab your bags," Ms. Lynn said, snapping Jo out of her trance. Jo shuffled out of the minibus and walked to the back trunk, where they all retrieved their bags, before continuing into the school.

The inside was just as intimidating as the outside. Cobblestoned hallways, torches that glowed purple rather than gold, paintings of important-looking magicians that stayed stationary in their canvases, banners of the school crest (a purple dragon in flight).

"This looks like a shabbier Hogwarts," Blue whispered, humorous tones in her voice. Jo knew better. She was terrified.

"It has more history. Bloodier history," Jo said back. She could practically feel it running through the walls. The whole aura of the place was secretive. Buildings didn't carry emotional auras unless they were old, or had a large secret.

"Wow, you're a real positive influence today," Jamie remarked. Jo rolled her eyes.

"Shush. We all know I'm the real cynic," Blue pointed out.

Skye randomly chose that time to take out his wings, the dragonfly-like wings sliding through a slit in his hoodie. The sudden poof caused Blue to suddenly sprout horns. This wasn't common in the bigs since they usually were a tad more controlled, but tensions were running high.

"Wow. Just let everyone know we're the Anomalies," Hayley said, rolling her eyes.

"You keep doing that, they'll roll right off your face," Skye shot back, flicking her with his wings.

"They were going to find out anyway," David, a junior pointed out.

"Yeah. Can we go to the dorm?" Hayley asked Ms. Lynn, who had been directing the bigs to their separate areas.

"Of course! Here are your numbers... Will you be alright?" Ms. Lynn asked.

"You mean... You're not coming with us?" Jamie piped up. Jo sensed sadness, a little bit of growing hurt, and guilt from Ms. Lynn.

"No, I need to get back. But remember, children. I- I'm doing this because I love you," she said.

They need to be able to go off without me, Ms. Lynn thought. Jo didn't know if this was a random reading or a sent message, but it made sense. They had to get used to functioning and living without her, and this was the first step. They weren't entirely hers anymore. They were their own.

"We understand," Jo said, cutting off any other protest before it came. She gave them a look of we'll discuss this later.

"I- Goodbye," Ms. Lynn said, hugging each one of the Veneficus freshmen tightly.

I love you, was her one thought as she wrapped her arms around Jo tightly.

Ms. Lynn had never said that before. Jo knew it was to protect them, and they all knew she cared about them. But finally hearing her motherlike-figure say that she loved her, and knowing they wouldn't see each other for a long time just about broke her.

Her last view of Ms. Lynn was from behind, as her skirts swirled in the wind.

... . .- .-. -.-. .... / ..-. --- .-.

"So, this is it, huh?" Jamie said, glancing around the dorm.

It wasn't very spacious, especially for six people. There were three bunk beds lining the walls, giving the space a very closed feeling. A single window was next to a little table with several chairs, as well as a shelf with storage cubbies. The walls were bare, but Jo knew her friends well enough to know they would be covered within a few minutes.

"Looks like it," Skye sighed, dropping his duffle beside one bunk bed and unzipping it.

"Please promise not to kill each other," Jo said, beginning to adjust her sheets on her bunk, which she was sharing with Blue (all the roommates had made a beeline to share with each other).

"I promise nothing," Blue yelled from her top bunk, almost falling off her ladder as she stretched her fitted sheet across her bed.

"And don't kill yourself," Jo scolded, spotting the ladder so Blue didn't break her neck.

"Again. I promise nothing," Blue grinned before falling backward off the bunk, into Jo's outstretched arms.

"What a riot," Jo said sarcastically, rolling her eyes and setting Blue down.

"You two are acting pretty buddy-buddy," Skye pointed out from his spot at the windowsill, where he was in the midst of setting up a mini plant nursery.

"Yeah, what was the deal with you two? You were pretty cold over the summer," Jamie said, unloading the third stack of books from her duffle bag.

"Oh, it was nothing... Just a little misunderstanding," Jo lied, attempting to make herself sound nonchalant and being glad that she was the only emotion-reader in the room.

"Jo, you are a terrible liar," Jamie pointed out, straightening out her sheets.

"We aren't going to make her do anything. Right, guys?" Skye said, giving Jamie a death glare. Jamie stuck her tongue out at him and kept unpacking.

"I still can't believe Ms. Lynn just left us like that," Hayley lamented, stringing fairy lights onto the wall.

"She just wants us to be able to function without her. She also loves us, really does," Jo stated, glad for the change of subject.

"How did you- Oh, right, mind-reading," Cam said, scrunching up her face like she was trying to guard her thoughts.

"For the 80 millionth time, guys, my mind-reading comes and goes. I wouldn't be in your head right now unless you were attempting to send me a thought, or had a thought filled with strong emotion," Jo sighed.

Well, all I'm thinking right now is how cute you are, even when you are stressed, Blue's voice came into Jo's head. Jo had to stop herself from smiling as she pulled out her ukulele and spiral notebook she had found one day on the playground while taking a walk.

The notebook had maybe three pages of algebra homework, which Jo had long since ripped out. She used it nowadays to write songs. Only now, she finally had an instrument of her own to add to the music. Her most recent song had to be her favorite. But it wasn't quite there yet.

"What's in there?" Blue asked, gesturing to the notebook. Instinctively, Jo held it close to her.

"Just a little trip into my mind," Jo replied, sliding it back into her duffle.

"Really," Blue persisted.

"Just some music. Maybe if you're good I'll sing you something someday," Jo winked, mentally kissing Blue on the top of her head.

"I can only hope," Blue said, smiling and turning away.