The Stars Said Hello [1]

C H A P T E R - 1 6

"Good Morning, Prodigies," Dame Alina cooed during orientation the next morning. "Everyone ready for another exciting day?"

"Hey, check it out," Dex whispered to Sophie. He pointed to the meter on his plain blue nexus. "I finally passed the halfway point."

"Really?" She tried to be excited for him, but she hadn't even reached the one-third point.

"Yep. Not much further till I can have my own Pathfinder. Maybe I'll even get my nexus off younger than Fitz—man, that'd be awesome! I'd love to see Wonderboy's face if a Dizznee broke his precious record."

She was about to defend Fitz when Dame Alina caught her attention.

"We are now four weeks away from midterms. For those of you worried you won't be able to score the required seventy-five percent to pass, I recommend seeing Lady Nissa in the Tutoring Center."

"Maybe you should sign up for alchemy tutoring," Marella whispered. "Not sure you'll pass without it."

Marella's tone was teasing, but her words hit a nerve. Sophie was barely scraping by in alchemy, and that was with Lady Galvin shouting instructions across the room. She couldn't imagine how hard it would be on her own. And she had Bronte to consider. He was probably waiting for her to fail her midterms.

Everything in her shrank at the idea of needing a tutor. She wasn't used to struggling with her grades. It felt so humiliating.

Not as humiliating as getting expelled. . . .

"That's it for today. Everyone work hard," Dame Alina finished, tossing her hair before her projection disappeared.

-----------------------------------------

"Ugh, what is that?" Sophie gagged and glared at the silver strip on her locker.

Dex looked a little green. "I think it's reekrod. Elwin must've picked the flavor today."

"Remind me to yell at him the next time I see him."

"Planning another visit to the Healing Center?" Marella asked. "Going to make it a daily habit?"

"Very funny."

Marella gave her locker the tiniest lick and shrugged. "He's done worse."

"Yeah, well, I'm taking all my books with me now," Sophie said.

"Oooh—smart thinking," Dex agreed, reaching for the rest of his books. He grabbed a small silver box and tore it open. "Here. Take a Prattle to get rid of the taste."

For once Dex had good taste in candy. It was sweet and chewy—like caramel mixed with peanut butter and filled with cream.

"Which pin did you get?" Marella asked as he pulled out a small velvet pouch, like a Cracker Jack prize.

Dex removed a tiny silver horse with a glittering black mane.

Marella gasped. "A Prattles' unicorn? Please tell me you want to trade."

"Maybe." His eyes darted to Sophie. "Unless you want it?"

"I don't have any to trade."

Marella's eyes stretched as wide as they would go. "You don't have any Prattles' pins?"

Sophie stared at her feet, hating how out of touch she still was.

"I think Sophie should have it." Dex placed the pin in her hand before she could argue.

Marella snorted. "Of course you do."

"What? She needs to start her collection."

"Whatever you say."