Chapter 2 Paired With Kieran Pierce

The voice I heard from inside didn't sound like the boy who did my evaluation, but I had a feeling he was asking about me. I lowered my hand and leaned closer to the door.

"Yeah, the last on the list." That voice I recognized.

The strange voice asked, "Why are her scores so low?"

"Because she was the worst person I evaluated today. I mean, why come to Viremont Academy if you are not prepared?"

My heart felt like it stopped. It was one thing to know I had totally flopped, but confirmation from someone else felt even worse. Heat rushed to my face. I shouldn't have cared what some random third year thought about me, but after years of constantly feeling out of place, hearing someone say it so casually still stung. Worst person he evaluated? Seriously?

The other voice spoke again. "Damn. Was she really that bad?"

"She couldn't even dodge properly," he replied flatly. "And her magic was practically nonexistent."

My grip tightened around the door handle. Embarrassment twisted painfully in my chest and quickly gave way to irritation. Okay, fine, maybe I had done horribly, but he didn't have to sound like such an arrogant jerk about it.

"Honestly, I don't even know how she got accepted here."

That did it. Before I could stop myself, I shoved the door open.

Two sets of eyes turned to me as I entered the room. Another boy was in the room trying to put the equipment together. I met eyes with the dark haired boy who did my evaluation. He stared back at me, unmoved. Tension brewed between us.

"I forgot my necklace," I uttered slowly. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of a reaction.

The other boy in the room glanced between us, before finally averting his gaze from me.

"Okay, this is my cue to go over to the next room. See you around, Kieran."

So that was his name.

He grabbed a few things and ducked out the door.

Kieran pointed at the box in the corner. "Your necklace is in there." He didn't give any indication that he knew I had heard them.

And you know what? I wouldn't waste my time on an arrogant jerk like him. I marched over to the box, snatched out my necklace, and curled my fingers around it. He stayed silent, and I was fully prepared to storm out of the room. I was close to the door when he finally spoke.

"You heard us, didn't you?"

My restraint vanished and anger bubbled up to the surface. I whirled around. "Of course I heard you. You were talking about me like you know anything about me."

He stayed infuriatingly calm. "I made a comment based on what I saw today."

"Well, trust me, next time you can keep your comments to yourself."

"It was merely the truth. Do you find it difficult to hear that?" He stepped closer.

I also took a step. "One that no one asked for."

Now he was standing right in front of me. My breath came quick and shallow. He stood close enough that I was looking up at him.

"It is still the truth. This academy is not easy," he said, his gaze still locked on mine. "If you cannot keep up, you will not survive here."

I knew that I was out of place in an academy I had known nothing about some months ago, but he had no right to decide that.

"So that gives you the right to act like you are better than everyone?"

"Better than most? Yes."

The worst part was the fact that he sounded like he was just stating a fact. His words were flat, and he didn't sound like he was bragging.

Kieran studied my face before speaking again. "Look, either you step up or this academy swallows you whole. That is how this place works."

My fingers curled tighter around the necklace.

"Right," I said tightly. "Thanks for the warning. I will manage." I took a step back and immediately broke the tension between us.

He also stepped back like he had not realized we were so close.

I turned and walked toward the door, but just before opening it, I stopped.

"For the record," I said tightly, "being powerful doesn't automatically make you likable."

He stiffened and something crossed his face, but it was gone before I could recognize it.

I opened the door and walked out.

The hallway noise hit me like a wall. I stood there for a second, jaw tight, necklace pressed hard into my palm. The conversation replayed whether I wanted it to or not.

I exhaled slowly and started walking.

Greta spotted me first and started toward me, already talking. "Okay so you have to hear about mine, it was actually not that bad." She stopped mid-sentence. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing." I fell into step beside her. "Tell me about yours."

She gave me a long look but let it go. I was grateful for that.

As we walked together, Greta told me that an important announcement was about to be made in Vince Hall and that we were to gather there.

"What is it about?"

"I don't know," Greta said with a shrug. "But I heard people talking about rankings."

"What?" I whispered. "Would they just start the rankings immediately?"

"I wouldn't be surprised."

We got there and settled in with the others. A few minutes later, some other students started filing in. They were clearly not first years. We stared at them as they also settled on the other side of the hall.

One of the professors stepped onto the podium. The room slowly quieted.

"I hope everyone's evaluations went smoothly," he began. "As many of you already know, Viremont Academy values cooperation between students." The professor folded his hands behind his back. "Which is why this year, we will be implementing a partner system for the first time. One between first and third years."

Immediate murmurs broke out across the hall.

Greta straightened beside me. "Wait, what?"

"Each first year will be paired with a third year mentor," the professor continued over the noise. "Your performances will affect one another throughout the term, which means you need each other."

The murmuring got louder. Beside me, someone muttered that it wasn't fair to drag third years down for first year mistakes. Someone else said it sounded like a punishment. I told myself there were plenty of third years. The odds were fine.

"Pairings have already been selected," he added. "And no changes will be made. You don't get to pick your partner in the real world."

He started calling name after name. I rubbed my hands together and hoped that I would get someone kind and patient, maybe even someone who could help me understand what was wrong with my powers and with me.

Some students looked relieved. Others looked curious when their names were called. I tuned out the majority of the names until I heard mine.

"Hazel Aradia."

I straightened immediately. The teacher glanced down at the paper in his hand.

"Paired with Kieran Pierce."