“Coral!” we cried in unison.
We each took turns hugging our friend then paused our conversation to help her bring her luggage from the parking lot, putting the fern cart to use once more.
“B’s got intel on the new founder’s descendant,” Aurielle said as Coral unpacked.
“There are actually two new founders’ descendants. And not intel,” I said. “But we met over the summer.”
“Spill.” Coral pinned me with a look.
I filled them in on my experience sneaking onto campus with Meadow then being caught by Professor East and Callan. When Igot to the part about meeting Callan’s best friend, Hollis, Coral gasped.
“Fronds. I’d forgotten he’d be enrolling this year,” she said.
“You know him?” Aurielle asked.
“Kind of. We were in a competition together a few years ago that was open to fourteen- to sixteen-year-old fern affinities in our region. The winner got a trip to the fern conservatory. Like he even needed to enter. Don’t founders’ descendants visit the conservatory all the time?”
“Depends on the family, I think,” Yasmin said. “So, I take it he won?”
“Yes, and my project was much more innovative. His was flashier, though. If you couldn’t tell by how he carries himself, B, that showmanship comes through when he presents.”
“I may have noticed a bit of… charisma,” I admitted.
“Thinks he’s a young British royal or something.” Coral snorted.
“Sounds like you two really hit it off,” Aurielle said, and we both clenched our lips together to hide our smiles when our eyes met.
“Ha! He wishes,” Coral said.
Yasmin turned her attention back to me. “Sounds like someone had an eventful midsummer. And here we thought you’d be missing out on all our magical botanist traditions.”
“I can’t believe Meadow convinced you to sneak onto campus.” Aurielle arched her eyebrows.
“She sounds like trouble. Which, of course, I have nothing against a little of,” Coral observed. The ferns in the room shimmied.
“And you and Callan doing some extracurriculars together… What a treat,” Yasmin said, expression coy.
“More like luck that Professor East didn’t give me detention or expel me or something.”
“Evergreen Academy doesn’t have detention,” Aurielle said asif that was obvious. “But he could have given you an extra kitchen botany rotation.”
“Normally, that wouldn’t even be punishment. But without powers, I wonder if the herbs and harvester students would run me right out of there.”
“It’s going to be a great year, B.” Coral flung her arm around my shoulder. “As long as Hollis doesn’t ruin it.”
Chapter Nine
“We have five new fern recruits joining our ranks,” Yasmin said as the four of us sat down for breakfast in the teahouse a week later.
Whoever was on kitchen botany rotation was outdoing themselves. They had created a fresh food buffet fit for royalty, complete with multi-tiered displays of pastries and fruit, an omelet bar that had every ingredient imaginable, and a crepe stand with options both savory and sweet. I opted for a sweet crepe with a spread created from hazelnuts and cocoa powder grown at the academy. The coconut whipped topping melted in my mouth, and I had to force my brain away from the food and to the conversation.
“I can already tell that one is going to get on my last nerve.” Coral pointed her spoon toward where Hollis was surrounded by a group of students.
“How’s it going having a founder’s descendant with the ferns now?” I asked. As usual, I had been pulled in multiple directions all week, trying to touch base with each of the different affinity groups.
“You tell me. Look at him. He’s like an attention magnet.” Coral eyed him and shook her head.
“Well, heisa founder’s descendant,” Aurielle said.
