It had to be huge, and I was glad I’d chosen to wear my thicker leggings and boots so that walking across the cobblestones didn’t hurt my feet so much.Lizzie was at the very least covered there because she never went anywhere without wearing her trusty Docs.She could use that leather jacket she liked so much with the chill in the air.However, I supposed that the fire would be able to keep us warm enough.
We arrived at the bonfire a few minutes later, our walk filled with casual conversation about what our classes would be like.Obviously, I was most looking forward to Alchemy 101, and Lizzie was excited for the telepathy course she’d signed up for.By the time we reached the massive inferno that towered into the sky, I was ready to stand by the flames and warm up.
“I still can’t believe you’re not cold.”
Lizzie smiled, unhooking her arm from mine and doing a little spin as she closed in on the fire.“Who could be cold around you?”
My cheeks heated, and I swallowed hard.I wasn’t about to respond to that one, and unfortunately, Lizzie was already weaving her way through the massive crowd toward the front so that she could have ring-side seats to the fire’s flickering yellows and oranges.At least it would be warm if also densely packed with bodies.
“Wait up!”
Hurrying up to her, I made sure I didn’t lose Lizzie in the crowd, grabbing her hand again so that we didn’t get separated.All she did was laugh and smile at me, and damn her for being so damn gorgeous in the light of the fire.
For too long, I was silent, just staring at her while Lizzie danced without letting go of my hand, her movements matching the beat of a drum circle I couldn’t see.Her full lips were split into a wide grin, her loose braid bouncing this way and that as she forced me to dance with her.I shook my head, smiling even as I cursed my lack of rhythm and frail body.
Years of being a “hospital baby” had taken their toll, and even just remembering it made the scar on my chest burn.It was this dumb psychological reaction, my useless embarrassment over the fact that I’d had heart troubles as a kid and needed surgery.Three, in fact.But once I’d grown into an adult, all that was required was the annual check-up to ensure the old ticker was still working correctly.
I was all good now, really, even if the genetic abnormality had made me the “runt of the litter,” so to speak.I was short, thin, and just a bit too delicate-looking.Not that I was.I could run and do sport, not that I was interested in that, but all in all, I was normal.
You know, except for being a witch…and attracted to my stepsister.
Don’t go there, Temps.Your mother would have a coronary.
And even when I was objective, I wasn’t sure that her reaction wouldn’t provoke a literal heart attack.My mom’s weird obsession with religion since Dad’s death had gotten less than queer-friendly.She’d never said anything about it before, but now, it was all “it says in the book” this and “it’s just not natural” that.
Stupid.
“Ooh!There’s Mabon cider!”Lizzie’s voice threw me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see her pointing at a quaint little stand off to the side.“Want some?”
“Sure.”I nodded, forcing a smile.“Grab us both one.I’ll wait here and hold our spot.”
“Cool, cool.”
Lizzie ran off, and I waited by the fire, going utterly still and silent.I had to pry my eyes away from watching her leave, her skirt swishing just below the curves of her ass as she did.I hated how I couldn’t stop myself from fawning over her as much as I did.I felt weak for not being able to keep myself in check, but at least I had the company of the fire to keep me distracted for a bit.
I let my mind go empty as I stared into the flames, eventually holding out my hand and twirling my fingers to make the ones closest to me dance how I wanted them to.People nearby, witches who played tricks on each other or held polite conversation like the adults they were, created a din of constant sound all around me.But as soon as I’d gotten comfortable in the moment, the group closest to me left, leaving a hole in the gathered crowd.
Unable to keep myself from glancing that way, I stared across the courtyard toward the next person to take up space on this side of the fire.
Oh.
The man standing there was staring right back at me, our eyes meeting and holding like I was under some kind of spell, which wasn’t totally out of the question considering where I was.I needed to look away.It was bordering on rude now, but I justcouldn’t.
He was older than me for sure, but the man was undeniably attractive, his dark hair curled and falling over his forehead in little curly-Qs that I wanted to run my fingers through.He had a thick beard as well, manicured and trimmed, but dark and framing his full lips.I couldn’t tell what color his eyes were in this lighting, but they peered into me regardless, the light catching on streaks of white that cut through his bangs.
I had to assume he was a professor here, wearing the apparently standard tweed jacket over his shirt.It was a brown color, muddled in the glow of the fire, and a soft-looking scarf wrapped around his neck.
He even has a vest on.Fuck, Temperance, no.Stop staring.You’re being a weirdo.
But as I stood there, finally able to pull my eyes away for just a moment before I was looking back up again, the professor was crossing the distance, headed right toward me.
“Oh no.”I fumbled in place, looking this way and that for some escape route I could take back to the dorms, but every other inch of this place was crawling with students and faculty.“Shit.Shit, shit, shit.”
This was bad.Had I broken some unspoken rule?Was I not supposed to stare at handsome professors for another reason besides the fact that it was sort of rude?Oh, my gods.I’m going to get kicked out of school on the first night?!Do something, Temps!
He was closing in on me, and all I could do was start practicing what to say to him in my head, ways to plead for him not to throw me out on my ass.Why did my damn hormones have to be such assholes?I was just beginning a new chapter of my life, and already I was plagued with this nonsense that was now stretching beyond Lizzie and toanotherforbidden person—a professor.
“Hey,” Lizzie was suddenly in front of me, and I’d never been so glad to see her in my entire life, “you want to head back?I did drag you out, and IsupposeI can be nice.”
