First day at a witches’ community school. What outfit should I go with? I wondered, as my eyes perused the three options that laid flat on my bed.
My right knuckles under my jaw, I let my mind conjure up what Naomi would choose if she was here with me.
Well, first of all, she would be happy about my wardrobe upskill. She would be glad that I had at least taken a hint from her before disappearing on her.
I sighed, and sat on the stool in only my undergarments. Diana was already off to school. I still didn’t understand how their school works-letting children in around six am.
Laura explained it’s more of magic, than the worldly stuff we learn in a normal school. Well I had to ask if I should expect the same at the one I was heading to. Her perceptive nod had thrown me in a frenzy.
Yes, they had mentioned that I had a magic gene in me-probably why the wolf gene had been absent-but I didn’t believe it.
I have seen nothing special about me, except that which I had stolen from Adam during sex.
Adam.
I shook my head, shutting down that area of mind beckoning on me to take a sneak peek. I knew from experience that it wouldn’t end in a sneak peak.
No, I would end up dwelling, trying to untangle the confusion threads and twines that had increased and twined on each other by Adam’s presence and words last night.
Wheew.
I breathed out and stood up from the stool when I felt I was beginning to lose the battle of not thinking about Adam.
A knock on the door caught my attention.
“Who is that?”
I needed to ask, because Peter was still around. Man would be so embarrassed seeing me in my undergarments; not as embarrassed as me though.
“It’s me. Laura. Just checking in to know how ready you are. It’s almost eight.”
Already eight? How long had I spent springing out clothes from the box Peter had given me yesternight after he had advised me on what to expect from school today, and how to navigate through them all?
“Can I come in?”
“Sure, of course.” I answered, hastily picking up the crop top and the baggy jeans, leaving the short skirt combo, and the gothic one.
Today was the first day. There’s supposed to be an impression right? I didn’t want to come off as whiny with the short skirt, and weird with the gothic. This one seemed neutral enough, for a newbie.
“You’re still dressing up? I see.”
From Laura’s tone, I knew that she knew that I was confused on what to wear, and I knew that she found it funny too.
I turned, one leg sinking into the trousers, to see Laura standing by the doorpost, a wallet and a…
Is that a mask?
I cussed when I made a mistaken movement in the big trousers which caused me to fall to the ground with the trouser still in my hand.
Laura laughed.
“Which threw you off? The mask or the wallet?”
She sauntered toward me, and stretched out her right hand. “Let me take a guess. The mask. You haven’t seen its kind before, right?”
I nodded, as I took her hand and got to my feet. The mask was almost transparent, only that there was some sort of black luminescence about it, that increased its beauty and of course mystery.
“You want me to wear the mask to school everyday?” I couldn’t help but ask, as I finally got the trousers to my waist and buckled it straight. Next on the list. The crop top. Should probably knock off the belly effect with a jacket.
“Well, you will almost not feel its presence. I made it specially for you. It’s made of magic.”
I furrowed my eyebrows, then knowing that she wouldn’t see my expression since my face was surrounded by the crop top, which was trying to pass through my head to my upper body, I decided to speak out.
“But why? The reason I had adorned the mask at the pack was because of the people there. No one knows me here.”
“But they know now that there must be something going on. The queen suspects it. I am sure the others too, especially Rachel. It had been obvious when the three boys had come to see us off.”
A pregnant pause.
“So, I wouldn’t put it past the students to take a snap of your face, just to show the boys during the weekend how your face is. Don’t worry. As I said, you wouldn’t even know that it’s there, and it will accentuate your beauty the most. I promise.”
The last part was said with a laugh.
I patted the crop top ending, pulling it down to cover at least the belly button. I was still getting around to this. A jacket would have to go then.
“Thanks Laura. For all of this, for taking care of me.” I said, after getting my emotions in check.
She must have known that I wanted to hug her, because she walked up to me after my sentence and engulfed me in a hug.
“You don’t need to thank me, Maya. You are family now. ”
I nodded on her shoulder, then threw my hands across her midriff. She was family too.
“Thanks for the mask. I would get a lot of questions, but I think Peter had gotten it covered with his lectures yesternight.”
Laura chuckled, before disengaging from the hug. “Don’t mind the overprotective bear. He’s just being cautious. But I believe you will be fine. I just know it. Are you ready now?”
She handed me the wallet and the mask which was almost invisible in my hand, very light and soft.
“The wallet has some money for the week. I know that you will start work at the supermarket today, but just have this as a kickoff. I don’t want you being desperate or broke on your first day.”
I chuckled, and gave her a hug again. She was really family.
“Wish me luck then.” I muttered with a smile that mirrored hers, before placing the mask on my eyes; a mask with no ropes, which covered nothing except my eyes, down to the apex of my nose. A mask not easily forced away.
A wicked person would have to dig his or her hands into my eyes, to get it out. A shudder passed down my spine at the thought.
“Good luck. Maya. Keep your chin up.”