Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 9

"We need to pick up our schedules," I remind Tessa as we walk off the field and weave through the crowds of people who are leaving the bleachers.

"Shoot, you're right," she mutters and starts for the edge of the crowd where she manages to break free as I jog after her.

I glance back to see that Astrid and Luke are trailing behind as they tag along before Luke catches up and walks by my side.

"So how was your summer?" he asks as his long legs easily keep pace with my short ones.

"It was good, just busy," I say as we follow a rock path around the side of the lecture hall.

"Same, we need to hang out some time to catch up," Luke suggests and I can't help but glance over at him in surprise.

"Uh, we'll have to see," I murmur as I focus on walking instead of the fact that my cheeks are suddenly warm.

There are still a couple of stragglers that are being dropped off out front in the circle drive as they trek up the sidewalk while Tessa ducks through a door a couple of yards down from the bell tower. A small office is on the other side and a secretary sitting behind an old, gothic style desk glances up as we enter. She smiles kindly at us as we approach her, our footsteps making the ancient, wood floor creak in a few places.

A placard with the name, 'Ms. Laroche' is propped on the edge of the desk as the woman pushes back a few strands of her shiny, black hair and tucks it behind her ear. She has almond skin and her eyes are dark and warm as they focus on Tessa, who walks up to the desk first.

"Hi, Anaya," Tessa chirps as she stops at the desk and casually leans against it like she's comfortable being here, "just here for my schedule."

"Of course, Tessa, just a moment," Ms. Laroche says as she taps away at a computer that is sat on her desk.

A printer a few steps away whirs to life and prints out a sheet of paper that it spits into a tray below it. The woman swivels in her spinning chair and retrieves the paper before she passes it to Tessa.

"There you go, I'm guessing these are some more friends?" the secretary asks as she looks past Tessa at Astrid and I.

"Yes, Astrid Hallewell and Kara Zen, they need their schedules too, if you wouldn't mind printing some extras," Tessa replies as she gives her a winning smile.

"Ah, I see," Ms. Laroche nods as her printer begins to print out our schedules, "and I haven't forgotten about you, Luke, though I assume that you've already printed out yours?" she asks as she raises an eyebrow at him.

"Yes," Luke says and nods quickly.

"Good," the woman smiles and picks up Astrid and I's schedules and passes them to us.

I eagerly take the paper from her, only to deflate when I see that, among the classes listed, there's still a math class. Ms. Laroche must see my disappointment because she laughs and shakes her head.

"The sophomores never learn, just because you're going to a school for witches, doesn't mean that math isn't important anymore, no?" Ms. Laroche chides.

I nod, even though I feel disappointed at the prospect of having to deal with advanced algebra, "Math is inescapable."

"That it is, if you have any questions or need any help, please let me know, here's a map, just in case," Ms. Laroche says as she passes me another sheet of paper that has the layout of the campus printed on it.

"I will, thank you," I tell her before I follow the others as they leave.

"Now what do you want to do?" Luke asks no one in particular as he follows us back out the door and onto the rock path.