Sai raised a paw and rubbed it over his face.
“Aw,” I cooed. He looked adorable, fumbling with his big paw. He glared at me, and I combed my fingers through the mohawk and smoothed it down. “There you go, grumpy.”
His lips raised, revealing his teeth, and I couldn’t tell if he was smiling or trying to look scary. Either way, I was past being afraid of him. I’d gotten used to his tiger and could see his personality clearly.
“Go change, I’m craving something sweet.” Hannah pushed at Daniel and Malik, who had curled up on either side of her.
Sai huffed, and the three of them got up and lazily trotted to where they’d left their clothes. Within a minute or two, they emerged. Daniel and Sai were running their fingers through their hair, but it was in vain. Hannah and I had done an excellent job of messing it up. They would have to shower to get the strands to lay back down.
Malik hurried past us at the mention of desserts. “I hope the dining hall has the sundae bar out.”
Daniel hesitated, glancing between his friend and Hannah like he couldn’t decide who to walk with. I turned suddenly and walked slower than normal, accidentally cutting him off and making the decision for him. Hannah could thank me later.
Sai fell into step next to me. “So? What did you think?”
I smiled up at him. My brain was struggling to connect this version with the tiger version I’d just been petting.
“It’s a little weird. I mean, I get it. I saw you, then the tiger, but it’s hard to accept that it was you.” I pinched my lips together. “Hannah said you’re stillyou.That you’re in control and aware, just in the form of a tiger.”
“That’s right. I know some legends state that the animal is a separate spirit with its own mind and desires that the shifter has to control and work with, but it’s not like that. It’s just another form I can take. I’m still me.”
“So, no cravings for raw meat?” I teased, only half-joking.
“Gross, no.” He laughed, and I relaxed.
“Thanks for showing me.” I felt shier now. Even though I’d just spent an hour or so petting him. That was different. But it felt like something changed between us.
“Anytime.” He winked. “I could get used to your ear rubs.”
That might have been the weirdest thing anyone ever said to me, but I couldn’t help the excitement that grew in my gut at the thought. Spending more time with him, in any form, was exactly what I wanted—even if he was a distraction.
Chapter 19
Natasha didn’t move as I got dressed and snuck out on Saturday morning. With little siblings, I never got the chance to sleep in on weekends, even if I wanted to. With my string of nights of restful sleep, I was too full of energy to stay in bed anyway.
Back home, Aiden and Brielle would jump on me by seven if I wasn’t up to watch cartoons with them. My friends thought it was cruel and unusual, but I didn’t know any different, and looking back now, I was grateful to share those memories with them.
This was the first weekend I wasn’t home to make them pancakes or waffles and snuggle up on the couch while they watched their favorite shows. My heart ached. Did they miss me? I knew they did. Aiden would put on a brave face and try to console Brielle. He took his job as big brother very seriously. I’d call them after my tutoring session. I needed to hear their sweet voices and remind myself why I was here.
I crossed the empty lawn toward the labs and headed up to Mrs. Hedgings’ office without getting lost. I knocked on her office door right at eight, and she called me in.
“Good morning,” I said as I closed the door behind me.
“Good morning.” She was blowing into the mug in her hands. “Would you like a coffee?”
I shook my head and sat down on the couch across from her and put my backpack on the ground. “No, thank you.”
She nodded and rested the cup on her lap before lifting her gaze to mine. “How was your first week?”
It was the obvious first question she would ask, but I still sighed. “It’d been long and overwhelming, and I feel like I’m barely treading water upstream.”
Her smile was kind. “That’s to be expected. You’ve had quite the shock and change with no time to adjust. I got a report back from your teachers, just to get their impressions on where you might need the most help.”
Yikes. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what they said.
“Your history, literature, and math teachers aren’t concerned. Ms. Jefferies informed them of your study group, and they believe you will advance to the level of your peers in those subjects soon enough.”
That was a relief, and I was grateful Hannah had vouched for me so my teachers knew I was trying.