She side-eyed me, almost like she was considering whether replying was worth her time.
“Static buildup.” She deadpanned.
“Fine.” Ugh. She wasn’t taking this seriously.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed pajamas from a drawer under my bed and picked up my bathroom kit to brush my teeth and get ready for bed.
It was a one in a billion or more––I didn’t actually know the world population of supernaturals––chance that I would meet my pair, so it was pretty damn unlikely any of the guys at the school were mine. Let alone two.
Whatever I was feeling was just a simple crush. I just hadn’t had one in so long I forgot what it felt like.
The bathroom was almost empty. Just one other girl was brushing her teeth, so I claimed the sink at the end and put my kit on the counter and went in a stall to change. By the time I finished and walked out, she was gone. I took my time washing my face and applying a moisturizer. Unlike my friends back home, I didn’t have an elaborate skin routine. It was probably because my mom didn’t. She barely wore makeup, so I did the same. She taught me the importance of never going to bed with makeup on, staying moisturized, and using sunscreen. Other than that, we kept things simple. I used concealer when I had a blemish and blush or bronzer, depending on the time of year. My most high-maintenance product was the mascara I bought online. It was made by a company founded by fellow redheads and was tinted to match my lashes rather than the more common brown or black. I preferred how natural it looked, so it was my one splurge.
Maybe that was another thing I could ask Mrs. Hedgings to teach me to make. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about getting mail while I was here.
My phone vibrated on the counter, and I leaned over while I was rubbing the lotion into my cheeks to check who it was. Masie was calling.
I wiped my hands on my shorts and picked it up. “Hi.”
“You didn’t call me.”
It took me a second to realize what she was talking about. The assessment. I completely forgot the moment I walked out to see all my friends waiting.
“Sorry. My friends dragged me to the dining hall for dessert.”
There were a few beats of silence. “Oh, sweetie. What happened?”
“No, it was a celebration, not commiseration.” I giggled at my own joke.
“Really?” She squealed. “I’m so relieved. Tell me how it went!”
“I passed all my subjects. I can stay with the fourth years.”
“Saige! That’s amazing. I’m so proud of you.”
I leaned against the cold counter. “It was all thanks to my friends. They spent the whole weekend in the library with me. They even waited almost two hours for me to finish tonight. That’s why I forgot to call.”
“That makes me so happy, sweetie. It’s so good to hear you’ve already made such good friends.”
“Yeah, they’ve really gone above and beyond anything my friends from back home would have done. They’ve been really welcoming and make me feel like I belong.”
She sighed. “I’m really glad to hear that. I know none of this has been easy on you, but you’ve taken it all in stride. I wish I lived closer so I could be more helpful.”
New York never felt so far away. I wish she was closer, too, but being on my own has forced me to push myself without having a safety net.
“I think this has been good for me. I know I have to do this, and it will be for the best that I did it alone. If you or my family was closer, I would be tempted to run back anytime things got hard or I was scared of trying something new.”
“You’re so strong.” I swear I heard her sniff. “Your parents, your birth parents, would be so proud of the young woman you’ve become.”
I bit my lip, fighting to keep the tears at bay. Breaking down would only make things worse. “Thanks, Masie.”
Since the topic was on my mind, I decided to bring it up with her. “Do you know if my parents were a bonded pair?”
She let out a small laugh. “Wow, they get right to the good stuff now, don’t they?”
I giggled. “No, I learned about that from my roommate and friend.”
“Of course. The girls were always more interested in the idea of pairs and bonding than the guys, which is strange because you’d think they would be just as eager to become more powerful.”