Logan stated we had to dress more professionally for the entrance test. I preferred sweatpants and crop tops when performing crazy advanced spells, but I would probably look weird in a crop top as a male. Maybe a tank top?
I was grateful Logan had gone shopping for me with his mom to get me a bunch of male clothes for this . . . whatever this was supposed to be called. A mission? Expedition? Amy mom accidentally enrolled me in an all-boy school and I have no choice but to go to make her happy after she pulled strings to get me insituation?
There was a knock on the door, and I began buttoning up my white dress shirt.
"Come in," I announced, doing another check of my appearance.
I looked back to see my mother walk in. I blinked in confusion, rather surprised to see her. I thought she had gone home early in the morning.
She took a slow analyzing gaze of me, going from head to toe and back up again. Her eyes lingered on the dragon tattoo on my shoulder then shifted to the left side of my neck.
She had a small grin on her lips, and I didn't get why she was smiling.
I looked back at the mirror, now noticing the two love bites on my neck that remained from Logan's kisses, even in this form.
I blushed, quickly buttoning my shirt up the rest of the way as Mother laughed.
"So, you and Logan have moved to that stage?" she asked, and I looked away.
"I guess," I mumbled.
When Mom's memory was intact, she knew Logan and I were best friends and often slept in the same bed, but I hadn't disclosed that he'd asked me out a few days ago and we had gone past the whole kissing stage, if that was what it was even called.
I reached out for my red tie. Logan suggested we look casually professional. Black dress pants, white dress shirt, and a tie was simple enough.
Once we got in, we’d be given uniforms, and our blazers would signify what section we were placed in.
Logan explained it was a method for students to be aware of who they decided to challenge during class sessions, but also out in the halls where people potentially got into fights.
To me, it just felt like a good way to brag about how awesome you were. I didn't care what color I got. Just let me learn something new to add to the knowledge I'd gained from reading the many books Mother and Father had in our library in my spare time.
I lifted my collar up, hooked the silk fabric around, and let both ends rest on my chest as I flattened my collar in place. I was ready to make my tie when I paused.
I don't even know how to tie a tie. Hmm, I feel like I should know this. Wait, no I shouldn't since I'm a girl and not a guy. Uh . . . maybe I should call Logan. No, that would be embarrassing.
I heard a quiet snicker, and I glanced up at Mom who had her hand covering her mouth. Her shoulders shook as she fought not to laugh at me.
"I'm sorry, just your expression. You look so focused, like you're attempting to conduct an advanced spell in your mind.” She giggled, walking forward to face me.
She reached up and began tying my tie until it was absolutely perfect.
"There,” she whispered.
I frowned.
"When you look at me . . . does it remind you of Gabriel when he was older?" I asked.
She looked up to meet my sad eyes and smiled, her hand rising to rub my cheek.
"I won't lie and say it doesn't. When I walked in, just for a second, I saw your brother. The memory of him being all nervous for his first day at the academy and having no idea how to tie his tie hit me. I had to teach him step-by-step because he had no other friends at the time," Mom admitted.
"You won't show me?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"You have Logan, and something tells me you'll have friends who will teach you how it feels to be a male, Jewel,” she confessed.
"What makes you so confident I'll have friends? Brother was popular, wasn't he?" I pondered.