“Ugh, I don’t think I’ll find a boyfriend here, Kenzie. Who would want me, a weak two-powered marked?”
I roll my eyes. Pity parties were not going to help her out of this funk. “Kelly, you’re beautiful, kind, smart, and have boobs for days,” I say gesturing to her sizeable chest area. “I’m sure you will have no troubles finding as many boyfriends as you’d like.” She smiles deviously.
“What if I wanted ten?” she asks, the grin growing wider.
“Then, you get yourself ten. Although, I don’t know what you’d do with ten . . . what would they do . . . just stand around you in a giant circle?” I wink at her, and then pull a face. Her eyes widen, and her mouth drops open as she picks up on my undertone.
“Kenzie!” she spits out.
“What? What do you think marked woman are doing with their multiple husbands behind closed doors, playing scrabble?” I chuckle at her mortified expression. Then her expression turns calculating, a smile takes over her face.
“I have two dads, you had four. Whose mum had a circle going?” she laughs, as my own face mirrors her previous mortified look. Not what I want to picture. I shudder.
“Okay, okay. That’s enough talk about man circles for now.”
“Yes! Does that mean breakfast?” she asks, clearly as excited by the prospect of food as I am.
“Let’s pray there is bacon,” I mumble back.
We make our way out of our room, locking it behind us. I’m so glad I have Kelly as my roommate. It would have sucked to have been stuck with some bitch for three years. Instead, I get my best friend. We race down the steps of the dorm building and out into the chilly, morning air. I instantly regret forgoing a jacket. Hell, even one of the stupid ceremony robes would be great right now. It’s fucking freezing.
We make our way through the courtyard and towards the main building, where the dining hall is located. Breakfast is served between 7:30am-9:30am daily, and we were going to be some of the first there at this rate, but fuck it, I’m starving. Neither of us could bring ourselves to eat last night, so it only makes sense we’re both eager to make our way to breakfast this morning. We walk through the already open front doors, and turn left towards the dining hall. A quick walk down a corridor, and we’re there.
There are tables set to one side covered in hot plates with food on them, and trays, plates, and cutlery at the start. Despite being here bright and early, there is already a line. We walk across the room and join the orderly queue. I’m about to say something when I notice a petite, blonde girl, sashay across the room, and directly to the front of the queue. At just a look from the girl, the guy in the front just backs away and lets her in without a word.
“Oh no,” I mutter, giving Kelly the look.
“Guess we spotted the bitchy girl nice and early,” Kelly mutters.
“Hey, let’s not judge too quickly. Maybe she just has an aversion to queuing. I say we suss her out first,” I reply.
Hearing a deep, throaty chuckle behind me, I turn around to spot Easton standing there. His messy hair looking like he just woke up perfect.
“Hey, East,” I say softly, trying not to drool. Men shouldn’t be that attractive. Kelly’s eyes widen, and she turns around, too. Every girl crushed on Easton back in our small town, Kelly included. Although, I’d wager my crush was far more intense and embarrassing. The fact he was always in my house didn’t help.
“She is,” he says simply, breaking my train of thought.
“Who is what?” I ask confused.
“The bitchy girl. That girl has claws,” he answers.
“I knew it,” Kelly mutters.
“Really, what did she do to you?” I ask.
“She asked me out,” he answers, smirking.
“And, that makes her a bitch?”
“No. But, when I said no, she decided to tell the girl I used to be interested in, that I was sleeping with her. Stella is just like that. If you’re not serving her needs, your only use to her is for a fuck, or she will make your life hell.” He laughs, but it’s hollow. I frown, both mad at Stella for her actions, and super happy that it seems like Easton doesn’t currently have a girlfriend. What can I say? I’m petty like that.
We reach the front of the queue, and I waste no time piling my plate with food. Fuck, I’m starving. I catch a bemused look on Easton’s face as I turn to find a table.
“What?” I ask him.
“You’re gonna eat all of that?” he questions.
“Maybe seconds too, ya know, if I feel like it.”
“You never used to eat that much as a kid,” he says.
“Like you ever noticed me,” I mumble.
“Should we sit over there,” Kelly interrupts, gesturing to the furthest table, the one out of the way of everyone else. Typical Kelly.
“No, we’re gonna sit there,” I answer, nodding my head in the direction of the table at the centre of the room.
“What?” Kelly snaps in shock.
“Come on, Kells,” I say in my most cheery voice. I will not let her hide herself away. We take seats around the table, and I’m pleasantly surprised when Easton joins us.
“What classes have you girls got today?” he asks around a mouthful of toast.
“Divination, and fire,” I answer.
“Just Divination for me,” Kelly answers.
His eyes roll at the mention of Divination.
“I still don’t know why that’s counted as a power, it’s not like anyone ever sees anything useful. There are a few people who get good at seeing the past, but so few actually have a good skill at seeing the future. Even when they do, it’s never clear or predictable. I don’t get why they teach it as a class,” he says. I see a frown take over Kelly’s face. Fuck’s sake. Did he have to put his foot in it?
“It’s a power, the same as any other. It’s a hard one to master is all. I’m sure Kells will kill it, though. You’ve always been good at guessing what’s going to happen when we watch films and stuff.” I shoot her a smile. “I bet that was your powers shining through early.”
“Yeah, whatever,” she mutters, huffing. “So long as I can actually see something. I’m more interested in my healing class later this week, to be honest,” she adds.
“See now, healing, that’s one of the best powers. It may not be cool or flashy, but it’s certainly one of the most useful. Healing people is good.” I roll my eyes at East’s mansplaining. Like we don’t already know that.
“It’s a good thing you’re pretty, East,” I tease, flicking some of my orange juice at him.
“Huh?”
“Nothing,” I chime in a cheery tone. He narrows his eyes and opens his mouth to say something, when two guys suddenly sit on either side of him. I blink my eyes, thinking I must be seeing double, when it hits me, they’re twins. Hot twins at that. They both have short, blond hair, which is styled similarly and big, muscular bodies. The twin on the right has a clean-shaven jaw, and the other has a slight five o’clock shadow.
“And, how do you know Easton here?” one of them asks, slamming his tray down onto the table.
“Yeah, Easton doesn’t often bring pretty girls to join us for meals,” the other adds, placing his own tray on the table.