Once she saw I was looking at her, Maggie made her way out of the room. When Maggie turns to go, she flashes a sly smile. It was my turn to roll my eyes at her since she had assumed Xavier and I were dating. Xavier had seen the change in Maggie's look to mine, and he smiled while maintaining a neutral expression on his face.
"What brings you here, Xavier?" I didn't want to waste any time, so I asked.
"You're always down to business, aren't you?" Xavier says as he fetches a chair up next to my bed. Xavier's eyes were fixed on the monitoring equipment and the IV in which it trapped my hand. I let out a heavy sigh, to which Xavier's gaze returned to mine.
"Yeah, I'm here to ensure my comrade is in good health. As far as I can see, you're doing well," Xavier said. I locked my gaze on his features.
"What?" Xavier inquired as I fixed my gaze on him.
"Let me begin by saying that I am a stranger to you, and please don't be too insistent," I muttered under my breath at his tenacity. Xavier sighed at my answer. I give an angry stare.
"It's interesting that when I asked you how good you are with magic and fighting technique, you said that you are still learning things, but when I saw you on the battlefield, you seemed to be quite experienced," Xavier remarked to change the subject as he caught my eyes with a solemn expression.
"Xavier, what are you trying to say?" I inquired.
"How can you be so adept in magic and fighting style when your background is..." Xavier tried to stop himself from interrogating me, but he was too late to do so.
"Being an orphan doesn't make me incompetent, Xavier, from an early age. I realized my skills. I kept them concealed from others in the orphanage home, but somehow I navigated things via Practice." I can't give him the truth. So I misled him. Xavier stared at me for a few seconds before agreeing with my responses.
"I guess you received your answer, Xavier," I said.
"As of right now, I'm still awaiting your approval of my offer," Xavier remarked, and I said nothing. Xavier stood up from his seat to depart. "Congratulations, Aria, for being selected to join this special group." When Xavier's hands contacted the doorknob.
"Xavier, I will collaborate with you," I stated in my case. He looked at me, trying to figure out if I was serious. Xavier's look was both delighted and perplexed by my decision to accept his proposal.
"What compelled you to accept my offer? I was hoping you'd make me sprint even more behind to say yes." Xavier grinned as he stated this.
"I thought you were congratulating me for accepting your offer here." Xavier smiled and offered a glass of water to me as I reached for it on the table. Of course, I said as I attempted to go for the glass of water on the table.
"Thank you for accepting my offer. It means a lot to me. So I'll meet you tomorrow on the other wing with a surprise in store for you." Xavier said this as he walked out of the room before I inquired what surprise he was referring to in his remarks.
Maggie walked into the room with a sly grin and walked close to the bed. "So you grabbed Xavier's attention, he's a gorgeous and popular guy among females, but he never spares a look at anybody else, but now I understand it, Xavier. Feelings for you after Eva and your quarrel at Cafeteria," Her explanation caused me to sigh.
"No, Xavier doesn't have any feelings for me, Maggie; he's just a good buddy of mine, just like you," I responded. Maggie rolls her eyes at me.
"Don't be a liar, Aria. Please spill the beans on what Xavier said and if he was the one to express his affection." Maggie's eyes sparked at me as if she expected me to agree with her perspective. It was only after I tucked the blanket over my head that Maggie groaned and walked away.
--------------------------------
Because of the loud knock on our door, I stir awake in bed, and Maggie mutters something under her breath as she answers the door, and I see a nurse strolling by, checking on me and asking whether I am experiencing any signs of lightheadedness, and the nurse gives me a green signal of good health and removes the IV from my hand before going away. Maggie sat in the chair with drowsy eyelids, and after the morning ritual, I pushed her to get dressed as well, since, by 07:00 a.m., we had to go to the modern building, where seniors' dormitories are allocated, and our bags had to go to with Academy staff.
"Here's your coffee; it'll help you wake up your sleepyhead." Maggie's face lights up as she inhales the coffee's scent, and she smiles back at me in appreciation. Finally, we made our way to the modern building entrance.
The guards allowed us to pass and headed to the administration office, giving instructions on our dormitories. I was given my room, and Maggie was given hers and a stipend.
"Wow, we have our own rooms and money. Why don't we go out and have some fun tonight? I know a great bar nearby." Maggie remarks as we make our way to our dorm.
"There will be no party for me since I am not the kind to go out and have fun." Maggies shrugged dejectedly at me when I said this.
"Welcome to the senior division." Aria, it's a good thing Principal Mark was kind enough to give you a second opportunity because I honestly feared you wouldn't." But the voice said behind us, and I knew Eva was.
The statement made Maggie's cheeks red, and I had to hold her hand to keep her from saying or answering anything back, so we just continued walking without even glancing at Eva.
"Are you deaf? I'm speaking to you, scumbags." Avery shouts and follows us to the Senior hallway. Maggie and I both had to come to a halt.
"The barking bitch is already ignored, can't you see that? I believed you had self-respect, but I was mistaken," Maggie said, with a solemn expression on her face. I've never seen her with this expression before; she always appears laid-back. The throng came to a halt and started our way. I groaned, wondering why I was constantly in the spotlight.
"You talk of dignity, but when you two losers are chosen by the grace of Principal Mark's grace, you don't deserve to be here at all." Eva's response was venomous. Eva's remarks enraged Maggie.
"Geez… Eva, even though we have the grace of Principal Mark, Eva crying out like this and claiming that Principal Mark's judgment was incorrect, how can you say such a thing?" I responded calmly, to which the audience murmured angrily at Eva.
"Don't misinterpret my words. I'm here to show you where you fell." Eva said.
"Who are you, the president of the senior department? Eva, you're a freshman who was just picked, so don't act like you control the place." Maggie screamed.
"What's up with this early commotion?" Principal Mark Quill spoke out sternly. Eva's body tensed in his presence. The crowd became silent. "Miss Carter, I notice you're saying something about my choice, and I'd want to shed some light on the situation."
"Sir… That was not my intention..." Eva drifted off... It wasn't long until the principal scowled at Eva and marched to the center of the corridor.
"Attention, senior students. We have brought in new first-year students into the senior force, adding value to the squad. So I divided the teams into five groups." Mark Quill stated as he pulled the sheet out.
"Eva Carter, Mia Moore {Witch}, Bryce White {Vampire}, Arne Harris {Wolf} and Ian Harris {Gargoyle} will form the first group." Principal Mark says. Eva's expression falls when her name is introduced to the group assigned to her.
"The last group will comprise Aria Hart, Maggie Hall, Colton Barger, Hudson Vega, and Xavier Dame," Principal Mark quill finishes his speech. Whispers from the audience, some of which seemed jealous, and one of which came from. Eva was stewing in the corner, and Maggie mockingly sneered at Eva. Finally, they paired me up with a group of VIP seniors. My eyes flitted across the room in search of my teammates, and I saw Hudson standing in the far right corner, his blue ocean staring at me with a stony expression.