{Jaylin}
Jaylin stood in the garden, her hand outstretched as she hammered out the spell parry for the millionth fucking time.
The sun beat down on her shoulders relentlessly, sweat trickling down her back in a gross reminder that she was, unfortunately, in this little predicament of hers.
[Fucking Melisa,] she seethed, her jaw clenched so tight she could hear her teeth grinding. [Of all the useless... purple interlopers to get paired with, it had to be her. Fan-fucking-tastic,] she thought, as if there was more than one nim in her class.
She'd gone to the professor about it after class. Talked about how she'd like to be paired up with that other girl - (Raven? Whatever) - and that Melisa should be left to do this on her own, but noooooo.
"You can work with her."
"It'll be fine."
"Miss Blackflame is brilliant!"
Jaylin scowled.
