Page 97 of An Arcane Education
We fall into laughter as we bounce back and forth in our conversations, sipping wine and talking about anything and everything.
“So what's everyone doing for winter break?” Callista asks, refilling our glasses. “Please tell me someone has exciting plans so I can live vicariously through them.”
“I'm just going home to see my family,” I say. “It'll be nice to have a few weeks of normalcy. No magic or murder accusations.”
“My parents and I are going to spend Christmas at my grandparents’ estate in Connecticut along with a ton ofother family members. I’ll probably spend a lot of time playing chess with my grandfather and avoiding the rest of the family.”
Max snorts, but the contentedness that had been in her expression only a couple minutes ago has faded.
“What about you, Max?”
She shrugs in an attempt to look nonchalant. “I’m staying on campus for the winter. I don’t really get along with my family much anymore.”
Interesting. Max has never talked much about her family, and the fact that she’s staying on campus for the entire break makes me wonder just how bad her relationship with her parents really is.
“That sucks, but knowing what I do about your family, that makes sense,” Callista says sympathetically. I make a mental note to ask about Max’s parents next semester. “Mine just throw money at me and hope I'll stop embarrassing them at society functions.”
“Rich people problems,” Avery mutters, but the statement holds no malice.
We talk late into the night, our conversation wandering from topic to topic. I don’t tell them about Alaric’s theories about something sinister taking place on campus. I figure I’ll speak to him about it first and let him know I’d like to tell the girls, because I know I can trust them. I also don’t mention the strange prediction from the Oracle at the Samhain ball, even though it’s been reverberating in my mind since that night. I’ll tell them everything at the start of next semester, but for now, I simply want to enjoy the warm contentment of being surroundedby friends. There will be time for investigation and theorizing next month.
Outside, through Callista's large windows, the first real snow of the year begins to fall, visible only in the orange pools of light cast by the lamps lining the pathways. The thin flakes melt as soon as they hit the ground, but they’re beautiful all the same.
The next morning, I wake up with a slight headache and the pleasant exhaustion that comes from staying up too late laughing with friends. Most students have already left, and many of the rest (aside from the few who are remaining on campus) are leaving now, rolling their suitcases toward the gate where the ferry awaits on the other side.
I've already said goodbye to the girls, aside from Max, who I’ll see again tonight. The rest of them left this morning, and my own flight isn't until tomorrow, giving me one more night at Arcadia before I return to my normal life.
There’s just one more person who I need to say a temporary goodbye to.
I find Alaric at his house, and he answers the door in jeans and a sweater, his dark hair damp from having showered.
“I was hoping I’d see you before you left,” he says, pulling me into the house and kissing me as soon as the door shuts behind me.
“I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye. Three weeks without you is going to feel like forever.”
“Agreed. But I’m sure we’ll have plenty to talk about when we get back,” he assures me. “I’ll be going to visit my parents, which is always an… interesting experience.”
I laugh. “Good luck.”
We settle on his couch, and the fire crackles in the hearth as we sit together in comfortable silence. Alaric wraps his arm around my shoulders, and I tuck myself into his side.
“Things will be easier next semester,” he says, breaking the silence. “We won’t have to hide anymore.”
“It would probably be best to try to keep things private as much as possible just for the sake of your reputation,” I say. “But you’re right. If we get caught, it won’t be the end of the world.”
“If we disclosed it to the administration early on, we would have nothing to worry about, and if you wanted, you could even come live here,” he suggests.
“Really? You’d want me to move in with you?”
“Yes. Every second I get with you only makes me want you more.”
I smile, my head still resting against his chest, and consider his offer. But then I think about Max and how difficult it would be for her to acclimate to a new roommate, and how many spontaneous girls’ nights I’d miss out on if I lived out here.
“As much as I absolutely love the idea, I think I’ll stay in my dorm. I want the full college experience and to take advantage of the time I get with my friends. Though I’ll absolutely come stay the night over here,” I add.
We fall into comfortable silence again, and I find myself thinking about everything that's happened thissemester. The fear and danger and heartbreak, but also the growth and friendship and love. It's been the most difficult and most rewarding few months of my life.
“I've been thinking about those mushrooms and that area of the forest more,” Alaric says after a long while.
