"Now, picture this." Blue spread his hands for dramatic effect. "It's my own car, but no one else knows that. And I'm circling this highly-expensive, electric car and looking like a damn thief! All of the humans around me were watching me like I was about to whip out a gun and start blasting or something. I tried telling one it was my own car, but they didn't believe me. And then guess what happened?"

   We shook our heads. Blue pinched his nose. "My bloody master pops out of the trunk, absolutely wasted, and starts babbling." Everyone started to laugh and he waved his hands earnestly. "It looked like I'd kidnapped the guy! I mean, he's just some small dude that was obviously out of it. I actually had to stop a guy from calling the cops."

   "Wait!" Winston stared at him. "Weren't you two arrested for public whatever-else around that time?"

   Blue deflated. "Yeah. We still got arrested. I was driving without a license and my master was absolutely wasted in public." He glared at Winston. "I was going to go through the whole story of them having to chase us through the mall, dude. Way to ruin the suspense."

   "Who's your master again, Blue?" Allie inquired.

   "Browning Taylor."

   "Oh, that one." Realization crossed Katelyn's face. Blue's face reddened. She grinned. "Isn't that the guy that showed up to a Council hearing wearing a neon green suit, like the Madd Hatter?"

   Blue's face somehow got darker. I cracked up. "Anyone have a picture? Please tell me there's a picture somewhere."

   "Unfortunately not," remarked Karen dryly. "The Council doesn't allow that kind of use of tech in that room."

   I shook my head and looked back down at my dinner. The afternoon had been enjoyable. Though I was enjoying interacting with kids my own age (finally), I stood out for my ignorance and I knew it. And Karen was using every time I stuttered to pry further into her theory about my master being Alexie. 

   She wasn't just being pushy -- she was being harsh about it. The fifth time she prodded, I finally snapped at her and she backed off for the time being. She was using every chance presented to go after me. Her 'I'm-better-than-you' attitude was wearing on me.

   Finally the silence at the table made me blink awake. I snapped my head up to see everyone looking at me expectantly. I hastily swallowed my food. "What?"

   Karen's eyes narrowed while Katelyn asked, "So who is your master, Roxie?"

   I kept a straight face and waved her off. "Oh, some small, old mage. You wouldn't know him."

   "Just because you might not know any in the magick community doesn't mean we don't," shot Karen.

   I arched an eyebrow at her. "And who's your master again?"

   "Malorie Jones, of course."

   "Who is that again?"

   Harley spat out his water with a snort. Katelyn glowered and dried off her shirt while Allie pinched her nose. Karen scowled. I smirked as the subject was changed because Harley had to get more water. Though I was starting to understand why Alexie wanted me to lie low. Karen's attitude was enough.

   I slept like a baby that night with the reassurance that Alexie wouldn't be shocking me awake. It was still annoying to wake up at dawn sharp because of his previous unfairness, but at least I woke up somewhat slower. It was all I could ask for, really.

   As I got dressed, I mildly wondered how I was supposed to keep Alexie a secret much longer. We were supposed to be meeting up in less than an hour. And if his cloak was that obvious, then my smaller exact-copy would tell everyone right away. I guess I just had to keep up the act until we met in person.

   Breakfast was decent. Allie watched in awe as I loaded my plate. "Can you really eat all of that?"

   "A girl can dream," I grinned as I sat down. Harley walked past and eyed my plate with a smirk. "My kind of girl." I stuck out my foot and tripped him for the comment. Liam watched him yelp and offered me a fist-bump. Man, it's nice to be around kids again.

   "What time does the meeting start?" Winston asked as he sat down, the last of the group. Blue responded with a mouthful of food and got a whack from Katelyn. "Really soon. You should probably stuff your face quickly."

   "Noted." Winston shoveled a forkful of food into his mouth. Then he started to choke. Liam slapped him on the back and we watched as the bit of bacon was spat out of his mouth. Allie recoiled. "Ew."

   Sure enough, too soon, Mary appeared at the front of the room. She waved a bit of paper. "Time to get moving, apprentices! Just down this hall and straight through the wooden double doors!"

   Everyone began to stand and depart the room, dropping off their plates as they went. I swallowed the last bite I could before following suit. Liam shook his head with a snort at my reluctant expression as I handed over the still half-full plate. All of the apprentices around me fastened their cloaks and chattered as they moved down the hall. I squinted. Allie glanced my way, puzzled. "Where's your cloak?"

   "Do I need it?"

   She nodded. "It's required. Part of the organizing rules."

   I grumbled and turned around. "I'll be right back." If I had to snag it, I'd rather do it in a closed space. I was pretty sure I had the spell down, but not enough to do it in a sea of teenagers. Besides that, Alexie had said summoning the stupid thing would draw a lot of attention. Not what I wanted.

   Luckily, I found a bathroom. Stepping inside, I locked the door and turned on my heel. My fingers twisted. By the time I finished the spin, the fabric had settled on my shoulders. I tugged up the hood and drew it over my face the best I could. Fastening it, I unlocked the door just as it swung open. Reflexes kicked in and I lifted my hands. Scarlet swirls caught the side of the door before it connected with my head. There was a yelp as the other person crashed into it on their side. 

   Karen was staring at my face in shock. I released the crimson before she could see any signs of it. Her cheeks flushed. "I knew it," she whispered.

   Oh come on, you just got lucky. I raised an eyebrow and released the door. With her weight against it, it slid away from her side and she stumbled before she fell over. I shook my head and stepped fully outside. I nudged the door closed and hurried down the hall toward the meeting room.

   Since I had taken a detour, most of the apprentices had sat down beside their masters. The room was large with a semi-circle of temporary tables. Two podiums sat at the front. Dornar and a woman stood at the podiums. The woman held the whole librarian look, with hair in a bun and large glasses perched on her button nose. I looked around for the familiar head of salt-and-pepper hair and finally spotted the cloak that matched mine.

   I could feel eyes shifting my way. Alexie hardly glanced over as I walked toward the end of the line of tables, feeling the searing gaze of some as I moved past. One boy paled at the sight of me heading his way. Holy crap, they weren't kidding. All of them recognize this cloak. They all know Alexie.

   Stunned into silence, I slid into the chair beside his. It's almost impossible to see over everyone's heads. "I'm too short for this," I finally mumbled, glaring down the nearest kid as he stared. He swallowed and looked away. 

   Alexie didn't blink. "How were the other apprentices?" I understood his real question: what had I figured out? I shifted my glare to the side of his head. "That you're a close-lipped asshole."

   His face didn't change, which didn't really help my irritation. "I mean, come on, they all know who you are. Half of them look like they want to faint and the others look like they want to murder you. Speaking of that, who are you exactly?"

   I watched him intently as his eyes shifted slightly toward me. He exhaled softly. "No one knows."

   "What's that supposed to mean?"

   "Think about it, Roxie. No one knows who I am. They don't understand me."

   That old cliché . . . I blew out my cheeks. "People fear what they don't know? Is that what you're referencing?"

   Alexie nodded. "There are many rumors. Some believe I am a spy of the Council. Some say I am a madman. Others think I'm merely someone who knows magic better than anyone. Many believe I'm an impostor and here to overthrow the people in power. It all varies, truly."

   "Which ones are true, then?"

   His look turned deadpan. I kept my face straight. Finally he shook his head. "You know well that not many rumors are true."

   "That can still mean some are, though. So which of yours are?"

   "None of them are fully true. I've worked hard to keep it that way." His tone wasn't harsh, but I detected the faint tone anyway. He was proud of the absolute lack of information on him. I thought about my next response before speaking, but it was too late. Dornar had stood up at the front and proudly announced, "welcome to the community meeting, magicks!"