The rest of the week passes slowly, my mind almost completely filled with staying as far away as I can from Lucian and Cedric that I barely notice the new exciting classes that have been added to my timetable. Being a supposed witch my timetable has been filled with introductory classes including; Introduction to magic, Potions & Alchemy 101, History of Magic Year 1 and Finding your Specialty. Apparently, every witch has something they are better at than other things - like fire magic, ritual magic, etc. The school also offers introductions to the other supernatural species so twice a week I have Introduction to Vampires and Introduction to Werewolves.

Introduction to Vampires and Werewolves are the only class that I don't feel like I'm completely lost in. I don't have to show my knowledge like the other students do and I'm not being forced to show the magic I don't have in front of the class. One too many times in finding your speciality I've been shoved to the front of the class with a spell I need to perform. Long minutes spent standing there waiting for something to happen before I awkwardly have to make my way back to my seat.

Of course to the silent laughter of my classmates. Not that I let it bother me, much.

I often spend most of my time in these classes trying to find the weaknesses of the other species - something I know we shouldn't be doing but I can't help myself. I don't want to be left without any kind of protection.

Then finally on the Friday of my first week of supernatural classes, my timetable gives me something to actually look forward to. My last class of the day is Defending and Protecting Oneself from Supernatural Harm. Instantly as I read those words Friday morning it's like the pressure has been realised from my chest and I can breathe. Surely this will help me stop what happened in the empty classroom from happening again. I hope.

I leave my room, wearing a pair of black plaid jeans, a white long-sleeved shirt and a dark grey jacket that I found tucked deep in Annie's closet because there's no way I will ever wear Cedric's again. In fact, I have no idea why I haven't thrown it into a fire already. Instead, it's sitting on my desk chair a reminder that I don't belong in this school - at all.

Annie has already left for her Headmistress role and as always a bowl of deliciously warm oats are waiting for me on the stovetop. I eat quickly, feeling almost like excitement rushing in my veins. I force myself to swallow slowly before finishing and washing the plate. The clock above the stove tells me that after the walk there I will have just five minutes to get to class. Just how I like it so no one has the time to talk to me. It's better this way, at least now I won't get attached to someone and for them to turn around and stab me in the back. Again.

I walk out of the cottage home with a look towards the forest. I feel like breathing comes easier whenever I look at it. I wonder what Aislynn is doing, is she safe in there? Should I have told Nathaniel about her? Or at least Annie?

Too many questions crowd around in my mind that I have to remove my eyes from the forest before I can think normally again.

No, I did the right thing. Aislynn had been scared of Nathaniel, of the school and she had very clearly said that she wasn't allowed here. I'm doing what's best for her. This weekend I will head back into the forest and try to find her, alone.

As I stepped out from underneath the porch the light rain sped up and started hammering down into the soil. I sighed loudly, annoyance colouring my cheeks red as I stepped back underneath. The one downside of living all the way down here was the walk up to my classes and if the rain wasn't permitting it then I normally had to spend the day soaking wet and dripping. Another thing the other students like to laugh at me about.

The only thing keeping me from turning on my heel and heading back inside for a day off is that one class at the end of the day. I need to learn to defend myself around here, already having been attacked once and the fact that everyone seems angry at my being here. I just need to get to my first class of the day first.

I turn hoping to find an umbrella or at least a raincoat in Annie's things. I stop when the sound of beeping comes from behind me. I turn to see Annie's car waiting in the rain, I smile at myself. I might not have any friends but I have family and right now that's all I need. I run to the door quickly ignoring the icy cold rain as I throw myself into the passenger side.

"Thanks, An-" My appreciation stopping in my throat. The wet dirt scent of Annie is clouded by something stronger, the smell of the forest - sandalwood, oak, wood fires and camping. I look up to see Nathaniel's cloudy eyes watching me.

"Annie sent me." His voice is low as if promising me that this was fair from his idea. "She has some meetings this morning and knows that you don't want to be soaking wet all day."

I nod my head, lost in a trance at the image of him. Hair slightly dripping from the rain, as I watch a drop slide down his neck and then along his collarbone. The image sends a jag of want through me.

Thankfully Nathaniel doesn't notice, instead, he turns the heater higher and puts the car back into drive. It's silent on the short drive but it's light and leaves me slightly breathless.

"What's your first class?"

For some strange reason, it takes me a second to realise he's talking to me, even though we are the only ones in the car his eyes never meet mine.

"Oh. Uh Finding your Speciality." My schedule is already branded into my mind.

"Have you?" He turns onto the main parking of the school and the front doors. The rain is still splashing heavily between here and the doors that I don't move to get out yet. Hoping to wait it out at a slower pace but also the idea of spending the day in this warm car talking with Nathaniel - even about classes and this school - sends a happy spark through me.

"Have I what?" He looks over at me, an unconscious smirk filtering onto his face before he blinks it away. "Oh my speciality, no?"

"Is that a question or an answer?" His voice is condescending but I smile up at him.

"I guess it's an answer and a question. I have not found my speciality but does anyone actually expect me to find one?" He looks over me confused so I let myself get everything off my chest that have been rocking around in my brain all week. "I mean I know you and Annie seem to think I have some magic in me but what if I am like my mother. What if I don't have any magic in me and that all I'm doing here is wasting mine and everyone's time?"

I swallow the rest of my words as Nathaniel looks over at me.

"And what if we are right? You are wasting your time right now because you're not trying. Not with everything you have because you're scared and I already told you fear is useless." He takes a deep breath before turning to the school's doors again. The rain has settled a little bit but now I'm afraid of opening the door and walking out there for a completely different reason. I hold my breath waiting for him to continue.

"Morgan, finding your magic isn't going to be easy for you. It's been left dormant for too long. You have a long road ahead of you. You also have a decision to make. You can sit through your classes barely trying telling yourself you're trying or you can step out of here and actually work hard. Forgetting about the people trying to dissuade you and focusing on yourself. It's up to you."

I look away from him, something inside telling me that he might be right. What if I'm just letting everyone else's opinions take hold of me.

I look over to him at the sound of his door opening, he nods at me once before stepping into the slow rainfall and walking towards the front door. I don't make a decision there, I can't because it means admitting to something that I don't think I'm prepared to accept - that I might actually have magic in my veins. Instead, I get out of the car and meet Nathaniel at the front doors, not meeting his eyes he has his answer before I can open my mouth.

He doesn't say anything, just scoffs and rolls his eyes before heading inside. I trail slowly behind him until I have to take a different turn to my first class. Embarrassed, head down I head to the back of the room to the little voices of the people around me talking about me.

Shit. 

AUTHOR NOTE

I like this chapter, it doesn't have much happening but it lets us understand what's going on in Morgan's brain a lot more. I hope you guys enjoyed it. 

As always if you see any spelling, grammar or plot holes please comment on them so I can fix them in later edits and maybe bring some peace of mind to you readers.

Thank you for reading.

LAURA