The Prophecy of Shadows Read Free Page B

offered. “You got the hang of channeling energy pretty quickly, so it shouldn’t be hard. Sometimes it takes the freshmen months to gather enough energy to feel anything significant. It was obvious from where I was sitting that you did it on your first try. That was pretty impressive.”
    “I’m not sure I actually did anything, but sure, I’ll study with you after school,” I said. Even though this energy stuff sounded crazy, it was nice of Kate to reach out. I didn’t want to miss the chance to make my first friend here. “I could definitely use help getting caught up with my classes.”
    “Great.” Kate beamed. “I’m sure you’ll pick it up quickly.”
    More students piled in, a few of them people I recognized from homeroom. Then, just as I’d started to think it was stupid to hope he would also be in this class, Blake strolled inside, with Danielle trailing close behind.
    His eyes met mine, and my breath caught, taken aback by how he’d noticed me again. But he couldn’t be interested in me like that . It was probably just because I was new. And because, as embarrassing as it was to admit, he’d caught me staring at him. So I opened my textbook to the chapter that Kate already had open, focusing on a section on dominant and recessive genes as if it were the most fascinating thing I’d ever read in my life.
    “I told you in homeroom that he’s taken, remember?” Kate whispered once Blake and Danielle were far enough away.
    My cheeks heated. “Was it that obvious?”
    “That you were checking him out?” Kate asked, and I nodded, despite how humiliating it was that she’d noticed. “Yeah.”
    “I’m not doing it on purpose,” I said. “I know that he has a girlfriend. I would never try anything, I promise. But … have you seen him? It was hard not to at least look .”
    “I know you’re not doing it on purpose,” she said. “He’s one of the hottest guys in the school—I get that. But Danielle doesn’t take it too kindly when girls flirt with Blake. Or check out Blake. Or even look like they’re interested in Blake. It’s in your best interest to keep your distance from both of them. Trust me.”
    I was about to ask why, but before I could, the bell rang and class began.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    The other sophomores from homeroom were in most of my classes, and Kate sat with me in each one, including lunch. I was so behind in the honors courses that I seriously needed whatever Kate said she would teach me after school to help.
    “What class do you have next?” Kate asked as we packed our bags after advanced Spanish.
    I pulled my schedule out of my pocket. “Ceramics.” I groaned. I wasn’t awful at art, but I would have preferred a music elective, since music was always my favorite class. “What about you?”
    “Theatre,” she answered, tucking her hair behind her ears. “I want to be in the school play this spring, but I always get nervous on stage. Hopefully the class will help.”
    “You’ll get in,” I said. “Besides, can’t you use that witchy energy stuff to convince the teacher to give you the part you want? Or mess up other people during their auditions so they don’t get the leads?”
    Her eyes darted around the hall, and she leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “We don’t use our powers to take advantage of others,” she said. “I’ll fill you in on everything later. Okay?”
    I nodded and followed her through the art wing, resisting the urge to ask her more right now. Instead, I looked around. Student paintings decorated the walls, and what sounded like a flute solo came from a room close by. Kate stopped in front of the double doors that led to the theatre. “This is me,” she said. “The ceramics room is upstairs—you shouldn’t miss it.”
    We split ways, and like Kate had told me, the ceramics room was easy to find. Kilns lined the side wall, pottery wheels were on the other end, bricks of clay were stacked in shelves in the back, and the huge