My Best Friend Is A Pixie

3. Shia

I stared at the professor, long and hard. His eyes focused in on me and I saw something in them.

Like he was trying to target me for no reason.

We indulged in a stare-off as he kept challenging me with his eyes.

What is he?

"Excuse me, sir. But I don't think mythical creatures have anything to do with Astrophysics." A girl with a short bob and thick-rimmed glasses spoke up.

Professor Cameron removed his hands from the table top and stood up straight. "I know. But in my first lesson, I wasn't planning on starting with the basics right away. Shouldn't each of us take time and share our interests with the class?" He smirked, pushing his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose.

I narrowed my eyes, too confused at what he was trying to play at. Did he mention mythical creatures on purpose? Why was I getting this weird feeling?

There's definitely something fishy about him.

The girls in the class gave dreamy sighs and immediately shot up their hands to be picked out by the professor.

But his eyes turned straight to me.

"Why don't we start with Miss. Shia?"

Now I felt slightly taken aback. "Me?" I pointed to myself. "How do you know my name?" I asked suspiciously.

"I know everybody's name. I memorized the classlist before I took up the job." He moved around and planted himself atop the front of his desk. "So tell us more about yourself, Shia."

I didn't miss the slight twitching of his mouth but remained blank so he couldn't see what he wanted to.

"Well uh, my name is Shia and I'm 19 years old. I moved to Sun Cliff when I was 5 years old and I live with my grandmother." I finished, my eyes burning into his.

He isn't a pixie, though. Then what is he?

I couldn't feel the human aura from him. But neither could I feel anything else. It was if he had no energy emitting from his body.

"How far do you like it here, in Sun Cliff?" He questioned.

I nodded. "It's fine. Really warm and beautiful."

The class went abuzz at this.

'Wacky Wango likes it here!'

'How can she even say that. She doesn't even have any friends.'

Professor Cameron stared at me for a moment. I felt my breathe hitch in my throat.

His gaze.

It felt strong and weird.

He looked away and picked out another girl to share her interests.

I shook my head and blinked.

Snap out of it Shia! He's a human just like the rest of them. Don't blow your cover over this silly assumption.

The rest of the lecture went by uneventful. The girls and boys gave their introductions, with the girls sounding extra sweet and detailed while the boys sounded sullen.

The bell rang and Professor Cameron picked up his briefcase. "I'll see you all tomorrow. Hopefully, we can have a wonderful time together as I teach you."

And with that, he walked out of the class. As soon as he reached the door, he turned around and gave me one last look before disappearing.

The students all shuffled out. I sat in the empty classroom, too stunned by this man. Just what does this mean?

It's been 14 years since I've lived in this town but never have I had such a bad feeling before.

I walked in my last class for the day and slumped in my chair, placing my head in my arms. The class was filled with noise and chattering students but I paid no heed to anyone.

Suddenly, the chattering stopped.

Oh good. Some peace of mind.

But it didn't last long before more whispers filled the air.

'What is she doing here?'

'In the middle of term? Did her father bribe the principal again?'

'She's changed so much.'

I didn't look up to see who was the centre of their attention now. I sighed, my mind flying back to Cameron.

I felt the chair next to me being dragged and then someone plopped down in the empty chair beside mine.

I frowned. No one ever sits with me.

Looking up, I spotted a very beautiful girl, whom I had never seen before, sitting in the empty space beside me.

She had long auburn hair that fell above her waist. She wore a cute black and red skirt outfirt.

She turned to look at me and frowned. "I don't think I've seen you before." She stated.

"I don't think I've seen you either." I told her.

I didn't mention that I changed schools every year because of grammy. She was always scared of a human interfering in our lives and that was her way of protecting me. I don't think Sun Cliff even had that many schools. She kept me home for the first 10 years of my life and then magically decided to let me out one day.

She smirked. "You don't know me? The most popular girl in town because no one seems to mind their business and keep poking into mine." She said the last part loudly so everyone could hear it. They all moved and went back to minding their own businesses.

I blinked, surprised. I hadn't even realized they'd all been listening.

"No I didn't know. Is it something worth knowing?" I questioned.

She scoffed. "Of course not. I don't like that title anymore. It'd be better if we minded our own businesses, is what I wanted to say to you. I have no intention of being friends."

Woah. She really thought I was going to offer to be her friend? I opened my mouth to give her a befitting reply but then shut it.

"Likewise." I told her and put my head back down again.

Mrs. Stewart walked in and gave us something to revise, sounding bored. I didn't pay attention to anyone and spent the rest of the class my head bent down.

Night fell as I walked along the edge of the road, my bag swinging over my shoulder. Every now and then, I'd get the urge to spread my wings out and take a fly over this beautiful dimension but I knew I couldn't.

My mind suddenly drifted back to him. Cameron.

Who exactly was he?

Grandmother never mentioned any other creatures of the mythical world living in this dimension.

Is he a warlock?

Is he a wizard? A fairy? Another pixie? A vampire or a werewolf?

I shook my head. Maybe I made a mistake. Maybe I'm just overthinking.

The bushes ruffled as a light breeze blew. The street looked so serene tonight. People and couples walking along the paths, hand in hand, laughing and giggling.

I ran my fingers through my hair, letting the breeze blow through them. I didn't like being this alone sometimes.

Surely, not all humans must be selfish and self-centered. Sure, some humans were like that. Killing and torturing others for their own benefits. Forsaken people. But I wanted to have the pleasure to meet someone who wasn't selfish. Who wasn't all about their self.

I stopped outside TalMart, a grocery centre. Grammy wanted me to pick up fresh peaches for her and I was in the mood for some chocolate.

To say, I had become well acquainted with human food and cravings, would be accurate.

As I stepped inside, the store reeked of human aura. Sometimes, too much aura made me feel slightly sick inside. Walking aisle through aisle, I picked up 5 kilos of peaches and started to hunt for the chocolate counter.

I was looking at a shelf of well assorted can-food when I bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't look-" I stopped short when I looked up and stared right into the hazel eyes of my new Astrophysics teacher.

"Professor Cameron." I finished.

He was dressed in a dark black t-shirt and black sweats. His hair was wet and matted to his forehead.

He offered me a smile. "Shia. What a pleasant surprise."

Now's my chance to get to know him better.

"I didn't know you shopped here." I said as we began to move down the aisle.

I tried to feel something from him, an aura or a scent or anything, but so far, I got nothing.

"Just trying out this place. I just moved here." He answered, picking out canned pickles.

I gave out a strained laugh, "Of course. I was wondering why I hadn't seen you around."

He stopped and looked at me. "But from what I've heard, you are quiet anti-social. Isn't that correct?"

I nodded. "Yes. My family doesn't like to interfere with other people's life much." I tried to keep my questions and answers as simple as short as I possibly could.

"Don't you live with just your grandmother?" He pressed further.

My breath hitched. This guy definitely knew more than he was letting on. "How did you know that? You even knew my name when you first came here."

He stared at me before averting his glasses covered eyes. "Heard a few things. Things get around in this small town pretty fast, you see." He continued cruising the aisle leisurely.

I hurried to keep up with him. "You asked us about mythical creatures when you first came to class. Why is that?"

"Because they simply interest me," he stopped again and turned to me, his face inches from mine, "but I thought they would interest you in particular, Shia."

I searched his face for a sign or something else. But I kept resurfacing with nothing.

I nodded. "They might be my field of interest."

He smirked, his eyes wandering over my hair. "I knew it. You give that sort of 'vibe'," he paused before saying, "I'll be on my way then. Goodnight, Shia. I hope we meet again." With that, he pushed his cart and disappeared around the corner.

My heart rate had increased ten folds by the time he had left. It was as if I was all wobbly and jelly. A feeling I hadn't felt before.

Clearing my head, I paid for the things I'd picked out and exited the mart, determined to find out what sort of creature was this guy.

A human without an aura. Was that possible?