Fate Chose Them All

Chapter 2 - Cassandra

The dorm rooms are better than I imagined them to be. The walls are a soft blue with what appeared to be a smattering of fireflies painted across them. The fireflies give the illusion of twinkling movement, or perhaps actually were doing that. The bed is queen-sized, and has a forest green duvet with the pillowcases being a slightly lighter shade. There's a desk made of pine on the opposite side of the room with a desk chair that appears to be woven from branches with green cushioning. I couldn't help but wonder if the other houses all had similar room designs, or if this was designed to fit us witches and warlocks. The closet isn't massive, but it is bigger than any I've ever had back at the coven. My balcony is still pretty bare, but I'll have stuff for it eventually. Where I thought a bathroom was going to be, a room with bare shelves, another desk and a small cauldron were instead.

"Huh, no bathroom?" I muse aloud as I close the potion-making room door. I have learned how to make a couple of basic potions over the years that don't need added magic to make them work. I always find the practice to be relaxing, but I always hope to be able to do more once my magic is unlocked.

With a heavy sigh, I begin unpacking my bags. I don't have much. My backpack has my school supplies, phone charger, wallet and sketchpad. My duffle has all of the clothes I own. I put away my bras, panties, leggings, and socks away in the provided drawers in the closet. They fill two of six drawers. I hang up my jeans, skirts, sweaters, and dresses, also only taking up maybe a quarter of the hanging space provided. I slide my two other pairs of shoes onto the shoe tree in the closet, a pair of boots and a pair of flats. Sliding my now empty duffle under the bed, I grab my carry-on, taking out my toiletries and the few herbs I managed to snag before leaving the coven. The herbs I place on the shelf in my potions room, again, a sad display. The toiletries I set on the table by the door so I can make a quick go to and from the bathroom that I assume is somewhere down the hall.

"I should buy a robe. No need to have a cliché moment where my towel slips right as a super good-looking guy walks into the bathroom," I mumble as I jot down a needs list in my notebook. Robe, mortar and pestle, vials, extra undergarments, charcoal, various knives. I bite my lip glancing at the beginning of my list. Maybe I should wait and see if the school has any supplies they loan out. Then, maybe with money saved from those supplies, I could get another pair of shoes. I have a feeling people will know I'm a scholarship student based on my wardrobe alone. I don't even own make-up. The only time I've worn some, I was punished for stealing. I didn't even steal it, a girl at the school wanted to give me a make-over.

Deciding to wash up a little before exploring campus, I grab my toiletries and my key and head out in search of the bathroom. It doesn't take long, thanks mostly to the signs along the wall. Walking into the bathroom is another surprise. I have to remind myself this isn't a normal college, but damn. There's a lagoon in the back of the room with various waterfalls pouring into it. The willow branches seem to act as privacy curtains should you choose to employ them. The entire left wall is one long mirror with sink basins spread out in front of it. Around a corner to the right is where the toilets are hiding, with very fragrant flowers adorning the walls and doors. I can only assume that's to counteract any unpleasant smells.

I quickly do my business on the fanciest toilet my ass has ever met. I take residence at one of the sinks closest to the door, an old habit from needing to make an escape at a moment's notice. I wash my hands, brush my teeth, wash my face, and then take my long blonde hair out of its braid. I spend some time combing it through with my fingers, not owning a brush or a comb; it's why I usually have it in a braid, fewer tangles. I feel relaxed as I let my fingers rake through the long locks, but jump as the bathroom door slams open.

"Oh, Milo, you taste divine," a high-pitched voice annoyingly moans.

"I know," the man, Milo, responds. I can hear the smirk in his voice without even needing to look at him.

They don't seem to have noticed me yet as they aggressively make out against the opposite wall. I gather my toiletries as quietly as possible, knowing I can finish braiding my hair back in my room. With practiced steps, I tiptoe toward the door, almost to my escape.

"Oh, I see we have ourselves a voyeur," Milo's voice gruffly reaches my ears. I can't help the deep shade of pink I'm sure is now present on my cheeks.

"Gross. Get out freshman." The annoying girl demands as she tries to suck face with Milo again.

"Now, now, I don't mind an audience, or being shared," he c***s an eyebrow at me. I have no idea what to even say to that. A squeak is all that leaves my lips before I run out of there. I catch him sniffing the air briefly before I'm completely out of sight. I run all the way back to my room and slump onto my bed.

"Oh gosh," I moan as I cover my face with my hands. My first day, and two people already think I like watching others hook up. It's not my fault I was there first. Ugh, I should've cleared my throat or said something. I try to even my breathing as I collect my fallen and scattered toiletries. Milo is hot, so I could've just stayed silent and watched... Woah, where did that come from?

A knock sounds on my door, breaking me from whatever those thoughts were. I put my toiletries back on their little perch. Who would be knocking on my door? Maybe Opal, just to make sure I found everything okay. I open the door with a welcoming smile, which immediately falters when I see who is on the other side. My mouth instantly goes dry.

"Hey, um, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you off. Pepper and I shouldn't have done that in a common area on the first day." Milo rakes a hand through his dark mane of hair as he apologizes. "I meant it, if you wanted to join though," he recovers that previous cocky attitude, and leans on my doorframe.

"Oh, it's okay. And, no thanks. Sharing isn't really my thing," I answer quietly, the blush creeping up my neck as we have this conversation. How would I know what my thing is? I've never done anything to give me any ideas to what my thing is.

"What is your thing then?" He asks in a husky whisper, leaning closer to me. I swear he's sniffing the air around me again, but it's so subtle, I'm not sure. Again, I think to myself, I've no idea what my thing is. As hot as Milo is, if he's hooking up with girls on the first day, I'm not sure he's who I want to find out with.

"Well, that's not really your business. Especially since you have Pepper off somewhere, I'm sure, awaiting your return. Thanks for apologizing. Goodbye." I move to close my door in his very surprised face, but he presses a palm against the door.

"Hang on, why are you so keen to get rid of me? You don't even know me?" The look in his eyes is conflicted, and I know my heart feels the same, for some reason.

"And you don't know me," I retort. Gosh, where did this iciness come from? It's like I'm mad at him for some reason, but I don't really have a good reason to feel that way.

"We could change that," Milo presses closer, as if trying to come into my room. I stand my ground, so now our bodies are only a breath apart.

"Sorry, I'm not looking to be a notch on anyone's bedpost. Pepper clearly didn't mind, so you'd have better luck barking back up that tree." This six-foot something s*x on a stick is all muscle, but I move to push him anyway. I don't know why my emotions are so uppity about this man hooking up with random women, but I am. When he doesn't budge from my push and laughs at me, I grit my teeth and push harder.

That's when I feel it. Something broke a lock inside me. Milo's suddenly against the wall opposite of my door. I let out a surprised squeak and hold my hand to my chest, as if it might go off again.

"I'm, oh gosh, I've never done..." I can't seem to find the words as I stare at his perplexed face and then down at my hand. I grab my keys and run. I should stay and make sure he's okay, but we're on the healer's floor. He could probably heal himself, or knock on anyone's door to do so.

As I fly past the desk, Opal calls out, "Cass! What's wrong?" I hesitate at the door, biting my lip as I look back at her. I debate confiding in her, but then I hear heavy footsteps coming down the stairs, and panic wins. I take off out the door without saying anything.

It's close enough to lunchtime now. I'll go to meet Bit at the dining hall and hope that it's crowded enough that Milo won't find or approach me. I keep glancing back over my shoulder, making sure he isn't too close to me. I am not paying attention to what's ahead of me though, as I bump right into what feels like a wall. When I look up, I'm lost in the most mesmerizing hazel eyes. The man is staring stoicly back down at me. Flutters fill my stomach the longer I stare, and then the man sniffs the air, like a dog would. He must be a wolf shifter.

"You should be more careful," he finally says, a slight southern twang mingled with his deep baritone. I only manage to nod at his words. I bite my lip as I take a step back, realizing I was still very much in his personal space.

"Hey, you caught my little lamb," Milo's voice makes my back stiffen as he approaches from behind.

"Your lamb?" The stranger in front of me repeats, taking a moment before shifting his gaze from me to Milo. Milo places his hands on my shoulders, and I roll them out of his hold. The stranger notices this and pulls me, a little aggressively, behind him.

"Hey, give her back, Wayland," Milo protests, his playfulness gone from his voice. I can't help but cower at the tonal change.

"She isn't property to be taken or given, Milo," Wayland, the stranger, barks back.

"Cass! There you are!" Bit's peppy voice saves me from this clear power play between two alpha males. "Sorry boys, you can try talking to her another time. She and I have a date," Bit says dismissively to the two guys as she loops her arm in mine.

"Thanks Bit. I'm not sure what happened back there," I confess as she leads me to the dining hall.

"You can fill me in over lunch," she winks as we grab food trays. Once again, I'm grateful I've made a girl friend already.