Chapter 3 Sweet Kisses and Paranormal Daydreams
1039 Words
Flashback Coral age 14 first day of Highschool
Coral’s POV
The first day of high school. My nerves were in overdrive as I stepped onto the sprawling campus of Evermore High. The ornate stone building loomed above me, its gothic spires exuding magic and authority. Around me, students of all ranks buzzed with energy the future alphas, betas, gammas, deltas, omegas, and even a handful of fae, witches, and trolls.
I clutched my schedule tightly, scanning the crowd for familiar faces. My middle school friends Sahara, Flower, and Maddie had promised we’d stick together, but for now, we were all being handed off to our upperclassman shadows.
The idea was simple, first-years were paired with older students of the same rank to show us around, introduce us to our teachers, and help us adjust.
Just as I was about to panic over who I’d be paired with, a familiar voice called out from behind me.
“Hey, Worm! Are you ready?”
I turned to see Jason, his tall frame and confident smirk impossible to miss. His dark hair was tousled like he’d just rolled out of bed, but somehow, it worked for him. Girls nearby gawked openly, whispering and giggling behind their hands.
“Jason?” I asked, blinking in surprise. “You’re my shadow?”
“Looks like it.” He shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets like this was no big deal. “Since your brother’s off at Beta camp, you’re stuck with me. I’m also your ride home until he gets back.”
My stomach twisted. Jason had always been around. He is my brother Reid’s best friend and practically family, but this was different. Now, I’d have to spend the day with him, one-on-one.
Before I could respond, Sahara rushed up, practically bouncing with excitement.
“Oh my goddess, Coral! You’re with Jason?”
Sahara, an earth fae, was practically glowing. Her auburn curls bounced as she grabbed my arm, her bright green eyes wide with excitement. Behind her, Flower, my witch friend, appeared, holding a spellbook under one arm.
“This is crazy, Coral,” Flower said with a sly grin. “What kind of charm did you use to score him?”
Even Maddie, my troll friend who usually couldn’t care less about popularity, raised an eyebrow. Her towering figure and broad shoulders gave her an intimidating presence, but her sharp wit and loyalty made her one of my favorite people.
“Jason, huh?” Maddie said, smirking. “Interesting choice of shadow.”
I groaned, my face heating as my friends bombarded me with questions.
“Does he smell like the forest?” Sahara asked dramatically.
“Is he single?” Flower added, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Alright, enough,” I muttered, waving them off. “It’s not a big deal.”
Jason leaned down slightly, his voice cutting through the chatter. “You all done embarrassing her? She’s got a schedule to keep.”
My friends dissolved into giggles as Jason motioned for me to follow him.
The day passed in a whirlwind of classes from Werewolf and Lycan History, Teleportation, Math, Shifter Geography, and History of Magic. Jason guided me effortlessly through the chaos, introducing me to teachers and pointing out shortcuts to get to class.
By the time lunch rolled around, I was ready for a break. I sat at a table with Sahara, Flower, and Maddie, listening to them gush about their mornings. Sahara was thrilled about her botany class, Flower was already experimenting with new spells, and Maddie scared half of her teachers with her blunt demeanor.
“Did you see the way Mrs. Pines flinched when Maddie answered a question?” Sahara said, laughing.
“I mean, she’s a troll,” Flower replied with a grin. “What did they expect?”
Maddie rolled her eyes, stabbing a fork into her plate. “People are so dramatic. It’s not like I’m going to eat them.”
As we laughed, I noticed Jason sitting at the Future Alpha table across the room. Despite the crowd of students vying for his attention, his gaze kept drifting to me. Every time our eyes met, I quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing.
“Coral,” Sahara whispered, nudging me. “He’s staring at you.”
“No, he’s not,” I said quickly, shoving a bite of food into my mouth to avoid the conversation.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted but happy. As I walked to the parking lot, I spotted Jason leaning against his sleek black SUV, looking like he belonged in a magazine ad.
“Hey, Worm. Are you ready?” he called out as I approached.
I rolled my eyes at the nickname but nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”
The drive home was surprisingly easy. Jason kept the conversation light, asking about my classes and laughing when I told him Maddie scared one of her teachers so much he nearly tripped over his desk.
“She’s something else,” Jason said, shaking his head. “Where does she even sit in class?”
“The back corner,” I replied, grinning. “Probably plotting her next victim.”
We both laughed, and for a moment, it felt like old times, just Jason and me, no Future Alpha or Beta rank getting in the way.
Before I knew it, we were pulling into my driveway. Jason put the car in park but didn’t move to get out. Instead, he glanced over at me, his expression suddenly serious.
“I hope you had a good first day,” he said softly, his hand resting on my leg.
The warmth of his touch startled me, and I turned to face him. His dark eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jason leaned in slowly, his lips brushing against mine in a soft, tentative kiss.
My heart raced, and I pulled away, my face burning. “Thank you,” I stammered again, fumbling with the door handle.
I rushed out of the car and into the house, my mind spinning. What the hell had just happened?
- Writer
