Emah

Last night was weird and I still haven't spoken to Nathinn about it yet. I got to school a bit late so we didn't have much to talk about, he isn't in my homeroom or first period today either. Which brings me to my second class that he is in, hopefully, we can discuss a bit of it in this class. This is such a weird class, technically the students are supposed to learn about magicals, however, the teacher never actually teaches. He supervises everyone, while we talk among ourselves about absolutely nothing. Everyone sits in groups of four, two magicals, and two humans. Again I don't think anyone actually takes this class seriously. Before I can even get a chance to step in the classroom, someone grabs my backpack and yanks me backward, who the hell? I spun around half expected to see Nathinn but was surprised to see Mikah.

"Oh, uh, hi?" I said meekly.

"Sorry, I tried calling your name but you didn't seem to hear me. I didn't mean to startle you or anything! I just didn't know how to get your attention." Mikah nervously chuckled, while scratching behind his head.

"Sorry, kind of spaced out," I replied but seriously, when did he call my name?

"Uh, you didn't forget our deal did you?"

"Oh! No, not at all." I totally forgot my half of the bargain. His expression changed from looking worried to looking reassured. So we walked in the classroom together, several girls' heads turned immediately. Oh, God, I hope I'm suddenly not a target or something. They seemed a bit disappointed when it was clear Mikah was 'with' me. I quickly scanned the room to see where Nathinn and Rina were sitting, of course, they sat in the way back. I walked over to our table with Mikah following behind, we both sat across from Nathinn and Rina.

"So! Uh, what is this class?" Mikah asked. Nathinn and Rina both gave not only each other a look but also glanced in my direction.

"We're supposed to learn about magicals, however, it's treated more or less like a slack-off class," I replied. Hopefully, it's now obvious to him that the other students around us are talking about everything besides what this class is about. Mikah glanced from Rina to Nathinn,

"So are you two...humans too?" His hand reached behind his head again.

Oh, wow! Does he not notice their eyes? I mean it's a bit obvious they're completely different. Unless he's trying not to be rude?

"Nathinn has wolf eyes, Rina has cat eyes. They're therianthropes." I explained. Rina had rolled her eyes in disgust while Nathinn had done a weird little eyebrow wiggle. I've never seen someone look more lost than Mikah does right now. Does he ever pay attention when he comes to this campus?

"What the hell is a therianthrope?" Mikah asked dumbfoundedly.

"We turn into animals to put it simply," Rina replied.

"So, shapeshifting?" Mikah corrected himself.

"That's different." Rina again said with disgust.

If it's one thing I learned from having magical friends, is you can not screw up their race with a similar one. Maybe humans should take this school more seriously other than making it seem like they're in a secret club.

"If you turn into animals shouldn't you, have like, ears and a tail?" Mikah looked even more confused.

"Those are half-breeds." Again Rina responded. I glanced at Nathinn who appeared to be amused with this whole discussion. I am so telepathic, let me tell you! I could just sense what Mikah was about to ask (the most ignorant question of all, what's the difference?) Thankfully Nathinn decided to save Rina the trouble, who seemed as if she was about to curse poor Mikah out.

"Half-breeds are humans with ears and a tail based on which animal they take after. Usually, they don't turn into animals, just have those two basic features but there are rare cases of it. Therianthropes can transform into only one animal, which is the animal we were born being. Our only distinction is our eyes, for example, I'm a wolf." Again with the weird eyebrow wiggle, I wish he wouldn't do that, it's creepy.

"We also take after a bit more of whatever animal we are, rather than half-breeds who don't share any instincts. Then there are shapeshifters, who can not only transform into any animal but also any human they please. But they're extinct." Nathinn had this proud smile plastered on his face. Good, God, don't be cocky.

"Sometimes we therianthropes wear special contacts to hide our eyes." Rina finally lost her disgusted expression.

"What? Why?" asked Mikah.

"Our eyes can be a bit freaky to some humans." Replied Rina.

"That's crazy, I love different colored eyes, I think they're cool. You should meet my friend's eyes, his are hazel and blue!" Mikah had excitedly said. He grabbed this textbook in front of him and started to flip through the pages, clearly looking for something specific.

                                                                      Mikah

I remember when Tristian first told me he hated his eyes, I was shocked. I had asked him why and he told me that ever since coming to this school, that's the only trait people notice about him. At first, I thought he was just misunderstanding the situation but after some time, I realized that wasn't the case. He was telling the truth, the girls only gushed about his eyes in specific and his stupid bullies only targeted him because of his eyes. After my friends and I got pretty much forced into the same boat, we got to know one another a little better and there's a lot more to Tristian than his eyes.

I was trying to find a chapter about shapeshifters, half-breeds, and therianthropes when I finally landed on a picture of a girl with bunny ears extended out of her head where her ears should be. Bingo. I don't really like confusing races with one another, it just feels rude. When magicals became a known thing, I tried finding out as much as I can about the species. Even when I first started hanging out with Ben and Wilder, I tried to distinguish the two from one another. (Seriously they are so identical, it's creepy.) It was pretty easy after a few weeks, Ben talks a lot more and is more open to joking around than Wilder, who is shy and doesn't speak to us at all. Wilder only whispers to Ben now and then.

"So want to come?" Emah asked me. What, go where? What the hell did I miss?

"I'm sorry?" I asked, looking up from the textbook.

"I asked if you wanted to join us for lunch." She repeated in a very obvious annoyed tone. I glanced Nathinn who seemed all for it, Rina on the other hand, had a repulsed gaze fixated on me. Jesus, what is her deal?

"Oh, um. Maybe another time? I told my friends I'd meet up with them by the gate." I replied. Maybe I should ditch them, after all, I still feel horrible about lying to her. I started to flip through the pages again landing on a page about shapeshifters. I stared and stared hoping to recognize some distinct factor about them but holy shit, they look exactly like a human, what the hell.

"Hey, are you sure shapeshifters are extinct?" I asked.

"Yup! History says so! The race made so many enemies they eventually got themselves all killed." Responded Nathinn.

"They look exactly like a human." I kept starring at the photo.

"Creepy right? Some witch put a curse on their whole race that eventually killed them all off." Nathinn said. I closed the book,

"I never met a witch before," I said.

"You wouldn't have. They are also extinct, have been for a while." This time Rina responded.

"A lot of older races have gone extinct, some managed to survive but few remain." Rina seemed like she was about to dive into the topic a bit more but the bell cut her off.

"So. I'll see you after school then! With Wilder?" Emah had a serious tone in her voice.

"Uh, yeah! Meet you by the gate." Dammit, Mikah, stop lying to her! Suddenly Emah was right up in my face, holy crap.

"I swear if you miss up on this, or Wilder doesn't show up, I will end you. We already wasted to much time on this project, I am not getting a bad mark." Emah's eyes were literally piercing through my soul.

"Oh, we'll be there." I nervously laughed trying to break this sudden tension. She backed off and stretched out her hand towards me.

"Shake on it." I took her hand and shook it, she smiled and walked off following Rina, Nathinn winked at me then turned to follow the two girls. I am so fucking dead.