I use the rest of my time that morning to go over some things with Cyrene before my exam in Professor Barnes's class. For lunch I walk around campus and the library, looking for student organizations to join. Specifically, ones that meet on Friday.

Since tomorrow is Friday, I need an excuse fast on why I can't try out for Magic siege. So far nothing is popping out to me, nothing screams Emery join me so you have an excuse not to be a healthy physically fit person.

Book clubs, but I already have too much reading to do. So that's a no. Dance club, I just said I hate physical actives, pass. Cooking club, promising, but not really my cup of tea. Theater clubs, as Dariyah would say, lame! Video game clubs, hmm, now that is an option, but I know nothing about video games other than what my brother told me, they'd probably kick me out after day one, sigh.

Nothing, I don't see anything.

The club catalog at the library isn't much help at all.

There has to be one club I'm capable of joining. Right?

Spellcasting club, no. Water Caster club, well that's out. The shadow Caster society, lol not happening.

"Ugh," I bang my head against the computer screen.

"Having trouble?"

I flinch and sit right.

"Yeah," I turn to Darko.

"Anything I can help with?" he sits next to me.

"Aren't you supposed to be at lunch?" I ask.

"Aren't you?"

"Touché." I sigh.

"What's up?"

"I'm trying to find a student organization to join before tomorrow so I don't have to try out for magic siege," I explain.

"Ah, makes sense. You are a star Caster. And considering all the championships this school won when Cyrene was on the team, I'd see why the coach wouldn't take no for an answer."

"She's relentless! Do I look like someone who is good at sports to you?"

He chuckles.

"And none of the clubs are for me, like," I pause to look back at the screen. "The animal whisperer society, what the heck even is that!?"

He laughs.

"I'm doomed." I pout.

"Well I wish I could help you, but I'm also club-less. Not really very popular around here, people wouldn't want me in their club even if I did try to join."

"Wait, they can reject your bid to join!?"

He nods.

"Double doomed, no one will want me." I pout some more.

"I'm sure there is something easy, you're good at community outreach stuff. Let's see," he pushes me over and scrolls on the screen to try and find clubs for me.

I peek over his shoulder.

"What about the woman's society for public speaking?"

"Ew, that sounds scary intense," I say.

"Okay, what about Community outreach? They literally accept everyone. All you have to do is do some volunteer work, like clean up the campus and organize events for faculty. Easy peasy right?"

"Hmm, okay. I can do that. Print me out an application." I say.

"You got it, boss," he hits print.

Maybe hope is not lost after all.

"So what have you been up to lately?" I ask.

"Same old same old, just getting by best as I can." He says.

"You doing okay?" I ask.

He looks at me and nods, forcing a smile.

"You can tell me if you're not," I add.

"It's nothing, I'm sure you have enough on your plate without me adding on. I can handle it."

"Darko—" before I can finish my sentence the chime rings signaling lunch period is over.

"Welp," he gets up and grabs the application off the printer. "Don't want you to be late for your last exam." He hands it to me.

"This isn't over," I say as I shove the paper into my bag.

"I'm fine, worry about yourself." He says before quickly walking off.

I sigh.

When I get to my class the test are already on the desk. I take my seat and wait for instructions.

Professor Barnes comes in and sits down.

Professor Barnes and I never really clicked as I did with all my other Profs. I think it's because she's a Shadow Caster, and I'm a Star Caster. We are not Sympatico. I did try and be a good student, but by the time class is over I always feel exhausted and irritated because of our clashing energies.

Just like when I hang out with Nerissa too much.

Can't be helped, I guess.

All semester I've been struggling in her class, but thanks to Cyrene, and Vega, I've been able to keep up with the material on my own.

"Evening class, hope you all had a good lunch. You have 90 minutes to take this test. Good luck." She says.

So we all open our packets and get to answering the questions.

I'm the last to leave.

The short essay questions always get me.

I suck at writing essays, just ask my old English teacher from my other school.

"Times up Emery," she says.

I sigh and put my pencil down.

"Did you finish?" she walks over to me.

"Yes, no, sort of. I answered all the questions, but my essay answers aren't... that good. I'm bad at explaining things." I eye the test.

"It's okay. Even if you get the essay questions wrong, you can still pass." She takes my exam.

"Fingers crossed," I say.

Now, still, one thing left to do for today. I grab my stuff and head over to the Administration building, where the organization works out of. When I get there I catch the organization leader as she's heading out of her office for the day.

"Wait!" I call.

She flinches and turns to me.

"Here," I hand her the application.

She eyes it.

"I want to join your organization," I say. "You guys meet on Friday's right?"

"Yeah..." she says cautiously.

"Perfect." I turn to leave.

"Wait." She stops me.

I turn back to her.

"I'm sorry but your application has been denied," She hands me back the paper.

"What!? But you guys literally accept everyone."

"Everyone but you, sorry. We aren't looking for that kind of negative publicity in our organization." She says before walking off.

I have to pick my jaw up off the floor.

Is she serious!?

"Wait, wait, wait," I chase after her. "You don't understand. I need to join a club by tomorrow. Please, I just want to do some good in the community." I plead.

"I'm sorry Emery, no can do." She says.

"But, but, but—"

"We bring a positive influence to our community, having you join would put a target on our backs and bring unnecessary drama that would hinder us from completing our mission. We will not reconsider." She says before quickly walking away from me.

Oh come on!

I don't bring... okay maybe I do, but still!

This is a disaster.

I drag myself out of the admin office and since I'm close to Asherah's office, I might as well go and complain to her. Maybe she can help me. Since all Cyrene wants is for me to join the stupid Magic Siege team so she can relive her glory days. Ugh!

"You're doing it on purpose!" I hear shouting.

"I am not!" Asherah defends herself.

"You are, you always do that. Try any way you can to undermine me." Cyrene says.

Uh oh.

I tiptoe to the door and peek inside.

"Cyrene, get a grip, why on this green earth would I turn Emery against you? Grow up."

"You grow up! How about when she comes to you, you urge her to come to me like you are supposed to!"

"It's not my fault she feels like she can't talk to you."

"What's that supposed to mean!?"

"Maybe if you weren't playing tongue twister with that bitch all the time, she'd feel more comfortable around you!"

Oh no she didn't. Big yikes!

Okay, that's my cue. I'll just come back never.

"I knew it! I knew you were just being jealous!" Cyrene declares.

"I am not jealous of her, no matter how much you flaunt her in front of me. I'm more mature than that." Asherah scoffs.

"Oh please, coming from the girl who once put poison ivy in my ex's bed."

"She had that coming!"

"You always sabotage every relationship I get into. But you're the one that broke up with me!"

I flinch when Asherah grabs Cyrene into her arms and kisses her, in a heat of passion and love. Cyrene looks like she wants to pull away at first but quickly relaxes into her embrace and kisses her back, wrapping her arms around Asherah.

Okay, now that's really my cue.

I teleport the heck out of there.

I definitely shouldn't have seen that.

Ah! No! How am I going to act normal around them now, knowing what I know!

"There you are,"

"Ah!" I squeak out loud.

Lorelei eyes me.

"Eh heh heh, here I am." I say.

"Today is supposed to be our first energy lesson. Remember?"

"Oh, right, Of course." I force a laugh.

She raises an eyebrow.

"Um, lead the way, new teacher," I say.

"You're acting weird, what did you do?" she asks as she starts walking.

"What!? No! I'm not acting weird."

"You're a very bad liar." She comments.

"Psh, I am not."

"If you don't tell me, I'll just ask Cyrene to cast a truth spell on you." She shrugs.

"No!"

She turns to me with her arms crossed.

"I mean, no need for that. It's nothing. Just recently embarrassed myself is all." I say.

"Now I really want to know, I could use a good laugh." She starts walking again.

"No way I'm telling you," I say.

"Fine, but then I'm not telling you something I know that I know you want to know."

"Like what?" I raise an intrigued eyebrow.

"Like the identity of your girlfriend's ex." She says.

"What! How do you know that!?" I challenge.

"I just do, do you want to know or not?"

"Does she go here?"

"She sure does."

Dang her, tough bargain. But no way I can tell her I just saw Cyrene and Asherah locking lips and sharing spit. She'd flip! And I've seen what it looks like when she flips, it's not pretty. The girl has anger management issues. She scares me. Cyrene is going to get murdered cheating on this crazy girl!

"Well?" she asks when I've been quiet for too long.

"You know what, I'm going to be the bigger person. I don't want to know. It's none of my business." I say.

"Even if I saw her and Vega talking today?" she pushes.

What!

No! No, Emery, be the bigger person. If Vega wants to tell me, she can. No need to go and snoop. I am above that, I will not stoop to Lorelei's level.

"Nope, I am fine," I say.

"Suit yourself." She shrugs.

Ugh! Now it's going to bother me!

We walk into one of the many spare gyms here and turn on the lights.

"Go get changed into your gym clothes." She says.

"Which ones?" I mutter.

"Just plain ones." She rolls her eyes.

Yeah right, I'm going to need the full-body armor to work with her. The girl is crazy! She tried to kill me once! Plus, Cyrene isn't here to watch her because Cyrene is a two-timer! Just fantastic. I am so dead.

I get changed and walk back out to the gym.

She's texting away on her phone before she looks up at me.

"Everything okay?" I ask.

"Yeah, just texted Cyrene. She's getting us something to eat. She might be a while." She puts her phone away.

Liar, liar, pants on fire! She's not getting food, she's getting something else with someone else! Oh, how I wish I didn't know what I know! It's just going to come bursting out of me, I know it! I'm so bad at keeping secrets.

But I better keep my mouth shut or this girl will murder me!

"Okay, ready to begin?" she asks.

"Do I have a choice?" I ask.

"Good, point." She smirks.

Two hours alone with her, I have a feeling I am not going to like this.