Page 8

Chapter Eight

“ G ood Lord, I never thought we’d be able to fit all of that in your car.” My aunt was staring at my compact sedan, which was stuffed to the brim with clothes, room essentials, and art supplies.

“Maybe we have a shot at being on one of those extreme packing shows,” I said.

We both eyed the hodgepodge piles smooshed against the windows.

“Or maybe not.” I said, and we laughed.

“Are you sure I can’t help you move in?” Aunt Vera asked, offering one more time despite the fact I had already told her that only academy attendees and instructors were allowed on campus.

Aside from the fact that Aunt Vera didn’t know magical botanists existed, she didn’t have a charged ring and wouldn’t be able to enter the campus grounds and see it for what it really was.

“I’ve got it under control, but thanks for offering,” I said.

“Well, then let’s not get sappy. I’ll see you for your work shift Saturday, and you stop by for dinner any night you’d like. You’ve got all those maid-of-honor duties to attend to, you know. And don’t forget to pop off campus every now and then to check your phone notifications.”

“Of course. To all of the above.” We hugged, and then I was on my way.

A tug of nerves pulled at my stomach as I drove toward campus. Not only was I returning as a second-year, but I would also be experiencing life as a live-in student, my first time living away from home.

When I rounded the corner of the forest road that led to the academy gates, I pulled into a line of vehicles that I hadn’t been expecting. Last year, I had missed the start of the school season. All the action of moving in had been over.

With a zip of excitement, I took my place in line, easing my tiny car behind a biodiesel Mercedes Benz that looked entirely out of place on the overrun dirt road.

When it was my turn to reach the gate, I held my emerald ring to the scanner, feeling the old familiar buzz as it recognized my gemstone and signaled the gates to remain open.

Professor East was standing inside the gate, greeting each passenger car as they came through.

Farther ahead, Professor Bowellia was directing parking.

“Good morning, Ms. Whelan. Ms. Ortega arrived last night, so you can go straight up to your room.”

“Thanks, Professor East.” I rolled my window back up and parked.

I watched in amazement as students and their magical botanist parents created nets out of vines, large rolling baskets out of straw, or—in the case of some of the stronger tree affinities—floated their belongings inside on a wave of breezy leaves.

I opened my trunk and began to pile my things into a laundry basket, trying not to let my elation at being back on campus deflate as I prepared to make at least twenty trips.

But then a rolling cart made of ferns tapped my bumper, and I looked up and smiled as Yasmin and Aurielle greeted me.

“Coral’s not here yet. She should be arriving in a few hours,” Aurielle informed me as my two friends helped me load my belongings into the fern cart.

“I cannot believe we’re going to be roommates. And Coral and Aurielle are right next door. This year is going to be epic,” Yasmin said, taking the handle of the cart and tugging it forward, the ferns rustling slightly to help her along.

Yasmin wheeled the fern cart to the glass elevator behind one of the white stone staircases. Professor Sage was emerging in his wheelchair as we arrived.

“Welcome back, botanists. Briar, are you living on campus this year?”

I nodded. “I am. I’m excited to eat your delicious food three times a day now.”

Professor Sage grinned and pointed a finger at me. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.” He rolled off toward the kitchens, and we took the elevator up to the dorm level.

The white stone of the interior walls was covered by creeping plants, with light streaming from the panel of glass windows that went from the top floor down to the central vein. The sight was like a balm to my artistic soul. Everything about the place still took my breath away.

Yasmin and I spent the next few hours unpacking, Aurielle flitting between her room and ours. Yasmin’s rounded bed had been replaced by two thinner rectangular ones, each with a half-moon curve at the top to accommodate the rounded window.

We squeezed our clothes into the closet together, and I took over the recently installed second desk to set up my art supplies.

I had stockpiles of colorful notebooks, pens, and paints at my aunt’s house, and I’d brought them all along.

If I couldn’t complete my course studies like a normal student this year, at least I would have something to fill my time.

The ferns around the room shimmied as Yasmin turned on the fairy lights that were strewn all over the walls, intermixed with the snaking strands of pothos. “This place looks pretty cozy, if I do say so myself.”

We high-fived.

“Now, all we need is Coral,” Yasmin said, settling onto her luscious green bedspread. “Oh, B, you get to experience the autumn equinox celebrations this year! I’m already dreaming about the food.”

I heard a voice I recognized in the hallway and stuck my head out to survey the landing. There was a swish of freshly dyed black hair and the familiar shape of Meadow, moving into the room that I assumed was designated for moss descendants.

“Looks like Meadow’s moving in,” I said, slipping back into our room.

“Meadow?” Aurielle asked, and I remembered that my friends likely hadn’t met the new first-year student yet.

“She’s the new moss founder’s descendant.”

“You’ve met? I thought you just arrived?” Yasmin asked.

“It’s a long story—” I began then was cut off as the door swung open.

“I have arrived!” a familiar voice called. Brown curls and a flowy white summer dress enveloped Coral as she sashayed into the room.

“Coral!” we cried in unison.

We each took turns hugging our friend then paused our conversation to help her bring her luggage from the parking lot, putting the fern cart to use once more.

“B’s got intel on the new founder’s descendant,” Aurielle said as Coral unpacked.

“There are actually two new founders’ descendants. And not intel,” I said. “But we met over the summer.”

“Spill.” Coral pinned me with a look.

I filled them in on my experience sneaking onto campus with Meadow then being caught by Professor East and Callan. When I got to the part about meeting Callan’s best friend, Hollis, Coral gasped.

“ Fronds . I’d forgotten he’d be enrolling this year,” she said.

“You know him?” Aurielle asked.

“Kind of. We were in a competition together a few years ago that was open to fourteen- to sixteen-year-old fern affinities in our region. The winner got a trip to the fern conservatory. Like he even needed to enter. Don’t founders’ descendants visit the conservatory all the time?”

“Depends on the family, I think,” Yasmin said. “So, I take it he won?”

“Yes, and my project was much more innovative. His was flashier, though. If you couldn’t tell by how he carries himself, B, that showmanship comes through when he presents.”

“I may have noticed a bit of… charisma,” I admitted.

“Thinks he’s a young British royal or something.” Coral snorted.

“Sounds like you two really hit it off,” Aurielle said, and we both clenched our lips together to hide our smiles when our eyes met.

“Ha! He wishes,” Coral said.

Yasmin turned her attention back to me. “Sounds like someone had an eventful midsummer. And here we thought you’d be missing out on all our magical botanist traditions.”

“I can’t believe Meadow convinced you to sneak onto campus.” Aurielle arched her eyebrows.

“She sounds like trouble. Which, of course, I have nothing against a little of,” Coral observed. The ferns in the room shimmied.

“And you and Callan doing some extracurriculars together… What a treat,” Yasmin said, expression coy.

“More like luck that Professor East didn’t give me detention or expel me or something.”

“Evergreen Academy doesn’t have detention,” Aurielle said as if that was obvious. “But he could have given you an extra kitchen botany rotation.”

“Normally, that wouldn’t even be punishment. But without powers, I wonder if the herbs and harvester students would run me right out of there.”

“It’s going to be a great year, B.” Coral flung her arm around my shoulder. “As long as Hollis doesn’t ruin it.”