Chapter 103 103- Do Not Let Him Distract You During Exams
LEXI
As I expected, Basic Spellcasting is boring as hell. Aside from all the staring, you would think nothing has changed. The professor drones on in his usual monotone, pacing slowly at the front of the room like he’s reading straight out of the textbook in his head. His voice barely shifts in pitch and I have to actively fight the urge to zone out completely. Honestly, I might as well just read the textbook myself. At least then I could go at my own pace. A few students glance at me every now and then, quickly looking away when I notice. It’s not as intense as it was before, but it’s still there. That weird awareness. Like I’ve become… Something to observe. The class feels like it takes about a hundred years. By the time it finally ends, I feel like I’ve aged at least a decade. Blake and I leave together and head to Shifter Basics. And this time… I can’t help but feel a little more on edge. I mean, I’ve FINALLY managed to shift. Sure, it wasn’t exactly controlled or intentional, but it still counts. So… Does that change anything? Will Professor Cage say something about it? Acknowledge it? Make a big deal out of it? Ignore it completely? I honestly don’t know which option I’m hoping for. Part of me wants him to say something. To recognise that I actually did it. And another part of me really, really doesn’t want the attention. I briefly consider trying to slip into the classroom quietly before anyone notices. But with Blake beside me, that’s basically impossible. He walks in like he owns the place. Calm. Confident. Completely unconcerned with what anyone else thinks. He takes his usual seat next to me without hesitation, like nothing has changed at all. I can tell immediately that he has absolutely no intention of leaving me alone in this class. Thank goodness. I really do not want to deal with Professor Cage on my own. I still kind of think he’s an ass. Not that I couldn’t handle it if I had to. I’m sure I could. But given the option? Backup is one hundred percent appreciated. I hold my breath slightly as Professor Cage enters the room. Blake nudges my side gently, a subtle reminder. Breathe. I let out a quiet breath and force myself to relax, focusing on him for a second before turning my attention back to the front. Professor Cage’s gaze sweeps across the room. Then lands on me. My stomach tightens. He gives a small smile. And then… Nothing. No comment. No acknowledgement. No dramatic announcement about the unicorn in the room. He just walks to the front and starts the class like it’s any other day. I’m not sure if I feel relieved or vaguely annoyed. We’re still working on partial shifting. Of course we are. After a while, Professor Cage instructs everyone to begin practicing. I don’t even hesitate. I turn straight to Blake. Before he was suspended, we were basically following our own lesson plan anyway.
“What should I do?” I ask quietly. Blake hesitates. Which is… New. Up until now he has always had an answer. Always had a plan. Something to try, something to improve, something to work on. Honestly, he’s actually a really good teacher. It’s just a shame that most people are too intimidated by him to ever find that out. His mix of patience, confidence, and just enough pushiness to keep me from backing out of things makes him incredibly effective. But right now… He looks uncertain.
“Well…” He starts slowly, thinking it through.
“I’m still not sure that it’s a good idea for you to shift where anyone can actually see you.” He tells me as he glances briefly around the room.
“That includes here.” He adds. I frown. Wait. He doesn’t think I should shift here either?
“But I have to.” I protest quietly.
“How am I supposed to pass this class if I don’t ever actually shift in it?” I ask, frustrated. Blake’s expression tightens slightly. I can practically see the thoughts running through his head. I am almost certain his first instinct is to say something like ‘I don’t care if you pass this class or not.’ But he stops himself. Because he knows that matters to me. And now he’s trying to find a version of that answer that won’t upset me.
“We can talk to the principal. Arrange for alternate assessment. You could demonstrate it in private.” He says instead. My shoulders droop.
“I suppose…” I mumble. But it doesn’t feel great.
“Is it really that dangerous?” I ask.
“Everyone here already knows what I am anyway.” I point out.
“Yes.” Blake says immediately. Then he softens his tone slightly.
“They know what you are. But until you’re confident in your shift, able to move properly, and actually use your abilities…” He pauses.
“You’re at your most vulnerable in that form.” He clarifies. I hesitate, because I know he’s right.
“I guess…” I admit reluctantly. The worst part of knowing when people are lying… Is knowing when they’re not. It makes it really hard to lie to myself too.
I don’t really know what I expected from that class, but it was weirdly… Normal. Not better. Not worse. Just… The same. I spend most of the time doing grounding and calming exercises like Blake suggested, focusing on my breathing and trying to stay steady instead of letting my thoughts spiral. When I’m not doing that, I read through the material, half paying attention to what’s happening around me. Professor Cage ignores us. Completely. Like usual. Except… Not entirely. I catch him glancing at me a few times throughout the lesson. And smiling. Not a big smile. Not obvious. Just small, subtle, like he knows something I don’t. I have absolutely no idea what that smile means. But I don’t like it. It definitely freaks me out. I’m not sure if he’s impressed, amused, curious… Or if I’m missing something important. And somehow, not knowing is worse. By the end of the class, I feel… Disappointed. This was the one class I thought might actually get better once I could shift. Like things would finally click. Like I’d finally be able to participate properly instead of feeling like I was constantly playing catch-up. But instead… It’s the same. Only now it’s more frustrating. Because I know I could probably do it. With a bit of practice, at least. I’m not completely clueless anymore. And I still can’t actually do what everyone else is doing. That’s worse. I’m relieved when we finally leave and head to lunch. As we walk through the halls, I start to notice something, the staring is easing off. Not completely gone, but definitely less. People still look, but it’s quicker now. Less intense. Less constant. I guess there’s only so long you can stare at someone before it gets boring. And they’ve already had weeks to stare. This morning they tried again, but I probably disappointed them. I look exactly the same. I’m not glowing or sparkling or randomly turning into a unicorn in the middle of the hallway. At least… I really hope I’m not. So lunch ends up being relatively peaceful. For once. By the time we finish, I’m actually starting to feel a little lighter. Then it’s time for Medicinal Magic, and I am so ready. By the time we leave the cafeteria, I’m practically vibrating with excitement. Finally, a class where I actually get to do something. Not just sit there and listen. Not just feel behind. Something I’m actually good at. Something that makes sense. So, much to Blake’s mild annoyance, I drag him along early. We get there before most of the other students. Layla is already in the classroom. She looks up when we enter and immediately smiles, giving me a small wave.
“Hi Lexi. I hope you’re feeling better.” She says cheerfully. Then her gaze shifts to Blake, and her expression changes slightly.
“Uh… Blake… I set up a spot for you over there.” She gestures toward the back corner of the room. There’s an extra desk set slightly apart from the others. Not isolated exactly, but… Deliberately placed.
“I thought you might like a spot to work on individual study or something. I don’t want Lexi distracted in class either.” She adds, her eyes narrowing slightly. Blake raises an eyebrow and looks at her directly.
“Are you saying I am going to distract Lexi from her studies?” He asks, his tone completely serious. I can practically see Layla swallow, but she doesn’t back down.
“Yes.” She says, blunt and honest. Blake pauses, considers that for a moment, then smirks.
“Good. I like being distracting.” Then he winks at me. My face immediately burns. Great. Fantastic. Exactly what I needed right before class. Blake, apparently very pleased with himself, heads over to the desk Layla set up for him and sits down like he belongs there. Meanwhile, I’m still standing there trying to pretend that my entire face isn’t on fire.