The closer the pair got to the lake, the more Jess' worries grew. What if she goes off and tells everyone? What if they start trying to hurt Cheez-It to get to me? Am I really going to fit in here? What's the purpose of me being here, really? Will I ever get any answers about why I'm basically a monster...? She sighed and stared up at the sinking sun. She checked her watch. It would be an hour until dinner. Not only did she worry about what Ana would do, she felt horrible for snapping at her and poking fun and what was very likely to be one of her insecurities.

She sat on the sandy area next to it once they arrived, and Cheez-It curled up next to her to provide an inkling of comfort. It helped, but Jess couldn't help but feel like an asshole. Well, she did try to touch Cheez-It. Would I even consider that to be forgivable? I don't know... She stared at the glistening lake, watching the water lap on the shore. It helped calm her down. She decided that tomorrow during class, or whenever she'd see her again, Jess would apologize to Ana. It wasn't like she wanted to, because a part of her still felt justified, but she knew it would be the right thing.

"Are you lost, dear?" Jess was startled by the rich voice. She slowly turned around to see a laughing siren, as evidenced by the little horns on her head. She had dark skin, but also had vitiligo. Like that jerk... She had deep, mossy colored eyes and slightly large, dark lips. Her hair was in cornrows, and it was long. She kept her edges down in a beautiful fashion, Jess noting the attention to detail. The only curiosity she had was the fact that her siren horns were the same pale color as the patches on her skin. Maybe because of her vitiligo?

"Oh, uh, no ma'am," Jess stuttered, still startled. The adult siren shook her head slightly, still laughing.

"I take it you're the new witch at Lyonhall?" Her voice was smooth like butter and alluring, like what Jess could assume most adult sirens sounded like.

"Yes ma'am. My name is Jess Brown, and this is Cheez-It." She motioned to the cat flopped in the sand. A smile adorned the siren's lips.

"Well isn't he cute? I am Professor Anaklyn. It is a pleasure to meet you. May I pet him?" Jess was thankful she didn't move.

"No, I'm sorry. He's my familiar, and anyone else touching him except me would cause some problems. Let's just say whatever he feels, I feel one-hundred times more." Jess laughed slightly as the siren professor nodded.

"Understood. I'll let the other professors know as well. You'll be in my skills class, is that correct?" He hands moved in the most graceful way when she talked, but Jess couldn't ignore that she seemed a little confused by something.

"Yes ma'am. I'm very excited to learn as well." The professor smiled.

"I am happy to hear that, but I must ask if you can transform in the water like the other sirens?" She asked as if she was afraid of offending Jess.

"In all honesty, I haven't tried. I'm not quite sure if I want to, either, but don't worry! Mrs. Renae made sure I had a swimsuit for class." Jess smiled, remembering Mrs. Renae's kindness. Professore Anaklyn nodded.

"She seems to watch out for everybody arguably more than Principal Willow, but you didn't hear me say that." She winked and Jess laughed. "It's almost time for dinner. Care to walk with me to the Great Hall?"

"I would love to." Jess stood up and brushed Cheez-It off the best she could. "Look chonky boy, next time we come here for class you better be prepared to clean yourself." She could have sworn he rolled his eyes. The professor laughed and together they walked to the Great Hall.

Once inside, Jess got to properly look around. There were five, long wooden tables that filled the room, a buffet line that circled the perimeter, and one large table running along the back of the room. Jess saw Principal Willow and Professor Lykman there, so it had to be the teachers' table.

"I need to join my fellow professors now. Do you have a place to sit? I know we don't have a table for you yet...," Professor Anaklyn inquired.

"Oh I'll be alright. I've made a friend who said they'd save a seat for me. I loved meeting you," Jess slightly waved as the professor nodded and walked off.

Jess looked around the room for a bunch of ghosts and found them sitting on the far left. She scanned the table looking for her new friend, Bri, and found her sitting at the end. Jess made her way over to her, ignoring the mumbled conversations about her along the way.

"Hey Bri!" Jess greeted her. Bri looked around nervously.

"Uhm, hi...," she nervously looked around.

"Are you sure you want me to sit by you? I don't want you to be like a target or anything..." Jess uncomfortably crossed her arms, shuffling a little. Bri's eye widened.

"Oh no! I'm sorry if I came across that way..." Jess' eyes shifted to the ghosts surrounding her and Bri, they looked away once they were caught staring.

"I know, but I don't want you to have to deal with any unwanted attention, y'know? It wouldn't be fair to do that to you, since you're normal." Bri laughed slightly.

"I'm anything but normal, and I deal with that already because of my eye... please, sit. You're a friend after all." At those words, Jess smiled and sat down. Cheez jumped into her lap and started relaxing. "Oh what a cute kitty! What's his name?" Bri's hands raced up to hold her cheeks as she squealed. Jess couldn't help but laugh.

"His name is Cheez-It."

"Can I pet him?" She pleaded. Sighing, Jess thought about it. Well, at the very least I trust her to be gentle the way she shook my hand. I just have to explain it to her first.

"Can I tell you something first?" Bri nodded. Jess leaned in to whisper to her, and explained what would happen. She pulled back to see Bri's eye widen with... shock? Embarrassment? Surprise? What?

"O-Oh, I'm afraid I don't think you would like me to then..." Jess shook her head.

"I trust you, Bri. I can let you pet him, but only if you're comfortable with it. I just felt the need to tell you first. Wouldn't want it to be a surprise, y'know?" Bri nodded before shifting in her seat, rocking back and forth with spastic contemplation.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"I really want to... but I don't want to make you uncomfortable..."

"I'm giving you permission. I promise I won't be uncomfortable if you do it, Bri." Bri stopped rocking and took a deep breath. "I promise he's real soft, and would love the attention. He's got fur as dense as he is." Jess joked and Cheez-It swatted at her. She placed him on the bench between them.

"Okay, just let me know as soon as you want me to stop." Bri gently, but nervously placed a hand on Cheez-It's head. Jess felt it, like really felt it. It was like a force gently laid itself on her head and brushed itself down her back as Bri stroked Cheez-It. It caused Jess to shudder slightly. Bri's hand held a warmth to it that you wouldn't expect from a ghost, and Jess' eyes widened when she felt a gentle scratch behind her ears. It felt... nice, and comforting and strong and, gosh, what else could she use to describe it? It's like her whole body tingled. Only one other person had pet Cheez-It before, and that was her mom. This felt different. She could feel the pure intentions Bri had and she got more confident and pressed down slightly. She watched the smile on Bri's face widen as she stroked his back, and it was cute to watch Cheez-It purr from some much needed outside affection. The only problem was: She was getting overstimulated.

"O-Okay. That's enough for me, haha..." Jess trailed off, shaking slightly from the pressure of it all. Bri, suddenly very worried looking, snatched her hand away from Cheez-It. He squeaked slightly and tried to pry her hand back, but Bri was much stronger than he was... obviously.

"Are you okay? Was it too much? Oh, I knew it would be too much. I'm so sorry!" Jess laughed and shook her head at the ghost.

"Just between you and me, Bri, that was, uh, how do I put this without sounding really weird, um, nice? Is that it?" Jess chuckled nervously, and watched as Bri smiled, thankfully. Letting out a sigh of relief, Jess took Cheez-It back.

"Well, if you liked it so much, maybe I should do it again sometime." Jess looked up to Bri with a very peculiar expression on her face. Was she smirking? Jess chuckled nervously, not having pegged Bri to be a very confident person. Is she flirting with me?

"Does that insinuate what you want it to, Bri?" Jess ran a hand through her hair and Bri gasped.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't want to make you uncomfortable..." There she was.

"No! No, you didn't. I just didn't think you were... y'know." Bri nodded.

"I'm so sorry. I just think you're really pretty, and you're the first person to really be nice to me. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry." Jess shook her head.

"It's okay, and for some reason, I trust you." She tilted her head slightly and Bri's cheeks went a little pink. "But I'm sure you can find a cute ghost girl who wouldn't cause you as much trouble as I am already." Jess was thankful no one showed they were listening, perhaps because they were talking rather low. Bri sighed and looked away.

"I don't know... all the ghosts around my age are rather rude."

"Well, how about this, I'll let you ask me out, but only if you really think about it, okay? Y'know, give it some time." Bri nodded. Jess was the type of person to agree to a date just to get to know a person. She didn't mind the thought, but was levelheaded enough to see that it may not go anywhere.

"If that makes you the most comfortable, I'll agree to it."

"You're not really thinking about asking this pest out, are you?" Jess heard Ana's voice and cringed a little. She looked over to see Bri had gone silent.

"Hey, Ana...," Jess trailed off, giving her a weak smile, turning to face her. Ana gave her a look she couldn't decipher, but it was full of hate... and hurt? It made Jess feel guilty. "I'm really sorry about earlier..."

"Like you are. All humans are the same." Ana had her arms crossed and didn't seem to want to look at Jess.

"I really am. I shouldn't have acted out the way I did, and I know what I said must've hurt." Ana let a breath out of her nose.

"So what?"

"Well, if you wanted, I'll let you pet my familiar... if you promise to be careful that is." Jess winked and chuckled when Ana's cheeks turned slightly red.

"Why would I want to touch that filthy thing?" Jess absentmindedly stroked Cheez-It to make sure he wouldn't lash out at such a harsh comment.

"You, uh, I don't know. I just wanted to show that I was sorry in a way you might believe. After all, you know, so..." Ana, still looking away, rolled her eyes.

"You know what? Fine. Consider what I said as your only warning. After this, if you pull that little stunt again, I won't hesitate to tell everybody." Jess nervously laughed a bit and put Cheez-It on the edge of the bench. He looked worried, but Jess soothed him.

"I promise he's as soft as he looks." Ana scoffed and surprisingly gently scratched Cheez-It's cheeks. The familiar immediately started purring, as that was his favorite place to be scratched. Jess looked up, blush on her cheeks, at Ana only to see her with a little smile. Jess laughed through the confusing feeling that followed. It was like a rough exterior but a soft feeling the longer it was drawn out.

"Well, aren't you a cute little guy..." Ana breathed and started stroking him. Jess was starting to get a little overstimulated, but took out a fidget toy to distract herself. She really didn't want any enemies, and the way Ana was reacting, she might be able to make that a thing.

"Heha, yep!" Thankfully, Ana stopped on her own, smirking as she saw the state Jess was in.

"This doesn't make us friends, but..." She looked Jess up and down as Jess tried to calm down. "You're forgiven." She walked away as Jess let out a sigh of relief. That was so awkward....

"Are you okay?" Bri asked Jess and Jess just laughed like she was coming down from a high.

"Y-yeah. I guessed I was prepared for something else..." Bri sighed and touched her shoulder.

"I don't know if you should have done that, Jess..." Jess thought for a moment.

"I don't know either. It's not like me to do that. I guess I just... I don't know. I'll-"

"Good evening!" A slightly high voice announced itself through the room. Jess and Bri turned to see Principal Willow standing as a podium in front of the professors. "I would like to welcome you all back to Lyonhall Woods for the fall term. I would also like to remind you all that curfew is ten o'clock tonight, and classes start tomorrow. The rules will be set in place starting tonight. Make sure you wear your uniform to class, that only your species is in your particular side of the school, and that there will be no dueling when a professor isn't present." Some boo's from the audience caused Principal Willow to laugh and shake his head. "Of course, remember that the infirmary is located in Angel Tower, and that you are responsible to keep yourself healthy. I also have another announcement. If you'll see behind me, we have a new demon professor." Lykman stood up from his seat. "He will be treated with the utmost respect as the rest of our professors. Oh, and I've almost forgotten one more thing. Before you all report a human sighting on campus, we have a new student." He beamed and motioned for Jess to stand up. Please don't do this, sir. She stood and gave an awkward wave as gasps and murmurs fell throughout the crowd. "She will also be treated with respect as you would treat a fellow student." Jess sat back down, heat rising to her cheeks in a new form of embarrassment. "With that being said, I will see you all bright and early tomorrow!"

He sat back down, and Jess felt the eyes bore into her. She knew better than to lower her head, so she tried to act cool by stroking Cheez-It on her lap like some Bond villain...not that they would know what a Bond villain even is.

"Are you feeling okay? Should we go to the infirmary?" Bri felt her forehead and Jess shook her head.

"No, I'll be fine. Promise. I guess you could say I'm not used to all this attention.," Jess laughed and squeezed Bri's hand slightly after removing it from her face. "So, should I go get us some plates?"

After dinner had ended, Bri and Jess said goodnight to each other and Jess started walking up separate stairs to her dorm. She was caring Cheez-It at this point, as he was too tired from being pet today. Though she felt excited for tomorrow, she felt an unease prickle through her.

Was it right to say that to Bri? Is that something I even want when I'm here? With my only friend no magine. Was it smart to let Ana pet Cheez-It? I'm sure he loved it, but I can't help but see her as a threat still. Yes I apologized, but I only want it to be so that she doesn't spread my secret... but I let her pet Cheez boy. Am I stupid? Do I deserve to be here? What if I just embarrass myself every day until winter break?

With a sigh, she opened her dorm room, set Cheez-It down in his corner to sleep, and got ready for bed. As she laid on her bed, about to drift off to sleep, she couldn't send those worries away.