“Yeah well that happens when all you eat is microwavable mac and cheese.”
“Then why won’t you go to the cafeteria?”
“I told you, Dad, everyone hates me.”
“Don’t you think you’re being dramatic?” I wasn’t going to dignify that with a response. If he didn’t believe me, nothing I could say would change his mind.
“You know what, Dad. You were right, can we call it a day, please? I really need to write a history essay.”
“Go ahead.” He opened his arms for a hug. I shook my head and left his office. Some of the tension between us had melted over the last couple of months, but I still hadn’t forgiven him for his role in Willa hating me.
Days came and went in a haze. I was just running through the motions. When I opened my locker before defense class the next day, hundreds of flyers with the dragon slayer picture fell out and scattered. Someone behind me laughed. I whirled around, but all the girls in the locker room with me had their backs turned toward me.
When I entered defense class, I knew something was up. Instead of preparing to spar, all the students were lined up in a semi-circle. In the middle was Drew. It wasn’t hard to know who they were waiting for. A frantic look around the room told me Professor Sarah was nowhere in sight. For a fraction of a second I considered running. I was far enough away that none of them would be able to grab me before I made it somewhere with a teacher.
The thought disgusted me. Had I really fallen so far that I would back down from a fight? Maybe I didn’t have a dragon to rely on, but I was still Sophie. And Sophie stood up for herself. I squared my shoulders in the hope looking the part would give me the confidence I didn’t have.
“What do you want?” I hated myself for the fact that Drew’s smile still made my belly do flip flops. But instead of charming, his smile now looked devious to me. Before I got all the way into the room, he tossed me a wooden practice sword.
“Someone needs to be taught a lesson. You don’t get to make decisions that affect all of us without some repercussions.”
“Who put you in charge?” Bravado had worked for me before. Maybe it would again. The palms of my hands itched with sweat. At my strongest I was barely a match for Drew. Without my dragon or any magic to call on, I would be in trouble.
Drew didn’t answer. He charged at me and I barely had time to lunge out of the way. His sword still hit me on the shoulder, making me wince. I twisted and brought my own sword up in time to block his next hit. My arms quivered with the exertion. I just had to hold him off until Professor Sarah arrived. He was bearing down on me with his full weight, pushing his sword and his shoulder into me. I couldn’t let him get the upper hand. If I wasn’t going to win with strength, I was going to have to be tricky.
I kicked out with my leg and connected with his kneecap. Then I dropped to the floor and rolled causing him to pitch forward. I stuck my leg out to trip him and hit him on the back for good measure. He recovered impossibly quick and came at me again. We hadn’t been fighting long, but my chest was already heaving. I parried a few more blows. Drew had me backed up against the wall. Using a trick my dad taught me, I twisted our swords together and managed to wrench his from his hand.
That was a mistake. He grabbed me with both hands and threw me back against the wall so hard I saw stars. If it hadn’t been for the way he was holding onto me, I would’ve collapsed on the floor. I tried kicking out again, but he dodged me easily.
“This is what happens to people who get in my way. Because of you, none of the professors trust me anymore. We let you into our club and you betrayed us.” He was talking low, only for my ears. He pressed an arm against my neck. I clawed at it to no avail. I looked around at my fellow students, but most of them were regarding Drew and me with a sick pleasure. Even the few who didn’t look like they were enjoying it didn’t look like they were willing to get help. My stomach dropped. I was really on my own.
“I wasn’t going to let you hurt the humans. It’s not right.”
“What have humans ever done for us but hunt us and force us to live in secret.” My vision was getting black around the edges. I couldn’t breathe. “They can die for all I care. I’ve got plans you and your precious father will never see coming. Don’t get in my away again, little dragon. Or you’ll really see what I can do.” He let go of me and I collapsed on the floor.
My chest heaved as I took in huge gasping breaths. Just before he walked away Drew turned and kicked me in the face. Other students moved in. I couldn’t see who they were, but I suspected Penelope was one of them as a designer sneaker connected with my rib cage. There was nothing I could do but cover my head and hope it would be over soon.
“What is going on here?” The roar of a voice echoed through the classroom. All of the students leaped back. Professor Vickers came over and helped me off the floor. I held my shirt over my nose to stop the bleeding. My ribs ached.
“Sophie, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” My voice was weak. Stars were popping up in my field of vision.
“What happened?” Drew eyes bored into the back of my head.
“I fell down. Everyone was checking
