“Thanks, Dad,” I said instead. Dad started looking around at the students gathered around me. Uh-oh. This was it.
“Where’s your brother? Didn’t leave you behind in his rush to get his name on the list, did he?” Dad laughed at his own joke. I really didn’t want to be the one to tell him.
“I—uh—think he went back to the house with Mom.”
“Just what I thought. He was so eager he got in line first and is already done.” The students were still watching us. My father was something of a celebrity amongst supernaturals and many of them had never been this close to him. I had learned to ignore this kind of attention growing up, but it was the last thing I wanted right then. I glared at a couple of students and they turned away.
“Not exactly.” Maybe subtle was the way to go. Mom always managed to give Dad bad news without him exploding. Maybe I could channel some of that talent.
“Well then, why is he at the house? Surely your mother didn’t pull him away before he got checked off the list?”
“No. That’s not what happened.”
“Well, I’ll just go get him then. He knows he needs to get in line.” Dad made to walk off, and I grabbed his arm.
“He doesn’t need to get in line, Dad.”
“Of course he does.” I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes. ‘Come on, Dad, this is not that hard’ is what I wanted to say. I bit my tongue and tried to come up with something more diplomatic.
“No, Dad. He’s with the other students who also don’t need to get in line.” Dad froze. His smile fled.
“Sophie, what are you trying to say?” The students were still staring at us. My patience was gone.
“Simon wasn’t revealed, Dad.” Dad turned his glare on me. His cat-like eyes were unnerving. It always made me feel like he was staring into my soul. The air surrounding him became hotter. I dropped my hand from his arm before I got burned.
“Sophie, this is no time to joke.”
“I’m not joking, Dad. Why would I joke about something like this?” My own skin grew warmer. I tried to remind myself I was trying to avoid a famed dragon blow-up, not instigate one.
“You’re always joking about things. You never take responsibility seriously.” Alright, I was done.
“I was trying to be nice, Dad. I’m not joking. Simon’s at the house because he’s not an Animage. I am. He’s not. Sorry to disappoint you.” Dad didn’t say anything. My nerves were singing. He hated when I got snappy with him.
Without another word, Dad turned and marched off across the field. I crossed my arms over my chest and watched him go. My heart was pounding. My body was still geared up for an argument that didn’t happen. I turned and glared at the students still staring at me. Most of them were smart enough to act like they didn’t hear anything. Part of me was itching for someone to say something so I could have a reason to blow up and release this tension.
“Sophie! Sophie!” Before I could turn around and see who was calling my name someone was hugging me from behind. I managed to crane my head to see that Gracie, the faerie from earlier, had ahold of me. The adrenaline left my body, and I smiled weakly at her.
“Oh, hey.”
“I’m so excited you’re an animage, too! This is going to be the best year ever. What if we’re roommates? I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it another month. No more of the faerie academy for me. I’ve had enough of elemental magic. I can’t wait to find out what other kinds of magic I’ll have. Are you excited too?”
“I am.” Maybe if I said it enough times it would be true. “That would be cool if we were roommates.” A faerie who looked just like Gracie minus the wings came up behind her.
“Oh Mom, this is my friend Sophie.” I shook hands with Gracie’s mom. Even though I’d just met her, I liked Gracie. Her cheerfulness was infectious. I couldn’t help but start to feel better while I listened to her talk. Since Simon wasn’t going to be there, at least I’d have one friend at the academy.
Before Gracie could say anything else, she and her mom were next in line. All the parents had gathered with their kids. Except mine. Neither Mom nor Dad had come back to the meadow. Most of the people had ventured back to the house. I let the people behind me move ahead. Of course, my parents had forgotten me. Who cares that I’m an animage if Simon isn’t? I continued to let people go in front of me, eventually just moving to the back of the already short line. Finally, there was no one left to move behind.
“Name?” the witch asked.
“Sophie Pearson.”
“Let me see your mark?” I held up my hand to show her. She inspected it for a minute before dropping my hand and glancing behind me.
“We need a parent’s signature.”
“I’ll go get one of them.”
“You can’t leave the field until you’re officially signed up for the academy.”
“Seriously? You know who I am, right? I mean, I live here. It’s not like I’m going to run away.” The witch shrugged. I huffed and turned my back. We waited and waited. The first signs of dawn started to show on the eastern horizon.
“Look, they forgot. Clearly. Let me just run back to the house and get one of them. That or you and I are going to be standing here all night.” The witch shrugged again.
