As I step into the wide airy classroom, four heads glance up simultaneously to look at me. One of them has a very bold glare, so bold it freezes me and I pause in my tracks. The girl is a Raven haired, doe eyed beauty. Her skin has an alluring radiance and everyone else seemed to shrink for her to shine. I swallowed, watching her eyes pore over me from head to foot.
The other girl has glasses on and a very pale skin and I do not need to think of Beth to know that this one too is a Vampyre. One was a rough looking brown haired boy with a devil may care smirk and a brazen tattoo on his muscular arms. Handsome if you like them rough . The other stares at me with something like flat out disdain. He's as thin as a reed and very much bookish , I can see because after the glare at me, he diverts his attention to the enormous volume on his desk.
"Hello" A crisp clear voice says and I turn my head left to find a woman standing there, a marker dangling in her hands. She is wearing a smart plaid skirt and a shirt. In many ways she reminds me of Jose Ann, our Mayor. Too crisp. Too polished. Too official. Even her tightly bound hair has no loose strands. She could not be a day older than thirty.
"Hi " I mutter and instantly felt like an idiot.
"You must be Night Persephone Carter , the new student joining us from the Black Colony." Her smile is big and broad "My name is Viviette Tom and I am your Psychometry teacher " She turned to the class "These are your classmates.." She gestured to the very beautiful doe eyed girl "Mi..
"Minata Straus" The girl says sweetly while Viviette Tom grates her teeth in unveiled annoyance.
"Ginger Tobias" She gestures to the glass wearing Vampyre girl . "Scott Kemps" She points to the tattooed boy and then she calls the bookish one Allen Reds.
The classroom is wide and airy and there are several empty seats . I am told to take one. I pick the one two seats behind Minata Strauss where I can look at her Raven hair . It is also unfortunately the one opposite Allen Reds. He gives me another unwarranted disdainful glare . I curl my hands into a tiny fist and glare back. What on earth is the matter with him.
I bring out my note and a fountain pen while Viviette Tom's crisp voice rises .
"Psychometry," she says, writing the word across the white board in looping black strokes. "The science and the sensitivity of touch. The study of what objects remember… and what they choose to tell us."
She pause, her eyes wandering over the length and breath of the classroom.
"Now " she continues "Take this down"
Pens kissed papers, poised , waiting for the crisp words from her crisp throat.
"Psychometry is the art and science of reading the lingering impressions left upon objects. Every object carries a memory. The stronger the event, the deeper the memory becomes. A skilled psychometrist can touch a ring, a letter, or even a drop of blood and feel the emotions, sights, and sounds once tied to it."
My pen moved in sync with the others, jotting down the notes . Viviette Tom pauses once more to demonstrate. She touches Minata 's pen and close her eyes. The class is tense. All of us are watching Viviette's mouth as if therein hangs our future.
When her eyes open , so does her mouth "Bought in a small store in Birgitte by Claudia Straus six weeks ago. She hands it to her granddaughter, Eileen Straus who is fascinated by something else and so this pen ends up in the possession of Eileen's kid sister, Minata Straus" She turns to Minata "Am I correct ?"
Minata's nod is so intense I am afraid her beautiful head might fall off. But she is not the only one impressed. All of us are staring at Viviette with unconcealed admiration.
Her crisp dictating tone is back again and our pens flickered intensely " Rules of Psychometry.
"Rule One: impressions cling most strongly to objects of repeated use or high emotional value."
I am scribbling earnestly when I feel a breath on my neck and I hear a voice whisper "Adjust your hand a bit. Impressions cling most strongly to..."
A pair of eyes are staring into my note . A pair of eyes that are completely frozen over, colorless and transparent like shards of glass.
Okay, so it's not just the eyes that freaks me off. It is the way he had mysteriously appeared behind me. I tense up and my mouth unveils my shock. It lets out a little scream.
All eyes including Viviette Tom's turns to look at me and well...at the intruder. I look at him too. Brown hair. A Louis Vuitton black fur jacket drapped loosely over a white t shirt that seemed to encase a tall , gangly figure. A good enough height. A sun tanned complexion. He could very well pass for handsome (if the eyes don't frighten you off) but there's an arrogant smirk on his face that makes me wonder where I have seen this guy before.
Minata's phone is out and she's video recording with a dreamy look in her eyes. Ginger has adjusted her glass and is fanning herself as if the air is suddenly very hot. Scott has a scowl on his face and Allen is pretending to read but I can see that even he is stealing glances at Mr. Frost. Glances. Not the acidic glare he had given me.
"Enough of the fandom " Viviette Tom hisses loudly and Minata's phone clicks shut. Ginger sits up straight .
Viviette Tom turns her eyes to our direction.
"Not to frighten you , my dear" She says apologetically to me "Jordan Files has the bad habit of sneaking up on people. "
"Lupine Teleportation " Frost eyes shrug . "One of my many flaws ."
Viviette ignores him "Especially when he is late which is the third time this week. " Her tone thickens into a warning "Now, Jordan, the next time you take this class, you had better walk in through the door like a civilized human being and you had better be early. I wonder what takes up your mornings"
"Signing autographs and been waylaid by the paparazzi." His tone is full of grating arrogance and I remember instantly where I had first seen him. And hated him. Hatred which now seems intensified. I remember Barbie Mullen showing me a picture of the Moon Sol rockband. Yes. That cockiness is inevitable. I also remember my sister's obsession with sympathizing with this particular character when Barbie had mentioned that Frost eyes is not really liked.
Well who would like such grating pompousity.
Viviette Tom is struggling so hard to control her temper and so am I .
She says thickly "Mr Files, if you can't be punctual to classes, I would advise you focus solely on your music career . I am not even sure your notes are up to date "
"I could loan him my note" Minata Straus volunteers sweetly.
"Your handwriting is barely legible" Ginger counteracts with a temerity I never knew she had "He can use mine, Ms.Tom."
Viviette Tom glares harshly at the both of them. It looks like she wants to wring their necks.
"I will be punctual to classes, Ms Tom." Jordan says with a smile which am sure does not come from his heart.
Somewhat placated , Ms. Tom collects my note and spreads it open on Jordan's desk "Finish the line you missed."
I fume silently. He starts scribbling.
Immediately Viviette Tom turns her back and begins to redefine Psychometry for Jordan's benefit, I wrench my note out of his grasp.
"I am not done" He glares at me.
"I don't care" I glare back.
His breath is hot on my neck again. My skin crawls. His voice is low but I hear the words clearly "A temper. I like that".
The ringing bell swallows the retort bubbling in my throat.