SOTL Draft Two/MAGIC - Ch6

Overview: https://kaylinrosealexande.wixsite.com/kaylinalexanderbooks/post/the-formation-of-school-of-the-legends

Read-aloud, pt. 1: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaylinrosealexander/video/7195203005992521002?lang=en

Previous: https://kaylinrosealexande.wixsite.com/kaylinalexanderbooks/post/sotl-draft-two-magic-ch5

This is a longer chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 6

"ROSARIO!"

Anahi jolted awake at the sound of Marlis Haggard’s voice. "What?!"

"It's 7:30!" Haggard said. "We're late for breakfast!"

Anahi groggily stepped out of bed. "You do realize breakfast is served until 8, right?"

Haggard rolled her eyes like Anahi was the dumbest person ever. "Yes, but it takes at least 30 minutes to get ready if you hurry, and usually an hour, so we're late!"

"Go on without me," said Anahi. "Why would you care, anyway?"

Haggard sighed in disbelief and stomped toward the door. "C'mon, McGuire."

Ryan stood from her place huddled in one of the chairs and followed Haggard out of the room, leaving Anahi alone.

Anahi screamed in annoyance. How was she going to put up with this all year? She grabbed an outfit from her closet, changed, brushed her hair and pulled it up in a ponytail, brushed her teeth real quick, and raced out.

As soon as she arrived at the hall, she scanned the scene for Haggard. She located her sitting with two other girls. Anahi grabbed a muffin and crossed over.

"10 minutes," she said, and sat down next to Haggard, who had a tray of pancakes in front of her.

Haggard looked her over. "You're wearing that?"

Anahi looked down at her simple outfit. "What's wrong with it?"

Haggard rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Rosario."

Anahi looked over at the other two girls. One was Asian with golden eyes, and the other was pale with dark hair, blue eyes, and dark red lips. Something about them gave Anahi a feeling that they were no better than Haggard.

"Can't wait until classes start," Anahi said, coolly, and walked off.

*****

When the bell rang for first period, Anahi got out her schedule. Her first class was history. She turned a few corners, remembering Audrey's tour from yesterday, until she found the correct room.

There were already a few girls in the room, but not enough to make a class. But soon, the room was full.

The tardy bell rang and the teacher started the class. "Good afternoon. I am Professor Zuniga, your history teacher. When I call your name, say 'here'." She pulled out a piece of paper and read off the list. As she did, Anahi scanned the room for anyone she already knew. The only person who was familiar was the golden-eyed girl that was sitting with Haggard at breakfast.

"Aurora Phillips," said Zuniga. When there was no answer, she repeated the name. Still no answer.

Anahi looked around the room. The golden eyed girl was giggling. Anahi followed her gaze to the girl behind her: a blonde with her head on her desk. Anahi poked her until she stirred.

"Are you Aurora Phillips?" she whispered.

The girl nodded, sitting up. She then noticed the professor. "Uh, here, ma'am. Sorry."

"Aurora Phillips?" Zuniga asked.

"Rory," she said.

"Rory Phillips," said Zuniga, "why are you asleep on your desk?"

The golden eyed girl giggled again, and Zuniga directed her gaze toward her. "And you are?"

"Citra Malik, ma'am," she said.

"And is there any chance your father is the Sandman?"

"He is, ma'am," Citra Malik answered. She had yet another accent that Anahi didn’t recognize, but she did notice how long vowel sounds became shorter.

"Which means you can also make people fall asleep with dream sand, is that correct?" Zuniga asked.

"It is, ma'am." Malik answered again.

Zuniga walked over to Malik’s desk and held out her hand expectantly. Malik bit her lip, stuck her hand into her pocket, and pulled out a bag. She set it in Zuniga's hand, and the professor took it and walked back to her desk.

"If any of you decide to use your already possessed magic or items from this moment forward, you will receive detention," said Professor Zuniga. "This is not the life you are used to. Am I clear?"

The class muttered in agreement.

"Good." Zuniga picked up her role sheet again. "Anahi Rosario."

Anahi raised her hand. "Here."

"Rosario," Zuniga said, thoughtfully. "I recognize that name."

"I don't know how," said Anahi. "My kingdom's pretty isolated."

"Of course," said Zuniga. "I guess it's just a common name."

Anahi furrowed her eyebrows. Last time she checked, “Rosario” wasn’t common at all. Zuniga continued role, pausing at Malik’s name to give her a death glare, but Anahi thought about Zuniga's recognition of her name. It was...a little strange.

*****

Anahi gathered up her stuff as soon as the bell rang for second period. She was practically a zombie from listening to Professor Zuniga's speech about the history of how the kingdoms used to be countries, but then monarchs rose to power, starting the calendar year back at one, blah, blah, blah.

"Hey," said a voice that made Anahi turn around. It was Aurora Phillips, the sleeping girl.

"Hi," she said. "Aurora, right?"

"Rory," she corrected. Her accent had a twang to it, almost nasally. "Anahi?"

"Yes."

"Well, Anahi," said Rory, "thank you for waking me. Citra’s a jerk. Stupid sandman didn't come when my mom was asleep." She scoffed. "One hundred years without dreaming."

"One hundred years?" Anahi asked, not sure she heard correctly.

Rory nodded. "Long story. We'll probably hear about it in history and/or Charms.”

"Ah," said Anahi. "Well, gotta go. What's your next class?"

"Choir," Rory responded. "You?"

"Ballroom," said Anahi. "Hey, I'll see you around!"

"See ya!"

*****

The ballroom was so giant, Anahi was sure a football field could fit in twice.

Anahi had to struggle not to gag when she noticed Marlis Haggard, Citra Malik, and the other girl that was with them at breakfast. Anahi sighed. Of course! Her luck was this bad!

"Good morning, class," said the professor. "I am Professor Whitney. I will teach you all ballroom behavior. As you may already know, the boys from C.H.A.R.M. sometimes come here to help practice dancing."

Murmurs of excitement came from the girls in the crowd. Whitney raised up her hand to silence the girls. "However, they won't be coming until after the Thanksgiving break."

The girls let out an aww of disappointment. Anahi showed no expression. She didn't care about boys as much as most girls.

"Today we will practice with each other," said Whitney. "I have paired you up with a random classmate." She got out a paper and started to assign the partners.

Anahi waited to hear her name. Haggard and Malik were together-- figures.

"Anahi Rosario and Cheryl Desrosiers."

Anahi stepped forward, and to her horror, so did Haggard’s other friend. Cheryl Desrosiers looked just as annoyed, though.

After everyone was paired up, Professor Whitney announced to pick one to be the "guy". Anahi really didn't care, so she volunteered when Desrosiers looked disgusted, like the very idea of pretending to be a guy made her sick.

"So," said Whitney, "most of you know how to do the waltz, but we will still go over it. Ladies put their left hand on the gentleman's shoulder, and guys put their right hands around the lady's waist. The other hands will be held."

Anahi disgustingly got in position with a equally reluctant Desrosiers.

"Now, remember, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3…

I actually really like Rory as a nickname for Aurora, though this is an obvious nod to Disney's Sleeping Beauty. However, I still really like all of the names I picked out for everyone.

Also, Anahi not caring about boys is a leftover of my middle school self not understanding she was asexual. My middle school self was convinced I was one of the few girls who wasn't shallow--which I feel like is more on society not educating us about asexuality but I'm not gonna get into that here--so maybe that will give you an idea of who she was: didn't know herself as well as she thought she did, and put any insecurity or confusion of identity was projected onto others. That's where M.A.G.I.C. came from.

However, I actually headcanon that Anahi is a lesbian, not asexual, based on her tension with Marlis later, and also taking note of how pretty all the girls are. I think she's in denial about her sexuality, or is unaware of that considering how isolated she was growing up, but also rebelling against the status quo of femininity. I would have made all of these intentional if I were writing this today. While I don't think this will carry over into School of the Legends, maybe I'll find Anahi and Marlis a new home in a new story some other day.

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