WitchCraft Academy (The First Book)

"Your hair is on fire," I remark to Juniper, gently running my fingers through her red curls, surprised by that it doesn't burn my hand. "Does it hurt?"

"Surprisingly, no," she replies, her fingers delicately brushing against my long, white hair. "It's like touching snow but it's not cold.”

"My Snow Witch," I say, attempting to sound annoyed but failing as mu voice trails off. "That's what Axel calls me."

"It's kinda cute," Juniper giggles. "It suits you."

"No, it doesn't," I protest.

"But your hair does look like snow," she insists, and we dissolve into fits of laughter on the floor.

"I can't believe I'm friends with you guys," Ethan's voice chimes in from a distant corner. "You are both losers."

"But you love us," we respond in perfect harmony.

Juniper leans in and plants a slow kiss on my lips. She's always been confused about her sexuality, and sometimes, when we're high or drunk, we makeout. After all, girls are better kissers than guys. Their lips are soft, and they don't attempt to force their tongues down your throat. Besides, can you truly be best friends if you've never madeout?

During my first year here as a Neophyte, essentially a fancy term for a freshman, I despised physical contact with anyone because of a secret power I still struggle to comprehend. Thankfully, as an Astral, the fancy term for a junior, I have better control over it most days. Whenever I touch someone, I sometimes witness distressing visions of their past.

Due to this ability, I know terrible things about people that I'd rather not know, and Juniper and Ethan are the only two who are aware of it. It's uncommon for witches to possess their own unique abilities, Ethan has the gift of Dreamwalking. It's not as simple as it sounds though.

Lost in my thoughts about everything, Juniper's lips melt into mine. The world around us suddenly appears vibrant and alive.

"Whoa, what did walk into? That's pretty hot," a voice interrupts, and Juniper and I hastily separate to find Axel standing in the doorway.

"Why the hell are you here, Axel?" I demand.

"You're terrible at keeping watch, Ethan," Juniper groans, flopping onto the floor and staring up at the ceiling.

"He came in so quietly, I didn't even hear him," Ethan defends himself.

"You said you had things to do tonight, and I wanted to see what they were," Axel explains casually, glancing over at the cauldron. "Is that an Illusion Elixir?"

"Yes, but we drank it all, so you can't have any," I tell him, sticking my tongue out at him like a child.

"Well, maybe next time," he shrugs, walking into the room and shutting the door behind him before settling on Juniper's bed.

"What the hell are you doing?" I ask, irritation evident in my voice.

"Ember Ashwood is having a wild trip, and I wouldn't miss it for the world," he grins, revealing deep dimples, then takes a sip from the canteen he pulled out of his pajama pockets.

"Why does he hit on every girl in this school except me? Is it a redhead thing?" Juniper pouts, sitting up and resting her head on my shoulder.

"I don't hit on every girl here. And do you even like guys?" Axel questions her curiously.

"I don't know what I like," she replies slowly. "But my therapist thinks that's because of all the trauma and abuse from the foster care system, and I should figure it out as I get older."

"Yeah, like Miss Reed's age," Ethan jokes. "Just admit that you like both and move on. Being gay isn't as complicated as you make it out to be."

"You know nothing, Ethan," Juniper teases back. "You were born gay. I wasn't."

"June, I don't think that's how it works," I giggle.

"It's just complicated for me. Have you ever had a dick inside you?" She asks loudly, causing Axel to choke on his rum.

"No, you know that," I answer honestly.

"Well, I have, and I don't think I like it very much," she tells me.

"I like it just fine," Ethan chimes in, causing both of us to giggle.

"But I don't know if I like women enough to sleep with them regularly, you know?" She continues.

"No, June, I don't know. Only you say this kind of shit," I say in a teasing tone, but my gaze turns to Axel, and I can't seem to look away from the golden light surrounding him.

"What are you staring at, my Snow Witch?" Axel asks me, raising an eyebrow.

"There's golden light all around you. It's so pretty," I say, longing to walk up and touch it, but my legs feel like they're melded into the floor.

"Yeah, it's called an aura. We learned how to see that our Neophyte year," he tells me playfully.

"Yeah, but it's so bright and beautiful," I argue, still unable to move my gaze away from him.

"Yeah, that's because you're high as fuck," he says, taking another sip from his canteen.

"That's a valid point. You're less annoying when I'm high." I let out a small laugh that seemed to swirl around me.

"Right back at you." He gives me a playful wink, and I finally divert my attention elsewhere.

We spend the next few hours in our room, exploring the depths of our altered state. The guys eventually depart just before sunrise, leaving Juniper and me to snuggle up in my bed, ready to drift off to sleep for the day.