“For sure. I expect a full review from my toughest critic,” he says. “If you’re on QuikGab, add me. If you want.”

“Great, I will.” I have no idea why it feels like I just swallowed a mouthful of sherbet.

“I should hurry. Got Emmi next. You know how she is. See you later, Tai.” Morgan slams a foot onto his skateboard and glides off down the path as if he’s immune to the miserable weather.

“Hey, wait!” I call after him, mentally kicking myself for not asking before. “Do you know Natalie Khumalo? She’s a boarder with you.”

“Fire mage?”

“That’s her. If you see her, could you tell her I say thanks for the thing in Thaumaturgy.”

“No problem.” With that, he’s gone.

I flip up my hood, replaying the conversation over and over as I traipse back to the school, a smile creeping cautiously across my lips. Maybe one person here doesn’t completely detest me.

Yet, the little voice pipes up, shattering my hope.

4

Somehow, I make it to four o’clock, which brings the count up to 1,558 days I’ve survived at this school. There’re over seven hundred left to go before graduation, but it’s too depressing to think about.

The corridors are emptying now, everyone on their way to after-school clubs.

I head to the music room, wincing as the orchestra starts tuning their instruments. The violins screech and trumpets blare off-key. With Aysha in Art Club and Ekaterina doing something involving martial arts, this is my only chance to catch Natalie alone.

She’s always been a music geek and lives for ensemble. She’d have to be dying to miss rehearsal, even if she’s been AWOL since first period, which isn’t like her at all.

Or wasn’t like her. What do I know about this new Natalie?

I peer through the open door. No Natalie. Her chair as first flute is conspicuously empty. I check my phone for the millionth time and the message is still unread. I’ve got to be at the journalism meeting in less than five minutes.

“Taika? Can I help you?” Mr. Fotsios asks.

“Um, I was just looking for Natalie,” I stammer.

“She has noro.”

“Um, really? She seemed fine this morning.”

He narrows his gaze. “She’s sick and getting bed rest.” He shuts the door.

“Gee, thanks.” I turn away, annoyed I didn’t ask one of the teachers earlier. Noro has been going around, so I guess it’s possible Natalie got sick between class and lunch, but there’s a prickle of unease in my belly.

Really aren’t smart, are you? the voice seizes the opportunity to chant at me, eroding any thought I might’ve had to pay a visit to Pilvitalo and check in on her. No, she has other friends to do that now and the house mistress will make sure she’s taken care of.