I wilted at my desk. I’d gone ten years without a rebuke from any Teacher, especially Teacher Jones. I had to be careful not to ruin my record in these last days. Teacher Jones called my name, and I immediately composed myself.

“Yes, Teacher,” I said.

At this, Jones smiled, the solid pudge of her cheeks swallowing her eyes. “Very good. Girls, move back a row. Hosea, take the desk beside your new tutor. Arika, introduce yourself.”

My jaw dropped. Surely not! I’d not volunteered to be the Vine Keeper’s tutor—had I? Teacher Jones gestured toward me. A commotion began to my left. The West Keep twins were vacating their double desk. Their eyes, black and beady, exchanged a stony look of annoyance as they repositioned themselves at my back.

I stared stupidly at their empty seats. They already despised me, and now this!

The new student, I couldn’t remember his name, paused before me on his way to sit. I felt his attention settling on me, like dust.

“Arika?” Teacher Jones prodded.

Steeling myself, I glanced up and got my first look at Hosea Khan. It passed in a blink of the eye. I looked up at him, over at Jones, and back down at my notes. It was a flutter almost too fleeting to remember, and yet, in it, I know now, the whole world changed.

Jones called me to task—Ahem.

I composed myself. “Hello,” I said. I saw the new student’s mouth twitch with amusement. I huffed and swallowed my welcome.

Jones sniffed aggressively. “Arika, you must welcome our new student.”

Fixing my eyes on the chalkboard over Jones’ shoulder, I jerked out a stiff smile. “Hello and welcome. My name is Arika Cobane.”

I don’t know whether he continued to smirk or acknowledged my introduction. He remained silent, however, taking the seat assigned to him.

Jones seemed oblivious to the tension that gripped the room. Wanting no more trouble, I picked up my quill and pretended to write as I studied the new student. Was he special, more advanced? I couldn’t guess.

“Arika,” Jones said. “Shift over and share your reader with our new student.”

My nostrils flared. Why did the valedictorian have to sit with the new kid? Reluctantly, I scooted my desk over half an inch. I thought I heard him chuckle.

With a loud screech, he slid his desk the rest of the way. It collided with mine.

Stiff-necked, but conscious of Jones’ attention, I angled my reader a quarter inch so he could read along—if he strained.

Jones began to lecture, pacing back and forth. As Record Keepers in training, we studied everything about the seven continents of the old world as well as the solar-powered new world. We’d been over this material time and again. Even so, I took copious notes, lifting a shoulder so that the new kid, whoever he was, wouldn’t benefit from my work.