"So, you're going" Sophie understands, after Amanda provides the news.

"Yup. I'm going". Amanda looks around the hallway. "Any idea where Connor is?".

"Library or maybe he already headed to class" Sophie answers.

"Is he still being odd?" Amanda asks and Sophie gives her a slightly confused look. "Well, you informed he didn't desire me transferring to another school. Since I am, he probably isn't going to enjoy the news. He isn't going to be awkward about this, is he?" Amanda half asks.

"I'm sure he'll provide a brave facade, when you express the news". Sophie closes the locker door.

"Are we okay?" Amanda asks.

"Us, yeah. Of course. Are you allowed to have visitors at Evermore?" Sophie half asks.

"Yeah, I think so" Amanda replies.

"And what are the size of the dorms?" Sophie asks.

"Probably typical dorm size, like any other school. Soph, what are you trying to figure out exactly?" Amanda half asks.

"If I can sleepover at your dorm" Sophie confesses, continuing to walk alongside her friend.

"I'm sure you can" Amanda replies.

"Then, be prepared A. I'll be at Evermore every chance I get, and I'll drag Connor with me" Sophie explains, while the girls head into a nearby classroom. "When do you leave?".

"A couple of days," Amanda answers.

"How is your mom?". Sophie sits down at a desk.

"I told her, she can be supportive or just accept it" Amanda answers.

"Wow. A bit harsh" Sophie replies.

"Is it?". Amanda sits down at the desk, across from Sophie. She opens a notebook and collects a pencil from the pocket of her backpack.

"Was that your exact wording?" Sophie asks and Amanda nods. "Yeah, that is kind of harsh".

"I didn't mean it to be harsh" Amanda admits, feeling slightly bad.

      The dull school day progresses like normal. After the lunch period, Amanda notices Connor standing in the gym. She walks toward him, feeling like she is about to deliver a breakup speech.

"Hey Amanda" Connor greets, smiling.

"Hey". Amanda directs her view to the floor.

"You okay?" Connor asks.

"I need to tell you something. I'm transferring...to Evermore" Amanda informs.

"That's good" Connor says.

"Really?" Amanda asks, surprised by his response.

"Yeah, that'll make you happy. Right? I know I acted like an immature jerk before. But I decided to be a supportive friend" Connor explains.

"I appreciate that" Amanda tells him.

"Just don't forget about Soph and I" Connor orders.

"Never. Besides I don't think Sophie would allow me to forget about you two". Amanda turns around and walks away. She feels relieved about Connor's reaction to her news.

    Connor watches her walk away, wishing he had informed her on what he truly desired to inform her. While Amanda moves forward with her future coexisting with Evermore, Avelle searches for any excuse to have delayed her Evermore future. James happens to find Avelle lying on a twin bed in the two-room cabin.

"Shouldn't you be welcoming or training the new alpha?". Avelle stares up at the ceiling.

"I know you're still mad about the alpha business". James earns an annoyed look. "But isn't kind of a blessing? Honestly, did you ever desire to be alpha?".

"I had the right to have a chance at being alpha" Avelle reminds him.

"You didn't answer the question" James points out.

"Honestly no. But again, I had the right to try" Avelle replies.

"Why? Because your family line happens to have a few alphas scattered throughout it" James half asks.

"Yes," Avelle answers.

"You're being ungrateful brat" James decides.

"Don't worry, you won't have to deal with this ungrateful brat after tomorrow" Avelle reminds him.

"Aves, just consider what you get to do. You get to attend Evermore, be safe and out of all this pack business. You get to have a life outside this pack" James explains.

"I'm attending Evermore because I have to. I was informed to. If this Evermore business was only up to my decision, I wouldn't be wasting my time attending. More to the point...if Evermore is such a safe heaven. Then why does the Spell Caster's Gazette continually ramble on about the danger that surrounds the school?". Avelle sits up and adjusts her sitting position.

"The supposed danger hype is just people freaking out over nothing" James believes.

"You sure think quite highly of that school. You realize that school has a dangerous history, right?" Avelle half asks.

"I'm aware of what Evermore is" James answers.

"Why do you want me gone so badly?". Avelle curiously tilts her head to the side.

"I don't want you gone" James disagrees.

"You can escape. You're not in charge of every single occurrence the pack has navigate through" Avelle tells him.

"It's easy to comment that, when you're not in my situation" James replies.

"You have –" Avelle begins.

"Family that depends on me. You're an orphan, you don't have to look out for anyone but yourself" James completes.

"I am an orphan. But I thought I had at least one person, I considered family" Avelle replies, hurt.

"Aves, I-" James begins.

"Just leave. You said enough" . Avelle returns to lying down on the bed.

    The next morning arises, accompanied with gray clouds. A sprinkle of rain passes through. Avelle completes packing and slips on a pair of hiking boots. She flips up the plain dark gray hood of her sweatshirt. She picks up her backpack from the bed, before exiting the cabin. The front door of the cabin is pulled closed. Off to her right, James stands a couple feet away. She keeps her back turned to him, still feeling pretty hurt from yesterday.

"Avelle, what I conversed was uncalled for. I truly didn't mean it" James tells her.

    Avelle turns around, heads to the faded red truck parked nearby and she opens the driver's side door. She tosses her a backpack into the backseat. James continues to stand there and watch her. He repeats that he is sorry and asked if their friendship is okay. She climbs into the truck, shuts the door, and turns on the engine. The truck is released from park. Then she begins her journey to the school.

Amanda turns around and provides reassuring smile.

"You did the right thing, Claire" Josie informs.

"Did I? I allowed my only daughter to be swallowed up by an impending prophecy, which our family curated over vengeful greediness" Claire explains.

"Signs of the prophecy haven't been recorded in decades. It's probably just a scary story, that students exchange to each other" Josie replies, watching Amanda disappear into the building.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Claire asks, concerned.

"She'll be fine Claire," Josie assures.

   Amanda begins to venture down the red carpeted hallway. She carefully navigates through the crowed hallway. A bout of excitement fills, while she allows her mind to compile theories about the upcoming semester. She scans each gold number plate, which rest outside each door on the plain white wall. She glances to another number plate across the hall, which happens to be her dorm. After stepping around, a blonde. Who is residing in the middle of the hall. Amanda enters her dorm. She looks around the empty room.

    The dorm presents itself to have a simple layout. There is a small kitchen, a living room, a small bathroom and three bedrooms. On the kitchen counter is a welcome basket for the student. Inside the basket is a variety of snacks, tea, coffee, a cloth bag of salt, each a vail of vervain and wolfsbane. She sets her two bags on the couch. Since she is the first occupant of the dorm, she decides to wait for her roommates. Before claiming a bedroom for herself.

     Within half an hour, a roommate appears. She asks if this is the correct dorm and Amanda assures her it is. She introduces herself, informing her name is Emma. She is a thin pale brunette girl. Emma is dressed in a plain red sweater, a pair of jeans and a pair of red Ugg boots. A silver chained necklace with a diamond pendant hangs around her pale neck.

"I'm Amanda. I arrived first. I didn't choose a room first. I thought I'd wait" Amanda informs.

"Yeah, sounds like a good plan. I think we have another roommate arriving" Emma replies, venturing over to the counter and inspecting the goodie basket. "Wolfsbane and vervain. The school is definitely taking precautions to the new protocol".

"I've heard there is a lot of concern about the new protocol" Amanda recalls.

"What's your opinion on the matter?". Emma places her large, wheeled luggage bag against the wall.

"I think it is good, that the school opened its doors to a different variety of students. As long as the rules are followed. There shouldn't be an issue" Amanda explains.

"And you believe all those other types of students can be trusted?" Emma asks.

"Trust depends on the individual. What is your opinion on it?" Amanda half asks.

"I don't think highly of wolves. My grandma, she informed me that every wolf is untrustworthy bayou trash. I don't have an issue with humans. They are weak. As for witches, never really had an issue with them" Emma explains.

"What is your take on vampires?" Amanda asks, noticing vampires were the absent piece of the explanation.

"Vampires are powerful. But entrapped in a specific time period. Immortality is a gift and burden". Emma narrows her eyes at the sound of a pair of footsteps nearing the dorm. "Sounds like our other roommate. They contain the bayou stench and the arrogance that follows it".

A pair of footsteps stop outside the open door and a grumpy girl appears.

"I suppose you two are my roommates," Avelle assumes, entering the room. She adjusts the strap of the backpack over her shoulder. "I'll stay out of your business. If you stay out of mine. I suppose the rooms haven't been given out yet. This one will be mine". Avelle heads to one of the bedrooms and shuts the door behind herself.

"So, I guess that is her room" Amanda comments.

"That's fine. I'll take the one without the window. I'm not a fan of sunlight". Emma disappears into the other bedroom.

         Amanda claims the remaining bedroom and begins to unpack. It doesn't take long for her to settle in. She turns around, zips closed and slides her luggage bag underneath the bed. There is a knock on the bedroom doorway.

"Hey, I was going to check out the campus. Desire to accompany?" Emma half asks.

"Uh, no thanks. I think I'll settle here tonight" Amanda answers.

"Okay. Be back later". Emma leaves.

   Avelle walks across the bedroom to decline another phone call from James. Then she returns to sitting on her bed. A stack of scattered textbooks lay beside her. She picks a textbook title: The General Knowledge of Rituals. She opens and flips through a couple pages before becoming bored. Her phone proceeds to vibrate again. She picks it up and for a moment, just stares at the caller ID. She knows; if she accepts the call, the chat will begin with a repeated apology speech and transition into a heated discussion. Her phone is set back on the bedside table.

    The first day of classes, prompts Amanda to arise early. She departs her bed, gets dressed and heads out into the common area. Emma appears to be absent, and she presumes Avelle still resides in her room. She passes by the couch, drops her backpack down and ventures over to the kitchen. The tea kettle is filled with water and placed on one of the stove burners. A bedroom door is opened, leading Avelle to appear. She quietly ventures toward the kitchen and hovers by the counter.

"Look forward to your first day of classes,". Amanda prepares a plain navy colored mug for her morning tea.

"You probably more, than me. I didn't desire to come to this fancy preppy school". Avelle relocates to standing against the back of the couch.

"Would you like a tea?" Amanda asks, tearing open a Twining's tea bag.

"Uh, no thanks. I'm good" Avelle answers, crossing her arms.

"I don't mean to be intrusive. But if you didn't desire to come here-" Amanda begins to ask.

"Why am I here? It wasn't my choice. Supposedly this school is a safe haven for me" Avelle explains.

"Are you in danger? Maybe, you should converse with the school staff" Amanda suggests.

"Oh, I'm fine. Just an ex- friend. Who believes, I'm too troublesome for my own good" Avelle answers. In her bag, her phone rings again. She collects it and declines a call from James.

"Worried friend," Amanda assumes.

"Ignored friend". Avelle heads toward the door and pauses. She turns to face Amanda. "Are you as trusting as you seem?".

"I'm trustworthy" Amanda answers.

"Good to know" Avelle replies, before leaving.

   Amanda tends to the kettle on the stove. She pours hot water into the mug. She picks up the mug to begin enjoying her tea. The door opens and Emma enters. Amanda greets her.

"Hey, I was just picking up something up from a friend" Emma tells her.

"Okay. Avelle just headed to class" Amanda informs.

"Are you on your way as well?" Emma asks.

"Momentarily," Amanda answers.

"Regardless of what that swamp trash believes. I'm not a bad person" Emma tells her.

"I don't believe you're a bad person. I don't believe Avelle is a bad person either. She is just a bit standoffish" Amanda replies.

"I'm sure Avelle means well," Emma says.

Amanda collects her bag from the couch. "Avelle isn't in a desirable situation".

    After her brief conversation with Emma, Amanda ventures down a few hallways. Until she reaches the potion's classroom. When she enters the classroom, she notices the majority of the class are already there. Amanda claims a seat at a table in the second row. A cauldron and two books are set on the table. The teacher returns to the room and closes the door.

"Good morning class. Hopefully, all of you contain all the require materials for this class. Please open your textbooks to the first chapter. There are six basic potions, that every potion's master should know off. Can anyone name any of them?" The teacher half asks.

A couple of hands appear in the air.

"Luck potion, love potion and fairy dust. Those are at least three of them" A student informs from the back of the room.

"There is also Facade elixir" another student recalls.

"And home comfort, " adds another student.

"Truth elixir. A potion, that withholds an individual from speaking a single lie" a slightly arrogant and wise natured red head informs. "Home comfort is a potion, that is designated to give an individual the sense of feeling at home and it smells different to every individual. Facade elixir gives the curator a another's identity. Fairy dust is used for celebratory reasons. Luck-".

"That's all correct. Very good,..." The teacher begins to reply.

"Rachel," She informs.

"Very good Rachel. But let's allow someone else to respond" The teacher half suggests. "Can anyone express either use for the love or luck potion?".

"Uh, luck potion grants every desire to someone within a 24-hour time limit" Amanda explains.

"And has consequences appear after the 24-hour time limit is meant" Rachel adds, annoyed.

"And love potion," The teacher states.

There is a moment of silence.

"Love potion is meant to ensure an attraction between two people. It only works if two people feel the same. It is a very iffy brew to curate" Rachel explains, glaring the back of Amanda.

"One of nature's loopholes, I suppose" The teacher comments.

"Is it true that the society still uses truth elixir to get answers about the prophecy?" A student asks.

The teacher catches Amanda's eyes and quickly redirects her gaze to a textbook on a desk. "Sometimes the society uses that elixir, when its necessary. As for the prophecy, it isn't a concern. A piece of the past".

"Are the Blackwell's enrolled at Evermore again?" A student asks.

"Were the Blackwell's ever nonexistent?" Amanda asks.

Rachel shakes her head, unimpressed. "There hasn't been a Blackwell at Evermore for fifty years".

"Not since crazy Rebecca Blackwell attended Evermore" A student adds.

"Rebecca Blackwell. What occurred?" Amanda asks, curious.

"The most gifted witch of her class. Its rumored, that she was going to be recruited by the society" A student recounts. "Then she became interested in dark magic, which caused her explosion".

"How'd Rebecca Blackwell become interested in dark magic? Someone had to show her. Teach her" Amanda half asks.

"The Blackwell family has always had a soft spot for dark magic. So, have the Davenports. Anyways, lets refocus on the lesson". The woman walks away from the desk and up the aisle between the table. "Today's task is simple. The person sitting beside you will be your partner. Each pairing will be producing six vials of each potion by the end of the class".

Amanda glances to the empty chair next to her.

"Mind if I be your partner?" asks a familiar male voice.

"Uh, no. Come sit, be my partner. What potion would you like to make?" Amanda asks, while Ansel begins to occupy the seat beside her.

"I'll take the facade, truth and luck potion. You take the rest" Ansel decides.

"Sure". Amanda flips through the textbook to the recipe section.

"So, what do you think of Evermore? Now, that you're a student" Ansel asks.

"Amazing. Weirdly. I feel like I'm at home" Amanda answers.

"Are you sure you aren't mentioning home because you're brewing a strong batch of home comfort?" Ansel asks.

Amanda wrinkles her nose. "Uh, maybe".

A lid is placed on top of the cauldron.

"I'm glad you are here at Evermore". Ansel makes a note on the recipe in his textbook. "I think we're going to be good friends".

"Really, how can you tell?". Amanda collects a glass vial from the box in front of the table.

"Just a feeling," Ansel answers, shrugging.