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insist on doing this? Didn’t they realize how cruel it was? Feeling as if I were going to barf right then and there, I stood, my legs a little shaky.
    “Class, please welcome Miss Violet McKenna. I am confident that you will all do your best to make her feel right at home.”
    No one said a word.
    “Thank you,” the headmaster said. “You may sit, Miss McKenna. Now, I believe we left off yesterday with a discussion about tribal folk dance in West Africa, correct?”
    Everyone nodded, flipping open notebooks and pulling caps off their pens. I chewed on the end of my own pen, fully aware that Aidan continued to stare at me across the width of the room rather than take notes as Dr. Blackwell began his lecture. It was almost as if he was trying to distract me. Or annoy me, I wasn’t sure which.
Don’t look up,
I reminded myself, trying unsuccessfully to concentrate on Dr. Blackwell’s voice. What was he talking about, anyway? Tribal dances? In Africa?
    Instead of listening to the lecture, I concentrated on the sound of pens scratching paper, on the scent of chalk lingeringin the air. Reaching up to stifle a sneeze, I let my gaze drift to the windows, where wide beams of sunlight cast long stripes across the green speckled carpet. Dust motes floated in the air, looking like insects. I knew I should be listening, paying attention to what Dr. Blackwell was saying, not allowing my mind to wander aimlessly. I also knew that Aidan was still watching me; I could feel his gaze, unrelenting.
    This was ridiculous. Straightening in my seat, I willed myself to concentrate. “. . . in an effort to ward off evil spirits and preternatural creatures,” Dr. Blackwell was saying, and my waning attention immediately snapped into focus.
    The girl sitting to my left raised her hand.
    “Yes, Miss Anderson?”
    “By preternatural creatures, do you mean like, well, like—”
    “Good question,” he interrupted with a nod. “But no. They call them by different names than we do, but werewolves, vampires. Assorted creatures of the night, and—”
    The bells interrupted him, and I let out my breath in a rush. Man, but that had been the longest fifty minutes of my life.
    “Please read chapter seven by tomorrow, and be prepared for a quiz,” the headmaster called out over the din. At once the class sprang into motion, slapping shut notebooks and retrieving bags. Careful not to raise my gaze, I reached for my ownbag and took my sweet time stuffing my things back inside, hoping that Aidan would have done his speedy disappearing act by the time I stood up to leave.
    No such luck. “Miss McKenna, Mr. Gray,” Dr. Blackwell called out. “A moment, please.” I slid out of my chair, my heart thumping against my ribs as I made my way to his desk. Aidan followed two steps behind.
    “Mr. Gray, Dr. Penworth tells me he has asked you to help Miss McKenna catch up on your history material.”
    Aidan nodded. “He did.”
    “I might ask you to do the same with our class material, then. Would that be too much of an imposition?”
    A strange look passed between the headmaster and Aidan, and I shifted my feet uncomfortably. Finally Aidan spoke. “Of course not.”
    “Very well. Thank you, Mr. Gray.” He turned his attention toward me. “Miss McKenna, I vow you will not find a more able tutor here at Winterhaven. Mr. Gray will have you caught up in no time.”
    “Great,” I muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Aidan.
    “Off with you both, then.” He dismissed us with a nod toward the door.
    Sixth period was next, the last of the day. Only problem was, I had no idea where the gym was. Hurrying back to mydesk to retrieve my bag, I pulled out my schedule.
Sixth period, Varsity Fencing, Gymnasium Studio A.
That was all it said. I turned back toward Dr. Blackwell’s desk, but he was gone. Great. Tossing my bag over my shoulder, I hurried out into the hall, hoping I’d run into someone who looked familiar.
    “Above the gym.”
    “Oh!” I stopped