Magian High Read Online Free Page B

nodded at Amity.  “What are you two doing here?”
    “Tardy,” I said.
    “Thanks to the Punkers,” added Amity.
    Mr. Blakely ro lled his eyes.  “Oh, good grief, I’m sorry.  I’ll take care of it.  You missed all of first period?”
    “ Pretty much.”
    He looked sympathetically at Amity.  “ I hope that doesn’t affect your grade, Miss Griffin.”
    Amity looked surprised.  “Oh.  Nah, I’ll be able to pull it up.”
    “Well then,” he said, ushering us out.  “Get to class.  You’ll be early for second period at least.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Blakely,” I said.
    We grabbed our books and headed out into the hall.  “He’s all right,” said Amity.  She stopped and looked me straight in the eye.  She’s a little shorter than I am, and I was distracted by the warm color of her skin when she suddenly reached up and kissed me on the cheek.  “Thanks, Kincaid, for saving me earlier.”  I think my eyes bulged because she laughed at my reaction.  She started walking down the hall as the bell rang to release first period.  “C’mon, lab partner, don’t be late to class!”
    I did not hear anything Mr. Petercriss or Amity said all period.  I almost couldn’t see straight.  Twice, Amity poked me to get my attention.  She kept working and looking at me sideways.  After class, I went to the bathroom to splash some water on my face and cool down.  Miraculously, there was no one in there, so I could take a minute to regroup.  She kissed me!   I’m assuming that’s Girl for “I like you.”  Unless she was just grateful for the pathetic way I defended her from the Punkers.
    With the water still running, I looked at myself in the mirror.  I guess I’m good-looking enough: tallish with thick, dark hair.  Girls say I have a nice smile.  It’s not totally impossible that she’d find me attractive. I rubbed my chin.  Making sure no one had walked in, I checked out my physique in the mirror.  I know not to use magic for everything, so I have actual muscles. But what will happen to me if I like someone with no magic at all? How did it work for Mom and Dad?  They got married, but in high school, girlfriends come and go.  There’s no guarantee…I turned the water off and stared down the drain for probably a whole minute.  When I looked back up at myself, I said, “You may look like a man, Kincaid, but first, figure out what it means to be a man—with or without magic.”
     
    ***
     
    I made it through the next two classes focusing as hard as I could, and then went outside with Hadley and Elizabeth for lunch.  We were all joking about the new P.E. uniforms when suddenly a crowd of about ten Mages swooshed by us.  I recognized them all, and was surprised to see them breaking the rules like that.  They were flying a few inches off the ground and sort of going back and forth in front of the bleachers.  I did a double take and saw that they all had sparking fingers.
    “What’s up with them?” I asked.   “Are they auditioning to be Punkers?”
    “Didn’t you hear about the Protest?” asked Elizabeth.
    “Yeah, man ,” said Hadley.  “The Mage snobs are doing this Protest thing.”
    “What, by sparking?” I scoffed.
    Elizabeth shrugged.  “It sure freaks the Nomers out.”  She indicated the bleachers and we moved to sit down.  “So, is it true you skipped first period to be with a Wiser girl?”
    “What?  No!”
    Hadley grinned.  “Rumors, man.  You were seen.  You know how this place is.  Is she hot?”  Elizabeth elbowed him.  “I mean, nice?” he amended.
    “She’s really nice, once you get to know her,” said a voice from below.  We all looked down to see Amity.
    “Hi, Amity,” I said, feeling my face flush red.
    Elizabeth’s eyes widened.  “Oh, hey.  Hi.  Come join us.”
    Amity looked genuinely happy.  “Thanks.  I’m Amity.”  She came and sat above me, so we all formed a diamond on the benches with Hadley at the bottom.  “You