Finally up! I know i said it would be up quickly but, i got distracted by school and a job interview! And just to let peeps know, I GOT THE JOB! WOOO!

BUT ANYWAY! Thanks again to those who reviewed and those who waited patiently for this chapter. HERE IT IS!


Chapter 7 – Beginner's Luck

On Monday morning, Starling and I were out of the dorm by seven thirty. We both had our first class in the English building.

I looked at my schedule for the millionth time: English, biology, math, history.

"Good luck," Starling said, before disappearing into a classroom down the hall.

"You, too," I whispered after her. I took one final yoga breath in, deep breath out, and walked into Room 307.

I scanned the room for an empty desk. A cluster of desks near the front of the room was empty, so I snagged one. Whew. If only I didn't have to change rooms.

I pulled a notebook and pen out of my backpack and looked up at the mile-long list of books written on the whiteboard. My old school hadn't been this demanding. I'd known that before I'd even arrived on campus – the glossy, official-looking welcome packet I'd gotten with my acceptance letter was covered with the words "academic excellence," "high standards," "best," and "brightest." But sitting here now, staring at the list of books I'd be reading for my first class, it felt much more real – and honestly, much more intimidating.

"Ey, Piper," Dove said, sliding into a seat next to me.

"Hey," I said, smiling. Thank Atmos it was Dove and not Cyclonis!

Dove set her binder down on her desk. It was bright yellow, covered with star and moon stickers. Cute. "Do ya want ta go fer a walk together after class?" she asked.

"That'd be great." I knew I would be happy to get outdoors.

"Good morning," a tall brown-haired man said as he entered the room. "I'm Mr Gull and you'll
be stuck with me this year for English. Go ahead and copy down the reading list and then we'll get started."

While everyone finished copying down the list, Mr Gull set up a CD player and opened a CD case. He selected a disc and placed it in the player.

"Since it's only our first day, let's read aloud and then analyse the first few pages of a book of my choice. Who would like to read?"

Raise your hand, I told myself. Slowly, my hand went up.

Mr Gull smiled. "We have our first volunteer! Your name?" he asked, coming over and placing a book on my desk.

"Piper." My voice was soft and wobbly.

"Thank you, Piper. Now, while you read, I'm going to play a bit of classical music in the background. Listen to the music and try to pace your reading with the rhythm of the music."

I looked around. I've never done something like this before.

"Okay," I said. I took a deep breath and started to read. In the background, a light classical melody, with piano and violin, filled the room. The music was relaxing. A few sentences later, my breathing fell into rhythm with the music.

"Very nice, Piper," Mr Gull said when I paused at the end of the paragraph. "Did you hear how different Piper sounded once she adjusted to the music?"

The class nodded.

"Who would like to read next?" he asked.

A girl in the front row raised her hand and started to read the next paragraph. Dove slipped a folded pink sticky-note into my lap. I glanced up to be sure Mr Gull wasn't looking; when he wasn't, I opened the note. Good job : )

I grinned and wrote her back in purple ink. Thanks!


At the end of class, Dove and I loaded up our backpacks. "I've got biology next," I said. "You?"

"Health." Dove wrinkled her nose. "Catch ya later."

We split up in the hallway and I headed over to the science building. Instead of desks, the biology classroom had white tables, sinks, and microscopes. My kind of thing. I was the first in the classroom so I sat at a table in the centre of the room. The rest of the class trickled in and I sighed with relief when the door closed and I didn't see Cyclonis.

Then the door swung open, and Ravess and Lark stepped inside, carrying matching pink bags. It was weird to see them without Cyclonis. They both narrowed their eyes at me before taking a seat at the table across from me.

A short woman with dark hair swept into a bun entered the classroom and stood at the front. "I'm Ms Pespa and this is biology. Please get out a sheet of paper and a pen."

Oh yeah.

"I'm going to be asking you twenty-five questions. If you answer the majority of the questions correctly, it will be a good indication to me that you've done your research. If not, you have lots of catching up to do."

I had been researching all summer, and it was intense. I wanted to be good.

I didn't even finish writing my name before Mr Pespa began. "Question one: Name the six kingdoms."

My hand froze over the paper. I should know this! Pens scratched around me. I bent my head in concentration. I was about to write something, but then I froze again. Wait, kingdoms of what? Did she mean plants, animals and things, or did she mean kingdoms like, where Princess Peregrine comes from? Oh no.

I made up my mind and only managed to write down Plant, before Me Pespa continued.

"Question two," she said.

I sneaked a glance at Ravess and Lark. They were looking at Ms Pespa, calmly waiting for the next question.

"Define Sky Knight," Ms Pespa said.

Oh that was easy! I wrote down the definition, hoping that maybe the first question was the most confusing. But as the questions continued, I just got more and more confused. It was like my brain simply melted away.

"Please pass your quizzes forward," Ms Pespa said, finally.

I handed my paper over to Ravess; she took it and looked at my answers. She passed it over to Lark and they both snickered. Ravess looked at me with one eyebrow arched. Loser, she mouthed.

At least I knew the answer to one question: Least favourite class? Biology, hands down.


Back at the dorm, I dropped my book bag – which weighed as much as a dragon – and changed for my lesson.

I couldn't believe I failed my first quiz. I'd never failed at anything in my life – not even at holding in my temper! Sure I have trouble with it, and I struggle, but I always manage to hold it in. I mean, I never fail.

Ms Pespa had loaded us up with lots of homework. When I got back from my lesson, I'd be studying the rest of the night.

My phone rang right as I was headed out the door.

"Hi, honey," Dad said. "How was your first day of classes?" his voice made me smile. It was babyish, but I still missed him.

"it was okay," I said. There was no way I was telling him about the quiz. "But I was just headed out for practice."

"Okay, we'll catch up later. And honey," he said in his best Dad voice, "just remember that it takes time to get used to things."

"Thanks, Dad," I said.

After I hung up, I looked at myself in the mirror. I took a deep breath and told my reflection that I didn't look to shabby.

At the Lab, I arrived at my locker.

Dove was standing there, waiting for me. she held a finger up to her lips in a "shhh" motion.

I gave her a funny look and un-locked my locker. As soon as the locker door swung open, she creeped right up to me and swang the locker door around so it partially covered our faces.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Ya 'ave ta keep an eye on ya tings," she whispered. Her dark hair was down by her shoulders and she looked like she had been scrubbing crystals for hours. Yellow crystal soap was caked on her hands and wrists and a few streaks of soap were on her face.

"My things?" I asked. "Why?"

"Cyclonis as been lurking round da supply room all day. I'd watch ya tings. She's in an especially nastay mood."

"Did Cyclonis do something to your things?" I asked.

Dove grinned sheepishly. "Nah, mine was just dirtee. But it seems like she out fur ya."

"I don't get it," I said. "What's her problem?"

Dove stepped away from me and peered over my locker door, as though making sure Cyclonis wasn't within earshot.

"I'll tell ya bout it on da walk. We're still on fur later, right?"

"Right after practice."

Dove tiptoed out from behind my locker and creeped away, back to her crystals.

I'd thought the flier trick would have been payback enough for Cyclonis. I left my locker and went to the Supply Room to get my cleaning things.

The Supply Room's wooden door was slightly open – voices came from inside.

"She can't help where Ayrgyn placed her," said a voice that sounded like Ravess. "What can we do about it?"

"She's better than I thought." Another voice – sour and forceful. Cyclonis. "We can't let her take a spot on the advanced level. Only five students from our grade can have a spot on the advanced team. And I have to be one of them."

"Of course you'll get a spot, Cyclonis," a third voice – happy and carefree – must be Lark. "She's in over her head. She totally failed the bio quiz today, too. Ravess and I saw. This is Helix; she'll be packing her bags by the end of the month."

"Of course she will," Cyclonis agreed. "But I'm not taking any chances. We deserve those seats, not her."

I couldn't stand there and listen to this anymore. I pushed open the door. Ravess and Lark stared at me from the corner of the room and didn't say anything. But Cyclonis took one step toward me and crossed her long, slender arms over her chest.

"Piper," Cyclonis purred. "Have you been spying on us?"

"No," I said, my cheeks burning. "Look, Cyclonis, I-"

"Save it!" Cyclonis spat. "You think you're so great just because you made the intermediate team?"

Ravess and Lark smiled behind Cyclonis.

"Beginner's luck," Ravess said.

Cyclonis laughed. "Seriously?" she continued, jutting her hip to one side. "You're wasting your time. If I were you, I wouldn't even bother showing up for practice."

One by one, each member of the Trio brushed past me and sauntered out the door.

Forgetting my cleaning supplies, I hurried back to my locker and gathered two yellow striker crystals. I then walked to my lesson, forcing myself to hold my chin up. Inside the ring, Dove was warming up. I watched her stretching for a bit before I did some exercises myself.

After ten minutes, Ayrgyn entered the arena and we started to line up in the centre. Nella leaned over and whispered, "Welcome to the team." I shot her a grateful smile and quickly turned my attention to Ayrgyn. I could feel Cyclonis's eyes on me from across the arena, but I didn't lose focus during the entire hour-and-a-half session. Not once.


Hope people liked it ;)

No homework this weekend means writing 27/7! which means chapter 8 on Monday, yay :D

Now i have to go to sleep thanks, so goodnight peeps and have a lovely weekend! i know i will, it's my birthday on Saturday!

So sweet dreams, to all the lovely FanFiction-ers XD

~ LouiLuvr