January, 2029

Detention wasn't really that much of a deal for Kayla. At her old school she used to get detention almost every month.

But to say this one was different? It was an understatement.

The morning of her first detention on saturday began with her unable to perform a simple telekinetic spell that made Penelope laugh.

Kayla glared down at the DAM bracelet.

"Forgot detention?" Penelope asked amused as she brushed her long hair up in a ponytail.

"Obviously" Kayla drawled, giving her bracelet another look, lowering her arm. "Stupid rules. I didn't even do anything to those crying babies"

"Sweetheart, you have a reputation already" Penelope said sweetly, "Only a glare and everyone will say you hurt them"

Kayla scoffed, "I'll give them something to cry about" Penelope raised her eyebrows amused, "I won't give a warning. I'll actually burn those bitches to the ground"

"Wow" Penelope whistled, impressed, "Have people ever told you you have some kind of anger issues?"

Kayla blinked innocently. "That wasn't even close to what I could do"

Sure, Kayla did have some anger she had to tap on. But most of it had been suppressed because of her family. Sometimes, thanks to the magic surrounding her house she could let go some of her frustration with magic once everyone was asleep. Sometimes she slipped and siphoned her sister or brothers. Sometimes her mom whenever she felt brave to give her a hug. Kayla never meant to hurt them, but somehow hearing them flinch or shout in pain made her anger to dissipate.

Being somewhere magic was not truly forbidden and where she was able to use her magic freely made this anger less strong but she could still feel it inside, crawling under het skin, growing each moment until one day exploded.

Kayla hadn't exploded since that first day at the school. But she could feel the anger fighting to get to the surface.

Penelope shook her head slightly, "One of these days, Rivers"

Kayla pursed her lips, "See you later"

"Do not miss the party tonight" Penelope told her.

Kayla rolled her eyes but didn't answer as she walked away, leaving the room.

~8~

Kayla made her way to the library where she noticed a blonde guy was up in a ladder putting up books in a shelf.

"Guess you're the other troublemaker I'm sharing this detention with" The blonde guy spoke without looking at the door. He had heard her coming. The bracelet may make him unable to use his abilities but like Kayla's siphoning, it couldn't be shut off. "About time I had company"

"Let's make this clear, blondie" Kayla said with het arms crossed. The blonde turned to face her. She gave him an unamused look, "I'm not here to make friends. I just want to go through this stupid day in peace"

The blonde raised his arms, looking amused "Wow there. Take away the claws, I'm not hurting you"

"As if you could" Kayla murmured under her breath as she walked toward an empty shelf, starting to pick up the books.

"You're Layla or something, right?" the guy asked as he swiftly jumped out of the ladder, close to where Kayla stood. "Dr. S told me you'd be joining the bad guy club"

"I'm not like you" Kayla told him, not looking at him, "And ew, Layla? How can you confuse a K with an L?"

"Because they're close by on the alphabet" The guy replied simply, shrugging, "So, no Layla. It's Kayla then?"

"How smart" Kayla said with sarcasm.

"I'm Roman" the guy told her ignoring her sarcasm. "Your detention buddy for the next month"

"Good lord" Kayla whispered in annoyance.

Roman simply smirked.

~8~

Befriending the apparent psycho was difficult for Roman, specially since he knew she was friends with Hope.

The moment he knew about it, he tried to speak to the tribid to let her know he was being welcoming but Hope wasn't having it, only telling him to stay away from the siphoner if he didn't want to ruin her.

Roman could admit that stung but he saw that coming. That didn't stop him from trying to talk to the curious and somewhat easily angered witch.

Specially since it looked like she wanted more trouble for herself.

"What are you doing?" Roman asked amused. Kayla didn't answer as she stood outside Alaric's office, picking the lock on the door. "Do you even know how to do that?"

"Shut up, I'm trying to concentrate" Kayla murmured, not for the first time that day wishing she was able to use her magic. Well, the magic of the school she stole.

Roman pulled off his hands from his jacket, rolling his eyes, "Stand back, Rivers"

Roman gently pushed her away, as he took her place on the door. Kayla glared at him. Roman smirked smugly as he looked at the witch, swiftly turning the knob, pushing the door open.

Kayla stared at him in disbelief, "What, what the hell?"

"Next Saturday I'll teach you how to pick locks, buddy" Roman told her, straightening up, holding a hand to her. Kayla huffed, standing on her own, walking past him. Roman whispered to himself awkwardly as he lowered his hand, "Okay"

Roman followed Kayla inside as she made her way to a cabinet, touching several places in concentration. "Where are you?"

"What are you looking for?" Roman asked curiously, watching her touch different parts of the shelf until she stopped. She seemed to glance at Roman over her shoulder as she reached out inside the shelf between some books. From Roman's view, he wasn't unable to see tje glowing of Kayla's hand as she siphoned the protective spell on a drawer near the floor. He just saw it being open as Kayla looked down at it. "Wow, wow, wow. All this time you've been able to do magic? I thought you had an antimagic bracelet too"

Kayla smiled slightly, amused "I call it the DAM bracelet but yeah" She took her hand out to show it to him "I have it. What I did is a trick I'm not telling"

Roman shook his head, chuckling. "You're something else, aren't you?"

"I'm a lot of things for different people" Kayla told him as she searched through the drawer. "It's up to you being good or bad. Usually bad"

"Not really" Roman admitted. Kayla paused, looking up. "You're not that bad"

Kayla didn't have anything to say as she closed the drawer. "Hope this is enough for you"

Roman tilted his head, "What's that?"

"Do you want to know?" Kayla asked.

"I just aided you to some crime" Roman smirked, "I'm involved into whatever this is"

Kayla showed him an orb, "This is the lying detector stone. Dr. S uses it a lot"

"And you're stealing it" Roman stated.

"I'm borrowing it" Kayla corrected, "For when he wants to use it and it's not there"

"And how he'd know you took it?" Roman asked.

"Ms Tig" Kayla answered simply.

Roman understood, nodding. "Your trace of magic"

"Exactly" Kayla nodded.

"And they'll know I aided you because I picked the lock" Roman pointed out. Kayla paused for a moment. Roman smirked, shrugging not caring he'd get into trouble again. He felt Kayla had a reason to commit this felony and while he was curious, he didn't want to push this amicable she had been. "Whatever, buddy"

Kayla tilted her head aside, "You're weird guy... Detention buddy"

Roman smirked.

Kayla looked down at the orb, unable stop a small smile as she glanced up at Roman.