I have studied and studied so hard that my studier is sore, probably—and it's been weird the past few days. Grim and Ace aren't fighting… and that IS a relief because if I get one more lecture from Crowley about stopping them when iI don't have magic/i, I will commit murder. ...Hah. And he's a crow.

I've always been a diligent student, and I take my studying seriously, so seeing my grades at the middle of the road because of Grim's weighted portion kills me on the inside. I may murder this demon cat monster thing. This is our first really big test session and in all honesty I just hope we pass.

I will have to do all the extra lessons and extra credit, won't I?

Fuck.

Basically, I've spent the past week cleaning and studying. Which means I'm yelling out stuff to Grim to see if he gets it as I get things done and if he gets it wrong he has to help with a quick clean-up task. It's working… somewhat. Until he runs out yelling and then that's the end of that.

I sleep so little, so honestly I've stress cleaned so much that a LOT of the dorm looks good. Our room is so neat and tidy. All the windows are no longer boarded up. The rest of the roof is ifinally/i fixed. The storm cellar is even accessible now! I haven't gone down there because that's frightening, and nor have I explored the attic where I assume the ghosts hang when they're not harassing me. But they even helped put up the portraits in the lounge!

It's… a whirlwind of a week and weekend! My head is spinning with how much has gotten done. I also realize I am in a panic.

Great.

But… wow, do I love having such a clean dorm! Our room and ALL the communal areas are finally clean! Sure I need to work on all the rooms for people and stuff but that can wait until after tests! The satisfaction of this has left me in such a peaceful mood for the moment that it's Grim's rushing in saying he will definitely win these tests and I need to leave him alone only has me worried a little.

I'll… just read over my notes and go the fuck to sleep.

Life's okay… Life's going to be just fine. I'm really, finally, starting to settle into school life here in Twisted Wonderland.

It's finally becoming a normal time for me as a student.

Sleep takes me, eventually, and I'm surprised that Grim is still reading something… Huh.

iThe stormy seas rage, a ship that cannot survive; horrid, horrid yells…/i

iA woman swims with a man, taking him to shore./i

iShe flees; he's mesmerized./i

iShe has a fish tail./i

iTwo eels laugh./i

I wake up, and I hear Grim… muttering? He's not sawing logs and being a pain in my ass to wake? What is going on here? I don't like this new Grim.

It's the first day of exams, and I cannot help but mumble. "Stormy… seas?"

Maybe… Maybe Riddle's? That's nice of Riddle.

Ugh. I feel so tired and achy, why? Am I getting sick? Can I not get sick until after this bullshit is up, pretty please? Fuck. This is so stupid. I hate this. All of this. But we have testing.

"This problem has a trend for C… if it includes mentions of the war… …" I hear.

"Grim?" I ask, a little disoriented.

Grim startles, and glares at me with an indignant huff. He's got… those are NOT his notes because he can barely write, and that is not my handwriting… or Deuce… or Ace's… so… "Don't! I—I need to memorize that for our tests, No!" He huffs. "It's the first day of exams! So don't mess up our grade!"

"Me. Mess up the grade." Uh-huh.

"C'mon, let's get ready and take them, Grim." Fucker.

But a hot shower and some food puts me in the right mood for an exam.

Now, we get exams and I'm honestly surprised that Twisted Wonderland is so behind in the modern era that we are writing exams. I notice that Grim is actually handed a special exam and a stamp. Crewel, our homeroom teacher, murmurs that he will stamp over the correct answer either the multiple choice or true-false. That's… rather nice they've adapted tests and quizzes for him because he CANNOT hold or write with a pen well or fast. We've seen it attempted. It's nightmarish. And honestly?

He's gotten so much better at reading that I'm pretty thankful. He's still sounding out the words here and there but he can read quietly to himself! Leaps and bounds—and help has gotten him this far. I am really proud, so no matter what after exams are over he's getting some fried tuna cakes.

I have the corn meal, the eggs, the tuna, the lemon, and the butter… good. I'll probably season it with parsley to give him some green in there. Maybe a vegetable medley on the side?

The tests are in front of us…

"Pens up, dogs!" And it STARTS!

Maybe I'm arrogant, but that was fairly easy. Sure, I can't do the stuff that uses actual magic but anything that's written and involves studying is right up my alley. I feel great about it all, too! I do not feel confident about sharing a grade with Grim but at the same time it could be worse—my success will probably balance us both out. It'll be ifine/i

At least that's what I say to myself when I hear Crewel call out. "Dogs! Pencils down—pass your tests forward!"

I prefer him cussing us out, like after my YOLO incident. Thanks. It's better than being called a dog.

Maybe… he's a furry too…?

I don't need to entertain that thought train further thanks. Ever. Never again. Banished from the multiverse. Forever.

When I get up, I start to feel it all again—achy, weak… ugh. I am getting sick. This is bullshit. As long as it's after tests we're good. I just need to hold out for a little bit.

"You are done with your written exams, Class 1-A. Get out." Crewel finishes.

The cheering is from everyone. What? It was forever.

"And those that fail will take remedial lessons during the winter break, even if their overall grade for the semester is a pass." Ouch. The fuck. Crewel

That's horrifying.

"We are FREE!" Ace cheers.

"We did our best—it's just waiting for the results!" Deuce sighs in relief.

Grim is grinning from ear to ear, but that's his usual grin. "That test was so easy!" I doubt that.

"Oh? Where is THIS confidence from?" Ace don't pick a fight. "Since you always look like a sad half-drowned rat after a test."

"Can we not today?" Oh, man, maybe I just need some food. I feel like my temperament is gone. No tolerance.

"I've changed!" Grim so boldly claims. It's a lie. "Soon people will recognize my brilliance and beg for my help in their studies!"

Absolute bullshit. "We should go eat." I suggest, so this, please God, ends.

"I think this time I'll have the highest grade." Deuce. Yeah. Fucking. Right.

I have the highest grade. Me. It's me and me only. I get the separated results handed back to me and I am always, by far, on top of our little four-group. Maybe we'll extend this to the rest of the Trouble Troupe? Sounds like fun.

And then I get kicked to the middle road when we add in Grim but whatever.

"Nah, you'll be crying over your barely-passing grades as iusual/i." Ace is merciless.

Boys are like this and I have to accept it.

"It's going to be on top as always until we add Grim's part so all three of you should settle down and let's igo get food/i." I'm. Hungry.

"Well, I know I'll come out on top!" Ace, you're wrong.

"...We all… studied hard…" Feed. Me.

"Easiest exam yet!" Ace has some weird bravado.

"Oh fuck what did you do?" Fuck me he cheated, didn't he? ACE. RIDDLE WILL KILL YOU.

"I'm off to practice!" Deuce starts.

"I've got basketball practice! See ya later!" Ace is so… cheery.

Why aren't any of them the soulless husks they usually are after a test? I do not like this.

"I'm going to go home and sleep… I studied all night…" And there he is, tuckered out. And not hungry. Grim is also suspicious.

Something. Is. Fishy.

"...Okay, see you guys… I'm going to head to the school store." I'm going to get myself a treat and I deserve it . Sam's having a sale, three of the chocolate bars no one likes except me and probably one other weirdo for a single mark.

What? It's mixed chocolate with cranberries and orange. They're amazing and everyone else is of course wrong. Plus, that means they are both always in stock and I can get as many as I want since they've always been on sale. It's amazing. I love this. I have no idea why no one else likes them because it's so good!

Maybe I am weird. But also? iChocolate is chocolate/i and girls on a budget cannot be picky.

The store is... insane. I mean the inside. The traffic isn't bad today, which surprises me? Or maybe everyone is at their clubs instead of wandering around and thinking about the weird sale chocolate.

Oh! I see Sebek. He looks… uptight, as usual. "Hey, Sebek!"

He doesn't startle at least as he turns to me. "Ah. No Wei! Greetings!"

"What are you doing at the store?" I ask.

"Picking up the Equestrian Club's supplies on order. Bags of feed and a sack of fruits and vegetables!" He proudly proclaims.

"Do… you need help?" It's just him.

"No." Uh. Ego much, bright-eyes? "I mean—not your name! Just—I do NOT require assistance. Look!" He approaches the counter with confidence. "Please give me the Equestrian Club's order, Sam!"

"Right!" Sam disappears, and starts… loading up four large bags of feed in Sebek's arms—nope, it keeps coming. It ends up being eight, and there's a sack of apples on one arm, carrots on the other, and a last bag.

"H-how about I get that?" Wow. Uh.

"...If you want?" Sebek looks a bit confused.

"I want the random assortment of vegetable and fruit matter in the bag. Oof, it's a bit heavy but I can manage. I just feel bad seeing him—okay fine I am IMPRESSED. Boy can LIFT!

"Let us go!" And off Sebek heads, and I trail behind.

"So—do you always… uh. Carry a lot?" That's a good way to ask, No. You're a fucking genius.

"This is nothing. I can carry a lot of weight—unlike a human." Wow, Sebek, casual racism today, huh?

"...Yeah… Okay. So are all fae really strong? Or is it a half-fae thing?" I am really just starting to get used to this.

"All fae are incredibly strong—well, those in the Valley of Thorns. Other species are small and weak, whether they be from other countries OR from the Land of Fairies…"

"Wait, there's a land of Fairies?"

"Mhm. They are also ruled by a queen." Sebek explains.

"How many types of fairies total are there?" I can't help but ask.

"Ah… hm…" I am surprised that he quiets down so much! So there is a cure: stump him. He thinks for three, four minutes. "Unfortunately, I am not aware of all of them, but Lilia would know."

"Lilia… the… Vice Housewarden of Diasomnia?" I was going to say iweird vampire/i but that's neither here nor there and he'd probably get offended after he wanted that photo to show Lilia and Malleus (the ever mysterious and unknown). So he must hold the weird creepy doll vampire in high esteem.

Maybe I'm biased but there is something OFF about him.

My intuition is ichoice/i.

"Yes! You should ask him." Sebek has a lot of pride in his Dorm. I can't really relate? I mean, I'm glad I've cleaned it up and made it into a hospitable living space, but…

It's not the same.

It is a pleasant conversation—outside, Sebek's shouting volume isn't that bad, honestly. Plus, I like to get to know my friends and help them out. It helps distract me from thinking about grades and other pressing matters students like to think about. This guy gets into shenanigans of his own, clearly—what a strange incident with a lab coat. But all's well that ends well, right?

He definitely belongs to the Trouble Troupe. No denying that.

We arrive soon enough, and after saying a brief hello, I leave the club to their activities and hurry back up. I am dying for food. I should have not gotten distracted. iI want that chocolate!/i

And, I have another birthday interview to get to. By the sun… I have an hour. So wow, off I am! An interview under my belt and a couple marks worth of cheap chocolate in my bag stash where Grim won't get it. He knows he isn't allowed to touch my bag or the inside of it—and so far he hasn't broken or violated that accord. It might be because I threatened going to Crowley for such a violation—it's not. It's that I swore I would NEVER make fried tuna cakes again if he DARED.

It's a really good threat. I try to use it bare minimum or it might wear off.

It's the first night I've gotten to go out and wander the grounds of Ramshackle Dorm, singing out some of my frustration. I feel awful and I can't tell why. I don't have a fever, I ate good food and good junk food (if that exists), and honestly I've done nothing that should mean I feel bad unless it's just stress? Am I worn out? Or maybe I'm getting sick… I don't know yet. If it's some weird magic flu I am going to be the biggest baby about it.

I hate being sick.

I'm a horrible sick person. I whine. I cry. And I want everyone to do things for me because I feel like trash.

It's the worst. It's terrible!

But I feel a little better as I finally settle down to bed; apparently this school grades insanely fast, and we'll have the results tomorrow.

iThis school is magic/i. Or. Maybe it's because we have under 300 students in the freshman class and seasoned teachers can mark up tests and wade through bullshit pretty fast. Maybe they have teachers aids that help? I've never seen them, but that doesn't mean they're not there. Maybe some seniors for their work-study stuff? I'm still not entire clear on all of that, actually.

Maybe….

Maybe I'll…

Ask.