If you thought that second day of Sorcery class was bad, I promise you, you have no idea what I've been through the past two and a half months of school. It has rapidly become my least favorite class. And it isn't any fun starting off every day wrong. And I do mean every day. All Mama Yackle does is hand out detention! I have received detention at least four times every week since we started school. This past week I thought I was doing great, it had been a whole two days since "fresh start Monday" and I hadn't gotten detention yet. Of course, good old hump day had to be my lucky day. You've guessed it; I'm on my way to detention, again. I swear, I must be cursed.

- Detention -

"Mama Yackle got you again, didn't she?" Alethea. Well, I'm not surprised to see her here in detention again. She's been in here more than I have, I'm pretty sure. But I don't think she really minds all that much, since Dr. Slye is the supervisor. And she is obviously head over heels in love with the man.

"Yes. And you, Alethea? Who got you today?" I said, attempting to be complacent. That's the only way to talk to this girl. Keep your head down, let her lead the conversation, and whatever you do, don't even think about looking at Dr. Slye. It just isn't worth it. Not that I would actually want to look at him... After all, he's just another teacher.

"Yep." Alethea said, completely ignoring my question and taking a seat... On top of my desk. How rude, I thought, as she continued to talk. "I've come to the conclusion that she doesn't like us because we already know what we're doing. I'll bet I could teach that class better than she ever could! And..."

I simply rolled my eyes as I stood up and moved to the seat next to mine and pulled my book out of my bag. I'd rather not have her butt in my face while I attempt to study. Does Alethea really think that's why Mama Yackle gives out detention? She's jealous of our abilities? Well, I'm pretty sure that's not why she gives it to me every time she can get away with it. I'm pretty sure the woman just hates me; Why, I have no idea. I never did anything to her. Nothing personal, anyway. I shook the thoughts from my mind and opened my book. I had just started to read when the supervisor, Dr. Slye, placed a paper on my desk that read: Masquerade Ball. I just stared at the paper.

"What is this?" I said, attempting to be snarky but just coming across as stupid, apparently, because he laughed at me. He actually laughed at me. I could feel Alethea burning holes in the side of my head as I blushed scarlet. Suddenly he stopped laughing, just like that. How he does that, I have no idea.

"It's your ticket to the university's annual masquerade ball. I noticed you're the only one who didn't take your ticket with you at the end of class yesterday." He managed to say that seriously. And once again, I have no idea how.

"You don't expect me to go, do you?" I asked, completely dry mouthed.

"No, of course not. I just thought that'd I give you your ticket since you were here. Makes it easier for me to get rid of it." He said taking a seat behind his desk. Ouch, I thought. Well that wasn't the answer I was expecting.

"I really wish you'd do this before I opened my book," I said, completely ticked off, though I'm not exactly sure why. "You do this a lot; interrupt people when they're just minding their own business." He just smiled at me and chuckled. Whole heartedly annoyed, I abruptly went back to my reading. For some reason, I couldn't focus for the whole rest of the detention hour.

- Healing -

"...and that is the difference between the spells Medication and Cure. Now, can anyone explain to me the importance of being able to know the difference here? Filía?" And of course I wasn't paying attention. I seriously hate this class, it's so boring. Aren't all healing spells the same, anyway? Now, how do I answer this question and not look stupid... I stared at the teacher for a moment, a tall, straight, scholarly old man with a long white beard and beady little gray eyes. I think his name is Professor Barabachus.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. What now?" I said, as innocently as possible. The old man just stared at me for a moment. Seeming to know that I couldn't care less about this class, I mean I was passing and other than that this course doesn't matter to me, he looked beyond me and called on a different student. A blonde girl named Maryssa, who for some reason is majoring in this class. What a nerd. I shut out the rest of the world and focused on making my mind an empty, black hole. Really, it's quite relaxing, and it's something I read about in an old history book recently. This one old wizard, with a name I have no idea how to spell or pronounce, did this meditation thing a lot and sometimes he would come across crazy powerful magic when he was like this and simply spout off these insane spells, all the while his mind was like an empty, black hole. Now I haven't experienced any visions or amped up magic. But it really is relaxing.

After enduring the rest of the hour, it was finally over. I practically leapt out of my seat and got ready to run to my last class, and ran into the guy from detention earlier.

"Oof," I grunted. Well he's solid. A regular mountain of a young man, I thought. I looked up at him and apologized. "Sorry, didn't mean to hit you too hard."

"So you meant to hit me?" He said, completely serious. No, not serious... His ice blue eyes were smiling. Much like Dr. Slye's... "...Do you?" Oh great, he was talking to me.

"Excuse me?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't think I'm rude. He really is kind of handsome, I thought. He was very tall and well built. His arms were huge, and bulging out of his shirt. His caramel colored hair was styled with gel, spiked up at least two or three inches all over his head. Nessa would like this one.

"I said you don't really like Alethea that much, do you? I saw how you blew her off in detention." Well this is awkward. What if I tell him the truth, that I don't like her, and he turns out to be her cousin or something? Whatever. I'm not one to lie.

"No, I don't," I said. "I mean, she's not that bad, but she's not that great either. We don't exactly get along." He smiled with his mouth this time, laughing deeply.

"I know what you mean. I've never liked her that much either, but I'm used to her. I've known her since she was little." Oh, well, this is awkward. Nice one, Filía. At least he understands...

"Hahaha, yeah?" I asked, not knowing what else to say. He held out his hand, and I took it and shook it. He was surprisingly gentle.

"My name is Arron, by the way. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Finally?" I blinked. He was looking for me? I wondered, shocked. He laughed again. I could get used to hearing that laugh, I thought. Then, shut up, Filía. You don't need to worry about boys. Not now, not ever.

"Yeah, I've heard a lot about you from the other students. You're famous in Slye and Yackle's classes, you know." Oh great. That's how he knows me.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Famous. Haha," I smiled, suddenly wanting to escape. "Well, now you know me! Congratulations... I'm sorry again for running into you, but I really have to get going. Bye!" And with that, I turned tail and ran straight to class.

- History class -

History with Dr. Slye... Not that I look forward to his class. I mean, I do, but not because of him. I just really like history, and correcting his faulty material. Oh, and most of his material? Yeah, it's completely faulty. And today we're talking about the Wizard... My most favorite person in all the history of the world. NOT.

"So, what can you tell me about the Wizard, Filía?" Dr. Slye asked me after finishing a quick review. "I can see on your face that you have an opinion." The whole class turned to look at me. Well, here we go again. He wants my opinion, he'll get my opinion.

"The Wizard was a fraud. He didn't have any powers whatsoever, he simply had other Witches do his work for him. He constantly promised things that he wasn't capable of doing, and blamed others for his own personal failures; by the way, he had quite a few of those." As soon as I finished gasps and whispers of disbelief and shock filled the room. Dr. Slye had to hush the class, then he called on Liir, who had raised his hand with a bewildered look on his face.

"I don't remember going over that," Liir said, and he pushed up his reading glasses. "It wasn't in the homework."

"I read about it a different book," I said, "One that is actually accurate. Check the sources for our text books... Oh, wait, there aren't any valid sources for our text books. What we read was a lie! The Wizard was weak, vulnerable, and the people of Oz didn't even realize it. Just because a man flies in on a hot air balloon doesn't make him and an all-powerful, mighty Wizard! He has a balloon. Big deal!" I looked around the room and realized that I was standing next to my desk. I have no idea when I left my seat.

"Maybe I should have you teach," Dr. Slye chuckled, sitting down on the edge of his desk. "You seem to do quite a bit of digging around outside of class. Outside our school's curriculum, even."

"If you did the digging on your own, I wouldn't have to do it for you and make sure everyone else here isn't blinded by your lies!" Suddenly all the humor left Dr. Slye's eyes and they hardened. He set his jaw and stood up straight, shoulders back. He looked me right in the eyes... It was almost like he was looking through me. I shuddered, looking away. I took my seat, ashamed of myself even though I still felt that I was right. But you didn't have to embarrass him like that, now did you? I berated myself in my mind, because the doctor obviously wasn't going to. Not in front of the whole class. He's bigger than that, unlike myself. Finally he spoke, softly yet very serious.

"I'm doing my best, Filía. It is my job to teach. Whether the information is always entirely accurate is hard to know. Knowing that for sure requires a lot of heavy study, which, as a teacher, I know is expected of me. However, as a teacher, I also know that it is difficult to find the time for such extensive research. I appreciate that you are vocal in your opinions because it gives the class a choice, and the incentive to do some digging of their own. I enjoy full participation from my students; I often wish more of you were more opinionated."

This speech was unexpected. I didn't expect this. He just keeps going, I thought. And he did. He continued, smiling now. Any trace of anger was gone from his face.

"Not all teachers here are like me, though. Mama Yackle likes to teach her students her own way, herself. She does not let her students teach her; believe me, I tried." He smiled again, directly at me. "Keep up the good work Filía. Now, before I give you your homework I want to remind you that the masquerade ball is in two days, and Friday there is no school so you have a three day weekend. Now on to your homework…"

-Back in the Room-

The night before the masquerade ball I was sprawled out on my bed participating in my favorite activity, (Wait for it... Yep, you guessed it!) reading a book. I couldn't care less about the upcoming ball. I was completely relaxed and happy just lying there, reading my book. Nessa on the other hand was flitting about the room like a humming bird that had chugged an energy drink.

I thought she was going to go pick up her dress for the ball. She had me help her pick it out. It's pink and ruffly and, in my opinion, hideous. But it looked absolutely beautiful on my sister, and I had gladly told her so. She had been thrilled and placed it on hold at the shop. Renting a fancy dress for one night just seemed so frivolous to me. Well, as long as Nessa is happy...

Speaking of my sister, she was making so much noise looking for something it was making it hard to concentrate on my book.

"Ness!" I yelled causing her to jump. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for something…" Uh oh. She has that look, I thought. The guilty look.

"What are you looking for?" I asked her, now suspicious that she was up to no good.

"Nothing," she squeaked. Then she smiled and waved her hand at me, as if she were shooing away a disobedient puppy. "Go ahead, read your book. I'll look more quietly." She is definitely up to something. So I glared at her, mercilessly. It always works. Then I said her name, sternly.

"Nessa..." She squirmed for a moment then bowed her head into her folded hands and sighed dramatically. I coughed, waiting for her to say something.

"The ticket… For your dress…" She practically whispered. I can't believe she did this! ...actually I totally believe it. I jumped off the bed, practically shouting.

"The ticket for my... Dress? For the ball?!"

"Surprise! Yes, for the ball. I got you the same one that I got, so we can match! Isn't that sweet?" She was trying to butter me up. Well that doesn't work with me.

"I'm not going Ness," I said. "I didn't even sign up."

"I signed you up." Ugh. Of course.

"You did? Well, that doesn't matter. I'm still not going."

"Filía, you have to go. Everyone's going," She whined.

"I don't think anyone will miss me Ness. You do understand what's been happening in History class right? That 'everyone' that's going to be attending the ball all think I'm a radical know it all!" Of course I didn't expect what she said next.

"Which is exactly why you have to go!" I blinked at her. Twice. But I didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. She makes absolutely no sense, I thought. Then she kept talking... As usual.

"Believe it or not, Filía, but some of the kids think you're very bold admitting what you truly believe. They respect that. They think you're really strong, and smart, and really, everybody wishes they could be a little more like you." This is what I mean... She makes no sense at all. I couldn't help it, I laughed, remembering the guy from Healing class the other day. Arron. He probably thinks I'm an idiot, I thought.

"Really? I'm being talked about, in a good way? No, I don't' think so."

"Filía I'm serious. Everyone expects you to go." She crossed her arms, and defiantly continued to search for the dress ticket. I, being stubborn as well, continued to argue.

"By the time I walk through the doors to the ball, not one person there will be thinking about any of that. Who would? It's supposed to be a special night. I don't want-"

"I found it!" Nessa said picking up the ticket that was on her bed the entire time.

"Did you even hear what I said?"

"What? Yeah, I'm going to go pick up the dresses," she said, grabbing her things. She didn't even take a breath, she just kept talking. "You are coming to the ball. Besides, I already paid for your dress!" Just like that, she was gone.

I think I'm getting forced to attend to the annual masquerade ball... How wonderful. NOT.