Chapter 1

Foster Adaunt.

Everybody's heard his name. Even Meissa Ralph, the awkward nobody who's never done anything notable.

"Foster texted me last night!" she'd heard one girl bragging in the bathroom, before Meissa opened the stall door and they shut up. She only used his first name, but everyone knew who she was talking about. Nonetheless, as Meissa left the bathroom she heard one of the other girls go- "Foster Adaunt? The Sun boy?"

As if she knew multiple boys named Foster.

Fortunately for Meissa, Foster had never looked her direction, let alone took her to bed, as he seemed to have done with most of the school. She didn't even know how averse to the idea of being with the renowned asshole she'd be, and that's what scared her the most.

Unfortunately for Meissa, he's actually smart- must've finally been coersced into the higher classes, for now he sat in the back of her English class.

In her seat.

It was the seat all the way in the back, halfway between the window and the door. And it was perfect. It was everything. And now this prick sat in it, despite there being empty chairs on either side.

"You're in my seat," She stood at the desk, crossing her arms and scowling. He had his legs on the top, shiny shoes dangling off the edge as he leaned back casually on the chair, tossing a little ball of light from hand to hand. He looked at her, surprised, then looked down, surveying her.

"And you're not wearing shoes."

No. Of course she wasn't.

"So? Could you move?"

His eyebrows raised, disappearing into a nest of tightly wound curls. He was hot. No pun intended. he threw the little ball of light back into his palm and it disappeared. She kept staring.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" He asked, still not moving. the other students had begun filing in. a few threw disapproving glances when they saw Foster, and looks of surprise, and even resignment when they saw Meissa. She tried not to think about it.

"None of your business. You've plenty of other seats, and I've sat here the whole year. I would like to continue sitting here," Meissa softened, hoping that she wasn't being too confrontational. "Please?"

He smirked.

"I don't know. I quite like it here."

Meissa frowned. Okay, forget being nice. She really wanted to sit there, and this boy was being an ass.

"I'm gonna kick you." She pouted, not really knowing what to say.

At this is eyes widened in mock terror. She rolled her eyes.

"Oh, well, in that case..." He laughed, but tapered off when he saw her serious expression.

"Fine. How about you tell me your name, and I'll move."

"You don't need to know my name."

Too many had made fun of her already.

"Meissa Faunch, I know you're excited to meet our new student, but please sit down!" Her English teacher snapped from the front of the classroom. The bell rang the moment she started.

She huffed, shooting a murderous glare at the infuriating boy. His stupid brows were raised once again, this time in triumph. Whatever, she thought. She'll just get here extra early tomorrow. She would've stomped to the seat in the back, closest to the window, if not for the cold tiling they had on the floor. Her bare feet wouldn't do too much stomping.

She had fought to break dress code. You wanted to force her inside- you're gonna shove her massive, calloused feet into shoes, too? And socks? No way. At least her pants- well, shorts really, at this point- reached her knees. Wearing such short skirts would be a crime with her curves.

She didn't really have an ability- Meissa was chosen by the natural spirits as their little plaything, and through them, she had a sort of magic. Where as most would fear a storm, she'd never needed to. If Mother Nature wanted to punish Man, her adopted daughter would run safe among the destruction.

None of that was any of Foster Adaunt's business. And for some reason that was really hard for him to understand.

As soon as their teacher released them to work on their journalism projects, Foster got up, swinging his shoes off of her desk and sauntering over, like a stag with horns to heavy for its head.

"So, Miss Faunch-,"

"Don't talk to me." she muttered, scribbling notes in the margins of the article she was reading.

"Oh well- my apology, Miss Faunch."

She could feel him staring at her as she scribbled, his golden eyes burning a hole in the side of her head.

"Miss Faunch, you've got something in your hair-," He half stood, reaching to tug something out of her mane.

"What the hell?" Meissa jerked back, slapping his hand away. He froze, half standing, bemused expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, was that a family member of yours?"

One of the kids in the row in front of them heard, sniggering.

"No, Mr. Adaunt, that was a twig. Welcome to Honors English." She shot back.

"You know my name," he smirked.

"Hard not to when you've screwed half the school."

At this the kid who'd laughed earlier dropped his pen, and the kid beside him turned around to see the show. Meissa stared hard at him until he turned away. Didn't take long.

"Not quite half," His smirk didn't leave, and she heard him lean back in his seat, propping his feet back on the table.

The leaves in the tree outside the window jittered as the breeze dance through them.

"Shut up," she mumbled, and it danced even harder before prancing away.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" He quipped. How daft did this guy have to be?

"Not to you," She mumbled, because apparently he had good hearing.

"Oh. were you-," he stifled a laugh, "Were you talking to a tree?"

She didn't answer. She'd been through this all of her life. She shouldn't have been in this damned school, but the wind led her here, opening the locked doors. And as teachers were preparing for the coming year, and she chased butterflies right into their office. They decided that the small child must have some magic, no family, and accepted her immediately.

She still fights with the wind about it.

"Hey, Miss."

"It's Meissa."

"Okay, Miss. can I go home with you after school? I really need help with this assignment."

She rolled her eyes. "You're not funny, assho-,"

"Mr. Adaunt, I think that's a lovely idea. Meissa, you'll be welcoming to our new student?" Their English teacher piped up, conveniently.

"Thank you, Professor Wilkerson!" Foster beamed, almost glowing.

The school bell rang as he hopped up from his seat, and Meissa slumped in her seat, glowering at the boy's head as he pranced out of the room.