Pinehurst: A Magical Olympian Adventure-Young Adult Romantic Adventure/Fantasy Novel (6 page)

“I’m not a . . . I don’t even know what you’re talking about?” I pushed to my feet. How could he think I was anything like my dad? I wasn’t a demon-killer. Hell, I wore heels nearly twenty-four seven!

“You’ll know soon enough,” he promised with a smile. “I haven’t had to train a girl before . . . but I won’t hold that against you,” he chuckled. “Who knows, if you manage to make a success
of yourself, females might be allowed to battle. And Evie . . . that isn’t always a bad thing. Now go on, get out of here.”

I turned and walked to the door, my mind spinning.
Damn
! “Am I supposed to run too?” I asked, not wanting to look at him. My hands had fisted involuntarily at my sides, dreading his answer.

“Do you want to?” I could hear him grinning.

I thought about that. No I didn’t want to. I didn’t want anything to do with this guy or his class of freaking jarheads. But I couldn’t shake this feeling I had. Like maybe my dad
did
put me here for a reason; and if I went through the motions, as painful as they were, maybe that reason would become clear.

I huffed mentally and turned to face him; the picture of my dad and him, still smiling at me. I would not be intimidated! “Well I’m not going to have the guys think I’m being pampered because my dad’s some legend, now am I?" And with that, I felt a small fire light within me.

“Then get your butt out there, Hollyander!” The corners of his mouth turned up.

“Yes, Sir.” I wasn’t happy about any of this, but I had to try. If my father had taught me one thing, it was Hollyanders don’t give up!

* * *

This sucked! Talking with Gunny put me eight laps behind the guys. I hadn’t run in like—forever. I’d only made two laps around the field and already I felt like I was going to pass out.

“Hey, Hollyander, you better pick up the pace if you want to keep up. This isn’t a girl's sport.” Steroid boy, AKA Chad, sped past me—backwards—the creep. I really hated that guy.

I tried to ignore him, and the rest of them. Every one of the guys made a snide comment as they ran circles around me. Some
actually
ran a circle around me as they passed—jerks!

“Ignore them, they’re just feeling insecure because you’re the first girl they’ve had to train with.” Roland slowed down, keeping in time with me.

“You mean, there aren’t any girl . . . what did you call yourselves? Slayers? Anywhere?”

“No, none.” He gave me a small smile. “But you’re going to change that aren’t you?” He didn’t seem bothered that I was there.

“Well, it’s not my choice, believe me,” I breathed heavily. Talking and running was not going to work.

“Hollyander!” I cringed at the sound of Gunny’s voice.
That voice
was going to be the root of my nightmares.

“Why does he have to shout everything?”

Roland laughed.

“That is the most pathetic sight I’ve ever seen Hollyander! Go shower and report back here tomorrow at fifteen hundred hours!”

I grimaced. Gunny was going to be a serious thorn in my side. Perhaps Hollyanders
should
give up.

“That’s three o’clock Hollyander!”

I know! I shouted mentally. I’d have rolled my eyes, but that would have taken too much energy.

“See ya.” Roland ran on, leaving me to slink off the field.

I practically crawled into the locker room and collapsed on a bench. I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, watching a light flicker overhead. I could feel my heart still pounding. There was no way I was going to keep up with these guys. And there was
no way
I was going to shower here. That’s all I needed was to be a peep show for twenty adolescent boys!

I grabbed my book bag and clothes and made my way slowly back to my dorm.

* * *

 “Evie! Where have you been?”

I held onto the frame of the elevator and stepped out into my hall. “Hey Iris.”

“What happened to your face?” She took my arm and mercifully helped me to my room.

“Sixth period P.E.” I collapsed on my bed.

“You stayed!” It wasn’t a question. Iris was totally shocked.

“I wasn’t going to stay, but Gunny is very . . . persuasive.” I had a flashback of being face planted on the floor. I shuddered at the memory of it. I’d have this bruise for days.

“What was it like?” she squealed. Her excitement barely contained.

I didn’t even have the strength to lift up my head and look at her. “Exhausting!”

“Are you going back tomorrow?”

“I don’t have a choice. Gunny switched my classes around and got permission from Ms. Leech—who obviously hates me and wants me to die a slow and painful death. She’s probably planning to feed me to that beast of hers she calls a pet.”

Iris snorted.

“Gunny actually wanted me to spar with Roland. Can you believe it?”

“He didn’t! I mean Roland wouldn’t fight a girl, would he?” This was more than Iris could handle. She was holding my hand now, nearly bouncing on the bed beside me.

“No! Of course not! I don’t think any of them will. I’m the only girl in the class, the only girl
ever
. They don’t want me there.
I
don’t want me there.”

Iris nodded. “It’ll work itself out Evie, don’t worry. This has to be just a big misunderstanding.”

I knew Iris was trying to comfort me, but honestly, “it will work itself out”—lame! “Misunderstanding”—my ass. The powers that be were enjoying screwing with me.

“Are you coming to dinner?” She stood up, looking hopeful.

“Yeah, I can’t afford to be weak,” I moaned at the thought of having to move. “I’ll meet you downstairs in half an hour. I’ll be the one crawling out of the elevator.”

Iris gave me a sympathetic look before hurrying out of the room. No doubt on her way to tell Aubree and Gillian the whole sordid story. This would be right up Aubree’s alley—juicy, one-of-a kind information.

Could my life possibly suck any more? That was meant to be one of those rhetorical questions you ask the universe when things aren’t going your way. And keeping in time with my suck-ass day, the universe has answered me—yes!

I was summoned to Ms. Leech’s office in the middle of dinner. Not before noticing the “I need my face slapped off smirk” from Stacy as I walked by. She’d noticed the bruise on my face–
thank you
Gunny–and had been pointing at me and making quiet jokes about it for the last half hour. I sucked in my cheeks. Was this day ever going to end?

“You may have a seat, Miss Hollyander.”

I plopped down in what I’d assumed was going to be my reserved-seating chair.

Herman the vulture squawked loudly from his perch. The little beast eyed me with longing—I knew it!

“It has come to my attention that there was a sprinkler disruption this afternoon in The Kitchen.”

“Yes . . .” I answered with extreme caution.

“I’m sure it will come as no surprise that you have been placed as blame for this incident.” Ms. Leech’s voice was unusually even.

“Me?” I was going to get that blonde headed—

“However,” she interrupted my mental rant. “After further inspection, and testimony from eyewitnesses . . .” Eyewitnesses . . . what eyewitnesses? “I find that blame to be completely unfounded.”

Wait! What? Had I missed something? This was what the old hag had been waiting for. Why was she passing up on this golden opportunity to hand my head to me on a platter?

“I realize that you could not possibly have that kind of magical control. I mean really, to isolate the water flow to only one area of the room . . . well, it’s completely ridiculous. I can’t even do that!” She laughed lightly—the sound of it, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand.

I sat there, dumbfounded. Ms. Leech couldn’t do that kind of magic? That can’t be. Her powers should be limitless. She was much, much older than I was. Some Redwoods weren’t even as old as her. In fact, I was even willing to bet that dirt itself—

“I’m aware that Gunnery Sergeant Jaxson has transferred you into sixth period P.E.”

“That’s no P.E. class,” I interjected, switching gears.

“Gunny seems to think you have
potential
.” The word stuck in her throat. As if the concept of potential and me were unfathomable. “I however understand if you're reluctant. Many have died foolishly trying to keep the Daimonas at bay.”

Did she just slam me? Foolish . . .? Was Leech some sort of Daimonas supporter? Figured!

“I won’t pretend it’s going to be easy for you,” she blabbed on. “You are the only girl after all.”

Did everyone have to keep saying that? I slumped further into my chair. “And why is that?” I asked.

“I never thought I’d live to see the day,” she continued ignoring my question. “A female Slayer . . . well, not yet anyway.” A look of . . . was that . . . relief . . . crossed her face.

“I realize you’re very young, but with training and perseverance, I have no doubt you’ll soar to great heights. Or perhaps depths, is the proper phrase.”

What the heck was this, an after school special? Wasn’t it only yesterday she was insulting and threatening me not to put a toe out of line? Now she was insulting me, and masking it with false words of encouragement.

“As I said before, discipline is what’s needed with you, Miss Hollyander. I have no doubt you’ll get a full dose of it in Gunny’s class.”

So that’s why the old hag’s on board with this. She wants Gunny to ride me and break me like a horse.

“Well, I won’t keep you any longer. You must be very tired after your first day. I only wanted to put your mind at ease, and assure you that I hold you in no way responsible for the . . . let’s just call it a malfunction, shall we?”

She stood up and extended her hand. I stared at it for a moment before my brain registered what to do. I shook it lightly, trying not to cringe at its leathery texture.

“Good luck, Miss Hollyander and remember, we're all very eager to watch your success.” The words were as menacing as her tone, making me shiver.

I walked back to my dorm in a daze. “Let’s just call it a malfunction?” She knew? She knew and she
wasn’t
going to punish me?

She’d been less than enthused about me becoming a Slayer. I could see that Ms. Leech viewed it as a total waste of time. She’d covered her butt with small words of encouragement—if you could call them that. But overlooking what she knew was a blatant display of magic used against another student? True, no one deserved a good comeuppance like Stacy did. Anyone unfortunate enough to know her would agree on that. But still, I’d definitely broken the rules.

After promising that I’d fill them in first thing in the morning, the girls left me alone. They’d been anxious to hear about my meeting with Ms. Leech. I went to bed that night, swimming in a sea of questions, with no life preserver to bail me out.

“And she didn’t punish you?” Iris was awestruck.

The four of us sat huddled around the table eating breakfast, talking in hushed tones.

“The day before, she wanted to rip my head off, and last night . . . I don’t know. There was something weird about the whole thing. It was like she was trying to subtly say that being a Slayer was . . . futile. She actually said it was foolish. Are you sure she’s on our side?” I looked to Iris. “I mean she’s not a Daimonas supporter, is she?”

“Of course she’s on our side!” Iris looked aghast that I’d even utter such a thought.

“The important thing is you didn’t get into trouble.” Aubree pointed out the obvious.

True. “But why not? The old bitty hates me.” Okay, slight exaggeration, but only slight.

“In times like these, it’s better not to question, but to be thankful.” Iris patted my hand gently
.
I was stunned: “Times like these”? Where the hell did she come up with this stuff?

“Well, Ms. Leech was right about one thing.” Aubree had our full attention. “If you make it as a Slayer, you’ll be the first. You’ll open up a whole new world of possibilities for women!”

“She's right,” Iris stated. “Women will finally be allowed to fight alongside men; if they wish to that is.”

Great, no pressure there! Apparently Mageians hadn’t heard of “equal opportunity!”

“How awesome would that be?” Aubree had a far-off look about her. No doubt envisioning herself as some sort of celebrity doted on by countless males.

“Look. I never said I was going to be a Slayer. My experience consists of being face planted onto the floor, having my ass handed to me in front of a whole class of boys, who by the way all hate me being there, and leaving my left lung somewhere on the track field. I'm not even sure why I'm in the class in the first place.”

“First days are always hard, Evie, it’ll get better,” Iris promised. “As for the reason you were chosen . . . isn't it obvious? You're
George Hollyander's
daughter. If you can't survive . . . none of us girls could!”

Yet another reason to thank my dad for sending me here. I knew Iris meant them as words of encouragement but honestly, if she’d gone through the humiliation I had, being thrown to the floor, and later having circles ran around her, she might not feel so cheery about sticking in there.

“Yeah, first days are great. I wonder if day two has another shiner in store for me?” I touched my cheek gently, wincing a little. I’d tried with considerable effort this morning to cover up the “welcome” I’d received yesterday in P.E.
Tried
being the operative word.

“
Roland Vandenberg
is watching you.” Gillian muttered excitedly.

I shrugged.

“Are you crazy? He’s a—”

“I know. A ten on the hot-o-meter,” I grumbled, pulling myself up from the table. “I’ll see you guys later okay?” I left the table leaving the girls no doubt thinking there was something seriously wrong with me. I mean, any one of them would go berserk with as much as a backward glance from the blonde babe-magnet. But I had a lot on my mind. I hadn’t slept all that much last night. Ms. Leech’s sudden change of heart and Gunny’s insinuation that my dad had been hiding me for years left little room in my brain for small talk or backward glances from the illustrious Roland Vandenberg.

Why is it, that whenever you don’t want to be bothered, people flock to you?

“
Hollyander
!”

I didn’t even stop walking. A group of no less than six guys from P.E. swarmed around me.

“Let me help you with that.” Victor, a taller boy, with sandy blonde hair removed my book bag from my shoulder, and swung it over his.

“Thanks, I think?” I viewed him with skepticism. There didn’t seem to be an ulterior motive behind the gesture . . . he smiled and walked close beside me.

“So Hollyander, you coming to class today?” Chad flanked my other side, attempting to put his arm around me. I shrugged away, causing some snickers from the others. He shot them a stern look.

“I’ll be there.” I quickened my pace. This was one octopus that could keep his tentacles to himself!

“Good, we wouldn’t want you to give up after only one day.” I could hear the false concern in his voice. I rolled my eyes. “But if you did, we’d understand.” He baited the hook. “I mean,
I’d
hate sparring with a bunch of men if I were you. You might get hurt.”

I held back a laugh. “I don’t think that will be a concern.”

“Oh man, Chad, I think you just got slammed.” Victor was a little quicker than the rest. He nudged my elbow and winked.

I couldn’t help but grin back. Victor was easy on the eyes and he seemed nice too. He and Iris would make a good match. Too bad he hung out with Chad’s jerk squad.

“You’re
not
one of the guys,” Chad barked in my ear.

“Clearly, although, with the amount of steroids you’re pumping in, I don’t consider myself the
only
girl on the team.” I eyed his bigger than my B cup chest.

Chad stepped in front of me, stopping me short. He didn’t look so friendly anymore.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I snapped. I could see the uneasy expressions of the others in my peripheral.

“Do you think you’re going to fit in, Little Girl?”

“Little girl?” I folded my arms, asserting myself in front of him. I was not backing down from this jerk. No way!

“Do you really think I care
what
you think?” My tone was every bit as surly as his.

Chad moved closer, his massive body pressing slightly up against mine. His eyes narrowed.

I smirked. “Shall I kick you in the nuts now, or later?” True I was half his size but I was fairly certain it would take little effort on my part to hit my mark.

“Chad, come on man, back off.” A boy, I think they called him Wyatt, had his hand on Chad’s arm, attempting to move him away.

Chad shrugged away from him, his eyes still fixed on mine.

“Chad, this isn’t cool,” Victor spoke up. All signs of humor were gone. “Leave her alone, man.” He stood shoulder to shoulder with me. What the hell were these guys hanging out with this Neanderthal for? Did they really want to be lumped in the same class as him?

“You will
never
be a Slayer,” Chad spat. “You don’t have what it takes.”

“Gunny seems to think I do.” I didn’t know where that came from. I’d just been telling the girls that I didn’t want to be a Slayer. That it was too hard. Now I was defending the very idea that I could be, just to prove a point to this over-sized ape?

“What’s going on here?” An unfamiliar voice spoke from behind the crowd. It was deep and rich with an accent I’d never heard before.

“Antonio.” Chad looked away from me for a moment, his expression becoming uneasy.

My eyes followed. A tall boy with dark hair and eyes approached. He looked a few years older than I was. His body was more defined than my classmates here, with the exception of Chad. Although this boy, Antonio, looked to be more physically fit. There was something about the way he carried himself. The others gave him a wide berth as he weaved in between them. I looked closer . . . it was the boy from the dining hall—the one who’d been watching me from behind his book. I’d know those eyes anywhere. They were dreamy . . . dreamy? That so did
not
sound like me.

Antonio took a look at the close proximity of Chad to me. “You’re not planning on hitting a girl are you?” There was an edge to his voice.

Hell yeah
! Chad grinned.
She needs an ass kicking!

I looked at him incredulously as if he’d shouted that from the rooftops. Yet . . . his lips hadn’t moved? I studied his face. Was I going crazy? That was exactly what he’d been planning to do. I was certain of it. I could hear him screaming the words from within. I could see it in his eyes. The little wheels in his brain turned quickly in his head, forming a lie.

“Of course not,” Chad scoffed. “I’m just trying to explain to Red here that Slaying is no place for little girls.”

“Red!” He did not just call me Red? “I am not a little girl!” My hands were fisted at my sides. It was all I could do to not stomp up and down and scream at him.

Chad scanned the length of me, taking in my powder blue sundress with little red roses on it.

I glared back at him, daring him to call me a little girl once more.

“On second thought, maybe you should come to class. It might be fun rolling around on the mat with you.” He winked.

“Enough!” Antonio snapped. His expression was hard. “Leave her alone.”

Chad leaned in closer; his warm breath blowing across my ear. “Nice legs!”

Oh . . .
that
was it. Without warning I put my hands on his shoulders and drew my knee up hard between his legs.

“Oumph.” Chad doubled over, his hands gripping onto what I’m sure was most dear to him.

There was an echoed “ohhh” from the crowd. I glimpsed each of them, wincing at the assumed pain.

“Don’t
ever
threaten me again!” I held my hand out to Victor. My book bag was returned promptly. He took a few steps back.

“See you in class. Jerk!” I stormed off, late for math—again!

Mr. Reynolds excused my tardiness. It being only my second day, he was willing to overlook it. Thank God for small favors.

“They’ll let anyone in here.”

I cringed. No, no, no! Not Stacy.
Please
not Stacy. I looked up from my notebook and smiled. Stacy had taken the desk beside me.
Lovely!

“I heard you’re in sixth period P.E.” She looked like a cat that’d just cornered a bird. Smug.

I didn’t answer. I glanced at the front of the room. Mr. Reynolds was watching us. I resumed my work, praying I wouldn’t get detention my first week of school.

Stacy leaned in closer. “You’re not one of those . . . tomboys, are you?” She grimaced. “Although, that
would
be better than if you were one of those girls who just likes playing with
all
the boys. You know the type, the ones that try to steal
everyone’s
boyfriend.”

Yes, I knew the type. That’s exactly the kind of girl she thought
I
was. Witch! I was so not one of those girls. Stacy would be shocked to know that I hadn’t even kissed a boy.

“Not that I blame you,” she continued. “I mean, rolling around the mat with all those guys.” She fanned herself with her notebook, the very thought flushing her. And in that instant, I knew.
She
was one of those girls!

“I’ve started a betting pool that—”

“Ahahh!” Stacy shrieked as her desk collapsed to the floor, taking her down with it.

Everyone jumped up to see the commotion, everyone, but me.

“You Witch!”

“Miss Wilcox! You will not use such vulgarity in my classroom!” Mr. Reynolds stood over Stacy, assessing the situation. “What happened here?”

“She broke my desk!”

“Your desk, too?” My tone was condescending. “Yesterday it was the sprinklers.”

Soft laughter broke out amongst the class.

“Really, Miss Wilcox. I hardly think it’s fair to blame Miss Hollyander for this unfortunate mishap. The screws must have come loose.”