4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Bennet

I let out a groan as I flip over and pick my phone up from the pillow beside me. I know I shouldn’t have this thing in bed with me but some habits are hard to break. Besides, it’s not like I have anyone sharing the bed with me, why not keep everything close by?

I turn my 6:30 alarm off, flipping over onto my back. I stare up at the ceiling, blinking slowly as I try to get my brain to fully wake up. When staring doesn’t prove fruitful, I roll myself out of bed and head for my bathroom. I start every day like this, with a hot shower to dust the cobwebs from my head.

Today is Friday the 13th which means I’m in store for some sort of shenanigans. Some witches believe that every Friday the 13th, magic reacts more spontaneously, more sentient. Others believe that the veil between planes is thinner, making planar travel easier. Others still think Friday the 13th is divine, causing those who believe to possess supernatural good fortune. I’m not sure which theory is correct, only that there’s usually something in the air every Friday the 13th.

This belief stays solidified inside my brain as I walk out my front door and a bird shits across my shoulder. I stare down at it for a long moment before sighing, turning around, and walking back inside my house. I quickly change into a new polo before heading out once more.

“What a shitty start to my day,” unable to keep the pun to myself. It was the perfect set up and it would be a shame not to use it.

The drive to the university is thankfully otherwise benign. There’s no wild traffic stops, there’s no roadside shows. I make it there early even.

I double check the time before getting out of my car but instead of heading into the university, I start walking down the sidewalk. Thankfully, my hip isn’t bothering me too much today. Well, no more than usual, so the two block walk doesn’t leave me sore or in pain.

This local coffee shop is always filled with students on their way to classes and this morning is no different. I wait in line, only realizing as I step up to the counter that I have no idea what to order. I look at the elven barista who’s name tag says ‘Patrice’ with wide eyes. I must look as clueless as I feel because she gives me a knowing smile.

“May I make a suggestion?”

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Yes, please.”

“Do you prefer hot or cold?”

“Umm, I think iced?”

“And are you okay with a little sweetness?”

“Absolutely.”

“Perfect. How about an iced vanilla latte.”

“That would be amazing. Thank you so much - could you please make it two?”

“You got it!”

I give her my name before stepping to the side so the next person can order. This was such a spontaneous trip. I don’t normally drink coffee in the morning as I’m more of a tea person, but for whatever reason, there’s just something about today that makes me want to try something new. I pointedly don’t let myself think about the fact that I’ve just bought two coffees, or the fact that I already have the coffee’s recipient in mind.

Spending so much time with Quinn last night was wonderful and I couldn’t stop thinking about him once I got home. He’s so sweet while also being wickedly smart. His brain isn’t the only thing attractive about him though. His style is hip, his hair is long on the top and almost always styled, his eyes are big and brown behind his glasses. He’s an overall amazing guy that I can’t seem to stop my heart from beating for.

Every time he cast an identify magic spell, I felt like I could faint. He does it so flawlessly, like he was born to cast magic. Me on the other hand? Every single time I cast that same exact spell, I had to focus all my energies not to fuck it up.

I’ve gotten rusty since retiring from adventuring. While Quinn, on the other hand, seems to be flourishing. His students adore him, the staff all love him, and his spellwork is magnificent from what I’ve seen. He’s the one who summons our HellHounds for meets and watching him work is downright awe-inspiring. It’s like his magic is an extension of himself instead of a tool the way I use it.

My name is called, thankfully pulling me out of this line of thought. I’m too old to be pining over someone like this. Especially someone like Quinn. Why would he even look twice at the dumb jock when he’s so fucking brilliant?

It would be best if I stamped this crush out like the embers of a campfire before it has time to fully ignite.

Yet here I am carrying an iced latte to the university for him. Fuck, I’ve got it bad.

The walk back doesn’t take long. I quickly stop at my car so I can throw my satchel over my shoulder before heading inside to my classroom. This morning I have an advanced scouting class and then office hours. Once those two are done, I have the entire afternoon off. All of my other classes are scattered throughout the week and Friday is my prep slash easy day. I also have Tracker and Field practice tonight but we’re mostly going to do conditioning drills which should make for a really easy day.

Passing my office, I continue down the hall until I find the magical wing. I wave to Mister Addemac, cursing the way my cheeks are red as he raises his brow at me. He must know I’m off to see Quinn but that does nothing to tone my embarrassment down.

Knocking on Quinn’s door, I let out a sigh of relief as he calls me in. I dart inside before anyone else can see me making a fool of myself.

“Morning,” I say, holding up the coffee I got for him. “I really hope you drink coffee. I thought maybe you could use the pick-me-up after we were here so late last night.”

Quinn’s face lights up in a way that leaves me breathless. Gods, he’s beautiful when he smiles like this. “You’re my knight in shining armor,” he declares, holding his hand out for the coffee.

I hate the way my stomach reacts to those words. He’s too young for me to be fawning over. He’s too smart to want to do anything with me. Why can’t I get that through my thick skull?

At the same time, he looks at me like this and it takes all of me not to blurt out my feelings.

I hand over his coffee, unable to keep my smile at bay as he immediately starts to sip. He lets out a happy sigh that pierces through me, warming me all over.

“Thank you so much, Bennet. This was such a wonderful surprise this morning.”

“You’re welcome. It wasn’t a big deal,” I say, giving him a shrug.

“It’s a big deal to me. It means a lot that you thought of me.”

“It’s uh, it’s nothing,” I stutter out, doing my best to keep my embarrassment from showing. I wish there was an easy spell I could learn to keep myself from blushing in front of Quinn, that would be handy!

“I’m so glad it’s Friday. I realize that’s ironic to say because we’re only just starting the semester but I’m exhausted after last night and I’m looking forward to a weekend spent on my couch with Fluffy.”

“Fluffy?”

Quinn hums, giving me a little mischievous smile. “Fluffy is my pet turtle.”

I can’t stop a snort from escaping. “You named your turtle Fluffy ?”

“Yes. He’s a very dignified turtle so don’t laugh,” Quinn says, giggling to himself despite his words. “I found him on my very first adventure.” I open my mouth to remind him how people really shouldn’t be taking animals away from their natural environment when Quinn holds up a hand to stop me. “I can see the lecture brewing behind your eyes, Bennet. I promise I didn’t just take him for no reason. He was injured and if I had just left him, he probably would have died. I brought him home, nursed him back to health, and by the time he was all better, he was acclimated to his tank so I decided it was better to keep him comfortable with me than expect him to learn to be out in the wild again.”

I bite my bottom lip, adding this to the list of things I like about Quinn. My heart gives an overactive flutter in my chest. I’ve always believed that those who take care of the smallest creatures have the biggest hearts. It’s one of the main reasons I was drawn to becoming a scout. I love nature and everything that entails, down to the dangers and most innocent creatures.

“That’s really sweet of you,” I manage to say, hoping my voice doesn’t give away the amount of affection rising up inside of me.

“It was nothing. It was the least I could do after everything,” he says, shaking his head. Quinn takes out his phone, checking the time before standing up. “Shit, we should get going. Our classes are about to start and I’d really rather not start off with being late. My students will never let me live it down.”

“I have a few that are the same way,” I say with a smile. I turn around and head out of Quinn’s office.

“Thanks again, Bennet.”

“You’re welcome, Quinn.”

I’m practically walking on clouds as I make my way out of this wing of the university. I have a goofy grin on my face as I step into my classroom and realize my mistake almost immediately.

Gen is sitting there, giving me the biggest shit eating grin I’ve ever seen. My smile falls away as I sit at my desk and shuffle through my satchel for today’s lesson plan.

“So,” she says and I just barely keep myself from huffing in annoyance at her. “How did last night go?”

“It went fine,” I tell her with a raised brow. “We got everything accomplished we wanted to get done for Mister Addemac.”

“That’s good,” she says, nodding her head. “You two seemed really cozy when I left last night and then a little birdie told me you hand delivered some coffee this morning. It just seems really nice. That’s all.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’re the worst,” I murmur before standing up, turning towards my whiteboard, ignoring the way she’s snickering behind my back. She’s usually so serious during class but suddenly when it comes to my love life she’s all teasing and giggles.

Today’s advanced scouting class is covering all things survival. I’m going to teach them about plants that are safe to eat, plants that can be used for potion making, and some basic medical knowledge. Things that will make them assets for their future adventuring parties, things that will help keep themselves and their party members alive.

Sure, a lot of parties recruit some sort of magical healer into the midst but sometimes when shit hits the fan, they’ll need someone who can put together a proper antidote or a proper healing poultice. That’s where the help of a scout can come in. We’re more than just our bow and arrow, we have layers upon layers of things we bring to the table.

I write down the page numbers we’ll be going over today on the whiteboard, doing my best to focus on today’s lesson.

The rest of the day passes in a bit of a blur. Since it’s the beginning of the school year, no one visits me during my office hours so I use the time to get things prepped for next week. I also make sure I have everyone’s medical release forms for the Field and Tracker team. Once that’s in order, I pack everything up, put my whistle around my neck, and head outside.

After announcing that today is going to be a conditioning day, I get all sorts of grumbles and whining. “I know it sucks now but you’ll be thanking me in the long run.”

Everyone steps over to the end of the field and I whistle, signaling for them to start running ladders. I pet my whistle. “It’s just you and me against the world.”

Gen runs past me, snorting. “I heard that!”

I shake my head at her and turn towards the parking lot. Someone is walking past, looking over at us. They wave over at me and I realize with a start that it’s Quinn. I drop my whistle in my haste to wave back, grinning from ear to ear.

That grin falls away as Gen runs past me again, giggling. Even her teasing can’t get me down. I spend the rest of the day riding the high of Quinn’s attention.