Not a morning person

I've just finished packing my messenger bag with some items I want with me today, when there is a knock on the door. Expecting it to be Ryker at the door, I open it with a grin on my face.

Instead, I find a stranger in a vest, shorts and argyle socks. My grin freezes on my face awkwardly as I give him a once over. He looks like a teacher's class pet who belongs at an all boy prep school. I look down at my outfit today, which is black leggings tucked into combat boots, a school issued black collared shirt, and a flannel tied around my waist. Am I supposed to be dressed like this preppy boy next door? I shrug internally and decide that I'll be dressing how I want to here.

The stranger looks at me, and he has light blond hair, vibrant blue eyes and a blinding white smile.

It instantly irritates me.

"Yes?" I ask him.

"Headmistress Nacht asked me to bring you this," and he reaches forward with a bottle in his hands. It looks like the same bottle that was in her office, and it's full of the milky purple tea that helped me calm down yesterday. My eyes light up in surprise and I instantly feel a sense of gratitude.

"The lilax tea was made fresh this morning." He tells me.

"It's called lilax?" I ask him with a tilt of my head.

He nods, with that big grin of his still on his face.

"Yes, because of the color and its lasting effect of relaxation. I named it lilax".

"You named it?"

He nods again, "Yes, it's a combination of herbs and teas I came up with when I was younger. The name took me awhile, but I think it's fitting." He glances towards the bottle with pride in his eyes. Clearly he puts a lot of value in making this tea.

"Well, thank you for the lilax tea. This will help."

"No thanks is necessary," he tells me. "As I said, Headmistress Nacht asked me to bring this to you. I will let her know that you appreciate it." He gives me another blinding smile and dips his head in goodbye before clasping his hands behind his back and turning to walk away.

I look at his retreating figure.

"You're right," I shout. He turns around to look at me. "The name is fitting." I give him a wide grin of my own and go back into my room before he can respond.

I close the door behind me and look at the bottle in my hands once more.

I think that kid could grow on me.

I look around the room, and on the shelf I see a few mason jars. I grab one off the shelf and fill it with some of the tea. The jar fits on the side of my book bag easily, so now I can take it with me to have during my classes.

Hopefully it will help take the edge off if my anger is getting the best of me.

I take a couple satisfying sips of it while I am waiting for Ryker. It really does taste good.

Another knock sounds at my door.

I open it and find Ryker. I trail my eyes up his form slow and in appreciation. He is dressed in athletic joggers, a v-neck t shirt, and a light sport jacket with the Academy logo. I can admit, he is one good looking specimen.

As my gaze travels to his face, my appreciation pauses and is replaced by humor. His hair is bed ridden, his eyes are bloodshot and he is stifling an impressive yawn behind his hand.

"Not a morning person, are you?" I ask him.

He scowls in response.

"Nothing a good cup of coffee can't fix". He says in a low voice. He looks me over as well and his eyes brighten a little. "Ready?" he asks me.

I look back towards my room. "Anything special I need to bring with me?" I went over my schedule and it seemed that today was going to be filled mostly with typical lectures, but I wasn't sure if there was anything I needed to prepare for.

"No, today will be easy. You just need yourself and a notebook."

I nod that I heard him, but I bite my lip in nervousness.

He notices my unease, so he reaches his hand out for me, just like he did at my house before he took me to the academy. The familiar action fills me with warmth and reassurance.

"This next step is easy, love. Let's go get some breakfast." He says with a small smile.

His blue and yellow eyes look into my own and he waits patiently for me to gather my courage.

Without another ounce of doubt, I reach out and place my hand in his.

And with him, I take my next step.

With my hand still being held by Ryker, he led me out the building and down a path to the nearby cafeteria. We entered the room and there are dozens of other people either eating at the tables or waiting in line for the buffet. This place smells amazing, and my mouth is already watering.

He holds my hand all throughout the buffet line and only lets go to hand me a plate. I scoop some scrambled eggs, toast and a side of fruit. Ryker leads me to a table and sets his plate down. "I'm going to grab some coffee. Do you want some?" He points his thumb behind him where there's an impressive coffee bar with hot coffee, an espresso machine, or even iced coffee with flavors. My eyes light with excitement.

"Know how to make a latte, by any chance?" I ask him with all the seriousness I can muster. A good latte will go a long way towards keeping me in good spirits.

He gives me a sinful smile, full of promise.

"I've got you, love". He winks, and walks away towards the coffee bar.

While he is grabbing us some well needed caffeine, I pull out my schedule of classes.

Today I have my first classes for Fundamentals of the Supernatural World, Astronomy, and then Werehistory. Tomorrow and later this week, I will also be attending courses in Transfiguration, Phytology and Applied Aptitude. It seems that some of these classes meet more times a week than others, meaning that I will be spending more time learning that material. Also, Phytology is only on my schedule for this semester, whereas the other five courses are a year long. It looks like next semester, I will be enrolled in Horticulture instead.

As I ponder about what I could be expected to learn in these courses, I suddenly feel a prickle of alarm on the back of my neck.

I can feel a pair of eyes on me.

The stare feels heavy, and nearly suffocating with its pressure.

I can't discern the intent behind the gaze, but I can feel hints of darkness in the person behind it. The feeling of their darkness causes a shudder to pass through my spine, in either pleasure or fear, I am too overwhelmed to know the difference.

The person's stare is locked so strongly on me, that I can tell which direction it is coming from.

My eyes dart over my left shoulder to quickly meet the steady gaze of a stranger.

A beautiful stranger that looks as equally dangerous as delicious.

My breath catches as I take him in.

His hair is long, dark brown and is hanging loosely around his shoulders. His eyes are an ever deeper shade of brown, so dark that they blend with his pupils and look black in color.

Those dark eyes are still zeroed in on me.

He has tan skin, a strong jawline and his features look rugged. My gaze travels down, and I can see black markings from tattoos at the base of his neck and his collarbone. He is tall, broad shouldered— he could crush me— but, for whatever reason, it all just works on him. At this moment, I simply can't help but notice just how well it works. I'm too emotionally overwhelmed and vulnerable to be dismissive of attractive men right now.

This feels similar to how attracted to Ryker I was when I first saw him, which has since faded. I am just as attracted to this stranger as I was to Ryker initially, maybe even more so at this moment.

In fact, I have the urge to rush across this and find out what he tastes like. I want to run my nose along his jaw and lick with my tongue up his neck to take in his scent and imprint it. I have no idea where this impulse is stemming from, but it feels right.

All of the noises around me have silenced in my absorbed focus, so when a voice cuts through, it is nearly deafening in contrast to the silence surrounding me and the stranger.

"Hope you enjoy mocha." My eyes snap to Ryker as he places a cup in front of me.

Still shaken, I can only look at him in confusion.

He glances down to the cup and gives me an encouraging nod. I look down too, and I see that he made me a mocha latte. Chocolate sounds amazing for my nerves right now, but the best thing about it, is that he drew a crescent moon in the foam at the top of the drink.

As my heartbeat slows down, I stare at the drawing for a few more seconds than necessary. When I look back at him, his nostrils are flared and his eyebrows are slightly furrowed in concern. His eyes are no longer playful, but are full of wariness and apprehension. I reach out and lightly place my right hand on one of his own holding the mug in front of him.

"It's perfect," I tell him sincerely. "Thank you".

His shoulders drop a fraction, with some of his tension easing. But his eyes still show a hint of trepidation that I do not understand.

I clear my throat.

"Everything okay, Ryker?"

His eyes clear up and even though I can no longer see it, I can still feel his unease.

I take a sip of the latte in front of me, and an explosion of smooth chocolate and creamy goodness.

I moan in appreciation. This is hitting the spot just right.

He smirks in acknowledgment of my satisfaction. "I think it will be, love."