“Again?” Aidan asked when he caught sight of Tora, and Jocelyn shrugged her shoulders. “He said he’s got drama. I figured I’d be nice and cut him a break.” Jocelyn wasn’t certain she was doing it out of the goodness of her heart. She was curious about Tora, or more accurately, about how she felt around him. She didn’t feel the usual sense of repulsion she felt around the rest of her classmates, and in spite of his less than charming personality, she didn’t mind him being around. She actually talked to him which was more than she could say for everyone else with the exception of Tony, her aunt and her brother. Casting a glance she watched as Miss Dominque stared at them, something in her seemed to shift, not anything concrete that Jocelyn could put her finger on, but something subtle that she barely noticed. There was a flicker, just an instant when it looked as if the woman standing in front of her had a set what looked like butterfly wings on her back, her straight black hair turning into a mess of bright red curls. The image held for a split second before the woman returned to normal, a mischievous grin on her lips which she pressed her index finger to in the universal gesture to keep quiet. Shaking her head, Jocelyn blinked her eyes believing that she was hallucinating.

“Joc, what’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” Snapping back to attention, the girl glanced over at her brother, shaking her head but giving no verbal response. She had no clue what type of answer she should give him. What could she say? ‘I just thought I saw my teacher grow wings.’ Would have had her locked away in a padded room quicker than she could blink, and she didn’t kid herself that she saw it. She was positive that it was her imagination playing tricks on her, and that was exactly what she would continue to believe. “Nothing.” She finally responded, flashing a strained smile at her brother. “I’m fine. Just annoyed that I had to sit through detention, that’s all. Is aunt Alicia pissed?” Aidan shrugged his shoulders and pulled the car into drive once Tora was seated in the back seat. “Nope. I told her you got in trouble for talking and she’s over the moon. Expect a party when you get home.” Jocelyn groaned and sank further into her seat, already dreading going home.

The ride home was quick, too quick in her opinion, but before she knew it they were pulling up into the driveway and getting out of the car. Her aunt Alicia was on the porch the moment that Jocelyn stepped out of the car, and Jocelyn knew she wouldn’t stand a chance of avoiding the woman’s hug. Trudging up the stairs, she stood there as Alicia threw her arms around her shoulder and embraced her tightly. “Jocelyn! I should be lecturing you for getting detention, but I am too happy to care about that right now.” The older woman paused as she looked over her shoulder at Tora, the smile on her face spreading out into a grin. “A boy! You brought a boy home! This is a surprise.” Her aunt nearly rushed forward to hug Tora, but Jocelyn stopped her, grabbing a hold of her arm before she could move. “He’s not my boyfriend aunt Alicia, he’s just some annoying boy who need a place to hang out while he’s got family drama going on.” Alicia looked disappointed for only a moment before she brightened up again. “Well, he’s still a friend or else you wouldn’t have brought him home, and he is a boy, so technically he is a boyfriend.” 

Jocelyn scoffed but ducked inside to let her aunt do her thing, knowing that she wasn’t going to hear the end of it. Alicia of course made way for Tora to enter, instantly asking a million question. “And what’s your name, dear? You’ll have to excuse Jocelyn, she rarely brings people home. I don’t believe she knows how to make a proper introduction.” Aidan chuckled as he moved past the two and into the house, heading straight into the kitchen to grab himself a snack. Alicia ushered Tora into the house, following the same path that Aidan had taken. “And of course you must stay for dinner I want to hear all about how you and Jocelyn met, and your family, oh, and…” Aidan finally intervened, nodding for Tora to head up the stairs to escape his aunt. “Aunt Alicia, I think he and Jocelyn have homework to do.” She paused, looking at Tora and then at Aidan. “Of course, of course! Go ahead up to Jocelyn’s room. We’ll have time to chat at dinner.”

Aidan quickly moved to give Tora a light push toward the stairs. “You may want to get up there now while you have the chance, or else she’ll spend the entire time bugging you.” Aidan returned to the kitchen to keep Alicia distracted in order for Tora to make his escape, deciding that asking her to make him something to eat would keep her occupied enough to leave Tora alone.