Chapter Five

The bell was about to ring, signaling the end of the class, when Mr. Sam made an announcement. "I'm sure you've all heard by now that we have a new principal," he said. Some of the students, particularly the girls, couldn't help but smile in excitement. They tried to keep their reactions in check, not wanting to draw the attention of their crazy math teacher. Instead, they exchanged knowing glances with each other.

Zikki's eyes wandered over to Miranda's table. Unlike the other girls, she didn't seem the least bit thrilled. But that was typical of Miranda. She was never one to follow the crowd. Zikki couldn't help but admire her for that.

Sensing that someone was watching their table, Chandler turned to meet Zikki's gaze. The boys quickly averted their gaze when they realized they had been holding it longer than it was socially acceptable.

Avatar Sam's high pitched voice echoed through the classroom. "When you hear the bell, I expect everyone to be out of this classroom. Is that clear?"

“Yes sir.” The class replied.

Seconds after Avatar Sam left the classroom, the bell rang and the students hurriedly gathered their bags and books. Zikki felt a knot of anxiety in his stomach. He wanted to apologize to Miranda for what Chris did to her this earlier, but he didn't want anyone to see them talking.

Miranda was deep in conversation with Chandler, oblivious of Zikki's gaze. Zikki weighed his options, considering how best to approach her. After a moment's thought, he decided to take a chance.

"Zikki," Faith called out to him, interrupting his approach towards Miranda. He turned his head towards her, and Faith could see the frustration in his eyes. But she tried to hide her annoyance with a smile, pretending she didn't witness her ex staring at another girl for almost the entire class.

"Hey, Faith," Zikki replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But Faith noticed that he was still glancing over at Miranda, who was now leaving the classroom with Chandler behind her.

“Aren’t you coming?” Faith asked.

“Sure.” As he slung his bag over his shoulder and took a step forward, a sudden sharp pain shot through his leg, nearly causing him to lose his balance.

"Are you alright?" Faith's voice was laced with concern.

He leaned on the nearby table to steady himself and replied, "Yea, I think I'm just having a cramp." He lied.

"Maybe you should take a seat for a moment before you go," Faith suggested.

"I appreciate your concern, but I have to go," he replied. Determined to push through the pain.

"You want to go after her even when you're dealing with cramps?" As soon as the words slipped out of her mouth, she regretted them.

Zikki looked at her, confused. "Go after who?"

She nodded toward Miranda's empty table. "You've been staring at her all through class. It makes me wonder how quickly you've moved on after our break up."

Zikki sighed, the memory of their break up still fresh in his mind. One of the reasons for their split was Faith's lack of trust in him. As one of the most popular guys in school, Zikki was constantly sought after by girls in different classes, and even some boys. Despite Faith's hard work to win him over, she still feared that any one of these girls could easily take him away. It was a constant battle, and it had eventually taken its toll on their relationship.

"Why are you so worked up? You broke up with me, remember?" Zikki asked Faith, his tone casual. "So I glanced over at another girl, why are you bothered now?"

Faith felt a lump form in her throat, but tried to remain composed as she responded. "It just hurts to see you moving on so quickly," she said softly. Zikki didn't seem to register her pain, and simply walked out of the classroom without another word. Faith fought back tears as she watched him leave.

....

The Assembly hall was an expansive and airy space, with tall windows that provided ample natural light. The students, neatly lined up according to their classes, stood in columns separated by gender. Some of the teachers were seated on chairs arranged on the stage, while others stood among the students to ensure that they remained quiet and orderly.

As the minutes ticked by, more and more students filed into the hall until the majority of the student body was present. Then, a woman marched up onto the stage, striding purposefully toward the podium with the confidence of someone who had either received military training or possessed an unshakeable inner strength. Despite her diminutive height of 5'4", everyone in the school respected and feared her in equal measure.

The room fell into a hushed silence as the woman arrived at the podium, tapping the microphone to ensure it was in working order before adjusting her glasses and addressing the assembled students and teachers.

"Good morning, esteemed members of the Ashgrove High community, including our valued students, teachers, and non-academic staff. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the start of another academic year at our beloved institution. As I stand before you today, I am filled with pride and admiration for the students who have returned to our halls once again. From those who entered our doors as fresh-faced first-year students to those who are about to embark on their final year of high school, it has been an honor to witness your growth and development.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside a dedicated team of teachers and staff members who share my passion for education. Together, we have strived to create a supportive and nurturing environment that empowers our students to become the best versions of themselves. It has been a pleasure to see many of you transform into outstanding scholars and role models for your peers, and I am proud to have played a small role in your journey.

However, as many of you may already know, today marks my last day as the principal of Ashgrove High. While I am sad to be leaving this wonderful community behind, I am confident that the foundation we have built together will continue to thrive under new leadership. As I take my final bow, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have made my tenure here such a memorable and rewarding experience. Thank you, and I wish you all the best."

The once peaceful hall erupted with sudden, thunderous applause as the students cheered. While some rejoiced at the news of their principal's retirement, others felt a tinge of sadness at the thought of losing such a prominent figure in their school community.

As the hall fell silent, she spoke again. "Now, allow me to introduce you to the person who will be taking over from me." With a graceful gesture, she beckoned someone onto the stage.

As the tall man strode confidently into view, the room erupted into whispers and gasps. He was impeccably dressed in a fine suit and his thick, tousled black hair was artfully styled in a slightly messy fashion. At forty-something, he exuded a quiet confidence and strength that immediately commanded attention.

Taylor leaned in behind Miranda and whispered, "Oh my gosh."

Miranda turned her head slightly, trying to avoid catching the teacher's attention. "What?" she whispered back.

"That's not just any man," Taylor said, her eyes fixed on a man standing on the stage. "I mean, sure, he's a man, but... he's giving off this Alpha Male vibe, you know? Like something out of a manhwa comic."

Miranda raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I follow."

"I don't know how to describe him," Taylor said, clenching her fist. "But he's not like any of the other boring, lanky adult males in this school. He's...different. He's a MAN."

Miranda chuckled at the balled hand of her friend and raised her head to get a better look at the man standing next to the principal. He exuded a commanding presence, unlike most of the male teachers in their school, but there was something else there too, something darker that made Miranda uneasy.

As the new principal, Daniel Lockwood, addressed everyone in the hall, the crowd erupted in applause. "Out with the old and in with the hottie," Taylor quipped. The new principal smiled lightly, scanning the hall until his eyes landed on Miranda. It was as though he saw something different in her that set her apart from the rest of the crowd.

It wasn't because her hair.

Witches were able to detect who was human and who wasn't by the aura that surrounded them. As the man's gaze lingered on her, Miranda realized that the "Alpha Male" her friend had described him might not be human after all. The way he stared at her made her feel as though he knew what she was.

Miranda's unease grew. This is not good.