Stick to the original plan... for now

No… for now I should try to stick to the original plan. I’m still working with Candida, so I should try and keep to her schedule before I start deviating out onto my own goals. Maybe I’ll learn more about Katarina along the way…?

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the bell, echoing across the school. It chimed out from the grand clock tower at the center of the school campus, a grandiose touch a world away from the much more proletarian school bells regular schools featured.

“Oh, crap. Looks like we’re going to be late… sorry for talking for so long.”

Toby said it sheepishly, and the considerate nature of the statement melted my heart a little.

“No, no, don’t worry. I really liked talking to you. And I’m extra grateful you showed me your special spot.”

I couldn’t resist giving him a wink as I hopped off the wall I’d been leaning against, enjoying the blush that took to his face even through his dark complexion.

Yep, even in a school of top beauties, a little flirting from a cutie like Annie of course is going to have some kind of effect.

Satisfied enough with what I’d learnt, and even just with getting to admire the views from Toby’s seemingly forgotten tower, I skipped to class, letting Annie’s memories guide the way.

Mr. Laithwaite’s class…

Even at the thought of the teacher she was engaged in her illicit little affair with was enough to heat up Annie’s body, a small spark of pained pleasure following as I bit my bottom lip.

And the next part of Candida’s plan…

I took a deep breath, before I stepped into the noise of the class. It was a strange feeling, stepping in. Although I’d been taking Annie’s classes all morning, I’d mainly just been on autopilot, immersing myself totally in her personality and just living as she would. After that break of lunch though, after approaching things with a little more agency, I was reminded of how strange all of this really was.

It really hadn’t been that long since I’d been a high school student myself, but it felt almost like the gulf between me now and then was enormous. Even just the small time in college I’d enjoyed had been enough to add that differentiation, let alone all the strange, twisted experiences I’d indulged in since being turned into a skinwalker.

This classroom too, was a world away from any classroom I’d even been taught in. The walls were coated in expensive wood finishes, with little denotations of decoration and master level craftsmanship throughout. The walls similarly featured banners from the history of the school, maps, artifacts. It seemed nearly all the classrooms were full of a certain defined 19th century glory, a fitting throwback to the era where so many fortunes were initially made for the students studying here now, and that was merely the more “nouveau riche” members of the student body.

Though, it did seem that the more things were different, the more they also remained the same. The students, despite their money-soaked appearances and attitudes, were still teenagers. They were still full of hormones, of idle crushes, of restless dreams for their futures. Maybe the biggest difference was the feasibility of these dreams. The students of this school could harbor the kinds of dreams normal students would be laughed at for having, and know that it was practically guaranteed.

Connections, money, influence. Whether it was a star studded career in the arts, an inherited fortune 500 company, or the influence that came from being a part of a well established political dynasty, the world truly was the open to these students.

And inside their skins, it would be open to me too…

“Annie! You’re late.”

My dark scheming thoughts were interrupted by Mr. Laithwaite’s voice, his usual lust for the girl who’s face I wore being well hidden under the pretense of her just being a normal student to him.

“A-ah… sorry sir! I just lost track of time at lunch, and…”

“Enough. I don’t want to hear it. Report back to this classroom for detention after school. You have to learn not to be tardy if you ever want to get anywhere in this life.”

A playacted grimace of shame skittered across my expression as I took my seat, hearing mocking giggles from some of the students behind me at my misfortune. I let my enhanced hearing focus in on deciphering who’s voices they were as I took out my books. Annie’s memories of her classmates weren’t nearly as useful as I would have liked; her own focus on her studies and her affair had left her social knowledge limited, and most of the students weren’t known well enough for me to get names from just the sound of their voice.

Most of the students, anyway.

There was one voice that was clear, a mocking tone taking it, mingled in with the sound of her minions surrounding her.

Victoria.

I wrinkled my nose, as a feeling of embarrassed shame came from Annie’s personality. This was far from the first time Victoria had made sport of her. It wasn’t true bullying, as such; it wasn’t anywhere near consistent enough to be that necessarily. But if there was an excuse to poke fun at a girl who seemed unbelievably dirt poor compared to most of the student body, the girl with more money than anyone else was sure to be in on it.

“Victoria! You too.”

“Huh? What did you say to me?”

She sounded affronted at being called out in anyway, let alone by a mere teacher.

“It’s not nice to laugh at another student. Remember, no one here is above the rules.”

Mr. Laithwaite gave me a subtle look, the smallest comfort and acknowledgement, that I felt the stolen eighteen year old girl’s heart in my chest grow fuller for having felt. An annoyed sigh came from Victoria, before the class got underway. I settled back inside Annie’s personality, letting her intelligence guide the way as I played her role. Inside, the real me couldn’t help but begin to get excited, not that everything was all set up.

So, it seems we’ve got our meeting, alone with Victoria.