Rediscovering Odette

Year

as, sadly, my life. You see, my parents-or more precisely, my papa-held a firm belief that the best way to keep my mamma's memory alive was by immersing me in everything she had loved. Unfortunately, that meant I had a packed schedule every day of the week

t of frustration but restrained myself because it was the only thing I'd inherited from my mother. You see, my father is Italian, and their genes are notoriously strong, so I had his face, his nose, and the captivating Italian build and stare. My eyes, however, were "tainted," according to my insufferable aunt. She couldn't grasp that I didn't choose to have h

estle my auburn hair into a respectable chignon at the nape of my neck and h

w I hate it when you wear those awful

and besides, they help me see more c

portrait of her that hung in the breakfast room. He did that a lot since she passed away. I knew it hurt him when

you'd want me to excel, wouldn't you

t promise you won'

I know," I said, interrupting him. "I won't be late. I wouldn't miss it for the world." I hu

s I drove past the sign that read "Ranksand College." I maneuvered my car into my usual spot before heading into the looming building. As I

e my best friend-my only friend,

g at my hair and unraveling the chi

quickly trying to pull my hair b

is gray eyes-like the sky befo

It was one of the reasons we were friends; I had two different-colored eyes, and he had hair so strikingly pale that he looked like an anime character. We were the oddities in a sea of brown-ha

and a lot less paranoid about it being called the Loch Ness monster-which, by the way, it doesn't resemble in the slightest," he said po

y hair loose, I'd look like the Loch Ness monster," I retorted, emphasizing

am decidedly not a pubescent teenager. Min

't want to hear about your 'sexcap

r. And even if you did, we'd start a magical creatures club, with you as the Loch Nes

sipidly boring human subordinates," he a

lording and all?" I asked, dodging his hand before he could frizz my

crunching his face and pounding his fist on the table. I cou

ne of our classm

k you'd know by now, considering how loud your mom

end for people to call him "Anthony" instead of "Anton," an

king for you, Antony," the guy, who

aid angrily, standing up to glare at him. Ah, Jeff-that w

uh? Report me to Daddy Malfoy?" Je

me, then took one last glare at Jeff before storming out of the room. I glared at Jeff, just as I

d it nearly impossible to focus. Anton's absence weighed heavily on my mind. I tried to discreetly text

aid, placing my phone on his desk. "Detention after schoo

ft me even more worried. By the time lunch arrived, I was bordering on paranoia. Anton had never mis