everything has changed

Thomas stopped for a moment, considering whether or not he was actually going to let the boy re do the assignment, he had taken the initiative, coming forwards, looking for help, but if he change one student’s mark who knew where it would stop. “I won’t change your mark, not based on this essay, you’ve done it now, You’re more than welcome to redo it for practice, but that’s all it will be.” He paused, looking at Luis for a moment, considering him, “But, you show me you’ve listened to my advice on your next essay, i’ll give you an extra credit point on this one.”

“Oh, okay,” Luis said, slightly bummed out that this was apparently it for this paper. He’d have to hide it away so that Cristina didn’t see it and witness how badly he had done. “Alright, the next essay will be extra focused. Or as much as I can. Uh, yeah, I’ll work on that,” he said with a nervous chuckle. Now he couldn’t let his professor down..

“Thanks for all the help, sir.”

“We’re basically given a shell to do with as desired.” At least, that’s what Sofia planned to do. She had no intentions of dwelling in the taupe flavored room. “I’m curious though,” Sofia’s head tilted, eyes focusing on the student. Looks could be deceiving, and as such she decided to prod. “In terms of fancy, what did you envision?” 

Luis wondered what he would do with such a space if he were given one. It would probably be a bigger version of his unusually neat dorm room, although the extra space would be nice. “Um, I don’t know. Like, vending machines with wine in them - oh, and a hot tub. Wait is there a hot tub somewhere around here?”

“Ahhh.” Nodding in understanding as he said the word unclaimed. He didn’t have to say much more, she understood better than most. Being unclaimed was something she struggled with for a long time and had more recently just started accepting. “What more do you wish you could do? Play sports?” Turning to look towards him and she clasped both hands together. “Or do you just want an element?” Realizing that might have came off a little too blunt. “I don’t mean to be too blunt or harsh. I’m just wondering honestly.”

Luis nodded emphatically when she said sports - it was all he really wanted. When Alex looked...well, enthusiastic, he shrunk slightly. He wasn’t used to talking about being unclaimed, even if he lived in a building full of fellow students who were the same.

“I just really want to play sports...It’s, like, the only thing open isn’t even really a sport, and some of my friends are all off dueling and stuff. It’s just, like, hard to be happy for them,” he admitted uncomfortable. “I mean, an element would be nice...It would be nice to be like the rest of my family.”

Thomas nodded, glad Luis was listening to what he told him. “It’s a fair opinion to have, so explain to me why the question is incorrect, substantiate your argument,  show me the impact of Elizabeth’s witchcraft acts, is the wording of her, and later act’s similar?  Do later act’s directly reference the Witchcraft act? What other historians agree with you. If you finish up with a rebuttal of your own argument, show me you understand the flaws in it, then you will revive much higher than an 89 on your next assignment. Perhaps even earn yourself some extra marks for this one.”

“Well, the question isn’t incorrect so much as...oh,” Luis stopped as he realized Professor Quinn wasn’t asking him to recite everything right away. He sighed softly in relief and scribbled some more notes down. A rebuttal to his own argument? That would be interesting. “Okay. I’ll get right on that. You should have it by...uh, is there a due date on this? I mean, sorry to, like, make this a thing or rush you, sir.”

Sofia was in the process of moving into her new abode. Heels clicked along the floor as she strode across the staff housing’s lobby with her luggage set in tow. Having scouted the staff housing earlier, finding her assigned room wasn’t difficult. She left the door ajar, and the largest bag out in the hallway as she entered the room. “Finally…” Sensing a presence, she spoke without turning. “Did you get lost or something? Just bring it in and set it down anywhere.” Sofia assumed it was the person delivering her trunk. Of course she had managed to rope someone into becoming a porter of sorts.

Luis could never say no to someone who needed help, and even though the unfamiliar woman’s suitcase looked heavy, he agreed to help her. When they walked into the staff houses, Luis thought he was going to get into trouble at first, but no one seemed to care. In that split second of hesitation, he actually did get lost as his guide turned a corner, and it took him a moment to find her again.

“Wow, no, I was just...I didn’t realize you guys lived in places like this. I like, pictured, I dunno, something crazy fancy.”

Looking at Luis closely and she watched his movements. “Are you sure? You know if something is going on you can tell me right?” Reassuring him that it was okay to talk to her. “Ahhh– thinking about stuff.” Repeating his words back. “I don’t think you can ever really turn it off. You can try and take a little break. Something weighing on your mind?”

Luis knew he could, but he was still scared to. Still, with Cristina apparently unavailable (five dollars said she holed herself up in an intense study session), he was itching to tell someone his frustrations, and Alex had been nothing but nice to him. “I just...I wish I could do more. Like, with the whole...y’know. With the whole Unclaimed thing and all,” he said uncomfortably.

“It’s rare for witches to stay Unclaimed forever, so, you’re probably right. As for me, my dad’s Unclaimed to this day so there’s a chance I may follow suit,” she explained. “It’s an opinion piece, not a hate piece. You and everyone else are entitled to their opinion, whether it’s controversial or not.”

“And you’re, like, cool with that?” He asked, confused and unable to wrap his head around the idea, seeing as Luis wanted his element more than anything right now. He blinked and bit his lip. “Even if Unclaimed aren’t allowed to do, like, anything? And even with the way people...well, never mind,” he said, abruptly cutting himself off as he remembered the names sometimes heard towards him and some of the students who he saw in his dorm.

Cristina laughed. Perhaps she should have paid a little more attention to one of the few siblings that didn’t treat her like an annoying cretin, but she had been so focused before college. It had taken a while to understand that some semblance of balance was healthy. “It wasn’t worth speaking up most of the time when my ideas always got shot down. Everyone liked you better, so I let them have you. Besides, there’s no newlywed game for siblings, you goof. But we can get to know each other better. Maybe not the night you’ve got something big due.”

“Really? You think? I always thought they, like, felt sorry for me,” Luis admitted. “Y’know, the whole Unclaimed thing and all. Not that’s going to last of course,” he added quickly, wondering suddenly what Cristina thought of it. Maybe she knew something he didn’t, but he didn’t want to betray his anxiety about the subject to her. “And fine, okay. Pizza and paper. And pepsi, just for alliteration’s sake.”

Thomas nodded, glancing over at the World History of Magic II class schedule he had taped above his desk. He tried to think about his lessons as little as possible, when he wasn’t being paid to pay attention to them.

He read over the essay, scanning the introduction and conclusions quickly, reminding himself of what he’d written. “I mark in bands Mendez. I liked your essay, strong introduction, strong voice, and the beginnings of an opinion, but I felt as if you lost it as you went on. An 89 was the highest I could give you.“ He paused, reading the question out to him “’Is Evan’s correct in his assumption that the additional powers gained by King Henry VIII during the reformation translated to additional powers for Witch Hunters?’ What’s your answer to that question? One sentence or less.” 

Luis took i the praise happily - he always liked to hear when he did something well, and hearing it straight from his professor’s mouth was even better, even if there was obviously room for improvement. “Okay, work on focus,” he repeated half to himself and half to Professor Quinn. He wanted to show that he understood the criticism. As for the question, Luis thought, poking the tip of his tongue out as he pondered for a half minute. “Yes, technically true, but I’d argue that Queen Elizabeth’s Witchcraft Act had more of an impact on the rise of Witch Hunters because of the many acts passed after it.”

“I’m sorry I missed it. Completely just lost into my book there.” Apologizing to Luis once more when she realized he actually had talked. “Oh– ummm… she was here a few hours ago. I haven’t seen here since though have you checked her dorm?” Asking him curiously. “Also is everything okay? Can I help with something?”

“Okay, um, I guess I’ll check there.” Luis looked around over his shoulder, then back at Alex. When she asked if everything was okay, part of him wanted to reply that no, everything was not cool. He sighed. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I was just thinking about stuff. Too much stuff. How do you turn your brain off?”

Morgan smirked at his reaction. “Yes, us. I’m Unclaimed, too. And I get it, you want to do sports like E-Blitz and Iceball and other hardcore stuff.” She took special interest in him already. That tended to happen when she came across other Unclaimed, especially younger ones. “You can’t please everyone, so you might as well do what you want to do, right?”

“I do, but...” Luis was lost for words for a moment - she was cool, and not like the picture of an Unclaimed witch in his head. “It’s okay. I’m the only one on my family without an element, so I’m probably gonna get mine soon.” He shrugged, trying to appear casual, though his face grew warm. “I guess. I mean, I just want to do good by everyone else, I think.” 

“Call her in the morning. She’ll be so stunned, you can get away with a short call,” she said, shaking her head in understanding. They really needed to get her emoji use under control. “That’s your opinion. You’re asking questions like you haven’t known me for your whole life. It’s a very specific shade of dark steely blue-gray. Why?”

“Okay, I will...Can’t argue with that logic.” Luis loved his mom; he really did, but leaving home had been one of the best days of his life. “I dunno,” he shrugged, thinking about dodging the question but knowing that Cristina would probably pick up on it. Deciding to be honest, he elaborated, “Like, I know you, but I realized I don’t know some things about you. Like, you were always really quiet at home. Besides, what if we have to play one of those games where they ask us how much we know about each other? I couldn’t stand to lose.”

“Wow, congrats on making a gal feel old,” she jested back. “Oh, you’re Unclaimed. Totally makes sense. You’d think by now they would’ve had actual sports for us instead of academic stuff. Or, you know, find a way to put us in their sports.” She flipped the laptop over so the bottom was facing upwards, and began to unscrew the wireless card compartment. “If you’re a person reporting, you’re a reporter. All reporters start somewhere. And the best ones never play it safe. I think it’s an interesting topic personally. You should go for it.”

“Ugh, I know. Like, no disrespect to the academic athletes - like, they’re freaking smart, but I just want to do - wait, us?” Luis blinked, caught off guard by her statement. He was torn between his first instinct of ranting to someone who seemed to get it and just running away. Then again, she had his laptop, so he had to pull it together. “Oh. Well, um, if you think it’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll roll with it...”

“Oh yeah? Good to know there’s some fanatics out there. Man, what’s up with you kids these days? Your generation doesn’t even know what a typewriter is, how are you all not born with natural technological skills?” she chuckled. His dismissal of his athletics caught Morgan’s curiosity. “It’s just… they didn’t let you on the team?” she asked. Though she had a hunch that wasn’t it. “Ah, that’s cool. It’s always fun asking random people their opinions on stuff. The meatloaf’s here great. Is there anything specific you’re working on now?” 

“Huh? Typewriter? I think I saw one of those in an antique shop once,” he joked. Luis decided she was a cool professor. Maybe he’d try out one of her classes sometime after all, he thought. It was the sudden switch of thought that led to remark, quickly and with a shrug, “No, I don’t have my element. Uh, yet.” Hoping she wouldn’t ask more, he quickly answered the next question. “Well, I’m thinking about doing an opinion piece on what people believe of campus security, but honestly, I can’t decide if it’s in poor taste or not. At the paper they said it’s a reporter’s job to ask the hard questions, but I’m not sure I’m even a real reporter yet.”

“Anytime,” she told him with a smile. She wasn’t much of a prying type of person. She believed that simply giving people the option to come to you was best.

“He smiled, and I almost fainted. He also apologized because he disappeared from the common folk world right before the concert that I was going to see him in. He’s very cool. He likes to watch entertaining scuffles between students. That’s how I saw him. I wish he was still performing. Have you ever seen him perform? He was amazing.” She felt herself getting carried away, and her inner fangirl coming out. “I’m sorry, I’m letting all of my inner fangirl out. I try to keep her under wraps.” She chuckled at herself. “I never thought of that. He could be like Mystique from Xmen in guy form.” Zoey found herself laughing at just the thought. She could feel her silly side come out and she hadn’t even been self conscious about it. Often she’d stutter or hesitate, overanalyzing what she said.

She gave him a sympathetic smile when he thought back to his paper. “You get it finished in time. I know you will,” she offered. “Deal! Whenever you’re free I’ll show you my scrapbook over coffee.”

“Ohhh, that’s a bummer. Maybe you’ll catch him, like, singing as he walks or something and it’ll be like a make-up concert. Or maybe he hates singing - did you ask him? I wonder why he chose to teach here. I mean, if I was a rock star, I’d do that instead - and nah, none of my siblings really liked him that much, I don’t think, and I got most of...well, everything from them.” Luis laughed along with her, and for a moment, he forgot the things that nagged at the back of his mind and just enjoyed himself. “We need to make a plan, then. Catch him in his real form. If his skin’s blue, it’s a total tip-off! But wait! What if you’re him and you’re double crossing me?” He raised his eyebrows, teasing, and then laughed again.

“Welp, you got more faith than I do, but I’m gonna do it so I can go to slep. Hey, before you go, here’s my number,” he said, searching in his messenger bag for a scrap of paper before scribbling his cell on it and passing it over. “Text me whenever you’re free! Or when you’re bored or whatever.”

“Even I talk to Mom. It keeps her from sending me those weird frowning emoticons, I figured out.” She shook her head, glad not to be too micromanaged. “Because there were so many of us, I was the least passionate about taking the time to pick pizza toppings. Had better things to do. Chicken bacon is kind of… one protein too many.” It sounded like a weird manly pizza. “I like olives or beef, but not both.”

“Ugh, Mom discovering emojis was, like, the second worst day of my life.” Luis looked over as she answered, determined to remember what she said. “It’s not about the protein, it’s about the synergy between the chicken and the bacon,” he said dramatically. “Okay, so olives or beef. But not both. What’s your favorite color?”

“Well, to be totally subtle, you should consider majoring in technomagic,” she suggested. He seemed like the studious type, hard-working type. Just the type of student she needed in her classes. “Well, it seems to be in decent condition for the time being. But a new one will definitely have to be necessary by next year.” She started clicking away at the laptop, seeing if there was maybe something wrong with the operating system itself that was preventing the laptop from connecting with the Wi-Fi. No matter what she changed in the network settings, she couldn’t sense any radio waves emitting from the laptop. “You must be good if they accepted you,” she said as she opened a drawer in her desk and took out a small screwdriver. “Not the athletic type? Nothing wrong with that. What kind of stuff do you write for this magical ‘Life and Opinions’ section?”

“I had a friend tell me about technomagic. She said it was cool, but I’ve never been very good with technology,” Luis admitted. Then again, he had never run into a class that he couldn’t eventually tackle, although RIAP was threatening to prove him wrong. “Great,” he said with a sigh, wondering how he was going to get the money to buy one - time to start looking for jobs, he guessed.

“No! It’s not that I’m not athletic. I love sports. It’s just - well, um, never mind, sorry.” He quickly tried to move onto her actual question, not wanting to bring up his status as unclaimed. “Well, I write about the different things going on around campus and in the city - club events, guest speakers, sometimes things going on around town, y’know? Opinions is fun too, because it’s basically just going around and asking different people what they think of different things. Like, for example, what do you think about campus meatloaf?”