Free Blooming Life (Fate's Intent Book 10) by April Bowles Page A

Training.
    “I just want the day to hurry up to see what it’s like.” Bryce said as we made our way outside to get to lunch.
    “I know.” I agreed. “It’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
    “Oh, really?” Seth smiled, leaning into me slightly. “Forgot about your lunch date?”
    “Oh, yeah!” Bryce laughed. “Where is she?”
    I casually looked around as everyone was swarming towards the South Hall to get in line to eat.
    “I don’t know. She said she’d find me.”
    We found our place in line and waited quietly like everyone else. It was strange to us as we looked around. There was some light chatter among the line but not much and mostly everyone was facing the same direction.
    “I hate order.” I muttered.
    Seth laughed in front of me. “It is a bit odd. It’s like everyone’s afraid to step out of line.”
    “That’s because if you do, you lose it.” A boy said, standing stiff in front of him, his body turned just slightly so he could look at us. “And I hear you’ll have to wait until everyone else has gotten their food and eaten it then you’re stuck with the floor scraps.”
    “That’s an unnecessary punishment.” Bryce replied.
    “It’s how they keep the order so well here. I’m Brock by the way.”
    “I’m—”
    “I know. Bryce, Dirk and of course, Seth, the Prince. Everyone knows of the three of you.”
    “I should have just guessed that.”
    “It’s okay. It’s an honor to get the chance to attend the Royal Academy with you.”
    “Thank you.” Seth said. “How long does this usually take?”
    “Normally not that long, depending on where you are in the line.”
    “There shouldn’t be a line. They should be serving us.”
    Brock laughed, trying to keep it quiet and orderly. “That would be nice since we’re the ones that work all day.”
    “Good point.” I said. “Seth, we should look into it.”
    “We’ll see but I doubt they’re much on change around here.”
    “At least they left us food.” Brock replied.
    We were up in the line and able to get our trays, putting dinnerware and flatware on them.
    “Great.” I sighed. “No salad forks?”
    “Nope.” Bryce replied. “Looks like they’re all one size.”
    “Seth, we seriously need to do something.” I griped.
    He laughed. “Just use what they have. It’s all we can do.”
    “Actually, you could turn this one into a salad fork.”
    Seth and Bryce both paused and looked over with wide eyes. I knew we weren’t supposed to use our gifts but they couldn’t believe that I even mentioned it.
    “What? You could.”
    “Be quiet.” He muttered through his teeth. “And deal with it.”
    I rolled my eyes and we continued through the line, picking out what we wanted for lunch and putting it on our trays.
    “Now what?”
    “We sit.” Seth said obviously.
    We looked around at all the full tables and found an empty section by the doors.
    The dining hall still seemed unusually quiet. There was only just a slight more sound of chatter but I could still easily hear myself think.
    “May I sit here?”
    My eyes lifted from my tray into a beautiful pair of blues. “Janie. Of course you can. I’d pull out a chair for you but they’re attached to the floor.”
    She smiled and sat down next to me.
    “You could try though.” Bryce laughed, already knowing what would actually happen if I did.
    Seth nudged him.
    “What? It’d be only a little funny. That’s all I was saying.”
    “It’s okay.” Janie replied. “How has your day been so far?”
    “Very unusual.”
    Janie’s expression became confused.
    “We’re just getting used to being around other kids.” Seth said. “Normally, it’s just the three of us.”
    “I see. Well, I’m kind of glad you decided to do that here.”
    I was looking at her with a smile while she looked back.
    “Well, so it’s true.”
    Janie’s happy demeanor faded when she sighed and looked at the end of the table at an older boy in similar resemblance to her.