I was exhausted heading into the last class of the week - Training. It didn’t help that Jack was in prime lecture mode. The period before there had been some sort of disaster involving a third-year Little Mermaid, a tractor and the swimming pool. Jack was not taking it well. I could feel my eyes glaze over and my sleepy mind wander as he moved on from lecturing about farm equipment safety to lecturing about self-control. I was daydreaming about my bed when Thatcher, my partner for the period, jabbed me with his elbow.

“Don’t go pulling a Sleeping Beauty on me, Lowell. We both know I’d be forced to do the chivalrous thing and kiss you awake,” he whispered, flashing me his most rakish smile, “but frankly I don’t fancy getting chucked out of school in such a mundanely predictable way.”

The thought of kissing Thatcher made my chest tight and my stomach flutter, but I certainly couldn’t let him know that. So I changed the subject before my blush could give me away. “That’s you all over, isn’t it, Thatcher? Don’t mind getting expelled, as long as it’s for something original. Like turning all the first year PCs purple, right?”

“First of all,” he said, with a perfectly straight face that was truly impressive considering his certain involvement, “the evidence was conclusive that they were Transformed. Being a lowly PC, we both know that I am incapable of such a Transformation.” I considered pointing out that it was common knowledge that he had talked or otherwise persuaded a third-year Cinderella into doing the dirty work for him, but he was so committed to his version of events that I just raised an eyebrow as he continued his explanation.

“Secondly,” he said, ticking the points off on his fingers, “I was on duty in the gym in front of twenty witnesses, including you, at the time of my alleged involvement. Thirdly, everyone knows that I am a beloved mentor to the first years, and that I would never do anything to cause any of them harm. Besides,” he finished, abandoning all pretense of innocence, “it was hilarious and you know it.”

I tried to give him my best disapproving glare, but couldn’t keep from smiling. He was right, the sight of a gaggle of grape-colored PCs bursting into the gym looking for help was the best thing to happen all week.

“Yes, fine, it was funny,” I conceded. “A good expulsion story, anyway. Much better than getting the axe for kissing. Besides,” I said, baffled as always by Thatcher’s ridiculous insistence on maintaining a playboy image when I knew he would never actually violate the Legion’s most sacred rules. At least, not on purpose. “Rumor is you got expelled from your Villager prep school for canoodling with the headmaster’s daughter, and it would be awfully boring to get kicked out for the same thing twice.”

“Come on, darling,” Thatcher laughed, “you can’t believe half of the rumors around here. I tell my mates at home that so they don’t wonder why I buggered off to Switzerland. I expect yours think you’ve got a posh scholarship.”

“Mine think I got expelled,” I said, looking at him in surprise. “Which I did.” My expulsion from Manhattan Prep was old news, I couldn’t believe that he hadn’t heard about it.

“Oh, sure you did,” he scoffed. “You can’t expect me to believe that.”

“Fake IDs,” I shot back. “I accidentally put a little bit of Charm on them in the process, they worked too well.”

“Well, I’ll be a son of a dwarf,” he said, pulling my ponytail as I smacked at his hands. “There’s hope for you yet, Lowell.” He paused, and then shot me a sideways glance and a sly smile. “I don’t suppose you still have any of your masterpieces hanging about, do you?”