Standing Up For Grace (8 page)

“I hear you've had quite the exciting life, Tiffany.”

I look at Mom, surprised that Mom would tell Principal Meyers about my past, but Mom shakes her head just enough that I realize she hasn't said a word except the lies and half-truths that I'm supposed to remember, and I blush, which is embarrassing in and of itself.

“Yeah,” I say in my best slouchy American manner (even though I know I don't have the accent exactly right), “I guess.”

“It'll probably be hard for you to adjust to the regulated lifestyle we have here at Central High,” Principal Meyers says, as if my slouchy attitude is something she expected. “If you have any troubles, just let one of your teachers know that you'd like to get in touch with me.”

I don't see how come I can't get in touch with her directly if I want to be in touch with her, and I open my mouth to say that when Mom kicks me in the shin.

“Okay,” I say, and Principal Meyers thinks I'm talking to her when I'm really talking to Mom. I'm beginning to wonder how I'm going to get through the day without Mom hanging on my every word, when Principal Meyers slides a sheet of paper in front of us.

“Here's your schedule,” she says to me. “We've done the best we could with what's open and the fact that you've been home-schooled overseas. We've learned that our overseas students are often ahead of our local students in areas like math and science, so we put you in advanced classes there-”

I look at Mom, terrified. I had arithmetic, thanks to Athena, but real math-like, hello!, who needs math when they can conjure anything they want?

“-and we're putting you in three remedial social studies classes, figuring your American history is probably a bit behind, and-”

“Actually,” Mom says, “I think we'll have to redo this. Tiffany will be excellent in things like Greek Mythology.”

I glare at her again. Doesn't she know that “myth” word pisses off the Powers That Be? And then I remember that the Powers That Be aren't monitoring my every move any more. I've been demoted from head of all magic (actually, that was me, as Interim Fate) and my powers taken away until I'm menopausal (like, y'know, a thousand lifetimes from now) and no one cares if I say or do something bad because it won't have magical consequences.

And while I was censoring all that, Mom was going on about my schedule and the fact that I need remedial algebra (whatever that is) and basic science and she and Principal Meyers are staring at the various openings on the computer and finally, Principal Meyers turns to me and says,

“Good heavens. What did you study at your father's house?”

I shrug and say, “You know. Basics. Like History of the Magical Universe, and Spellcasting 101-200 and-”

Mom kicks me again, and my blush gets worse. “Her father is very New Agey. You can see why I was finally able to get custody.”

The principal looks at her in sympathy. “I should say. Well, we'll just redo this, and let Tiffany find her way.”

Then she looks at me and says, “You know, there's a large fundamentalist contingent in this community. While we try to be open-minded, you might want to keep some of your magical history to yourself.”

I swallow real hard, then the principal goes back to her computer and I glare at Mom. I mouth, You said she'd have trouble with this, and Mom glares back (probably because she can't understand me) and I have a hunch we'll talk about this later. That's Mom's answer to everything. Talk. Which is better than Dad's, which is to pat me on the head and tell me it'll all work out. If he listens at all.

So they hand me this schedule, tell me I've already missed P.E. (Principal Meyers proudly says they're one of the few schools in Oregon that can still afford regular P.E., whatever that is), and send me off to American History (Overview) which is one of those remedial social studies courses that somehow stayed on my schedule. The principal also gave me a map (!) and a few directions, and Mom waved at me, saying she's going to stay to wrap up a few things-probably clean up some of the dumb things I said-and off I go, into the sea of people I've never met.

All mortals. Of which, apparently, I am now one.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Called “The Reigning Queen of Paranormal Romance” by
Best Reviews,
bestselling author Kristine Grayson has made a name for herself publishing light, slightly off-skew romance novels about Greek Gods, fairy tale characters, and the modern world.

She writes romantic suspense as Kristine Dexter and historical mysteries as Kris Nelscott. She also writes in a variety of genre, from literary to science fiction to contemporary romance, under her real name—Kristine Kathryn Rusch. She has won dozens of awards for her writing

As Kristine Grayson, she also edits the romance volumes of
Fiction River: An Original Anthology Magazine.

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Look for These Other Titles from
Kristine Grayson

The Interim Fates:

Tiffany Tumbles

Crystal Caves

Brittany Bends

The Fates Trilogy:

Simply Irresistible

Absolutely Captivated

Totally Spellbound

Holiday Novellas: