Unthinkable Love

Chapter 2

Theo

I am about to start my lesson after doing a roll call when that beautiful girl from the assembly walks into my classroom. It is upsetting me that she is one of my students. This is definitely going to be a problem. She apologises for being late without meeting my gaze and sits down at a desk towards the back of the room. She turns her body towards me and our eyes meet again. She has such a tantalising aura about her and it immediately draws you in. How am I ever going to be able to concentrate with her within such a close proximity? I realise I have been staring for way too long and I clear my throat loudly to alert the students that I am about to start the lesson. The chatter dies down.

“Good morning students. My name is Professor Theodore Altobello. I have just recently moved here from Russo Village meaning I am a Fire mage and I will be your new Magical History professor. I hope that we can all get along and that I can help you achieve your goals for the remainder of the year. Please let me know if I can assist you in any way.” I announce. One of the students is giggling which I find extremely disrespectful.

“Is something funny Miss Petrello?” I ask politely.

“Oh no nothing sir, sorry sir.” She says while smiling her sweetest grin, annoying me even further.

“Very well, no more interruptions! Open your text books to chapter 15 so we can begin.” I demand.

Lola

Professor Altobello starts his lesson on the origins of the Acqua clan and I find my mind drifting away and thinking of all the things I would like to do to Theo. I imagine myself taking off his shirt and admiring his bare chest, searching every inch of his body with my hands. I wonder if he has tattoos covering his muscly chest.

Wait a second, should I really be letting myself think of him this way? How do I make these thoughts stop? Levi would hate me if he could hear my thoughts right now!

Before I know it, the cast iron bell is chiming to signal the end of class. I jump out of my chair and race to the only place I know that will calm me down. I have a history of struggling to contain my magic when I feel overwhelmed. I need to take my mind off things. Jordan and Ivy let me leave without saying a word.

I sit down at the edge of the marble fountain in the courtyard. I have always found this place soothing and relaxing.

My family is descended from a strong line of water mages so my magic is overbearing for me sometimes. When Acqua clan and Colombo Village was founded, one of my ancestors Fortuna was crowned queen of the village. She was the strongest water mage in the small group of the original founding members. She was tasked with finding a suitable husband to wed and he was to become the king to rule alongside her. His name was Neptune, named after the Roman god of the seas. Rather fitting if you ask me. Their powerful magic resurfaces sporadically throughout our family tree and I was the lucky one to gain their power. I however, don’t consider myself lucky, I feel as if it is a curse. To be the chosen one to wield all this power is utterly terrifying.

I close my eyes to steady my breathing. In and out. When I open my eyes, I find myself manipulating the water in the fountain. I don’t even need to think about what I’m doing, it just comes naturally. Swirling, bubbling and shooting the water up into the air. Some of the bubbles rise into the air before freezing solid and crashing back down into the fountain. I sense someone behind me as a tall shadow blocks out the warm sun.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, but I did not seem to catch your name in class.” He has such an irresistibly husky tone to his voice and I know it is Professor Altobello before I can even turn around. I close my eyes briefly before slowly gathering the courage to turn and look up at his perfect face, the sun framing his face like a halo.

“My name is Lola Acquaviva, Professor. I am Headmaster Acquaviva’s daughter.” I say, a little nervous of his reaction. Will he treat me differently now that he knows who I am?

“Oh, I see. Please call me Theo.” He says, showing indifference as if the information I just shared has no effect on him whatsoever.

“No sir I can’t, you are my professor.” I say looking away. “I must be going. I don’t want to be late for my next class.”

I stand up abruptly and find myself only inches from his chest. He stares intently into my eyes and parts his lips with a small gasp. His eyes are as green as emeralds. The depth of the colour is dazzling. I breathe in his scent, which smells like cinnamon and leather. I cannot look away from him. He is captivating and I cannot help myself. I wonder if I have the same effect on him as he does on me. Do I dare to find out?

This is ridiculous; I am his student after all.

Without thinking of the consequences, I lift my hand to touch the light stubble on his jaw. Suddenly, it is as if sparks have zapped him from my fingertips and he jerks away from my outstretched hand. He seems utterly shocked by his abrupt reaction; he turns around and quickly strides away.

What in the world was that? What am I doing? Can this day get any worse?

*

*

*

I spent the rest of the school day avoiding all the places around the academy that I might see Theo. When the last bell chimes to signify the end of classes, I hug Ivy and Jordan goodbye and we head in opposite directions to walk home.

Colombo Village is set on the edge of an ocean and surrounded by a forest to hide us from non-mages. There is a lot of magic in the woods to deter the non-mages from entering our village to discover us. This magic was gifted to us by the Terra clan, also known as the Earth mages. Our clan mainly consists of water mages also known as Acqua but we also welcome mages from the fire clan Fuoco and earth clan Terra. Ivy and her family are from the Terra clan but they have lived here all her life. Jordan is a fire mage from the Fuoco clan and he lost his parents in a house fire when he was very young. He moved here when he was 3 years old to live with his Aunt, Uncle and cousins. I have always thought we lived in such a beautiful place, the streets are lined with cute little cottages, tall trees that litter the grounds with amber leaves during Autumn and beautiful flowers beds scattered everywhere in brilliant colours.

I had been so consumed with trying to think of anything other than Theo when I suddenly hear heavy footsteps behind me. I quickly look back to see him following me. Surely he is not purposely following me, it must be a coincidence. Why would he need to follow me anyway?

Is it just me or are his eyes filled with rage, hatred and ... fire? He is a fire mage; he is from Russo Village after all. Nevertheless, why does he look like he wants to hurt someone? Does he want to hurt me after the stunt I pulled at the marble fountain earlier? I take another quick glace behind me to see him gaining on me but he is staring straight past me like I’m not even there.

I begin to walk faster and I am starting to panic. What am I going to do? I have never had to defend myself before. My water magic is starting to form in my eyes. I have to keep control of my magic and I need to get home. NOW!

I finally reach the gate to my front garden. I run towards the front door just as he reaches the gate. He pauses in front of it for a short moment and he looks as though he is on a rampage. Without sticking around to find out what he is doing, I yank the door open and slam it shut behind me. I lean back against the door panting fast and hard. My little sister Nova screams in fright as I rush to my bedroom and close the door behind me. I sink to my knees and lay down on the floor. I close my eyes and slowly let some of my built up magic escape from my body.

Theo

It has been a long first day at my new job and I finally got back to my office. I found it so hard all day to concentrate when all I could think about was Lola’s beauty. Seeing her use her magic at the fountain made me attracted to her almost instantly. How could she have such a huge effect of me so fast? I mean, she was definitely desirable but I needed to be careful. She is my bosses’ daughter and also my student! It is forbidden.

When she was so close to me earlier, I could smell her sweet scent and I almost caved in. She tried to touch me and I needed to stop her before I couldn’t control myself. I shake my head at that thought and take a seat in my desk chair. I look around my desk and I see an envelope. I open it to find a note inside.

I FOUND YOU

Oh no. Seriously? This could not be happening right now. I just moved here to escape that despicable woman! Why couldn’t she leave me alone and let me live my life in peace? My fire magic starts to burn through my veins. I need to get out of here before I cause some serious damage. I am in a rage and I can’t blow up here.

I slam my office door closed in anger and storm my way all the way to the beach. I hadn’t even realised how I got there, I hadn’t been there before. I found a little hidden spot in the rocky ledge and decided I would stay here to be away from anyone until I could calm down. The last thing anyone needs is to cross an angry fire mage.