Lost ~ A KOTLC Story

Part 15

*Biana*

It's the first meeting of the Mythical Creatures club. It's during lunch time. I normally have classes on Monday and Wednesday and today is Tuesday, so it was kind of a drag to make a special trip in, but I decided really need to make friends here.

I walk into room 203 and there is only one other girl there.

She has brown curly hair, bright green eyes, and wears a massive emerald ring.

"Name's Esmeralda," she says casually, "and you are?"

"Biana." I slide into the empty desk beside her.

I tell her that I'm new to college and she gives over what she calls "the in's and out's of college life."

As she talks students come streaming in.

Pretty soon the meeting begins. "Welcome everyone to the coolest club in college I'm so glad you could all make it." The boy who is addressing us has brown side swept hair and black glasses. "I'm the club leader Bryan," he holds up a finger, "with a 'y'. Anyway, today we will be discussing elves, as our first mystical creature." He opens his messenger bag and holds up a box. "These are E.L. Fudges please take and pass."

Bryan uncaps a marker and makes an illustration. He draws a short looking being with very pointy ears, pointy shoes, and a hat. I wonder what its supposed to be.

"We all know that this an elf."

"No, it's not," I mutter angrily.

"Did someone say something?" But Bryan's question is met with silence.

"They are also extremely helpful as well as cute."

He got one thing right.

Bryan brings a hand to his face in the universal thoughtful pose. "What I wonder is what they do for the rest of the year. Anyone have any ideas?"

I raise my hand. "Why can't they be as productive as you, I mean us? Why cant they have their own lives that too serve a purpose?"

"Because they're elves." A girl in the back of the room says simply.

"Excuse me?!" I spit.

"You heard me" I turn around and the girl smiles evilly. She seems like the kind of person who just likes causing problems.

"She has a point," Bryan comments.

"I do?" I ask hopefully. Maybe I'm getting through to these idiots.

"Yeah Molly is rightfully saying that elves are just elves with a single mission for one month a year. So, my previous question remains."

I had it. I grab my bag and storm off.

Clearly, these people have no interest in hearing the truth and not the lies that they were fed and now hold onto with both hands. Clearly, they haven't met a real elf like...Tam.

*Tam*

I walk into my apartment after work. Some days are more draining than others, and today was a particularly busy day.

I find Linh sitting on the small couch we bought second hand. She turns to face me, and I can tell she's trying to conceal something.

"What you got there?" I question her.

"Where?" Linh was never good at hiding things.

She sighs then moves over to reveal a purple stuffed duffle bag.

"Why are you packing?" I try to meet her eyes, but she turns away.

"Linh. Please. Whats going on?"

"First you should sit," she says in a small voice.

I sit beside her on the plush couch cushions and wrap a reassuring arm around her shoulder. I try hard to be patient as I await her explanation, but patience has never been one of my virtues.

"Tam I'm going to tell you something and you're going to get upset, but please hear me out."

"Okay."

"I want to...take a trip. Just for a little bit. I don't know where I'm going to go exactly but I'll figure it out as I go. I love living with you because your my brother and it's great we found friends here however..."

"Is this about Wylie?" I know Linh told me to let her explain but I need to know.

Linh doesn't answer me just looks at me through watery eyes. Just because she wants to leave doesn't mean its easy for her.

"I just feel like some part of me is missing and I need to find it. I cant really explain it and I don't even know if I'll ever feel complete. And maybe we all lost part of ourselves when we had to leave our home and maybe I just have to live with it. I need to know though. I need to know what's out there."

"Why cant we explore together? Find your missing part together?"

"Because" Linh twists her hands together, "you have work and stuff going on. Why should I burden you with this when I can easily go because I'm not tied down."

"I can take off of work if I need to," I argue, "and what if we make a weekend trip out of it? And you get to decide where we go. We can leave Friday and come back Sunday or even Monday."

Linh is silent for a moment as she thinks. "Okay, that can work." She looks me in the eyes, "but if I want to stay longer somewhere you have to agree to let me."

"Deal." I stick out my hand, albeit reluctantly. "Oh, and Linh don't ever say you're a burden. Your my sister. Your pain is my pain."

I pick up Linh's duffle and stuff it in the closet. It takes a few tries, but I manage to shut the closet door.