WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES

3). LIFE AT HIGH SCHOOL

   "April! You could've blown our cover!" Emma lectured me.

"I know and I'm sorry! That girl was just getting on my nerves and I had to do something about it." I explained, desperately.

My whole team was out in the corridor and we were discussing a serious case which I nearly blew up in our faces. How could I be so ridiculous? And right now I know I deserve a long lecture from my second in command.

"Hey guys," Rachel said, stepping in between. "Maybe, we should not discuss this right here. You know, even the walls have eyes and ears when you're in for it."

Emma pointed at her. "Good point. The restroom it is then."

She grabbed my hand and began dragging me to the nearest washroom. I silently followed. It wasn't far. Just as we were inside, we were met with a couple of girls trying to put on their makeup. We waited for a few minutes pretending to use the cubicle. Once they were gone, we appeared out. Emma made sure no one was there then turned to me.

  "What was that all about?" She asked.
"You need to control your temper. It's going to get us all into big trouble and that could cost one of our lives."

"I know, I just couldn't…." I began but she jotted in.

"You should know better than this. Mitchell put you in charge, so start acting like a leader for once!

  "I know, I know, I know! You don't have to keep reminding me!" I yelled at her.

She looked at me with a shocked face. I never spoke to her that way. But whenever I did, she'd know they were something up with me. She knew me more than I knew myself. I guiltily looked away.  "Sorry." I mumbled.

  "It's fine." She replied.  I could still feel the uneasiness in the air still. I was surprised to find her voice calm and….. gentle!

  Emma sighed and took a step towards me. "April, what's going on? You have been acting really weird. It's not you."

  "It's nothing," I said, rubbing my forehead. I tried to turn my back on her but she stretched her hand and sprang me around.

"Hey, talk to me. What's going on? Something's bothering you!"

I waited to adjust all my trouble before I could start blabbing out to her. When it comes to Emma, I could never lie to her. She was an excellent reader. All my friends were but she had done an extra level of PhD on me.

"You remember Tyler ? About what happened to him?" I said slowly. "We did an excellent job on our mission but we failed. I failed. He was just a kid."

"What made you remember him so suddenly?" Emma asked gently.

I sighed, shaking my head. "I feel like history is repeating itself. We got Rachel, a new girl in our team. I'm glad I chose her. She was one of the best out there in the training area but I can't help remember what happened to Tyler. It can happen to her. You heard yourself what she said when we left for our mission. She's afraid, she doesn't have many chances of surviving."

"April," Emma came forward again that we were now a few inches away. Her face sad but determined to knock senses into mine. "Tyler was different. He was a newbie who was sent on such a dangerous mission with us. And it's not your fault what happened to him. You did your best to save him."

I fought to jerk the image of an eleven year old kid away from my head. "He was my responsibility."

"He was our responsibility!" Emma corrected me. "Moreover he was Mitchell's responsibility. His father trusted Mitchell, not us. And Rachel, she's not a newbie. She knows how things work…."