Kyle

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Growth And Grudges

A couple days had gone by after my call with Erin and I hadn't heard any updates from her. I recalled her telling me that she would give me a call when she received the tracking on my re-entry forms, and I assumed that wouldn't take long, but she never called. It was already Friday. I was worried. Her roommate had been so against her helping me out. In her eyes, I was nothing but a trouble maker. A tainted wizard. That's how things went in the realm of Veronstone, everything was about your rank and your reputation.

It was the first thing Sigmund bought up when I'd called him, the stigma around him since he'd helped me. Despite him being awarded Wizard of the Year, he was being treated unfairly by his new professors because of the claims court case. They probably questioned why a sorcerer like him would help a delinquent wizard like me. Maybe Erin had second thoughts about helping me too? Maybe someone talked her out of it? Maybe she regretted calling me a friend.

I tied my shoes and headed out the door of my flat, Necronomicon and crystal ball in my backpack, broom in hand. Throughout the week, I'd been flying to school in the morning and back home in the afternoon instead of taking the bus. It was the only time of the day when I truly felt like I was able to breathe, away from the stresses of the world below me. Of course, the decompression was no use, knowing I'd ultimately arrive at a school I dreaded, but it was something to look forward to day to day.

I sighed, locking the door to my flat and walking out the front door of the building. Immediately, I froze in place at the top of the stoop.

"HI KYLE!"

"HEHEHE! HI KYLE!"

Tweedle-DUMB and Tweedle-DUMBER at the base of the stoop, grinning from ear to ear and waving frantically. What were they doing here?!

"H-how did you know where I live?!" I gasped. I was honestly shocked. How did they figure? They hadn't seen me leave or enter my home before. At least, not to my knowledge.

"The bus route." Fanboy answered with a shrug. "I still don't know how you did it, but when you flew over the buildings earlier this week, I figured you were first on the route."

"Huh?!"

"I'm pretty sure the bus comes from this direction. So that would mean your block is the first stop on the route!"

"We just guessed which building it was." Chum Chum added. "Looks like we're really good guessers!"

Quickly walking down the steps, I pushed past them both and started down the pavement as quickly as I could manage. Of course, they followed behind me, already beginning to raise their volume.

"Are you gonna use the broom again?" Chum Chum asked, reaching out yet again to pluck at the end of it. I quickly pulled it away from his reach.

"Leave me alone!" I groaned. "It's too early for this!"

"Where can I get a broom like that?" Fanboy asked. "Are there rocket launchers installed or something?"

"It's probably a jet-pack without the backpack part!" Chum Chum interjected. Fanboy nodded, his eyes sparkling as if he'd just discovered some new revelation.