Fairy Rings

Chapter 5

A/N : good news everyone the chapter is coming out early this week. Why? You ask because I start a new term on Wednesday and figured this was better than late. the schedule will go back to normal next update. enjoy the chapter.

When I arrived at my next class, Mrs. Trin gave a pointed look to my out-of-breath state. Seeming to ignore my classmates wondering in with me.

"Mrs. Harrelson, do you think that it is acceptable to be late for my class." She asked, her voice as cold as ice.

"No, I am sorry, Mrs. Trin," I whispered.

"Sorry, not quite going to cut it. Detention after class, and I will be calling your grandmother about this." She said snippily. Sending my mind into overdrive.

"But..."

"No buts Miss Harrelson." I recoiled back.

"This isn't fair. I know that at least half this class was late." my eyes glancing around the room looking for anyone to speak up in my defense receiving only cold silence.

"True, but you aren't the one giving out detentions now, are you. Now sit down before I make it a month's worth of detention." She said the fight left my body, shoulders slumping as I hung my head low, walking to my desk.

At lunch, I waited squeamishly for the day to end. Detention! I had never had detention, and while Mrs. Trin had always seemed to have it out for me in her grading, she usually let someone a few seconds late explain their case.

"Grandma is going to be so disappointed." I sighed.

"Why is she going to be disappointed." a Male voice asked with a chuckle.

"Theo, I didn't realize you were coming," I said, my head snapping up. A little shot of pain ran across his eyes before making its way back to that easy smile.

"I wouldn't miss lunch with my favorite childhood friend for the world." He said, sitting right next to me so close in fact that the edges of our thighs touched.

"I was wondering if we could talk?" I asked.

"We are talking." He said, throwing an arm around my shoulder squeezing me into his side.

" I was wondering if you remember the day you left?" I asked, my words coming out just above a whisper."

"ah, you remember that?" He said.

"that's the thing I am not sure that I do. I remember the ground cracking open. it looked like you were... it looked like the ground had swallowed you whole." I said, forcing the words out.

"so that's what you remember. Bill's house has a tunnel to the fairy rings," he said, the smile was gone.

"he does?" I asked. He nodded with a happy smile.

" you could remember that I did try to show it to you before I left town." He said. I could feel a weight lifted off of my shoulders, and for the first time, scents then I could breathe easily. I hadn't left my friend to die; I had just gotten confused as children do when they don't understand something. As time went on, the memory got more and more distorted. Without Theo there to clear up the miss understanding, it got more and more bizarre, leaving me with the vivid memories of the earth swallowing him up. It was just a tunnel.

"don't worry too much about me, Gem. I am a lot tougher than I look." He chuckled. Wiping away a stray tear brought it to my attention. I was just a few hiccups away from an ugly cry in the middle of a lunchroom. I gave a soft, reassuring smile trying to smooth my breathing over. Theo enveloped me in a tight hug snapping me out of my relived state, filling my nose with the bitter-sweet smell of pine needles.

"Gem, you don't need to cry for me. Nothing bad happened. not that day, at least." He said. All at once, he had broken the emotional dam. I grasped onto him like a baby monkey. Tears flooded onto his T-shirt. Air never seemed to be enough, and I couldn't quite seem to catch my breath as the red hot tears melted away all of the pain from the last ten years.

"Gem, you need to get to class. I wouldn't want you to get another detention because of this." He said softly. Pulling away, I glanced up, wondering if I should apologize for his tear-stained shirt.

"don't worry, Gem, this is never going to happen again." He said, his hand wiping away a stray tear. If I had let myself, I would have leaned into his touch, but I knew it would only lead to further embarrassment if I did. We stood just like that for a few moments. I didn't know how to leave his arms, and I don't think he knew how to let go of me either. Finally, we wrenched ourselves away from each other, my body already missing the comfortable warmth.

"let's get to class," I said without even thinking of it, grabbing his hand and pulling him behind me. The late bell rang just as we entered the class. My Classmates stared board down at their phones; only a few of them bothered to look up as I entered the room. There was no teacher in the room. I sat down quickly in my spot Theo following swiftly behind me. The door slammed open.

"I don't know who pushed Mrs. Trin down the stairs, but I want you to know that you broke her kneck." the vice-principal said, rage brimming behind every word. I heard a cry in the back from Mrs. Trins Daughter Sussen. in a way, I was sorry that Mrs. Trin and I had never gotten along, but I would never wish her harm.

"Today class is canceled. Everyone may leave, but the police would like to speak to you, Emerald." He said, his eyes narrowing at my frame. I felt the world tilt. This was a thousand times worse than detention.

A/N: MAHAHAHAHHAAH Clifhanger.