Welcome Back to Magic (A Sanders School of Magic Sequel)

Expecting Your Return

His summer had been hectic. Constant calls with his school friends, attempts to not blow up anything, and for the first time, sneaking out to avoid his parents. They knew and accepted his magic now, with much help from his grandpa's nagging. As it turned out, he wasn't 'too far to visit', his mom just didn't like him.

But his grandpa didn't help him train or even talk about their shared magical abilities. If Logan ever brought them up, he would cough loudly until he changed the subject. It was odd, but Logan didn't care at the time. After the crazy year he had, he was glad to have a break from everything.

Tonight will be his last time sneaking out for a while. After the freedom he experienced in school, this was what he did to feel just as liberated. It does always make him anxious, but as Virgil would say 'that's the fun of it'. He carefully opens his window, making sure it doesn't make a sound, and slips out. The genius part of this escape though, comes with the net. Like most Floridian households, the windows have a screen on them to keep bugs out. So what Logan does is manipulate the screen to bend and break to let him squeeze through, and then repair itself. This method has let in a couple mosquitos, so it has its downsides.

He takes a deep breath of the warm, fresh air. He walks down the streets, following a specific path. It leads him to a pond. Not one with gators, so that's good. He lifts up a hand, making the water in it follow suit. His water manipulation hasn't been working with the house's tap water, which is strange. Only does it work in this pond.

Up and down. Circle around. Up and down. Fall to the ground. That's the motion he makes the water move in as he sits on the ground. He isn't sure which form of manipulation he's best at, so he keeps up practice with all of them. And sure, he could come to this pond during the day, but it always felt better at night. More natural. Maybe it has something to do with the moon. Maybe the adrenaline rush from sneaking out. Maybe the pond just bends easily. Who knows? It's still fun to theorize about.

Hours pass like minutes. Up and down. Circle around. Up and down. Fall to the ground. Up and down. Circle around. Up and down. Fall to the ground. The water swirls across his fingertips. He misses Virgil. At the end of last year, he had promised to visit him in North Carolina over the break, but he hadn't. He can't drive yet and traveling that far was a big no-no from his parents. So were plane tickets. He worries his boyfriend might be mad at him now, since he stopped replying to his texts a week ago. But he can talk it out when he goes back up to school tomorrow. Or today, looking at the time. It'll all be fine.

Speaking of which, he needs to get back home. His bus leaves at four in the morning in order to make it there on time. No magic car ride for him this year since he's actually starting on time. He stands up, makes the water go back to the pond, and makes his walk back home. His bags were packed a week ago to make sure he wouldn't forget anything. Last year, he forgot his spare glasses and that was a pain. At least he had a winter coat from a trip up north a few years back. But this year he has a proper coat. Ohio winter is no joke.

As four am rolls around, Logan has his bags in hand and sends a goodbye text to his parents. They're asleep and he doesn't want to wake them. He went out of his way to tell them to not bother waking up to send him off. If they did, they might try to convince him to stay home for another year 'just to be safe'. 

The bus is the same as the one that took him home last year, only quieter. Everyone is tired, and with good reason. Plus, the people talking got very dirty looks from the ones trying to sleep. Logan finds a seat in the front and pulls out his earbuds. It's a long drive, and it's going to be boring. 

Aaaaaand he forgot his Sherlock book. Great. He was just reading it the night before, so it's probably still on his bed. Oh well, he'll live without it. Because he downloaded the audio book! Unfortunately without a sponsorship from Audible. A shame, really. He'll have to settle for Ransack Darkness Myths. Or Raid Shadow Legends. Whatever the kids call it these days.