High Ring

Trouble Arising

The dining area trickled with students from different years. The first years were still timid after orientation. Wondering who to make friends with, where to sit, and what to say. Second years are still growing into their responsibilities to fight and protect each other with competition at an all time high as they strive to get higher scores in the schools monthly skill festival. The third years are exhausted from the workload placed on their shoulders this year. They're one more year closer to being out in the real world and they have to learn how everything works. Then there are the fourth years, stressing about what's next; where in the world will they go and what would they make of themselves?

None of the students ever stayed in the dining area for too long. Just a quick meal, some gossip and then they were gone. But one group in particular had been there all morning. No one else batted an eye at the image they created. Two of them were animated, conjuring a disagreement while the third sat and watched in amusement.

"You're not listening to what I'm saying Jaxon," Garnett frowns at him. "If we don't enter the festival together this year something bad will happen. I can feel it."

Jaxon raises an eyebrow at her, unimpressed with the conclusion. He's only half listening. Too focused practicing a levitation spell on the book in front of him. "You know that's just you being paranoid. Outsiders might even go as far as calling you crazy."

"My conclusion is based on heavy, bone rattling evidence. Evidence that has proven me correct repeatedly." Garnett pulls him to her by his shoulders. "Remember when we didn't have our ritual study session for transformation spells before the end of the semester last year?" She shakes him to prove her point.

"The absence of a proper sleep schedule is taking a toll on you." Jaxon pushes her away. "Why don't you enter with the transfer student? You're on the student council, it's literally your job to get new students engaged with school events."

The question was meant to provoke anger in her. Why in all three realms would she partner up with someone she has never worked with before? Or even knows for that matter. Garnett knew better than to fall for his traps.

"Do you want me to kick your ass from here to the Gates of Absence in Australia?"

Or not. Jaxon laughed at her, unwavered by her empty threat to send him to Hell, which in his mind, wasn't so bad of a choice. If it got Garnett to stop pestering him long enough to pass Professor Welch's Wiccan Honors class—he'd settle for it.

"We'd technically still be in it together if you do that. I will enter with Leo, who by the way asked me and not you because we all know you suck working with her methods and you'll both end up fighting each other the whole time."

"Eat demon shit." Garnett slumped back down into her seat and snatched the rest of his breakfast away. He'd starve before she forgives him.

The rest of the students in the dining hall barely spared their table a second glance despite the loudness they were creating. That and the spells that kept misfiring due to the lack of concentration.

"Do the two of you ever stop acting like five-year olds?" Leo rolls her eyes at their antics.

"Leo, you have no room to talk. You're stealing my partner and worst of all you didn't even consider being my partner!" Garnett is pouting again, arms crossed over her chest.

"As if the two of you aren't going to bone later tonight, make up and forget this whole mini argument you're having." Leo says.

There's a deafening silence at the table. Three pairs of eyes looking back and forth at each other. More silence. Then there's laughter.

"Oh my God!" Garnett slaps a hand over her mouth to smother the laughs coming from her. "You—you think I'd have sex with him?"

Leo smiles sheepishly. Her attention turns to Jaxon, who is wearing a startling new shade of red upon his face. He won't make eye contact with either of them.