The Glade and Its Glitch: Book 2 Allies or Enemies

Chapter 5

"Is Carrie still in the infirmary?" Skye asked TJ.

He sighed, "No, she convinced Dani to let her out early a few days ago."

Skye laughed, "Of course she did. Where is she now?"

"It's Carrie," he gave Skye a look of exasperation, "Nobody knows. Have we ever? No. Will we ever? Doubtful. That girl's chaos is only rivaled by yours." He said the last line under his breath.

"What was the last part?"

"Nothing," TJ said quickly.

Skye was suspicious, but she let it go, "Ok then." She walked over and leaned on the windowsill beside TJ, "Whatcha lookin' at?"

"Nothing."

She frowned, "Are you doing ok?"

TJ nodded quickly, and Skye immediately knew he was lying.

"You're lying, I know it."

"How?"

"Your palms flicker when you lie."

TJ looked down at his palms, Skye was right, they were flickering. But the boy grinned with a mischievous idea. "I bet you didn't know that your hands spark when you lie."

Making a look of disbelief Skye leaned back, "They do not."

"Look at your hands."

Skye looked down. As she did, TJ flicked her nose. Not too hard, for he knew if it was too hard he'd be in some real danger.

She looked up, "Tyler James. Did you just prank me?"

Eyes wide, and prepared for anything, TJ hesitated. "Y-yes," he said as more of a question than a statement.

With a playful grin, Skye nodded her head, impressed. "Well done, TJ. Impressive."

Both of them blushed and looked away from each other.

Skye looked up at TJ, "But seriously, TJ, what's bothering you?"

With a sigh, TJ shook his head, "I don't know. I'm probably just nervous about Soar. Carrie and I are planning on telling the rest of the Glade about Glitch soon. I don't know how that's going to go over."

"Oh, that is a complicated story." Skye looked away from TJ and stared out at the various elemental masters going about their typical day in the Glade. "I don't know how they'll respond to that. However, I do know that you and Carrie will do a great job."

"Yeah, Carrie's good at this kind of thing. She's been doing it longer than I have, about a year or so. I have no idea-"

"Ah bah buh," Skye cut him off, "I said you and Carrie. Not just Carrie. You've got this too."

TJ looked down, he wasn't tall, measuring around five foot four. Skye on the other hand was petite. She either had to look up, or TJ had to look down to make eye contact.

"Thanks, Skye, you're sweet and-"

"SKYE AND TJ SITTIN' IN A TREE K-I-" Kiki started to sing while sitting on a tree branch outside the window.

TJ yelled back and shut the window. Skye stifled a giggle.

Kiki cackled as she stared at the now-closed window. "They're such lovebirds," she said to a small bird on the branch beside her.

"Was there any doubt?" Carrie asked, silver dust settling around her as she sat where the bird used to be.

Kiki giggled and waved the dust away. "How long do you think it'll take for them to admit they like each other?"

"At this rate?" Carrie looked off to the side and rubbed her shoulder, "I'd give 'em about two years or so."

"Two years?! I'll be old by then!"

"Kiki you'll only be like thirteen."

"I'll be soooo old!" Kiki fell over dramatically onto the tree branch. As she flailed, she slipped off. "CARRIE!" she cried.

As Kiki fell, Carrie shifted. From human to dragonfly, she flew down to the branch Kiki was once on. She then shifted back to human and grasped Kiki's arm.

The small girl yelped as her legs dangled and her arm was pulled by Carrie.

"You're ok. You're ok." Carrie said softly, she winced as her wounded arm screamed in pain. Keeping her hold on Kiki's arm she began her descent. Once they were both on the ground she let go.

Kiki wrapped her arms around Carrie's waist.

The older girl knelt, "How about we go inside the tree house and hang out in your room."

Kiki nodded, and the two walked off in the direction of Tai and Niko's house.

Carrie took one last look at the window where Skye and TJ had been. "Oh yeah, it's going to take them a while."