Fragmented Dreams: Magical Past

CHAPTER 25: WRAITH IN THE GARDEN

I was suppressing another yawn as I sat in class the next afternoon. I was beyond tired, amazed I managed to crawl out of bed this morning. The combination of using magic and staying up all night had not been kind to me. I tried very hard to listen to the teacher's lecture but found my attention wandering as I tried to recall what happened between the time I fell asleep after the warding spell and then when I woke up in the forest. Next to me, I could hear Casimir studiously taking notes, his pen flying across the paper. The young man never seemed tired, at least as far as I could tell. Azar on the other hand was leaning back in his seat, eyes glazed over as we listened to a lecture on the founding of America. My thoughts were back in the forest near my house. Casimir swore he saw a shadowy figure in the tree line, while all I remember seeing was the neighbor's cat. But, it was the strange voice I had heard speaking to me during the spell that confused everyone even further. When I tried to explain how the voice sounded, Azar ended up in tears laughing at my imitation.

Maybe I imagined the voice? Am I going crazy?

I gazed down at my notes, pretending to check them when I was actually just staring at the chips in my nail polish. I chanced a glance over at Zola, sitting at the desk in front of me. I sighed inwardly as I watched her. It had only been a day since our fight and I was already desperate to make up. I missed seeing her smiling face, and school just wasn't the same without her friendship. My grandfather's lecture about the safety of my friends replayed over and over in my head. Logically I knew I could use this fight as an excuse to push them away, keep them safe from all of this Terra nonsense. But I was reluctant to give up the only real friendships I have had in my young life. Although the more I debated my choices the more I began to wonder if perhaps I could let them decide for themselves.

What if I can get Grandpa's permission to tell them? Would they want to remain my friends then?

For that to happen, first I would need to apologize, and then get back on good terms with my friends. After that, we could go from there. Happily, I noticed that during the lunch bell, Zola had looked back at me like she wanted to say something. Just that fleeting glance gave me hope that perhaps she wasn't mad anymore. Mostly I felt her misery as I sat there, although I was trying to be respectful and not to read her emotions. The final bell rang and I was imagining how I could get Zola and Sunita alone to talk to them. The teacher called out my friend's name and Zola stayed behind to discuss a grade on her history report. I lingered at the door, debating on my plan.

"Is something wrong?" Casimir asked, realizing I had stopped. He stepped out of the way of the exit so others could pass. Zola looked up at us when she heard Casimir speak, her brows furrowed when she saw me waiting. She was wearing her thick black glasses today, which seemed oddly somber to me. I panicked when she glared at me and turned quickly to exit the classroom.

"No, it's nothing," I muttered, dashing into the hall. I went to my locker to exchange the books I would need for my homework tonight, glimpsing over at the classroom door every so often.

"What's wrong with you?" Azar asked, leaning up against the locker next to mine. Maayan was also staring at me and I could feel their worry.

"I just-"

Zola stepped out of the classroom and then walked briskly past the lockers and down the hallway away from us. I was getting the feeling she was avoiding me now.

"You want to make up with Zola and Sunita?" Maayan guessed, coming up behind me to rest their chin on my shoulder.

"I do but..."

"You're worried about their safety," Azar stated bluntly.

"You got me," I laughed bitterly. "Am I that easy to read?"