A Revolution In Shadow And Blood

I Watch a Train Wreck

My bags are all packed. Kidding. I only have one. I rub my hand over my face. That's how you know how deflated I am. When I pull out the dull humor. My backpack goes over my shoulder, my jacket gets tucked around an arm, my phone goes into my pocket along with my keys, and I walk out the door, down the hallway, and onto the grass with the same confidence that I walked in with. Conner catches me halfway to the parking lot.

"Where are you going?" he calls from behind me, jogging to catch up.

Facing him, I respond, trying to ignore the awkwardness of what Ben said about him yesterday, "I got expelled. I'm going back home."

"Expelled?" The word comes from Guanyin, who is walking up to us with Luke holding her hand.

I sigh. I was hoping to get out of here without running into any of them, "Yeah. I really shouldn't have thought anything else would happen."

"But-" Conner stops practically mid-word. His eyes are on something behind me. Vaguely, I notice Luke and Guanyin staring at the same thing. My first thought is that it's a threat. The second thought is that it's Officers, come to drag me away. But when I turn, I realize that neither was right.

My mouth gapes open, and I almost drop my jacket.

My parents walk toward our group, and even someone who barely knows them would recognize my Mom. She's got her old soldier stuff on, and so does my Dad. My Mom's uniform is different from any other soldier uniform. Hers has a symbol on it that looks like a triangle and an upside-down triangle layered on top of it. And it's blazing red. She told me that it was meant to mark her as an Elemental, and scare the crap out of the Rebels. But right now, it's scaring the crap out of my friends, and soon enough, the rest of Enterprise. At least I know where I got my dramatic flare from.

"Is that who I think it is?" Guanyin is the first one to regain her ability to speak.

There is no point in responding. Besides, I don't have time to respond. My parents walk right up to me, and Dad pulls me into a hug, "Hey, kiddo."

My Mom is next, "I thought you said you wouldn't get into trouble."

"I tried," I shrug, "What are you doing here?"

"We have a meeting with your principal. You didn't think we'd miss it, did you?" My Mom tilts her head and smiles.

I grin back, "Only a little."

My Dad nods to the people behind me, "These friends of yours, Freya?"

I wince internally when I turn around to see my friends' faces. They look utterly shocked, and they can't seem to figure out what's going on, "Yeah. This is Conner, Luke, and Guanyin. Guys, this is my Mom, Enya, and my Dad, Chaim."

Conner's voice is flat, "Your...parents?"

Guanyin smiles, "Now I know why you're so powerful."

"Holy Batman," Luke whispers.

"Very nice to meet you three, but we do have a meeting to go to," Mom looks pointedly at me, and I take the hint, and start leading them toward the office. You know how in movies, when someone walks in, and everyone stops what they're doing to stare, things hit the floor, and it's like this huge, dramatic thing? Yeah, that's what it's like walking down the hall with my parents. When we get to the office, it only gets worse. The secretary is stumbling over her words, and I barely understand that she's directing us toward the principal's office.

And that's how I find myself sitting between my parents, facing Principal Lark, and VP Diaz.

"So, um, Mr. and Mrs. Blaz. Thank you for coming in today. You are aware of the situation, yes?" Lark is sweating, a light sheen visible on his forehead.