The Illusions of Change (Gustholomule)

2: Illusions!

727 words

~Gus POV:

I looked all day and didn't see Mattholomule at Hexside. He must have stayed at Glandis. I gave a sad sigh and picked at my food. I had been hoping he'd come. I don't really know why though. He was a jerk to me before, but... I don't think that was really him. For all his cockiness, I think it wasn't really how he felt. He seemed... different at the graveyard. 

"You okay Gus?" Luz asked

"Ya, I'm fine," I responded, monotone.

"What's bothering you?" She asked.

"Well, I told you about what happened with the Glandis kids and Mattholomule."

"Right."

"Well, I was just hoping I'd see Mattholomule here today, but I haven't seen him all day."

"He took the construction track though. So maybe he is here."

Luz elbowed me gently and I gave her a half-hearted smile and went back to picking at my food. I appreciated the thought, but I was still disappointed. I wanted to see Mattholomule again. I knew I'd see him on the weekends, but for some reason I missed him a lot right now. I couldn't describe it, or why, but I really, really missed him. I had seen him yesterday! There was no reason for me to feel this way! That made me frustrated. I hated when I couldn't understand things.

Soon enough I heard the bell scream and I cleared my tray. I fell into my boring routine of going down the same hall to the same class with the same teacher and the same kids. The people in my class were great, but I wanted a change. I sat down at my empty table and waited what seemed like an eternity before the bell screamed again, signaling the start of class.

"Alright students! We have a new kid in our class to day." The teacher announced.

My head perked up. Someone new!

"They've been at Hexside before, but they are new to the illusion track. Please welcome Mattholomule to class."

I went wide eyed as Mattholomule walked through the door sheepishly.

"You can go sit in the empty seat next to Augustus," The teacher directed, "Augustus, please raise your hand."

Mattholomule made eye contact with me and I smiled and waved. He seemed to relax a bit when he saw me and came to sit with me as he was directed.

"Hi Gus," he whispered, his face a little red.

"Hi Matty," I replied

"Don't call me that." He grumbled, "Just call me Matt."

"Okay!" I said happily, "I was beginning to think you didn't transfer. Also, why are you taking illusions?"

"They've saved my butt twice now. Why not?"

My face flushed a little. Matt was so honest, it was nice.

"Boys, are we gonna have a problem?" The teacher called.

"No ma'am!" We quickly replied in unison and giggled a little.

The class went on and I was excited to show Matt the ropes. It took a little bit for him to get it, but a few rock outcroppings later, he made a little, blurry, misshaped illusion of a flower. Matt and I have fun the rest of the day in illusions. I was was so excited to be able to spend more time with him! Compared to the rest of the class, he was pretty behind. So, he had homework.

"Want me to help you with your illusion homework?" I ask him at the end of class while I'm packing up.

"Sure," he replies, "here is my penstagram."

He handed me a paper with a username on it and a blushed a little. Wait, why and I blushing? I shook my head a little.

"Thanks! Would you like to come to my house, or go to yours?" I ask.

"Um... Yours maybe? I don't really care."

"Ok! I'll text my dad that we're coming."

~Matt POV:

We each got out our scrolls to text our parents, and we added each other as friends on penstagram. We walked out of the school and Gus waved goodbye to his friends. They waved back, but the Blight girl and the human eyed me suspiciously. I pulled my hood up, avoiding their gaze and continued to walk home with Gus.

"Are you sure your dad is okay with me coming over?" I ask.

"Of course!" Gus replied cheerily.

I gave a small smile and continued walking. There was a bit of awkward silence, but neither of us broke it. Soon enough we reached a two story, blue house, which Gus walked into and I followed behind.

"Dad! I'm home!" He called.