Fangirl

Chapter 6 Phillip

The next day I hurried back to the library. I found Martha in the small hall. She saw me, froze for a moment, waiting to see what I would do.

'Hi.'

'Hi.'

Her attentive gaze slid over my figure. Spirits! I shouldn't have worn a new shirt. I hurried to divert her attention from my appearance and the blush that seemed to be appearing.

'Would you mind working in the common room? The air in here is stale, I can't breathe.'

Martha didn't answer right away, and I got nervous. Would she say no?

Yesterday I thought she still liked me. Her touch, her words, her look. I couldn't believe her obsession had evaporated so quickly.

The girl nodded and started gathering her things.

I took her logbooks from the table, put them on top of mine, and hurried to the common room. We occupied the same table as the day before. I tried not to show my excitement, so I waited for a while, mindlessly checking the dates. Finally I made conversation.

'Martha.' The girl looked up, and I swallowed. 'I was wondering if you could recommend me a good book on simple fire spells. I want to try something else.'

'Just a second.' With those words she got up and disappeared behind the bookshelves.

When she returned, she was carrying a couple of books in her hands.

'Here are the spells.' She lifted a small book with a purple imprinted cover. 'You can try any of them, and you don't have to follow the order. And this.' She pushed a book with a faded yellow cover toward me. 'A bit of theory and reasoning about the fire element. I'd suggest you start with this one. I find this author's explanations the most accessible, but that's not even the point, he has the right perspective on fire.'

'Is he a firebender?'

'Funny, but no. His native element is air, just like yours.'

'That's unusual.'

'At first glance, I suppose. Not many people know that fire magic is best practised by airbenders when it comes to non-native elements.'

'Really? I've never heard of it.'

Martha nodded.

'There is nothing special abou it. Fire without air is impossible. A second element is necessary for fire to ignite. So fire and air belong to complementary ones.'

I nodded. This I knew, but I had never pondered over a well-known fact.

'So I wasn't too surprised to come across a good explanation about fire written by an airbender.'

'It's great. I will definitely read it. Thank you!'

I smiled, feeling truly grateful. This help may not have seemed huge, but it was valuable. Not only was it for the first time in over three years that I didn't have to worry about exam on fire - I admit it always made me nervous - but I had learned the spell almost instantly, and I certainly wanted to consolidate the results.

Up to this point, my efforts had been useless. My family tried but failed to help me. Then there was a year of extra classes with academy professor. Futile as well. My friends volunteered to help me, alsa, with the same result.

Martha smiled back.

Something shuddered in me chest.

'Do you still like me?'

Martha seemed surprised at this change of subject.

I was embarrassed by my own words.

'What answer do you want to hear?'