Magic at Midnight

2. The Train

I quickly grabbed my luggage and ticket as I then started running towards the train. The train slowly started moving. If I miss this train Professor Grimwood is gonna make me clean up the potions room for a month!

Determined to catch the train, I started to pick up my pace. As I got closer to a car's door, one of the porters appeared extending a hand.

"Well come on then. Give me your bag and hop on." He said obviously annoyed that he had to help me onto the train.

I picked up my suitcase as I continued to run. Please don't trip. Please don't trip. I tried my best to not fall over or stumble while I extended my arms out for him to grab my suitcase. I felt my arms get lighter once her grabbed my bag and put it to the side. I looked back at him still holding his arm out for me to grab. Now I just gotta get on. The trains speed gradually started to increase. I started running faster with my arm sticking out for him to grab onto to. 

I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I felt his gloved hand in my own. Once he pulled me up, I thanked him whilst I was trying to catch my breath. He opened a door to one of the cars. I walked in with my bag and started scouring for my friends.

Everyone's eyes darted to me as I wandered through the car aimlessly. Oh god. Everyone's staring at me! This is so embarrassing. I could feel my cheeks start to redden slightly.

'Hey Marlee, over here!" A familiar voice said. Thank the heavens that Cynthia is here otherwise I might have died from embarrassment. Cynthia and I had been best friends since our first day at the academy.

"Hi," I said as I took the seat across from her. Wow she definitely looks so different from last year. I hope her personality hasn't changed as much as her appearance did. "I see I can no longer call you four eyes," I chuckled.

"Yea, I definitely prefer having contacts, mainly for that reason," She chuckled along with me. "So, what have you been up to all summer?"

"Well, of course Aunt Suzane is still 'too busy with work' to sign me up for camps and stuff so I got a summer job at a daycare." 

"Cool did you get paid at all?" Cynthia questioned.

"Yea, about 14 buckaroos an hour. And I worked like 8 hour shifts five days a week. So, I got about 560 a week." I replied slightly bragging.

"I went to the beach, camping, a few summer programs and museums. But having a job and earning money sounds way cooler than the stuff I did."

"At least you didn't have to deal with kids constantly crying and diaper explosions!" We both started laughing. "How much longer is this train ride anyways? I always forget."

"I dunno. I think we have another 2 hours."

I groaned. "I think I'm going to take a nap. Y'know to kill time." I said before I closed my eyes and drifted off.

It was always so easy for me to sleep on the train rides to and from school. As much as I love Cynthia and all, it's hard to hold a conversation with anyone for that long. I'd much rather sleep, and she knows it.

Dreaming about who I should have a crush on this year was way more entertaining than any conversation I've ever had. I remained asleep for the rest of the ride. Until the train abruptly stopped, jolting me forwards in my seat. "We here?" I yawned.

"I think so," Cynthia said as we both peered out of the window gazing upon the magical school. It almost looked like a castle that you would see in fairytales. This school was like a fairytale, and again it was also like hell all at once.

"Ready for another year of mischief, magic and mayhem," Cynthia asked as we stood up, grabbing our bags and started exiting the train.

Cynthia and I stepped off the train with the rest of the crowd. Everyone stared at the castle infront of us. I breathed in the strong scent of magic. It feels good to be back.