Riptide Academy

Bonding

"Where the hell have you been?" Charli's deducing voice calls.

"Informing your principal about what happened!" I say as I sit down.

The whole table goes pale, Charli almost faints.

"Relax, I never told her any of our.....Adventures. I only informed her of where we were.

She knows that we were doing our assessments, then we ran to our house after the dino appeared."

"I could kill you." Charli seethes.

"I think someone wouldn't like to deal with the other end of your fiery temper."

The temperature changes around us, dropping by a few degrees.

"Are we good arguing? Creating quite a scene for your performance, I see." a way to familiar voice sounds behind us.

I could punch Howards in the face right now, half the fucking canteen is looking at us. Howards winks at me. I can feel the fire burning in Charli right now.

"Now, now. Let's keep it civil. Howards, as you said. People. Are watching." I know both can hear the secret warning in my voice.

"If I hear anyone threatening to cause more arguments they might just have to pay me a visit." Howards whirled on the growing spectators.

My eyes bore into the back of a retreating Demitri while her Niece just watched her Aunt with complete confusion and curiosity.

"How you two didn't end up with the complete opposite powers is beyond me." I sigh, taking a bite of my crumbed chicken.

Dinner continues as usual, people chatting- although louder than usual- the clatter of plates and utensils and idle talk of notices passed between teacher's and students. Howdy rarely ever speaks at dinner, even if it is to congratulate us on something. So you could imaging mine and Charli's shock when she stood up and wiped her hands on her pants. 

"I assume, assume you all know that when these mysterious attacks are happening that you all do not leave the school grounds unless necessary- to escape from danger, not to hunt danger down- I have already expelled two students for this unacceptable behavior and a third knows their on their last strike. Let me make it known to you. There are people out there, Police and some other secret force that spends their lives on a whim to stop these attacks from become worse than they already are. They do not need you frolicking around anywhere near the danger and putting yourself in harms way." Howdy reprimands almost everyone.

I can feel the blush on my cheeks, everyone on our team is blushing. Kyia, especially. She's trying to fake her profusely blushing face for non existent heat in the hall. The aircons are blowing cold air into the hall because of the rising temperatures outside as Spring approaches.

It's so quiet I could hear people breathing across the hall. Never has Howards spoken so vehemently. Marcus is shivering in his seat; not from the aircon but from Howards words and direct glaring eye contact she made with him. Howards has another chance to kick him out and he knows it. If I find him anywhere near the battle next time I'm telling Howards. No one would say goodbye to his arse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Where the hell did you go after the battle?"

"Charli, didn't you hear what I said earlier?"

"I know your hiding something. And has to do with my Aunt."

"She did mention that your parents where coming......." I say reluctantly.

"Shit! I told them that everything was fine- they didn't need to sponsor the tournament." she cursed.

"Hey, hey. Whoa! I haven't heard you swear before. It's okay if you don't want to say but why do you hate your parents?"

"It's mainly my mother. As a kid she would manipulate me into doing everything she couldn't achieve and being her slave. If I didn't practice without technology- not using my phone or any device during practice or do it when she said- or do anything she said I was punished. I was never allowed out like a normal teen was, never allowed to hang with friends or go to sleepovers- never allowed to get a job. Always trying to keep me under control; under her little thumb as an obedient servant than a daughter."

"Charli" I think I might cry, "I- No one should have to go through that. My mother mainly just stopped me from getting a job and going out like a normal teen/ young adult until I applied for this academy. But your mother, the evil spawn of Satan herself........that's a toxic, narcissistic bitch. Charli, I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

"Their probably in some caffe in Europe right now, forgetting all about me and my sister; eating and being all lovebirds- like. Like we don't exist. I'm thankful that Auntie Howie plucked me up at the right time. We can't do anything in the eyes of the law because theirs nothing concrete as evidence- just my word against hers."

"Have you talked to Kyia?"

"Those were her words."

"Oh....."

Unconsciously, Charli snuggles closer to me. I let it slide, she needs this.

"And now they're coming in two weeks for the coemption." she sighs.

"Well, if you can't face them on on your own, I'm here."

We sit in silence for another few minutes, watching the tv show silently as the others slowly dwindle to bed. before we know it it's only us left and Charli's falling asleep in my arms, the grey flakes in her turquoise iris holding multiple emotion. A yawn escapes my mouth, prompting one from Charli.

"Charli, I think it's time we go to sleep." I whisper.

A chorus of intelligible mumbles escapes her lips. "Cute."

"Charli, come on. Your too heavy for me to carry."

She huffs but gets up and starts to execute her nightly routine. I follow suit, making sure she does actually go to bed. Once I turn the light out I wish her goodnight. She yawns a reply back to me. Most of my routine is done, I just have to put my phone on charge and d one more important thing.

'Howards, you awake.'

'Alexandra you should be sleeping. Don't make me make my Niece watch you all night.'  Howards text pops up.

'Charli mentioned what her parents- mother- did. I told her that you mentioned them coming in two weeks. it was either that or the bigger secret. Just thought I'd warn you.'

'Thank you. I'm very aware that when my sister arrives theirs going to be rivalries. Charli took a long time to open up to me, don't pressure her into telling you everything, just be there when you can.'

'Of course. If she can't bare to see her mother I'm all in to deck her for you two instead.'

'Go to sleep, Alexandra. People will think we're conspiring.'