Project Moonlark: A Fanfiction

9. THE FINAL FLIGHT

Things didn't get better with Grady and Edaline throughout the week, no matter what I tried. I never went over to Everglen, which I learnt was Alden and Della's castle-house, and Rob never came over. I didn't ask him to come, despite the awkwardness whenever I was with Grady and Edaline, because I knew he had more important stuff to do. Dex came over a few times upon request, and Grady and Edaline approved of him tutoring me. On the second day of school, my schedule had changed a little since I was now in Telepathy.

My Telepathy mentor, Professor Tiergan, told me about how elves naturally put up a shield in their minds to block Telepaths. That explained why I couldn't hear elves, and it made me curious if that shield could ever be broken.

At home, I practiced my flying, even though I didn't seem to be improving at all. I'd always feel the momentum in my legs, but whenever I tried to float, it just didn't work. I got more and more stressed out as the competition closed in and I couldn't even fly. I was even planning on quitting the Battle altogether. My good grades would be enough to help me pass, right?

On Thursday, I spotted Rupert and Miss Washington. I hurried off in the opposite direction, but they caught up with me and I pressed my lips in a hard line as I turned around to face them.

"A captain who can't fly yet?" Miss Washington mused. I rolled my eyes so hard.

"Don't be mean to her," Rupert scolded. "She just hasn't had the right training yet." Then he turned to me. "You're on every bulletin board around here—not for a good reason, though. People worry for the Sharks in this year's contest. They don't know if they can trust you as captain."

"I know," I spat, fed up with people in general. Not only had I been having a horrible time at home, I was barely surviving in school. All the friends that I'd made on my first day went back to hanging out with their other friends, until I was only left with Dex, sitting in the library and studying Social Rules during lunch.

"I'm sorry," Rupert said. I rolled my eyes. I'd heard that before.

"Kristen, would you like me to help you?" He asked, smiling like Prince Charming. I gasped, hating myself for forgetting to breathe. His teal eyes were breathtaking.

"Oh, y—" I stopped myself, glad that I could always close my eyes. No! What was I thinking? I couldn't drag yet another person into this mess! I'd just accepted that I was going to fail that damn Battle. I would call in sick—I'd planned out the whole thing.

"No," I whispered. "No. I would not."

"I'm doing flying, too," Rupert said in a softer voice. "And I saved your friend. Maybe I could help you with this."

I gritted my teeth hard. "No."

"Why are you so against that idea?" He wondered. "You let Rob help you—even though he didn't really teach you anything."

"Grady and Edaline don't know about this," I said, trying to pull out any excuse that I could on why he shouldn't help me. I was running out of ideas.

"I'll tell them. Okay?" He looked at me gently, and I squirmed away from him.

"Fine." I muttered bitterly. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that this wasn't the right way to treat people. But I was done with people, so why not let myself have some freedom?

That Thursday was the day I learned to fly.

Rupert had a real gift for teaching. He knew exactly what words to say, so that I could visualize exactly what needed to be done. He was encouraging, but also told me the truth. I decided to give in and let him help me. After all, I wasn't going anywhere on my own.