The Archer and Her Prince

The Fire Range

Talia's Pov (A Few Weeks After Camera Incident)

I spot Edores a few yards away from me on the bleachers of the football field. I see her talking to someone, so I get closer. I know spying is wrong, but I was curious! I crouch behind a bush and listen in.

"What do you want, Edwin?" I hear Edores say to the person, who is probably Edwin.

"Archery tournament. You and me. Saturday six pm. Meet me at the archery range. Be prepared." Edwin responds to Edores. What's going on? Why does he want to have an archery tournament with Edores? I hear steps getting fainter. He must have left?

"You can come out now, Lia." Estrea suddenly laughs.

I get out from behind the bush and dust my pants. "Uh, how'd you know I was there?"

"I saw you, you're not very good at spying, no offense." She teases.

"That's fair. So, what did he want?" I sit down next to her.

"Well, he wants to do an archery competition, just the two of us. I don't want to since, you know, I hate him. I told you the story a few weeks ago of when we met, he seems to be better than me, but I honestly just need to crush that ego of his, y'know?" She sighs.

"That makes sense. But did you notice he started acting nicer to you?"

"Hah, nice? In your dreams. I want nothing to do with Edwin. Yeah maybe he stopped throwing insults, but that doesn't mean he's trying to be 'nice'. I'm sure tomorrow he's just gonna be a bigger jerk; About how good he is, about how everyone but him sucks, and blah, blah, blah." Edores laughs. I forgot how pleasant her laughs were. She could light a room up in the deepest darkest place with her laughter and smiles.

"You're hilarious. Just, make sure if anything bad happens, you call me, ok?" I smile softly.

"Yeah, of course Lia. Now, what did we need to talk about?" She asks.

"Oh, uh. Archery. I was wondering if I could maybe, uh, learn some archery from you." I really did not want to tell her why, but she's my best friend, so she deserves to know.

"Wait, I thought you despised archery? You don't like the idea of shooting things. Why?" She raises her eyebrows in suspicion.

"Um....I started dating an archer back in the summer, and he thinks that I do archery as well. Since, I uh, I lied about it. He's an awesome guy." I sigh and vision those perfect dimples and beautiful red eyes.

"Oh. So you basically, in order to date him, told him you were an archer as well? What else did you lie about? And why didn't you tell me about him?"

"Yeah, I also told him that I bake a lot and am really good at controlling fire, since he loves baked goods and fire power stuff. And I told you a few weeks later...I honestly didn't think it would last this long. But now, he's taking me up on my 'offer' to have a friendly archery match with him since I said I was good. And it's in a fire lit range." Huh, apparently lying to get something is hard. Side note, lesson learnt.

"You also haven't baked since we were ten, when you burnt yourself taking the bread out of the oven. You vowed you would never bake again and cursed since the burn was pretty bad. Remember that?" She jokes. But that did happen, I mean, all promises can't be kept....right?

"Yeah, yeah. I just, I need you to teach me archery and make me really good. And you will have to come to my date and control the fire as if it's coming from me. I know you're still rusty on fire, but come on, please?"

"Archery I can help with, but fire? Lia, you even told him you were an elemental? Why not just say you're a witch, that's easier to get by. And I can't do fire yet, yet alone a fire range, those are impossible to control while shooting an arrow at the same time. Only super powerful elemental wizards can do that. And that's not me. You basically just lied about your whole life to your boyfriend, and now you're turning me into your fantasy." She shakes her head in disbelief.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I just had to impress him, you know? And it'll be easier since I'll be the one shooting and you're just controlling the fire. We're splitting the work. Please Edores?" I look at her with pleading eyes.

"Ugh, but I'm basically doing all the work. Fine, I'm only doing this since you're my best friend. But you owe me, big time." She smirks.

"Definitely! Wow thank you so much!"

"Yeah, sure. I gotta get to archery practice. I'll see you back at home ok?" She gets up and slings her backpack on her shoulder.

"Yeah. Have fun!" I wave as she smiles and leaves. I did not think she would be up for this, but I have a great friend. Yeah, I'm sure Tim will find out eventually that I'm not magic, and we'll break up. But, the experience is worth it.