Winged - Currently Under Heavy Editing

Seminars for Students

"Alright students." The director clasped his hands as we sat patiently listening for instruction. "You all are now Juniors and Seniors which means you are to guide the new class into comfort here. It is terrifying for anyone to enter high school, especially you all."

He paused, looking around at us. The awkward was tangible. "Well then, we have several protegees for each of you to help welcome into this school. Of course we don't have all of their names yet, so unfortunately, we don't have a list for you, yet."

"Wait, why wouldn't you have the names of your new students yet?" Brennan interrupted.

"Well Brennan, some we are having trouble placing into homes and it is our first priority to find them houses before registering them here." He replied. This silenced Brennan as he still rejected his responsibility.

"Alright then. If there aren't any more questions, your lists should be ready by the end of the semester."

"But that gives us no time at all to learn names!" I interrupted.

"Calm down Adelphi, they will have name tags if you are that desperate to memorize their names." The director put a hand up to stop my outburst. Nadia rolled her eyes at the inefficiency of the system. "Now you may all be dismissed if you are done yelling at me."

Cheeky.

Other members of our class left as scouts entered the room.

Yep, definitely time to leave. I thought, grabbing Nadia and Brennan, quickly making our way to the outer corridor.

"Can you believe they don't even have names for us!" Nadia continued her previous rant. Yeah, it didn't make sense to me either. But what were we going to do, throw an uprising?!

"Come on Nadia, it's a school. They have so many things to worry about I'm surprised they can keep up with us." Brennan offered, throwing his hands up.

"Guys, let's go. The school day is almost over, we can get a headstart on the walk home." I stated, looking at the schoolwork in the middle of the pavilion.

"Sure, see you tomorrow losers." Nadia teased. She started running off, but not before Brennan and I got a good jab at her. "Just kidding, love you!" She shouted over her shoulder.

"Love you too!" I shouted back, turning to exit through the south entrance. "See you tomorrow Brennan."

"Yea, see you Adelphi." He replied, walking off the direction Nadia ran off.

I stopped by Winnie's sixth period to grab her, a task that did not go without a scolding from her history teacher and an embarrassed look on her part. I wish I didn't have to do this, but winged aren't allowed to linger here. And I can't return home without Winnie.

Sorry buttercup. It's my fault.

After we successfully left campus, I began to question her on her day. She gave generic, one worded answers. The test didn't go well. Then I heard her mutter something I would never wish anyone to want.

"I wish I was winged."

That stopped me right in my tracks. I grabbed Winnie and made her face me.

"No, you do not. Trust me, this isn't all sugar and rainbows."

"But you hardly get to go to class! It's not fair."

"A small pleasure, but you have no idea what I go through, what Nadia and Brennan go through each day. Father isn't nice to me, you hear him yell at me. You know you do. Nadia hardly is at her home, she doesn't have any cool normal siblings to hang out with." I sighed, knowing that was the only reason I was at home.

"Yea, but still-"

"Don't you 'but still' me Winnie. One happy thing does not pay for every other negative thing. I can't fly, aren't wings for flying? Seems a little dumb to me." I tried for a smile, lucky for me I got one.

"Yea, it is kind of dumb. But you are so pretty." Winnie continued, I had resumed our walking now.

"You're pretty too Winnie. And the best part is you can dress up like me or Nadia anytime you want and you will still be normal because you can go back to being you easily. How about I get you a pair if wings for Christmas since you want them so badly? Does that sound nice?"

"Yeah, it does!"

"Alright, now don't tell anyone, otherwise it would ruin the surprise," I replied laughing.

"Adelphi I'm not twelve, I can keep a secret." Winnie pouted.

"Really now, you couldn't keep me eating extra strawberries a secret." I teased.

"That's because I love strawberries!"

We were both laughing now, close to Jake's bus stop. I told Winnie to run ahead to the bus stop and return with her brother. The three of us together walked another five minutes before we were home.

Mother greeted us all kindly, as usual, then questioned her two children about their days while I returned to my room. I had successfully avoided father, for now. I flopped down onto my bed, mulling over the day's events. The seminar, the responsibility, the encounter with Rii. It was a lot to happen in one day.

Exhaustion soon took over me and I feel asleep, my dark wings brushing against the wall.

And that's when the dream started, again. The same girl, the same forest, the same fall.

The same difference.

What the hell is going on with my brain? If this is me, why am I reliving it? I understand the white, I wish I had white wings but...

If it isn't me, who is it?