Magic

Get Ready...

~ Chapter 9 ~ Get Ready ~

"Right."

There are sounds of shuffles as our school starts to find places (near their mates) in the main hall. I can see Rachel and her dumb group persuading the boys in our class to move so they could sit there. I hate how they always get there own way. I mean, they're terrible at acting and all but how do they pretend to be so nice and sweet when they want their way? Oh well.

My row sits on the Year 7 red chairs, between a half and one third into the room. We were technically the middle year in the school, so that makes sense.

I have Teresa on my left and David on my right - he stares at me curiously for a moment before then facing the front; I don't know how to describe it, but he's acting different lately. As I said, I'm finding difficult to explain but the closest way to say it is... that he seems like knows me better than myself. Like simple things: stupid, like yesterday when he actually climbed into my open window in the middle of the night, just to give cream puffs. He had asked me which one I wanted, but, truth to be told, I can't remember eating either one in my lifetime.

"Which one would you like?" David asked, eyes glinting in the darkness.

Still groggy from sleep, I said what was on my mind, no detailed explanations. "I've never tried cream puffs OR èclairs."

"I'm sure you have," he pressed. It was funny that we were talking even though it was the middle of the night and my whole house was sleeping. You know, I might have a bigger household than David the Middle of Eight Brothers himself. Anyway.

"Umm... I dunno..."

"Choose cream puffs," he whispered, eyes wide. "I know you love them."

It was such a stupid subject, but we took it deadly serious. It's funny when I look back.

"Okay..." I said, uncertain. "Let me go wash my hands first - I think I've been becoming a health fanatic lately but whatever."

I remember the water from the tap/faucet being really cold. Really cold. Maybe because my heart was still pumping extra blood round my body after David had scared me to death for the food.

Okay, it's strange, but I wanted to see what David was doing when I wasn't there. I was in for a shock! I heard him whispering:

"She used to ALWAYS love cream puffs so much when she was five... I hope she still does..."

And, scarily enough, since last night (or rather, early this morning) they've been my favourite food.

"For the younger years, or slightly older ones, most of the school, high school, won't be here, for about a month." Mrs Airlily's booming voice jumps me out of my daydream. I hear Matthew saying, "Told you so," to one of his gasping classmates.

"For the high schoolers," she loudly continues, silencing the majority of primary school students that had started a chatter. Lucky things, I think, no behaviour points. The headmistress continues in a quieter voice. "For the high schoolers... PREPARE FOR A NOT-SO-AMAZING RESIDENTIALLLL!"

Wow. Are you serious, Airlily? This isn't a good look on you, okay?

Best head mistress ever, I guess? But she wouldn't win an award for it, that's all I'm saying.

I hear a childish grumble from David next to me. "Well you didn't have to rain on my parade," he pouts.

I can't help laughing. "You didn't have to rain on my paraaaaade!" I mimicked in a baby voice, snorting.

He looks at me. "Why is it that you never laugh at my jokes and only laugh at things I don't find funny." He laughs a bit, too.

As we had been talking, the primary school, college and university students had moved out the hall. Now it's just the high schoolers.

Airlily starts again. "For those dumb ones who don't listen who don't listen when we're teaching you prime numbers, don't listen at all in fact-"

I nudge David.

"I hate you," he whispered in my ear.

"The feeling's mutual."

"-we ARE in fact going to camp and stay in tree houses..."

I hear some of us hissing "YESSSS"es.

I never heard about this.

"When did she say that?" I say, a bit loud.

David sniggers and says something like, "I think you were describing yourself before."

"A prime example," Mrs Airlily smiles, pointing all her left fingers at me, like she was about to jazz hands.

Yes, Airlily.
No pun intended, miss?

I'm just glad she didn't tell me off for talking. She can be really nice sometimes.

"And about the camping outside and tree houses..." she grins. "...they're not the ones you were thinking about! It's way more cost effective using tree houses you don't have to build."

There were groans.

But obviously she was just kidding. She laughs, but abruptly stops.

"There is a catch though."