The Enchantments: Book 2 - The Key of Gandar

Chapter 4: Classmates Divided

At first, the class sat stunned at Simeneon's latest request, pens dropped and expressions lengthened, even Professor Englewood's mouth stood ajar at the magnitude of the question.

"You want to what?" Brock Simms the large football player asked from the right side of the class.

"You're all complaining that your lives are so mundane, here's the chance to have a real adventure and really make a difference," Simeneon said.

"Not a chance!" Pretty Rachel Ford said moving a tuft of hair out of her eyes.

"Give us a reason why we should put our lives on the line?" A small red headed boy named Grant Messimer asked.

Simeneon stared at the class not knowing what to say, so she lowered her head and spoke almost in a whisper. "Because I'm asking for your help."

It took the professor to get the class going again. "For the first time in your lives, you have the chance to make a difference in another person's life. I promise you that once you're finished you'll have something many people wished they could have... A sense of accomplishment! This girl is doing something right now that takes a lot of bravery; she's asking her friends for help. That's right I said friends, you wouldn't ask someone you never met before to help, she's letting you know that she's not as strong as she looks. Remember you're the strongest when you admit your weaknesses."

"Come on Professor, anyone of us could have an adventure if we wanted too!" Brock Simms said.

"But how many of you would be brave enough to ask for help when you needed it?" The class became still, every one of them turned their heads and began looking at each other. "How many of you would lower themselves to their friends." He looked around, no one put up his or her hands. "That's what I thought."

The class ended on that question, Simeneon sat back at her desk staring into the woodcarvings that were etched into the top. Thoughts of failure ran rampant through her mind and putting the entire search for her parents farther into the recesses of her mind.

"Did you really mean what you said? That you really needed our help?" Melissa Tate, a blond girl with the sharp brown eyes and a beautiful smile asked.

"Yes, the time I have to find the pieces is short and I can't do it alone." She looked up at Melissa dejectedly.

"Then count me in! Sitting at home and counting daisies can wait 'till next summer. How often do you get the chance to make a difference in someone's life?" She said sitting down next to Simeneon.

"I won't lie to you, it could get dangerous." A concerned look crossed her face.

"Don't worry we'll all watch out for each other." A voice came from the doorway; it was Mark Lawrence, the strong handsome boy who usually sat behind her. "That's if you could ever forgive the lot of us for being so stupid."

Simeneon's eyes began to glaze over as she held back the sobs she had welling up from inside her. For the first time since she had entered the school, she felt wanted.

"Ah crap, did you get us involved in another harebrained adventure?" A startled Fin asked from behind the group. Simeneon burst out laughing between the sobs, allowing the group to come over and congratulate themselves for starting what would be the greatest adventure of their lives.

"So you want to give us a rundown on what we'll be doing and what we're up against." Tanya Devide asked sitting back in the comfortable armchair in the main lounge of the doctor's house.

Simeneon looked at the black haired muscular girl that stared back with big brown eyes. "We'll worry about where you'll be going soon enough, but first I want to tell you what your up against. Some of you might want to change your mind when I tell what has happened to us in the past year."