WHAT DOES THIS MEAN??

Twenty Three

"Corner!  Hey?!"  Chase grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the class I was about to enter, the next day.  I spotted Chase a minute ago and attempted to escape into my Art class, but he was quicker than me, and now I'm caught miserably, like a fish caught in a fisherman's net.  My paint brushes clattered to the floor.  I winced at the sudden pain and looked up to discover a pair of pleadingly wide sea deep eyes.  The same electric wave passed through my body at his touch and my heart was at my throat.  He loosened his grip on my arm when he got a clear view of my flustered face, also considering my bated breath.  

He closed his eyes for a mere second as if apologizing for the sudden scare and sighed heavily.  "Look, Rebecca!  I don't know why you're running away from me lately, but all I want to know is how you managed to knock me down that night without moving a muscle."  He let go of me while his eyes curiously hunted for an answer from mine.  I took a step back, clutching my parchments tightly.  "Jones, I-"  I mused.  

"Say it!"  he pleaded, then bent down to pick my scattered paint brushes on the ground for me.  He thrust them in my hand and waited.  

"Jones,"  I looked down at his grey sneakers, blood rushing to me cheeks.  I wanted to skip this conversation as long as possible, but beating around the bush right now was no help.  "I know you're Hunt.  I mean, I know you're a wizard."  The corridor was empty that all I could hear was the sound of our breathing.  Chase gasped, then surprisingly nodded as if he was expecting this.  He couldn't speak, so I had to continue.  "And...I'm a-"

"Witch!"  he finished for me, then we gulped audibly in unison.  I had no idea how to react.  Should I be relieved that he knows now, or should I feel miserable that he knows my secret now.  

We stood there awkwardly; me cleaning my sweaty hand over my shirt, while he shifted from one leg to other, gasping every now and then.  After two long unpleasant minutes, a faint smile trickled onto his face and he stretched his hand out.  "I'm Hunt, The Magical Society."  I watched as his smile restyled into a sparkly grin; a grin that rained a million butterflies promptly in my stomach.  

Once again, my cheeks turned crimson as I offered my hand for a handshake.  "I'm Cross, also from The Magical Society."  I couldn't resist smiling at this grinning idiot.  "Nice to meet you, Hunt!"  I added, making the conversation more classy and formal.  

"Pleasure!"  he chuckled at my stupidity.   

Abruptly, my foot started moving without my intention, and the same seemed to be happening to Chase.  We struggled to release ourselves from the invisible rope tugging us in awkward circles, obliging us to bump into each other every now and then.  "Uh, Chase?"  

"Yep?"  

"Any idea what's happening?"

"Nope!"

Then all of a sudden, the tugging became faster and painful.  Before I realized, we were thrown into a small dark room, dusty and stinky.  Where was I?  What is this place?  How did we end up here?

"It's the boys' changing room."  Chase's puzzled voice interrupted my thoughts.  

I gasped.  "Why?  How?"  We shuffled and swayed closer in the dark, sniffing at the foul odour. 

An orange mist started forming from the ceiling, slowly descending down to the floor.  I instantly recognized who it was.  It was Cassie, my Magic instructor.  Our Magic instructor now.

"Uh-oh!  I wasn't ready for one more lecture from her."  Chase commented.

"I. WARNED. YOU"  Cassie's voice thundered into the small room as she popped suddenly in front of us from the magic mist.  "I WARNED YOU BOTH RIGHT FROM THE FIRST DAY NOT TO GO SEEKING FOR THE OTHER WIZARDS AND WITCHES AROUND YOU."

"Oh, Storm.  Please put your voice down, and for your information, you never told me that more than once."  Chase answered coolly, crossing his arms around him, and leaned against the wall.  This whole room had the stinking smell of expired Axe and male deodorants.  

I sniffed again.  "We couldn't help it, Storm.  We're sorry.  And why would you choose such an horrible place in this whole school."  I pointed out.

"Is it dangerous now that we know each other's secrets?  Like we're going to turn into a pig or something?  Or worse, a toad?"  Chase questioned cheekily.  I rolled my eyes at him.  

"Jones, be serious."   

"Call me Chase.  We're still not in the surname basis."  

I had to roll my eyes again.  "I'll think about it."

Abruptly, as if saving our lives, Storm's watched buzzed loudly, a red-gold light gleaming out of it.  An annoyed look formed on Cassie's face and she mused in her manine voice, "Oh, White.  Now what trouble are you in now?"  Cassie seemed to be talking to herself rather than us, because she looked at the ceiling with the same annoyed expression, then vanished in a pop. 

"Thanks, White.  Whoever you are."  Chase smirked in relief.

"I remember Storm mentioning the name 'White' sometime before.  Ummm..."  I scratched my head thoughtfully.  "YESS!  When she first met me, I inquired her about the other magicians in this region, and she said "Hunt and---White."  That's it!  So it's the other magician here."  

Chase blew out the breath he was holding.  "Whatever.  Now, I'm so confused, Rebecca"  He shook his head left and right, still pretty shocked.  I hit him in the ribs for calling my Rebecca.  "I told you already not to call me Rebecca.  Let's get out of here.  I've already skipped half of my Art class."  

------

HuntXXX:  Rebecca

A blush warmed my cheeks as I stretched my hand to grab my phone which was levitating in the air.  I was home an hour earlier, and I was working on cleaning my room for around ten minutes.  A flick and the window pane flashed new.  Another flick and the bed was made, the books arranged, the clothes in the closet ordered in a line and those on the floor folded neatly, and the clock set straight.  Then I went to do my Math homework, chewing the ends of my pencil thoughtfully as I calculated for x in my brain.  

Becky Lala Corner:  Call me Becky please

I tapped the send button, a teeny weeny bit annoyed, but still I couldn't help but smile. 

HuntXXX:  Nope, Rebecca

Becky Lala Corner:  Call me Cross at least, if you prefer

HuntXXX:  But I prefer Rebecca...

Becky Lala Corner:  Why?

HuntXXX:  Because I know it annoys you. *cheeky grin*

 Oh Idiot!  Can't you be less charming???