Malediction

25 - Rumours

3pm, the final bell rang.
Slowly I packed my belongings away, avoided eye contact with Harlow and sauntered from the classroom, Danny closely in tail. We didn't speak, we didn't look at one another, but soon we were walking alongside each other, enduring countless stares.
I wanted nothing more than to blurt out every emotion I'd been overwhelmed by within the last week, unable to share it with anyone else, but with all eyes in our direction, it was safer to keep my mouth shut until we were safely away from waggling ears.

I had hoped that by now the curiosity and disbelief of Danny being friends with someone as plain as I would have sunk in, but due to the inconsistent gap from the last week, it had returned to the normal stigma of fear for him.

Controlling my breathing, overthinking what I would say and how I would say what needed to be said, we entered the school parking lot.
Few students were already there, and those that were, were too involved within their groups and cars to bother nearing us.

By the time I had stopped at the front of Danny's truck, I realised that I was lightly shaking. I quickly folded my arms over my chest, the wind picking up, blowing gently across my face, refreshing and soothing.

Danny was soon in front of me, keeping a good metre between us, his eyes on the sky behind me

"What's going on?" He began, his hands digging into his cargo black pants pockets

I blew out a breathe of air before beginning

"Weird things have been happening since I arranged the meeting with Evalia, and I don't know if it's me just being paranoid, or if it's just a scary coincidence, but a part of me can't help but believe it has something to do with her" My mouth escaped the words fast

"What kind of things?" His eyes briefly met mine

I shook my head, the memory of the rotten apple and Mathews tight grip on my arm causing my stomach to hurl.

"Emilia" Danny took a step forward

I had been staring at the ground, my eyebrows creased in the middle, zoned out when his strong scent dragged me back.
I lifted my gaze, our eyes meeting, this time, remaining in place, connected.

"Has she hurt you?" He asked, his eyes unblinking, firm and steady

"No, no, nothing like that" I returned to reality "I just, I want this to be over, not just for my own sanity, but for yours and your family's too"

Painfully, he tore his intense eyes from mine, regaining his stiff and controlled composure "Let me drive you home, we can set some ground rules for tomorrow"

I had earlier been looking forward to walking home, the weather blissful and warm, and now, all I wanted to do was get home and get myself prepared for the inevitable showdown, so I nodded.

Sitting in the familiar seat beside Danny brought back many memory's, both good and bad.

"You were brazen enough to contact this woman and arrange this meeting, but when it happens, I want you to be a benchwarmer, I don't want to give her any reason to bring you any misfortune like my own" He began as he drove us home

In a way, he was right, but he wasn't going to have me stand on the sidelines and remain quiet. We had allowed this witch to win for years, now it was our turn to take back what had been lost - bravery and dignity.