Four Elements Book 3 - Sacrifice

Part 53

It took several days for Andie and her friends to fully realize Zorak was gone. But slowly, they found themselves relaxing into the lives they should have had if demons hadn't intervened. They'd even considered stopping training, but then decided it was probably wiser not to. Even if they didn't have use them that way again, it couldn't hurt to keep their skills sharp.

Without the constant feeling of having a Damocles sword over their heads, Andie and her friends soon found it much easier to concentrate on their lives. College, graduation, keeping their grades steady (or in Jessica's case, bringing them up a little). But it was comfortable, almost relaxing to have nothing else to worry about.

After all those months of tension, fear and pain, it was a welcome change. At last, they felt they could live like normal teenagers, even if just for a while.

"So, there's only one question left," Emily said that afternoon.

It was Saturday and they were relaxing at the Soda Fountain.

"What, which dress should I get for prom?" Jessica asked.

They laughed.

"I meant something a bit more important, like college." Emily said.

"Well, we just have to wait until we get our replies from where we applied," Isabelle said with a shrug, though her eyes looked worried.

"Oh, don't you act like you're nervous when you're obviously going to get accepted everywhere!" Emily teased.

"Hey, I heard Vicki saying she was going to be valedictorian," Jessica said. "Please, someone tell me it's not true."

"No, it's not," Isabelle said.

"Thank you!" Jessica sighed with relief. "But how do you know?"

Isabelle cleared her throat as she glanced at them.

"Because... I saw the Principal before we sent out our applications, and... he told me he wanted me to be the valedictorian." Isabelle told them.

"What?! That's amazing! I didn't even know you were interested!" Andie said.

"I wasn't... but then he said I was a credit to the school between my good grades and tutoring other students... And I thought it would be a good way to thumb my nose at all those idiots who laugh at me because I study instead of going to parties."

"So, you said yes?"

"I said yes," Isabelle nodded, grinning.

"That's wonderful!" Emily smiled. "But why didn't you tell us?"

"It was never the right time," Isabelle shrugged.

"You'll be great," Bane assured her.

"Thanks, guys."

"So, how's Zarias adjusting to the human lifestyle?" Andie asked Isabelle and Bane.

He was still staying with Bane, but had been spending more time with Isabelle who was trying to help him catch up on everything he'd missed over the years.

"Zarias is eager to learn," she said, "and with practice I think he could actually fit in."

"What is he going to do when we all go to college, though?" Emily asked.

"Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. It'd be a bit lonely if he stays here."

They all stared at Jessica.

"What? He's growing on me," she defended herself.

Andie shook her head at her, an amused smile tugging at her mouth.

"Has anyone even asked him what he wanted to do?" she asked.

"He actually wondered if he could go to college," Isabelle told them. "Bane told me. I meant to bring it up sooner but... I actually set up applications for him, too..."

"But Isabelle," Emily objected, "he's never been to school here, he won't even have graduated. How d'you plan on making that work?"

"I set him up for home school classes, he can graduate that way." Isabelle said. "My neighbor's a high school teacher, she's been helping. I told her he'd been taken from his mother as a child in a custody war and had never been to school. And Robert's been helping us with Zarias's paperwork. And let me tell you, we need the extra hands."

Andie had no doubt about that. Catching up in such a short amount of time would be difficult enough, but the paperwork would be a nightmare.

"He told me he'd always been interested in History. So if we do somehow manage to get him into a school, at least he knows what he'd study."

"But there's another problem. Tuition," Andie pointed out.

"I know... we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Isabelle said.

They all looked at each other, unsure what to think.

"Well, I say if he wants it, I don't see why he shouldn't try." Andie finally commented.