Viva

Part 1.6

Unedited

***

Part 1.6

A cool night's breeze whipped past Magnolia and me, prompting me to fill the silence that had lapsed over us. "You're mad at me." My eyes connected with Magnolia and I watched as she kept her phone reached out before her; allowing the flashlight setting to illuminate our way down the path. It was not much of a light but it did the job and allowed me to see a silhouette of her face. The way her lips were pressed together in a fine line, it was evident that she was trying not to say a word to me. "The silent treatment is something I deserve . . . I'm so sorry, Maggie. I did not think that you would get knocked out. I will make him pay for that, trust me. Just, please say something."

Magnolia released a huff as she stepped over a medium-sized log that had fallen on the path. Her attention was focused solely on where she was walking as she pretended that I did not exist.

"Are you feeling okay? Do you have a headache? I have medicine back at the tent," I offered, thinking that maybe she was in pain from being knocked out. "I can drive you home after we gather your things."

Stopping in her tracks, Magnolia inhaled slowly, showing me that she had reached her breaking point. Without her uttering a word, I winced.

"Maggie, I really am-" my sentence fell short when Magnolia turned to face me. There was not much light around us but I could see the fire in her eyes. She was livid.

"The fact that I was knocked out, is not the main reason I want to wring your neck, Viva. I have a whole list and if you insist we have this conversation, in the middle of the woods, in the middle of the night, then shall I start naming all that is on the list?!" Maggie did not wait for me to reply. "For starters, I had a calm weekend planned. I was going to binge watch Supernatural while avoiding my homework until the last minute."

I tried to hold it in, but I could not. A small series of chuckles escaped. "You know, for someone who does not believe in all this, you really are a devoted fan of the show Supernatural but have no knowledge of werewolves, which are supernatural."

Magnolia crossed her arms over her chest. "I am not a devoted fan. You know very well that my friend Sara got me into the show last summer. And, you cannot use that show against me," Magnolia dropped her hands to her side. "The difference between you and I is that I know it's all not real! Plus, this werewolf and mates crap is not a topic that comes up! Or, at least it has not in season four, which is where I'm currently at."

"Doesn't that show have like a million seasons to it?"

"Your point?" Maggie questioned in an irritated tone. 

"That you are weak in the game of binge watching. You started that series last summer and you're only on season four. I would have at least been on season fifteen by now."

"Currently, it does not have fifteen seasons, Viva."

I held in a sigh because the conversation, while a great staller for the inevitable, was growing boring to me. "Look, if I take you home now, you can wake up tomorrow and watch all the Supernatural you want. Then, you can get up on Sunday and do your homework."

"What happens to you, when you come back? You dropped out of college! You have thrown away your chance at a higher education." The second I rolled my eyes, Magnolia released a tiny scream of frustration. "And, you stand there acting like you just flicked a bug off your shoulder — like it's nothing! You have no idea what mistakes you have made."

"Some people don't go to college, Maggie. I can and will survive," I honestly told her. "You don't need to worry about me."