The Arcane Society

Chapter 14

September 15th, 2005: First day of School Pt. 2

After a while of making a mural out of hearts and smiles, Ashley, Iliana, and I stepped back. The mess of blue, orange, and pink all seemed to come together somehow on the white background.

Lunch came and I ate like a king with the other kids. Marlee sat by me and we just talked with brief periods of awkward silence.

Recess came and most of us just walked around the playground in confusion. I saw the tire-swing and ran straight for it.

"Well, well, if it isn't "The Toughest Girl in School." Trying the tire swing! " Phillip teases as I arrive. Heat rises to my cheeks as I smile shyly.

"Yep, I'm trying the tire-swing, if you don't mind. I hear you are so fast, you cause people to puke?" I said charmingly as I got on with Tiara.

Tiara smiled menacingly.

He laughed. "That is my specialty." As he gripped one of the chains, Tiara leans over and whispers to me.

"Let's see how you handle the tire swing after this ride."

Gosh, is EVERYTHING a contest for her? I thought reluctantly

Phillip spins the tire and lets go with a jerk. The tire is spinning wildly and I scream with glee. Tiara's face starts to turn a sickly pale. The tire's momentum starts to slow down. Suddenly, a weird feeling hits me. Like sad weird. (I didn't exactly learn my emotions yet, but I found out later that it was a weird mixture of pity and guilt.) I hopped off and gripped the chain to stop the swing. My pink sparkly sneakers dug into the dirt. As soon as the ride stopped, Tiara got off and puked. My legs told me to run to help her.

"Go on, laugh at me. See if I care!" Tiara said weakly between pukes. I kneel down a couple inches from the smelly puddle.

"No, I'm going to help you to the office. Because I care about people." I said with encouragement.

"Go away! I don't need help. I'll get Mrs. Ondamorrow myself!" She yelled.

I reared back in shock. "As much as you hate me, let me at least help you! Pretty please?!" Before she could object, I grabbed her hand and lifted her up. Her high heels wobbled in the wood chips. We headed towards the bench where Mrs. Ondamorrow was seated.

"After all I've done to you...you still choose to help me? But why?" Her brown eyes gaze at me, longing for something.

I gaze back at her softly. "If you do good to others, you get good back to you. I have to be mean at first, but it means things will be alright in the end."

"How do you know so much?" She asked, no hint of mockery was in her voice. She was too weak to make an insult.

I laugh nervously. "I read too much as a five year old."

She nods and as Tiara sat on the bench, Mrs. Ondamorrow looks at her with concern. Tiara made a recount of the story. But, something caught my attention.

"...instead of Phillip pushing, it was Elisabeth!"

Mrs. Ondamorrow looked at me with a stern face. Oh come on! I just helped you, you backstabbing jerk!!

"Wait, wait," I pleaded, "I stopped the ride, said some nice things, AND, helped you here to the bench. Ask Phillip, he'll tell you the same thing."

*French accent* A few minutes later

I was right. Mrs. Ondamorrow thanked me for the "help." and headed off to the tire-swing. I looked down and I could see the mark of my sneakers, dug into the brown moist dirt.

"Elisabeth." Phillip walked up to me, nervous. "I... Help me clear up something." I think my heart stopped right there. What is this...weird feeling? "How are you tough and sweet at the same time?"

Before I could answer, the bell signaled us to head inside and have afternoon lessons.

Phillip's question I couldn't contemplate even an answer for.

June 30th, 2014: 2:03 PM English Standard Time:

Paris was fantastic but, you guys know the saying. "Home is where the heart is." 34, 500 feet in altitude and 6 more hours of flight in a pressurized claustrophobic tube, I wonder how my brother is doing. Yeah sure, like most siblings, we argue. (Isn't that kind of natural, actually?) But, he must be telling jokes and gorging junk food to himself. I actually kind of miss him. What sucks is that the circadian rhythm is going to take forever in adjusting itself.