One Year Before High School

Chapter 7

After the bell rang, it was free time for everyone. People trickled out of classrooms like water. Flowing in tiny strands, then converging into a big blob at the elevator, then thinning out again to go their separate ways.

Ella and Ivy were walking side by side again, mixing naturally into the mass of students. Ella seemed to want to say something because her eyes kept darting back and forth between Ivy and herself. Finally, Ivy turned an irritated glance on her.

"What?"

Ella started, "Well...I was just thinking about the situation...with the Iridescent and all..."

Ivy raised an eyebrow, "and..?" she prompted. Ella blushed a pink in embarrassment, "I'm still worried someone's going to find out. I mean, what if they do?" she said.

Ivy sighed, "You know, if you're that worried, maybe you should take today off. I'm sure Nola won't mind" she added, "And if it works, take the next few months off too". Ella shrugged, "I don't know," she said indecisively.

Cue eye roll

Ivy surprised Ella with a firm pat on the back, "Well, why don't we talk about it?" she asked, her tone indicating something Ella didn't like. Ella shook her head. "No thanks. Besides, being a non-official-iridescent and all, you make it look easy" she said, hurridly backpedaling.

"Really?"

That wasn't from Ivy

They both turned to see Tanya walking towards them. Ella clamped a horrified hand over her mouth. Ivy narrowed her eyes, preparing to bluff her way out.

"I mean, seriously, if you are that worried, you really should take the day off" she continued. Ella bit her lip at that.

"Don't tell anyone?" said Ivy, her voice low and serious. Tanya backed off, "Woah, why though? I mean, it's perfectly normal" she said, holding both hands up.

"...normal..?"

Tanya nodded, confused by their reactions, "Yeah, I mean, being new to Fantasia and all. Must make a person nervous. And coupled with Stephany being in your class" she added.

They gaped at her, she stared back with a 'what's going on?' face.

Then Ella breathed out a huge sigh of relief. "O-Oh," she said. Ivy exhaled too, "Yeah," she said, "I mean, it is a little hard. But I don't want anyone to know though" she said smoothly, covering up her previous outburst. Ella eyed her warily, it was at times like this that she kind of scared her.

Tanya shrugged, "Well, whatever. I'll keep it a secret. By the way, have any of you seen Emily?"

"No"

"'k"

Page 21

Tanya walked off, dialing her number again on her phone. Ivy watched her until she disappeared from view, then relaxed and led Ella away.

"GUYS! EMERGENCY NORTHWEST MEETING!!" shouted Maci. Carla, all the way on the other side of the hall, covered her ears with two pillows. Ella yelped and ducked for cover. Ivy jerked upright, then grumbled to herself as she grabbed an eraser to erase the obvious pencil mark she made on her homework.

"Give a little warning!" Carla shouted back. Maci laughed sheepishly, "Right right. But anyways, we have an EMERGENCY!"

Carla groaned.

"What is it?!" shouted Ella, thinking that maybe someone found out-.

"We're out of food!"

"...that's it?"

Maci nodded, "YES!" she shouted, "I just checked, and we haven't stocked the fridge since the day we moved in!"

"...that's almost kind of impressive" commented Carla.

"Oh, well easy fix then. Have someone go out and buy something" said Ivy, coming out from Ella's room.

Maci pouted, "But no one wants to go!" she said. "Carla's busy studying, Tanya's trying to find Em, and I have to practice with my magic," she said.

"Well, I can go," she said. Maci looked at her quickly, "You'll go?! Thanks so much, shorty!!" she said. Ivy's eye twitched slightly at the "shorty" part but otherwise smiled dryly and went to get her bag.

The supermarket, Ivy noted, was a lot different than what she was used to. Here, everything was ordered by relevance. For example, because it was a Monday, stationary, instant noodles and classic literature were up front while clothing, sanitary needs, and entertainment were further away. If it were a Friday, then party supplies, cheese snacks, and lemon balm tea were available. Ivy liked this feature.

There it is, she thought as she strode purposefully towards the groceries isle.

...I told you already, its...

...but what if...

...'m sure about this! Or at least...

...I don't know...

Ivy narrowed her eyes. It sounded familiar. She ducked behind a bin of lemons just in time to catch their next sentence. Normally, she would've just walked away, but something about the voice was...

"Look, I'm telling you, the McKay girl is weird!" Stephany said. Rylan sighed, "How so? And don't say the part where she didn't show up on her records, because that might've just been a mistake"

"It wasn't! First, her ID doesn't work, then she doesn't show up on her school records, then she..." Stephany trailed off. Rylan raised one eyebrow, Stephany huffed at him. Rylan changed the subject, and they started to chat about something else

Ivy quickly left after she saw them coming her way. Better avoid her for a few days, she decided

Page 22

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you again next time!