One Year Before High School

Chapter 13

The entire house was silent

Everyone waited solemnly. Even the bouncy, go-happy Maci was sitting quietly, not making a peep. There were four of them: Ella, Ivy, Maci, and Carla. Everyone went over their roles, and what they would do. They could not afford to mess this up, not this late into the book.

A pair of footsteps came downstairs.

"Tanya, Emily, we have something to discuss," said Carla. The pair looked at each other in confusion and went over.

"Now, I want you to answer me honestly" she countinued. They nodded, still unsure.

"...why are you guys always around one another?"

"SOMEONE SAID IT!"

Maci suddenly jumped up, and the atmosphere seemed to lighten ten-fold. Tanya laughed, "So that's what it's about?" she asked. Everyone nodded, even Ivy and Carla.

Emily gestured to Tanya, who did so at the same time. "We've known each other for forever, so it kind of makes sense. Actually, we were neighbors up until high school"

"What happened?"

Emily looked at Tanya, who answered, "We were supposed to move away. My parents got a job overseas and we had until the end of this year to do stuff"

"That's rough"

Emily nodded, "You said it. We pretty much grew up as one person, so it was kinda hard. But hey, in Enchantments High, it might be different, since time pauses in our world when we're in Fantasia"

"Wow"

Maci clapped her hands together. "Well now that we know what this does, who wants to go practice magic? There's a lot of time, and besides, I have to show off!"

Maci made a small pencil levitate as a result. Everyone stared, then Carla was the first to shrug. She looked around, spotted a pen, and twirled it around her. Everyone joined in after that, and the room was soon filled with a loose collection of stationary.

Even Ivy joined in. Using little swirls of ice, she made a few things float idly. Carla sniffed, clearly unimpressed. Ella sighed at that, Carla was seldom impressed with anything Ivy did. Tanya and Emily went for the same pencil, and they both made it float. Mauve light shone out.

Everyone paused. The clatter of stationary hitting the floor was suddenly incredibly loud.

"You guys have the same magic" Maci breathed. Tanya and Emily looked at each other, then dropped it. The pencil fell to the floor.

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"That's not uncommon," said Carla, "I mean, take a look at Ivy and Ella"

"Yeah, but to also get them at the same time?" countered Maci. Maci didn't usually argue, which made Carla pause.

"Wanna get it checked out? You might chance with what Maci has" said Ella. They remembered what Maci has, which is a Gifted type of magic. They nodded, eager to see, now that Ella brought it up.

"Back again so soon? What is it this time?" asked Mrs. La'Lune in a fond but slightly less than enthusiastic tone. Ivy rolled her eyes and gestured to the pair. "We need to get their magic type checked out," she said.

Mrs. La'Lune sighed and walked over, stopping at where they stood. "Hands," she said. Tanya and Emily gave her their hands in confusion. A soft blue light started to emit, not unlike Ella's. But unlike hers, this had a more powdery feel. Then, after a few seconds, Mrs. La'Lune stepped back. "Well, it turns out like your bunch has a lot of extraordinary people. They're both "gifted" so to speak, but...it... Okay, think of it this way. It's like you both have a half of a gift. Individually, it's not as powerful as...say Maci's. But together, you can use something called Twin Magic. Might take a little practice though"

"Huh"

Tanya and Emily looked at each other. "What can we do?" she said. Mrs. La'Lune thought for a moment, "I don't know. I heard that there were instances of telepathy...and stuff. I don't know, we don't usually get a lot of gifted students.

After they talked some more, they left with a very happy Tanya and Emily.

"So, there are a lot of talented people here, huh?" asked Maci. Ella happily agreed, and Ivy shrugged.

Back at the group, Carla scowled.

Ivy noticed this and sighed. "You guys go on, I have to talk to Carla," she said. Ella looked surprised, but then shrugged and went ahead.

"Why are you always like this?" she asked. Carla pretended not to realize. "Like what?". It was only after she said so that she regretted the unintentionally childish statement. Ivy eyed her ironically, and Carla blushed.

"You're feeling inferior because of Maci and Tanya, and Emily" she added. Carla looked away and kept walking. Ivy kept talking, "You know there's no point in feeling this way right? No one's saying anything about you. Some people bloom late, it's no big"

Carla turned around, "How can you say that? I mean, no offense, but even if we are the same age, you can't honestly think that it's okay for me to do this! I know you've been having fun all the time at school before Enchantments, but I've been working a lot harder than you. I've graduated top of my class in elementary, I've actually tried for the best, but now I'm no better than anyone else!" she said.

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"Why do you have to be better?"

"I put in the work! I've...I've...I've done a lot for the top spot. Normally, I would still be a better, even in Enchantments"

Ivy gave her a sharp look, "That may be it but this isn't exactly normal, is it? It's chance that you get your powers, so stop doing this, it's annoying" she added.

Carla sighed angrily, "You don't understand"

"How can I not? I was also top of my class"

Carla turned around, shocked. Ivy smiled thinly at that, "Changes everything, doesn't it? But if it makes you feel better, I was top of my class, but I still can't use magic as fluently as, say, Maci. Stop doing this, for others and for yourself. You don't have to prove to us that you're better"

Carla turned away, this time slower. She was thinking about what Ivy said.

Maybe she isn't so bad, she thought.

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Sorry for the quality, I had to rush to get this out!

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