Charms

Chapter 6

Ellie soared through Geography; the topic was Glaciers, something that Ellie had already been taught in her old school. Before the bell rang, Ellie received a message from Alice saying “We’ll be waiting by the statue on the Quad x”. She headed to the Quad when she got another message from her mum; it read “Hey sweetie, I’m being made to work late tonight so I can’t pick you up. I’ll bring back pizza. I love you xx”, Ellie typed back saying that it was okay and that she is going out with some friends anyway. She walked through the school doors that led her to the statue. Clark strolled over and met Ellie half way.

“You’re a pain in my” He paused “What the hell happened to you?” He cupped her face with his hand. She pulled back slightly, flinching under his touch. 

“Well?”

“Roxy, she hit me with a tennis ball”

“I’ve had enough” He spat.

She grabbed his hand as he turned to go.

“Clark no, please, don’t worry about it. I’m fine. Nothing is broken.”

He tightened his grip around Ellie’s hand, pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her. He soon let go even though Ellie did not want him to, he turned and stormed his way over to Alice.

“A word?”

Alice looked over at Ellie and mouthed, “What have I done?” Ellie shrugged and shook her head. Alice stood on the other side of the statue talking to Clark, Ellie, being the nosey and curious girl she is, snuck around to listen.

“You’re meant to protect her.” Clark exploded.

“What was I meant to do Clark? Use magic?”

“No, but you could had done something.”

“I’m only one pixie, you can’t expect me to do much more than I am doing at the moment.”

“Try harder.”

“Your attitude has changed. What happened to, ‘why should I risk my life for this girl who might not even be the Lanzét’”

“It’s different.”

“How is it? She still might not be the Lanzét”

“Look, we’ve been given orders and we must follow them.”

“Yes sir.” She saluted.

“Did you find the mark?”

“No, I didn’t. But there is still time for it to appear, she hasn’t had any training either.”

Before Clark could reply, he spotted Ellie; her initial thought was to hide, so she crouched behind the statue. Clark peered his head around to see her on the floor.

“What are you doing?”

“Uh, sitting”

“Why?”

She shrugged.

“Weird, you ready to go?” He held his hand out.

She nodded and took his hand.

“Where are we going?” Ellie asked.

“To the Wreck.” Alice said, joining them.

“What’s the Wreck?”

“A skate park, some of our friends hang around there. Do you skate?”

“Yeah, the previous town I was in had a few ramps.”

“Cool! You can borrow my skates then.” Alice offered.

“Oh, no, not skates. I skateboard.”

“Oh yeah?” Clark asked “You can borrow one of mine then.”

“Thanks.”

They made a detour to Clark’s house to pick up the extra board. It was an old creep house like Ellie’s; not as big though, more run down. Clark disappeared for a few minutes around the back of his house and came back with the board and a helmet.

“Are you kidding?” She laughed.

“Safety first.” Clark tapped on the helmet.

“Screw safety, it messes up my balance. I’m more likely to get hurt wearing it.”

He rolled his eyes, bowled it down the alley that led to his garden and handed the board to her.

“Where are yours?”

“At the park.” Alice said.

“Let’s go before my arse of a brother gets home.”

They left Clark’s house and made their way to the Wreck. The park was twice as big as the one in the preceding one. There were two sixteen foot halfpipes, quarterpipes and grind boxes.

Alice and Clark led Ellie over to a small cabin and they knocked on the hatch. After a minute wait, the hatch opened. A rugged looking man sat in the cabin, a grisly untamed beard hiding two lip piercings and a gradient two shaved head. A thick scar covering his face, starting from his left temple and ending on the right side of his jaw.

“Hey Clark, how’s it going man?”

“Not bad Max.”

“What one today?”

“Number three.”

“Number three, shit day at school then?”

“Yeah you could say that; if you hadn’t already noticed this beauty.” He turned his face showing the bruise.

“Jeez man, what’s the reason for this one?”

“Saving this one’s arse.”

He stepped aside to reveal Ellie, standing there, guilt ridden.

“Aha, I see. Saving a damsel in distress.”

“Something like that.” He laughed.

“Okay, number three coming up.”

He vanished for a second and returned with a board then gave it to Clark. He lent forward and looked at Alice.

“Hey babe, what are you having today?”

“Five please.”

“Ah, feeling daring?”

“Yeah, I want to try some new tricks.”

“Alright, five coming up.”

He left and came back with a pair of worn skates and handed them to her.

“How about you?”

“I’ve already got one.”

“Okay.” Clark and Max bumped fists and then he closed the hatch.