Elemental Eclipse

🌻Chapter Four; Part Two: Judgement Day🌻

Rachael walked into the school library to report for detention, looking around at the never ending supply of books with a strange comfort. She spotted Beckett sitting at one of the back tables surrounded by stacks of books, and heading over to him.

"Hey, um, I'm not late, am I?" Rachael asks, as she approaches him.

"No, I was already here." Beckett says, glancing up at her from the book he was reading. His eyes narrowed at her when he spotted Tim sitting on her shoulder. "Familiars aren't allowed in the library. Did you not read the sign?"

"No, who reads the signs? They're really just suggestions." Rachael scoffs.

"You're ridiculous. Just send him to the ether." Beckett says returning his attention back down to his book.

"Uh...Go to the ether?" Rachael says confused, but trying to not to seem completely clueless. Tim disappeared immediately with a happy little croak. "Where'd he go?"

"Don't worry, he'll come right back when you call. And he'll be perfectly happy there with all the other off-duty familiars." Beckett explains closing the book he was reading and standing up.

"Are you studying already? School just started, yesterday!" Rachael asks, confused on why anyone would do that.

"Slacking off gets you nowhere. Though I'm sure you already know that by now." Beckett grumbles, defensively.

"Right..." Rachael nods, having thought that they were past this little rivalry thing.

"I got our service assignment from Mr. Korningshwip, the librarian. We're supposed to reshelve the Attuned history section from 1309 to 1350." Beckett explains.

"That doesn't sound terrible. It's only fifty years. Where's that section?" Rachael asks, looking around.

Beckett pointed to the nearest isle of books that looked like it continued on forever, into the darkest depths of the library. "It goes all the way down."

"We'll be here forever." Rachael sighs. "But at least all we have to do is put some books in the right place."

He pointed up at the dozens of books fluttering and zooming around the air like birds.

"Oh...good point." Rachael frowns, already over with this assignment.

"Let's get to work, shall we?" Beckett asks.

—

Almost two hours later Beckett and Rachael stood in the isle back to back putting book after book back on the shelves. She slid one into it's slot only for the one next to it to fly off the shelf.

"Ugh! This is fucking torture." Rachael mumbles, frustratedly.

"Tell me about it. This is make even me hate the library." Beckett sighs.

Rachael took a deep breath turning around to look at him, leaning against the book shelf. She watched as he effortlessly placed books back on the shelves.

"So...This morning in Dean Goeffe's you vouched for me." Rachael says.

"Yeah? So what?" Beckett asks.

"I just wanted to say thank you. I know the dean said it didn't change anything, but it did for me. So thanks..." Rachael smiles.

Beckett didn't turn around to look at her, but she noticed the tips of his ears turned a bit red. "Well...don't get used to it. I was feeling generous. Besides, I figured I owed you one for telling the dean it wasn't my fault. Just...don't make a thing out of it."

"Are you always like this?" Rachael asks, a bit frustrated with him, only because every time she thought she was close to getting him to open up to her, he shuts her out again.