Spellbound

Chapter Twelve

I can't believe I'm thinking about going back to the Falls.I mean, I díd almost die there. Thinking about it made me think about Athan even more. The conversation we had was running through my mind on repeat. It was annoying really, because thinking about him means thinking about what he did, how he saved me and thinking about how he saved me made me think about his mumbling words, which ultimately made me wonder how he knew that strange language and I didn't know him enough to ask. The cycle was a never-ending mulling and was mentally draining. I told myself that I would forget about what happened, that it was too mind-draining and look, I'm doing exactly that. Maybe I need answers. No, I do need them.

I was completely mad at myself for not doing what I told myself to do.

I wanted to slap myself out of this reverie.

All this time I'm complaining about my subconscious driving me crazy, when in fact, it was me that's driving myself mad. I guess madness and lying is my new specialty, I thought bitterly.

The following week was a bit of a haze. Last term assignments and PAT's were handed out, teachers were scrambling to get the students to start studying and motivating them to work harder.

Everything sounded like the same tune played every year over and over to me.

Please work harder...yada yada, Get better marks...yada yada. I'm an expert in tuning them all out. It's better that way.

No unnecessary stress.

Alice, on the other hand, made it her mission to help me prepare. And we've been studying together for this past week. Granted, the exams is only four weeks away, Alice is always focused on starting off early. I'm basically forced to do so, too. But I understand the implications of studying the night before. It has showed too many times on my report card. I'm saying 'understand' to make it sound like I care that much. Just because I understand, doesn't mean I'm not going to do it, still.

"Leah! Focus, come on. We've only been studying for an hour and a half, and you're already zoning out." Alice's voice interrupted my train of thoughts. I gave a very big sigh. And this, ladies and gents, is the first study session of mine and Alice's. We were at the Wilder's and currently sat at a desk in on of the many studies Mr. Wilder has. The desk was covered in pages with Bio notes and pictures on it. It's actually interesting, but Bio is hard as hell. 95% of the time, I'm wondering why I hated myself so much for choosing this subject.

"Come, on. This is pretty serious stuff. I can hardly pronounce these words." I mumbled.

"Yeah, but if you recite them enough, they get stuck somewhere in that brain of yours."

I sighed, " Okay sure. Let's just carry on." The sooner we get this done the better. Mrs Wilder knocked on the door about an hour later with snacks and drinks. I jumped at the opportunity for a break.

"No one can study on a empty stomach." Mrs Wilder said as she sat down the platter with sandwiches, fruits, sweets and the two glasses of coke.

" Thanks, Mrs Wilder," I said gratefully as I took a glass and a sandwich. Mrs Wilder smiled her dazzling smile. " Of course, you girls carry on okay." With that, she left the room and softly closed the door behind her.

Alice and I started eating and engaged in small talk. After that we continued with our work.

It was only later, an hour before I needed to get home, we decided to stop for the day, much to my delight and hang out in the backyard, on the patio.

"Hey, did you hear about the storm breaking out?" I asked her as she sat down opposite me at the picnic table. A frown formed between Alice's brows as she glanced up at the sky. It was still the same bruise-color as the last few weeks. The sun hasn't been visible ever since they announced it on the weather channel.