*(Is this all we see?)*

*~Chapter 41~*

The bell rang and he couldn't even muster another word. Nick quickly stood up, holding his hand out for Midnight to take. He waited. Should he? He didn't know. Midnight pulled his hand from his pocket, laying it down gently into Nick while clutching it to stand. Nick looked down at him with a cocky smile. "You're so short."

"Shut up." He smacked Nick's shoulder. "I get it from my mom."

"Which one?" Of course, he had to ask. Midnight didn't want to get mad at him. He didn't know. Midnight grabbed his satchel from the snow-covered ground. "My biological one. She's short too."

"Ah." Nick's footsteps could be heard by Midnight when he started to walk to the doorway. He was close behind him, almost stepping on his heels with the tip of his toes. "Hey." Midnight stopped in front of the door when Nick's sudden hand gripped his shoulder. Nick was pulled on Midnight's forearms so he'd look at him. "Thanks for listening to me. I appreciate it."

"Always. Nicolas." He jokingly said. His lips became a large smile to try not to laugh. Nick scoffed, hitting his arm gently. "Don't call me that."

Midnight opened the school door and entered, Nick followed. "I'll remember that." Midnight yelled behind him as they departed. His smile couldn't help but exist. And it wouldn't leave even when he walked into class.

~~~~~

Nick drove Midnight home afterschool. It seemed pretty odd that he basically forced him into his car, but that they just started talking and he's already acting like nothing happened. 'If I mention it, I'll ruin something.'

Midnight waved back to Nick as he left his car. It didn't smell like cigarettes this time. "Did you quit?" He had asked. Nick didn't answer, but of Midnight could read minds like Dawn could, he'd want to know.

He opened the door to the house, Dawn and Leah in the kitchen preparing something at the kitchen. Fawn was in the living room but Lilly wasn't. "Hey." He quietly said.

"Midnight!" Dawn ran over to him, holding his shoulder. "You're home! Okay so..Leah and I are preparing an elaborate dinner for..you know just to do it." She smiled quickly, sucking air through the small gap in her teeth. "Do have time to help before you have to meet with Cedar?"

"Um. I guess. Why are you in such a good mood?"

"Because I am." She leaned in close. "Because you are." She whispered.

"I'm not." Midnight disagreed. He took off his satchel and placed it at the corner of the stairs. He took his jacket to put it on the hanger above the heater to dry. "I just. The day was different."

"Different?"

"Nick and I are friends now I guess. He's worked out his issues and apologized and—." He felt his cheeks heat. "And we're friends."

"But you like hi—"

"Okay Dawn leave your brother alone he's got a friend we don't need to pick on him."

~~~~

"Focus." Cedar snapped after the millionth time that Midnight had gotten sidetracked. His mind was elsewhere. Obviously. Midnight glanced at Cedar's irritated gaze. "I'm sorry okay?"

"You're so distracted."

"Yes. I am. I'm a highschool student who is spending all their supposed free time on being a half-evil magical being who guess what? Is apparently supposed to lead an army into battle. So sorry."

Cedar exhaled slowly. "I get the stress Midnight. I've been leader since before you were born. Gaia died before Leah became leader. It's been a while."

Midnight stood up. "No you don't understand. I'm evil. By blood I'm majority of evil." He turned away. "How can I lead an army of guardians to a battle when they don't even trust my judgement." He felt a cold hand on his shoulder. He closed his eyes, an attempt to ease his nerves. "Things will be difficult. But you must train to be ready for this approaching battle."

"When will it be?" He asked nervously.

"We're not sure. That's why we must train." She pulled herself in front of him. "I know you can lead us. You are a far more powerful leader than I am."

"I'm 16."

"Age doesn't tell how much magic you're capable of." She whispered. "Age is just how long you've lived, not a numeral calculation of your magic."

He straightened up. Looking up to the trees. Midnight pushed his leg back, his other perched as if he was proposing. He took a breath. 'Remember this is good for you.' His legs helped him run to the trees, the air blew around him, parting in his trail. Everything turned blurry. Until he stopped. Looked down. Cedar. The ground. The tree..he looked up.

The upper branches were above him, blowing gently against the cold breeze. Was this passed the borders? "See?" Cedar yelled. "Training helps. Now come back down."

He hesitated against the small, skinny branch he was on. His sneakers peaked of the edge. "How?"

"Jump!" How would he do that. Didn't that mean death. 'But you got up here. You can get down.'

He took another sharp breath. Edging his feet off of the edge and letting go. Again the air parted. And he soon felt the ground against his feet. "Jesus Christ." He pat himself off. "Impressive." Nova appeared from behind the tree. He recognized her voice before even looking at her. He knew Nova since he was a child, baby maybe. "I've never seen a halfblood as old as you adjust to magic with only a half year of training. Well—hardly any training." She paused to look him over. "He's the perfect match Cedar." She said slowly, and with a slight cast of judgement.

"I assumed so." She spoke blankly to her successor. "He had the same dream. Delilah told me of what she had seen as well. She's his aunt."

"I know. Fawn was a brilliant leader. You know she retired for you?" Nova's look was almost disappointed. Midnight nodded simply, hoping not to make anything more awkward. "She retired to have a life. To have children."

"I understand." She mustered out a smile for a moment, until looking back to Cedar. "We have border arrangements to get to. Midnight can be dismissed."

~~~~~