A Claim to Magic

A Friend

      CHAPTER SIX

Corrie awoke at five A.M. The plane was descending. Corrie could tell that the ground was near by the tiny flecks of white light from below. She was exhausted, she pulled her head up, Elizabeth and Betsy were still asleep, Corrie shook Elizabeth, not bothering to wake Betsy, she didn't want Betsy to hear what she was going to tell Elizabeth, "I have an idea," she began, "I think I might know what to do." Elizabeth looked utterly confused. Corrie decided she ought to start at the beginning, "Well I have a plan, it's about the Ojoo, I need to show you something, she picked up her book, this book is called Fable Maker, it's magical, and I think this could help us fight, we could spy." Elizabeth looked worried, Corrie continued, "Look here, this book shows you other peoples' views on a situation, and I think, if I can find out how, we can alter it to show us the situation of the Ojoo." She had gotten this idea when the book had shown her a particularly odd way of looking at her situation,

They are fighting over a friend, a friend!

Elizabeth's mother is wishing that Elizabeth

Had a friend right now, she doesn't know

That there are sisters fighting over her daughter right now...

The book had given Corrie a perspective, along with information about Elizabeth's mother, that she was hoping that Elizabeth would have a friend, and that she didn't know about Corrie and Betsy.

"I don't know," Elizabeth's reply startled Corrie, "we could get in trouble, or, even worse, the Ojoo could figure out that we know what they're doing and come after us." She looked towards Betsy, "you should talk to Betsy she is probably-"

"I don't want to talk to Betsy, and I'm going to try to find out how to do this." She lay down with her back facing Elizabeth, she didn't want to be told that this was a bad idea, she had enough doubts on her own.

Twenty minutes later, they were outside, they were in Luxembourg, their school was only a short drive away. Corrie glanced over at Betsy, she looked miserable, like she wished she could sink through the ground, Corrie knew that Betsy didn't want to go to the magic school, but she couldn't work out why. Betsy had seemed so excited before the first plane ride, how could her attitude have changed so abruptly? Corrie had no idea. She didn't mind it, after all, Betsy had tried to make Corrie lose her only friend, and almost succeeded at that. It seemed like Betsy deserved this. She deserved to be going somewhere she didn't want to be, and to stay there for ten years too. It's only too bad that you can only attend Muta for six years. Corrie thought to herself. Right after this thought came into Corrie's head, she regretted thinking it, even if it was just a thought, and Corrie couldn't help but think it, she felt as if she had betrayed her sister.

Corrie made her way towards Betsy, she wanted to apologize, she wanted to admit that she was wrong, and tell Betsy that she wanted to stop being mad, that she was sorry. Corrie had realized that even if Betsy had been trying to make her lose her friend, she knew she didn't want to lose her sister.

A man in a bright yellow coat blocked Corrie's way, "What're you doin'?" He asked, "stay over there where you belong!" He pointed towards the area that Corrie had just come from, "tryin' t' cut, are yeh?" Corrie shook her head, her eyes on Betsy, she was moving away from Corrie, towards the cars that were lined on the street. Corrie watched her go, she scowled at the man in the yellow coat, he was smirking at her, amused at her situation. She turned around and rejoined Elizabeth.

"What were you doing?" Elizabeth inquired, "It looked as if you were trying to cut."

"I wasn't." Corrie said, "I was trying to apologize to Betsy."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't really think you would cut, I was just wondering," She was looking at the ground, her face red, and her eyes refusing to meet Corrie's, "and I wanted to make sure, so I asked him to check..." She was afraid of Corrie's reaction, it was obvious, there was something in the way she refused to meet Corrie's gaze.

"I'm not mad," Corrie's reply made Elizabeth confused, "I completely understand, I'm sure I would have done the same thing."

Elizabeth smiled, "thanks," she hugged Corrie, "I wasn't sure, I mean, it did stop you from talking to Betsy and I didn't want you to-"

"It's fine, I know I can be... well, you know." They both laughed.

"alrigh' everyone, hurry up!" The man that had stopped Corrie was now ushering people into cars, cranky and irritable. As Corrie passed him he scowled, sticking out his foot. Corrie dodged it, making him trip over himself. She laughed, along with many others.

"That was a good one," Elizabeth laughed, "it was hilarious!" Corrie grinned, happy to have a friend.

For twenty minutes Corrie and Elizabeth talked, laughing and enjoying themselves. It seemed Elizabeth always knew exactly what to say, it was almost as if she could read Corrie's mind, the way she always knew what to say. Elizabeth felt like an old friend already.