Fire and Ice

Chapter 26: Silent Pleas

"Vega, you need to relax. I'm sure you'll get your schedule soon," Kim says.

With trays packed with food in hand, we exit the lunch line and make our way to our table where Nicci and Jade are already digging into the tacos that were the main item on the menu today.

"It's been nearly a week since he came over for dinner, and we haven't heard anything from him. I mean how long does it take for someone to create a simple schedule?"

"I'm sure it will be fine. You just have to be patient."

"What's going on?" Jade asks with a mouth full of tacos.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Nicci snaps as she slaps Jade on the shoulder.

Rolling her eyes, Jade covers her mouth with her hand and says, "I don't know why you even bother trying to get me to stop because you and I both know I won't. Especially since I know it annoys you."

"Dammit, Jade, you know I hate it when people talk with their mouths full," Nicci whines and covers her ears with her hands like a child.

Chuckling, Jade takes another big bite of her taco and mumbles sentence after sentence as close to Nicci's ears as she can. Kim and I laugh as Nicci squeals and tries her best to squirm away from Jade who is trying to hold her down so that she can talk directly into her ear.

"Please... please stop," Nicci begs as she laughs so hard that she starts crying.

"Jade, I think you've made your point. Leave Nicci alone before she pees her pants... again."

Like someone flipped a switch, Jade moved away from Nicci and quietly finished the rest of her taco allowing Nicci to recover from the attack.

"But seriously, Vega, what's going on?" she asks and wipes leftover sauce from the corners of her mouth.

I sigh and shake my head. "It's nearly been a week since Chris came over for dinner, and I still haven't gotten my training schedule yet and it's freaking me out."

"Oh don't worry about it those things always take like forever to come. Trust me you'll be fine."

"Besides you're already a very powerful bender so you'll be able to catch up quickly," Nicci says with a smile.

"That's what my parents keep telling me but I'm so tired of waiting. I just want to get started." My nerves buzz with the cold so I close my eyes and take some deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. Over and over until the cold slinks back into the depths of my soul.

"Don't worry you'll be fine. Just wait and see."

I force myself to smile which is honestly more for their relief than mine.

"Yeah, everything will be fine."

* * * *

As always the girls were right and everything was fine. That same day as I got home from school both of my parents rushed over to me, and my dad threw his phone into my hands to show me that my schedule had arrived. It took hours for the excitement to tone down and even longer for me to stop reciting the letter I received along with the schedule.

Dear (Miss) Vega Kate

I am honoured to invite you to join us at the prestigious Los Angeles Training School for Icebenders. You have greatly impressed me with your strength and I do not doubt that you will serve our kind well. I am excited to be a part of your training journey and can not wait to see where you go. Please refer to your schedule for all important details about your training and I will see you soon.