Wednesday came by pretty fast.
A vibration with a quiet ring to it began as soon as Ocean, Kyle and I stepped foot into the school halls. We three glanced at one another. Our accessories didn't ring often and when they did, it was serious. Bizro gave these bracelets to the group a year ago.
We only use them for emergencies and communication.
The bracelets were unique. They were covered in beads with a rectangular metal plate. Written on it was our element. Each one a different color. Mine was emerald. Oceane's a turquoise blue. Yamma's—orange. Cole's—gray. Kyle's—ice blue. Sven's—sapphire. It aligns with each of our elements.
We raced to the hideout beneath the school as fast as we could.
"What's the matter?" Cole walks in through the main door, as the last one to arrive
"I was just going to tell everyone the news," said Bizro, standing by the table with the digital screen placed within. "What is it?" Sven questioned rounding up by the same table. "Well, as you all know. We defeated the shadow king last year and sent him away to a secure magical prison. Planets away from this one." He started,
"Go on…" encouraged Yamma.
He ignored her.
"There's still evil forces out there and one of them is still the shadow kingdom." He continued. I guess that's true. Their people wouldn't just go quite without their king. They'd still cause trouble. Especially the other kingdoms. It could be their chance to conquer the land for themselves, whilst it's at its weakest. "But didn't we defeat the king?" Cole interrupted.
"Yes. But in the kingdom, we've found out that there's a shadow queen, and along with that, a shadow prince and princess." Bizro finishes his message. A prince. A princess. And on top of that a queen. They wouldn't take the opportunity to take the land then, right? "What!" Kyle exclaimed in confusion. That was loud.
"And you just figured that out now?" Oceane slams her hands on the table. They do take a while to receive info.
My fingers reach my lip. A habit I do while thinking. "We've just been told by one of the undercover ELE warriors in the shadow kingdom." Zendia has undercover agents in the shadow kingdom and can't deliver an urgent message within a certain period of time.
They don't appear to be very organized. "The king must have been keeping them a secret," added Daniel. And yet we're tangled in this–magical war.
"So, what's the plan?" I ask, dropping my hand to the side. "The only thing we can do is prepare for what's coming. Before it's too late." answered Sven, in a serious manner of tone. Bizro and Daniel agreed, with the majority of us.
A while later we sat down on the bean bags and sofa.
While Daniel and Bizro went into the lab room.
"We need to do extra training then. Don't you think, guys?" Cole suggests, lying on one of the bean bags, with his shoes resting on the clear coffee table.
"I guess…" Oceane slowly agrees. Everyone else barely agreed.
Don't we already train enough?
Our—abilities, strength, martial arts, weaponry.
"Okay, that's settled. We have to practice during both breaks," Kyle leans forwards from the navy blue sofa. I know that we still need a bunch more training. I mean we only started practising martial arts and combat movements last year. That's barely enough time to win a battle with just a weapon against a swordsman. We got lucky last time, that's all.
"But what do we do about the new student?" Yamma crosses her legs onto the coffee table from the sofa. "He's going to be lonely," I pointed out, "though he'll make more friends. So it's fine." I changed my mind. The room was silent. Oceane spoke. "Wouldn't it be rude to suddenly brush him off, like that?" Maybe. "Would it look like that?" Yamma looks at Oceane awaiting a response. She nods.
"I know!" Sven stands up. Lifting a hand up as if he was answering a question in class.
"Why don't we play rock, paper, scissors and whoever loses, accompanies Callob" I looked around and everyone seemed to agree, apart from me.
Shouldn't we all get the same amount of training.
But so it was, one out of five.
We all put fists in the middle. I'm super bad at this game. I'm going to lose for sure.
Why did we have to settle on this one? I'm crying in my mind. I hate this.
Oceane won first then Cole second, Yamma third, Kyle fourth.
Now. Only two left, Sven and I. I can't deal with this.
I won't give up.
I won't waste my time attempting to strike up a conversation to someone I barely know. I'd rather spend my time doing my own things. Come on…I can win this.
"Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot!" Yamma chanted for us.
Sven halted in motion and shaped his fingers, playing paper when… Iplayed rock. Sven wins.
"Noooo. Can't we play again!" I complain dramatically. This is horrible. I close my eyes as my hand rests on my face.
"No. Sorry no replays." Cole disagreed, "but I've barely talked to Caleb since he's been here." I ongoingly complain. "It's a great excuse for you to talk to him now, no?" reasoned Sven, slowly patting my back, hoping to cheer me up. "I guess…"
"But I'm not the best at conversations," I explained. Oceane and Kyle look at one another then back at me, "that's true." Oceane says. "It's a great way to practise," Sven adds.
"Plus, we all can't just ditch him," Yamma stated. Sitting back down. "Uhh…Fine." I look up to the pale ceiling, hoping for it to send me to another universe.
But no. Still here.
I have a bad feeling about this. Being alone with Callob.
There's something about him that just doesn't fit. I said goodbye to my friends and left the hideout to find Callob as it was break time. I wander up the hall, where my locker resides and grab my snack. A container full of green grapes. Plain and simple.
Now to find my losing prize. I head outside where the crowds are. I scan the area. He's not there. Maybe by the tree's.
I head back inside; to exit another outside area. I peek through the window. Green grass surrounds the area. The trees were crowded with people other than him.
I look towards the benches. A douchebag came to sight. Zane. Shouldn't he be with his girlfriend? My gaze drifts to the right, to another bench. The individual is sitting alone.
The back of their head registered, a familiar shape in a crowd of strangers. Dark. Not too short. Not too long either. Their head shifts my way. Callob's side profile comes into view. Found him.
I should walk up to him, shouldn't I.
My feet do it without another thought. Man, maybe I shouldn't. His eyes land on me. He saw me now. It's too late.
"Hi Callob, how are you?" a smile forms out of habit as I sit down next to him, "I'm alright." His response was expressionless. As well, sad.
"What have you been up to?" I say without anything else to ask in mind. "Nothing." What a lively response.
It's silent. Okay. No need to carry on the conversation. I open the container and plop a grape in my mouth.
"What do you do in your free time?" I asked him a common question. He stares at me. Far too long.
"It's okay if you don't want to respond," I assure him. I shouldn't make him push himself to open up if he doesn't want to. He looks ahead away from me. "Not much. Walks perhaps." His voice was relaxed as well on guard. That's lame. He looks at me. "What about you?" His voice is soft and mischievous. My free time consists of mostly–"watching series, sports and listening to music." I replied. "What sports?" he fiddles with his fingers, "running and a mix of martial arts" I tell him while I stare upon the clouds. It would be nice if the weather wasn't this gloomy.
"A mix." he mutters to himself. "Where do you learn martial arts?" I halt my breathing for a second to think of what his aim was. Nevertheless, he may be asking out of curiosity for himself. "Online." Online. Was the only thing that came to mind as an excuse. "Know where else?" I shake my head.
I distract myself by eating grapes while staring ahead. "Where are you from?" he asks, out of nowhere.
"I'm from here, though I'm part Canadian." I over share. I never met my father. He was gone before I could walk. He left the house for his career, at least that's what everyone tells me. "Are you from here?" I ask in consideration of his question. He shakes his head. Leaning forward. "I need to talk to you," he stood up, before me. Ignoring my question beforehand. Then lent a hand out for me. A swift scent of clove covered the air within seconds but just like that it was gone. "Okay," it shouldn't be anything dangerous. "What is it?" I somehow manage to ask calmly, even though fear piled up within me. There's no reason to be scared, he's just a casual human being. And yet. I was.
"Not here."
I nodded, placing my hand in his. Why did I let him take my hand! I should have been more cautious.
I sigh–due to my recklessness. Who in this era offers a hand for a classmate just to go somewhere.
It's kindness. Don't overthink it.
A snug warmth wrapped around my hand, like a warm mug of Milo on a chilly morning.
I don't think I've held a guy's hand before. This just proves how little personal contact I have with people.
All my focus on my surroundings faded the moment we started walking. I couldn't help but notice how his hand was a bit rough around the edges with slightly calloused fingers. His palm was firm and strong, with visible veins and a slight crease from repeated use of his fingers. His fingers themselves are long and slender, with a mix of short fingernails. His hand covered mine, warm and comforting as a cuppa on a winter arvo. When I finished examining his hand, I looked up.
I found myself dragged back into the hallway, where all the classrooms were.
Where are we going?
Is he looking for an empty classroom? "Hey, Callob-" I was just about to ask, when suddenly I'm dragged through a doorway and into a quiet, dim room.