Fairy Bad Day(27)
“Two weeks? That means you’ll miss the induction party on Sunday afternoon.” Tyler pushed his own goggles high onto his wild red hair so that it poked out in all directions. The induction party wasn’t part of the official Burtonwood annual schedule, but for most students it was considered one of the highlights. It was the last chance to really let their hair down before the next stage of their training began. It was also the least of her worries right now.
“He also said that unless he was happy with my progress he would expel me,” Emma said in what she hoped was an even voice. “There probably would’ve been more, but Barney came in and they had some top-secret talk and the next thing I knew Kessler put the whole I’m-disappointed speech on hold and couldn’t wait to get rid of me.”
“What?” Loni yelped. “I can’t believe he threatened to expel you.”
“Only if he’s not happy with my progress in the next two weeks. Which he will be.”
“What else did he say?” Tyler leaned forward. “With particular reference to this invisible fairy of yours.”
Sorry, Loni mouthed to her, and Emma guessed that Tyler had used what Loni liked to call his Leo persistence (and what Tyler called his Leo charm) to find out what had happened yesterday. Emma sighed.
“He hadn’t heard of it, which I’m pretty sure is what led him to decide to give me a detention in the first place.”
“So we still don’t know anything about this darkhel thing?” Tyler looked surprised, but Emma merely shook her head.
“Nope, and I don’t care. From now on my mission is to prove to Kessler that I’m a normal, sane Burtonwood student and not some nutcase who manages to get caught in exploding food courts and sees invisible fairies. I doubt it will be enough to get him to change his mind about Induction, but maybe by the time I graduate he might start to trust me again.”
“It won’t take that long,” Loni assured her. “And besides, as soon as someone accidentally stabs themselves with their sword, sets their tutor on fire, or worse, everyone will forget all about you. Especially now that you’re not wearing your eye patch.”
Before Emma could comment, Professor Meyers stood up from the computer monitors at the back and clapped her hands. “Okay, class, sorry about the delay, but everything’s ready to go. Now remember, I’m going to be focusing on your endurance, agility, and stamina.”
Everyone spread out across the floor so that they were each standing in one of the specially marked circles that would help record all their vital statistics as the simulation fight took place. Emma pushed her goggles back over her nose and checked that her gloves were properly strapped just as a red light flashed in front of her eyes to let her know her test was about to start. Then she lifted her hands in a defense stance as a virtual cassock dragon made the first move. It was a predictable one, and Emma nimbly danced out of its way before sending in an uppercut. The fight was under way.
Twenty minutes later the red light blinked in her goggles to let her know it was over. She pushed them back on top of her head just as the bell rang.
“Okay, no class tomorrow,” Professor Meyers announced, “but on Friday, as part of the Alternative Slaying Practices assignment Principal Kessler has given you, you’re going to have a simulation battle with your assignment partners, and we’re going to concentrate on strength and speed.” Most of the class made a groaning noise as they put away their equipment and headed for the change rooms, where they had a quick shower.
“So you and Curtis will have to do a simulation battle on Friday.” Loni raised an eyebrow as she rubbed her short spiked hair dry with a towel. “Interesting.”
“Not as interesting as the fact that you’ll have to fight Brenda.” Emma grinned back at her friend as she stepped into her slightly crumpled skirt and pulled on her white shirt.
“Don’t remind me.” Loni made a groaning noise as they finished getting changed. Emma was just attempting to do something constructive with her hair when Loni asked, “Since we’ve got a free period, do you want to go to the library or study hall?”
“Library,” Emma immediately said as she thought of all the course work she had been ignoring lately. If she wanted to show Kessler a new and improved her, she would really need to get it all done.
As they continued down the hall, she caught sight of Curtis leaning against a wall, his crutches propped up next to him, his dark eyes serious and brooding. The instant he saw her, he straightened his spine in a way that let her know he had been waiting for her. Suddenly Emma felt guilty for snubbing him in the cafeteria earlier. She probably owed him an apology.
“Actually, Lon, do you mind if I talk to Curtis first?”
“Oh, interesting.” Loni widened her eyes. “Is this part of the whole I-don’t-have-a-crush-on-him thing?” she wanted to know.
“Actually, it’s part of the whole he-went-to-see-Kessler-to-try-and-convince-him-that-I-was-telling-the-truth thing,” Emma confessed.
“He tried to save your butt? I think I might love him myself.” Loni let out a dreamy sigh before she caught sight of Brenda emerging from the locker room. “So, er, while you go and talk to him, I’ll just wait for you around the corner. Possibly behind a very large book so Brenda doesn’t corner me and make me do extra work.”