Auctioned off to a School for Magic

Chapter Nineteen: The Kiss

Today was going to be the first day of required practice for the school games. One of our six classes was replaced as a time for practice. We were in the school yard with all the other competitors for the games, all ages. I was staring at Alice’s group which consisted of her, Grace, Zander, Julie and some older guy I didn’t know. I turned away when I made awkward eye contact with Alice. “Which event should we practice for?” I asked Jezebeth. The games always consisted of eight events, three that were team based.

“I don’t think we need to practice for specific events yet. You should focus on using your magic and psychic abilities together.” Jezebeth said.

I was about to speak but two boys approached us. “We noticed you’re another duo so maybe you want to become a group of four so we could have better chances at ranking. We’re not in the advanced track but we’re juniors.” We could be in teams with students of other classes and grades since they don’t separate grades when competing. We’d be competing against seniors on the advanced track so I don’t expect to win. Being in the top fifteen teams was impressive enough so that’s what I was aiming for.

I shook my head. “We want to be a duo, thanks for asking though.” I said then watched them walk away confused. They were the only other duo but not by choice. “Anyways, I do need to learn to use them interchangeably. I only ever use them separately. What are you going to work on?”

Jezebeth laughed. “Physical strength. It’ll help in some of the events.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, you’re pretty weak.” I joked. “I gave Red a call the other day, I asked her if she could do anything to help us find your mom.”

“What’d she say?” She asked while stretching.

“She’s going to use her resources.” I answered and for the rest of the period we trained in the ways we said we would. After classes I trained with Natalie but I tried not speaking with her much since I think she lied about not knowing anything about Jezebeth’s mom.

Once I was done with my extra training I went to the student’s lounge to meet up with Zander and Julie. The four of us always hangout on Fridays after classes. I felt weird that Grace was there. “Hey Grace…” I said awkwardly because now I couldn’t blow off steam the way I wanted to.

Grace smiled. “Hey Ruth, I hope you don’t mind if I join you guys.” I didn’t mind but I did want to talk about personal stuff with them. And by personal stuff I meant Alice. “Alice had already made plans so I was free.” Now all I could think about was what kind of plans Alice had.

I couldn’t figure out what to say but Zander spoke for me. “She doesn’t mind but she probably just feels weird cause you’re the best friend of the girl who broke her heart.”

I covered my face with my hand. “I wasn’t in love with Alice, I just liked her and it didn’t work out so can we move on?” I moved my hand. “You’re welcome to hangout with us Grace.”

“Why didn’t it work out?” Grace asked and that confirmed to me that Alice was keeping our plan to breakout a secret. “She only told me something about you being delusional.”

I started rocking on the heels of my feet because I needed this conversation to stop before Jezebeth got here. “We just want different things that’s all. Can none of you say anything about this to Jezebeth? I haven't told her about my past feelings for Alice or that we kissed. The kiss wasn’t really a big deal it was just a kiss. A kiss I don’t want Jezebeth to know about.” I spoke quickly. “And don’t assume it’s because I have feelings for Jezebeth because I don’t.”

“Past feelings?” Grace chuckled.

I frowned. “Why is that funny?” It seemed like no one believed I moved on. I’ve been trying to think about her less and actually move on. I guess saying I’ve moved on makes me feel like maybe it is true if it’s easy for me to say.

“You should tell Jezebeth.” Julie said. “You have no reason not to, you shouldn’t keep secrets from your best friend.” I didn’t want Jezebeth to assume anything by knowing I kissed Alice. I don’t want to ruin anything.

I groaned. “Fine I’ll tell her today.” I agreed as Jezebeth walked into the longue. “Hey Jeze.” I tried to say as normally as possible but I was freaking out in my head. I know she didn’t hear anything but the fact that we were just done talking about her made me nervous.

Jezebeth smiled and waved to everyone. “Are we still going into the southern elf kingdom?”

Julie nodded. “We are but Ruth has something to tell you-” I wish she hadn’t have said that because I was hoping to get away with not telling her.

“When we get there.” I added on. “I have something I need to tell you when we get there.”

Jezebeth raised an eyebrow. “Oh, okay...”

We all went downstairs to stand in line to get a bracelet. Once we were all wearing bracelets we left. While we were walking Grace pulled me aside. “I know we don’t really know each other all that much but do you know how much you’re lying to yourself?” She asked. “I know Alice doesn’t notice but you’re always staring at her and it’s not really in the way that makes it seem like you’ve moved on. You can say it was just a kiss that didn’t matter but it mattered to Alice. She doesn’t show it but she’s really hurt that things didn’t work out. That’s all I wanted to say.” She shrugged and walked back to the rest of the group. I wasn’t sure what to think after that. I usually bury my feelings and ignore them. Even if I did admit my feelings my decision wouldn't change since I’m leaving the order so I can’t be with Alice.

Julie opened a portal for us and we walked through it to the southern elf kingdom. It was too far to walk and to teleport for us so we used a portal since it was easier to go long distances. The others went ahead into a store while me and Jezebeth stayed outside. “What did you want to tell me?” She asked even though I was hoping she wouldn’t bring it back up.

I couldn’t look her in the eyes. “It’s really not a big deal but the night I called you to come get me I had kissed Alice.” I couldn’t see her reaction because I was looking away. “She asked me out but I had to say no because of our plan that's why I told it to her. There’s no point in being with her if we’re leaving in a few months or so.” I’m not even sure if I wanted to be with her or not.

“So you do like her?” Her voice was shaky and quiet. I just knew she was assuming things that I didn’t want her to. This was a lot easier when she didn’t know. We’re leaving anyways so here knowing isn’t going to change anything.

“I did.” I shrugged. I heard her mumble a spell and when I finally went to look at her she was gone. It had to have been a teleportation spell. The feeling she left me with felt worse than I’ve felt about what happened with Alice.

I walked into the magic store and went to the group. “She left but I don’t why it upset her that much.” I felt like it might but I wasn’t sure since I thought it being a big deal was all in my head.

“She obviously likes you Ruth.” Grace said. “Everyone knows that and you know it too.”

I still couldn’t believe it. I think Jezebeth was so upset because me liking Alice could mess up our plans. “I can’t think about any of this right now, let’s talk about something else.” I started to hear the whispers which were weird since I rarely heard them in the daytime.

“If you want to think about something else then I can tell you something shitty going on in my life.” Julie suggested.

I looked at her. “Is something going on?” I knew I wasn’t the only one with problems but Julie never was one to share much about her personal life.

I assumed she had friends she was closer to who she shared that stuff with. “My mom is currently missing. The order offered her a job that they hadn’t had posted and she hasn’t came back from it. It’s been a week and no one has heard from her.” This was definitely worse than what I was going through.

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Zander asked. “What was the job?”

Julie sighed. “I don’t know, she’s not supposed to discuss the details of those kinds of jobs since they’re classified. I wasn’t sure if it was smart of me to say anything about a classified job but I have to talk about it now. I think it had something to do with the collective but I’m not sure. It’s all I’ve been able to think about. I didn’t say anything because I usually just talk about it with my boyfriend. I don’t want to talk about it with him anymore because the collective are responsible for his fathers death so I don’t want to remind him of it.” I knew Julie was seeing someone but I didn’t know anything about it. It seemed like Julie always had boyfriends and she never brought them around us so I never thought to ask more about her current one.

“Have you done location spells?” I asked.

Julie nodded. “I’ve done all I can do so now I just have to wait for her to come home.”

I looked at Zander. “Your turn to share.” I started feeling like I didn’t know my friends as much as I wanted to. I never pried into their lives or even shared much about my own because I always knew I was leaving but they are still my closest friends.

“His Dad is trying to pull him out of school.” Grace answered for him.

Zander sighed. “It’s not a big deal because he’s not going to be able to. I already told the officers he wasn’t a capable father so they’re not going to be able to release me to someone that unstable.” He shrugged. “I think it’s your turn now Ruth."

We walked out of the store. “What do you mean? You guys already know something shitty about my life, I lost Alice as a friend after we kissed and I might lose Jezebeth too at this point.”

“That doesn’t count, we want something else. Tell us something we don't know.” Zander insisted.

I sighed. “Fine, I got a letter from my Dad the other day about wanting to see me.“

They all looked confused. “Is that a bad thing?” Julie asked for clarification.

I walked in the front. “Yes because my Dad is a shitty person who enrolled me in a school I don’t want to be at for money. He sold me for money and now four years later I hear from him for the first time about meeting up.”

“Maybe he knows what he did was f****d and he wants you back.” Julie didn’t realize that there wasn’t a redeemable bone in my father's body. I never had a relationship with him and I didn’t want one now. It seems like with time he just got worse instead of better.

“That would require him to pay them back which he’d never do, I’m not worth losing that much money over.” I sighed. “I’m not going to see him.”

“You might not have a choice, there’s going to be an open event at the school where parents can come and see all the progress their children have made magically.” Grace explained. “If they’re your parents and/or guardian they can come.” This was one more thing I had to worry about. The worst part is apart of me wanted him to care but the rest of me knows I’m going to be disappointing.

Then I’m just going to have to not be there when it happens. “I’m gonna go find Jezebeth, I’ll catch up with you guys later.” I opened up a portal to the order and walked through, I checked in my bracelet and went up to our room. “Jeze?” I said as I opened the door.

Jezebeth was sitting at her desk. “Sorry about leaving, I wasn’t feeling good.” I knew what I said was the real reason for how she left like that. Me and Jezebeth were best friends so I knew it would be little hard when we started liking and dating people. A lot of friends drift away after that. We were able to go so long with it just being mainly the two of us.

I closed the door behind me then sat on my bed. “We’re still leaving you know.” I wanted her to know nothing changed.

Jezebeth stopped writing. “Maybe I don’t want to leave anymore.” She said in a serious tone.

“What?” I frowned. “What do you mean?”

She turned to me. “If we stay I can get the best education in magic and you can be with Alice. I don’t want to hold you back anymore. We’re not kids anymore… leaving was the ambition of children.” Her explanation cut me emotionally.

I didn’t like what I was hearing so I left. The one thing I wanted more than anything wasn't going to happen anymore. The first person I saw was Alice walking out of the elevator. I don’t know what I was thinking but I walked to her. “Can I sleep in your room tonight?” I don’t know if I was asking because I wanted to sleep with her tonight or because I she was the first person I saw.

Alice stared at me blankly. “Um, why? Has something changed?” It was clear to me she didn’t want to be in my life if we weren’t together. She didn’t want to be my friend.

I tear run down my cheek. “Yeah, a lot actually..." I wiped my tear away. I didn’t want anything to change but it did. "I don't know what I’m doing Alice…” I felt like breaking down and it confused me how comfortable I was with it being in front of Alice.

“Come on.” She walked to her room and we walked inside. “I just have to tell Grace, she could probably stay with Julie since Julie doesn’t have a roommate and there’s an extras bed in there.” She started texting on her phone,

My heart sped up. “She can still sleep here, I don’t mind sleeping on the floor or something…” I don’t know what my intentions were here.

Alice put her phone away. “You didn’t ask me to sleep here to sleep on the floor, did you? Ruth, if you’re going to just be confusing then you can leave.” I was frustrating her which showed me how badly she wanted to make this work because the moment she felt it wasn’t she got upset.

I covered my face with my hands when a few tears started to fall. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be confusing.”

Alice sighed and grabbed my arms and sat me on her bed. “You can sleep with me on my bed.” She started wiping my tears. “Can you tell me what happened? I’ve never seen you like this.”

I stared down at my lap. “Jezebeth doesn’t want to leave anymore. That was my goal for four years so what do I do now?”

“Easy, you set a new goal Ruth, something even more ambitious.” She sat down next to me. “What do you want?” A saw a lot of different options for things I wanted in my head.

My body acted almost entirely on it’s own because I kissed her. We were in her bed making out with her on top of me and none of it felt real to me. I didn’t want it to stop but I felt guilty. Maybe this was what I wanted.

That night the guilt washed away and I slept peacefully entwined with Alice dreaming the perfect dream.