Firebolt(47)

“I don't know, Becky,” I said honestly.

“Elena?”

“I didn’t see him yesterday at all. He’s clearly ignoring me. What if Arianna got through to him?” My eyes started to sting. I couldn't imagine myself without him.

“He is probably just doing the gentlemanly thing by giving you some space.”

Maybe she was right. I would give it time. The bell rang loudly as Sammy emerged from the bathroom.

“Ah crap, I'm starving,” Sammy complained.

“Before you know it, it will be lunch,” Becky said, trying to console her.

I didn't care about food at that moment. I was just glad that Becky had come back. We both helped her down the stairs.

“Shoot!” Becky shrieked.

“What is it?” Sammy asked, concern filling her voice.

“I forgot to pick up my new schedule.”

“Schedule for what!” I said.

“Classes. It’s so going to suck not being able to share any with you, Elena.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m starting a new schedule now that I have claimed George. He’s going to be a thorn in my butt.”

“New schedule?”

“I know it sucks. At least you don't have a second shadow.”

“So you’re not going to be in class with me anymore.” I could feel how my air pipe tightened, making it difficult to breathe.

She shook her head.

“Without you, I'm so screwed. I'm going to fail.”

“You're not going to fail, Elena, we'll help you.” Sammy tried to put me at ease.

“How, Sammy? You don't have one class with me and everything is already sounding like Greek.” I was very close to tears.

“Look, I’ve got to go. It will be fine, Elena. We'll sort it all out later. Now, we all have to get to class before the second bell rings,” Becky ordered. I sulked as I walked to my first period. They were wrong. I was so screwed.

I made it to my seat just in time when the second bell rang. Sir Edward began with a new chapter, and I barely took any notice of what he said. The pop quiz after was hard. Mystery was one of the only classes I didn't suck at, but I found myself struggling just the same.

Without Becky, Art of War was even more painful. My bruises from yesterday hadn't even healed properly, and I learned that Collin was now my permanent partner. For the love of blueberries, he didn't know what the word “mercy” meant. I felt as if I was about to die when the bell rang for lunch. I barely made it to the room to take a shower.

I cried while the hot water ran over my cuts. The water around my feet swirled in a pinkish current as it mixed with the blood from my wounds.

Becky and Sammy were waiting for me at one of the tables when I finally entered the cafeteria. Lucian was still nowhere to be seen, and I wanted to cry again.

They waved excitedly, but their smiles disappeared the minute they saw me. My eyes were swollen from all the crying, and I looked like I had been hit by a truck.

“Elena, what’s wrong?” Sammy asked.

I hated how that question triggered my tear ducks and my lower lip started to vibrate uncontrollably. I fell down on my arms and sobbed. This was so embarrassing.

“Elena?” Sammy patted me on the back.

“I’m not cut out for any of this!”I yelled. The entire cafeteria fell silent, but I didn’t care anymore. "Just look at me!" I showed them my elbows.

The girls tried to soothe my uncertainty.

I decided to leave as their feeling-sorry-expressions just prompted more tears. Where the hell is Lucian?

I lay on my bed when Becky and Sammy entered.

“Elena, it's going to be fine,” Becky soothed.

“How, Becky? I feel so stupid.” My words barely came out through all the sobs.

“You’re not stupid,okay. You’re dealing with so much,and it’s a wonder that you’re still sane, Elena. Most of the people that come from the other side lose their minds in the first week.” Sammy tried to calm me as well.

“I can understand why.”

“Come here?” Becky hugged me. “We’ll help you, promise, and before you know it, everything will be a walk in the park.”

“Becky, it's not that easy. I didn't grow up with Dragons. No offense, Sammy.”

“None taken.”

“And I never had anything like this on the other side. I’m not just dealing with things I never dreamed of in a million years, but I have to deal with you guys, Lucian, and everything else that goes with it.” I bawled.

“What do you mean, deal with us?”

I took a deep breath. “I already told you guys, my father made us move every three months so friends weren’t really a priority. The paranoia always drove them away.”