fragile time

~chapter 2~

I turned around, and there was Emily, leaning against the stone wall directly beside the door. I couldn't help but to sigh with relief— and a bit of regret. Emily didn't look frustrated or angry with me, but in her eyes I could sense she was slightly hurt. From anyone else, she would have shrugged this off- however, a 'but fight your own battles' coming from her best friend..

"Fancy seeing you here." I awkwardly tried to lighten the mood, but Emily was unmoved. "Look, I mean, I just—"

She finished my sentence for me, "— need to shut up. Now, we go to detention."

I nodded as we silently speed-walked down the halls. Detention was all the way across the school, so we were in for a long walk down empty hallways. After a few moments of awkward silence, I finally continued what I was going to say earlier, "I'm sorry, Emily. I shouldn't have sp—"

Emily was quick to cut me off. "Forget about it, okay? It's fine. I don't care. I would've done the same thing to you," She shrugged her shoulders.

For some reason, I couldn't shake off the feeling with a single statement, I'd ripped her heart in half and smashed the pieces. "Can I help somehow?"

"No," Emily snapped, "It's whatever. Move on, Summers."

Definitely angry. I know Emily Willows like I know the back of my hand. I know that whenever I do something wrong, or her feelings are hurt by me, she tries to put on a tough face or shrug it off. I hurt her feelings... but now what? Emily won't let me apologize, but I can't forget about it. I continued my argument, "I'll make it up to you."

Emily sneered, "You know what, yeah, you will make it up to me. You're taking the blame for th— Gah!"

She almost tripped over a small animal with quills scurrying across the floor, though I saved her by grabbing onto her arm to help her regain her balance. "Careful," I muttered, letting go of her now, "The Study of Human Animals class has always been a mess.."

Emily's head whipped around, just in time to watch the creature scamper away. "What is that thing, Summers?!"

I closed my eyes and carefully focused on the thoughts around me so I could identify the creature. I scanned the minds around me, mentally reaching out and touching them. 'I left my lunch in my locker, didn't I?' No.. next thought. 'EW, A RAT!' The creature which almost tripped Emily was definitely not a rat. 'I wonder if they all can smell my perfume from over here..' 'She's so cute...' Nothing useful so far.

I continued quickly going through the thoughts until I heard some quieter ones, definitely further away, looking for the animal. 'Where is the hedgehog? I hope he doesn't disrupt any classes! This is all my fault!' That's it! A hedgehog.

"So?" asked Emily, interrupting my train of thought at the perfect time, "Did you figure it out yet, or are you useless?"

"Sorry," I muttered, opening my eyes and facing her, "It's a hedgehog."

Emily's own eyes widened in surprise, "A hedgehog? From the Study of Human Animals class?" Her dull expression completely melted away, morphing into an expression of excitement and pride, "That's a level one class all the way across the campus! You are getting good with this whole mind-reading thing..."

I felt the tips of my ears turning slightly red, "Really? It was nothing, honest."

"Yeah, nothing to a Mentor of Magic."

Mentor of Magic. The title has come around me for quite some time. Mentors of Magic were people who were masters of their craft. They mentored others and were the best at what they did. I knew a couple of teachers thought I was such a good telepathist, I should be a Mentor of Magic when I got older.