fragile time

~chapter 4~

Then, there was my partner in crime, 'Second-In-Command E. Willows'. If something ever happened to me, Emily would take over my position as Leader, I trusted her– more than I'd ever trusted anyone. We always fought side by side, and we always promised to never turn on each other. Everything I knew, she knew, and vice versa. We swore we wouldn't keep anything from each other, and that was a promise I lived by.

'The Leader M. Summers'. More words I was sworn to. As I said before, it was hard being the leader. The entire fate of the team rests in your hands. Yes, that's what we were.. A team. Not a group, not friends, not a bunch of kids... A team. We all had each other. I'm getting off topic, sorry, right, back to me, The Leader. It's a lot of pressure, you know. All of them look up to me, and if I say or do one thing wrong– it could ruin everything. Especially in battle, I call the shots. If I tell someone to do something in a fight and something goes wrong, it's on me. All of them pledged their loyalty to our friend group— team — when they joined. When I became the leader, I told the five of them I would always protect them no matter what. More words I lived by.

"Micheal!" Taylor practically screamed, breaking me out of my daze, "Are you alive?!" I swiftly directed my attention back towards the table.

"Where's Emily?" I asked, realizing she wasn't in her usual seat to the right of me. Blade started laughing, and soon the other three joined in. "What's so funny?"

"That's what we were trying to tell you before you zoned out on us!" Xavier chuckled. I rolled my eyes. So what, I zone out a lot? I have a lot to think about. He continued, "Emily was by the lockers looking for you. She said she had something she wanted to talk to you about in the treehouse."

"We offered to go along," Taylor added, "but she said she wanted to be alone with you." My stomach dropped, and suddenly I wasn't so hungry anymore. Something bad had happened. It's not everyday that Emily wanted to have lunch in the treehouse, especially with just me. Whatever she wanted to talk to me about, she didn't want to cause panic.

"Maybe today's the day that she'll finally tell you!" Blade smirked.

"Tell me what?" I asked. Emily wouldn't keep anything from me, would she?

"Oh, come on, it's soo obvious." Taylor shook her head, taking another sip of her blood.

"What's obvious?" Panic started to engulf me like the clouds over the sun. Did she not keep her promise as I've always kept mine? She wouldn't do that, would she? I have faith in her. Perhaps whatever she was meaning to tell me wasn't bad. Maybe it was a surprise or something. Yes. That's the mindset I needed to have.

Lillith shut down whatever the others were talking about, "Micheal, do not take note of them. Go search for Emily."

"Thank you." I nodded towards Lillith before leaving the table as quickly as I'd come.

~✶~

Summers,

If you're reading this, you probably went to lunch. The others should've told you I was looking for you. I'm in the treehouse. There's something we need to talk about.

E. Willows

~✶~

That was the note that was left on my locker. After reading it, I darted out the door of the school and ran through the forest at vampire speed. Whatever had happened, I didn't think it was good.

I finally approached the treehouse and climbed the ladder to the balcony. The wood creaked under my weight, but I didn't doubt if it would support me. The treehouse had been standing for a long time, and I was proud of it. I built it when I was a kid, and it served as a hangout spot for my friends and me. The treehouse has been our safe space since.. forever. When I opened the wooden door, the familiar smell of wood wafted through the air. Different bookshelves, pillows, a hammock, a desk, and blankets were laid out all over— along with some of the team's personal possessions.