Blinking, I felt dazed and the crowd roared. I shook my leg but her grip was firm, every second we were becoming closer to the edge when finally, I saw her hand and I went to her fist with my fingernails and drove them into her flesh.
“AH!” She cried out and as my leg fell.
I scooted back and jumped to my feet feeling my cheek burn and my body ache.
Looking to her as she looked to her hand that was bleeding I realized I had a chance to take her out a she was close enough to fall off, I started into a run and was headed right at her when she looked up and knew she did not have enough time to move but pulled her fist back and forward before I could stop.
“AW!” I cried as we both had repercussion from the blow.
Stumbling back as she slid and teetered on the edge, the pain rose in my nose so fast that I coughed as blood started to drip like a river down my lips.
Shaking my head at the pain, I saw Delphine still teetering and with all my might I got up and started for her as she gained her balance. Again she looked to me and moved her fist back as I held close to the wall but this time I was ready and the moment before she struck I side stepped and shoved her back.
“Ahh!” Was all she could cry as she fell from the block and I wavered on the edge watching her fall.
Feeling dizzy, I fell back instead of falling forward. I felt my nose seethe in pain as I coughed out a breath and blood covered my face and shirt, but the sudden realization of shouts and applause stopped me dead in my tracks.
I looked over to find the whole room yelling and moving like a living beast and there in the front row Alissa hugged Zac as he yelled and pumped a fist in the air and Keten cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled as loud as he could over the crowds noise.
Standing up, I could not believe it as my head felt light, glancing to Mr. Sheplar he nodded and the words he said to me came back simply.
“The height is easy to see; the climb is hard because you have to want it, the thought is consuming for anyone who can’t move past their fears. The Jump; is soul because it’s a risk you have to take.”
In that moment, I understood perfectly how the secret of the SkyJump defense was for any challenge.
With a nod, Mr. Sheplar turned back to the crowd as I put my hand to my face and even Delphine stood below and nodded with a smile to me.
“Miss Deshion is our first competitor to win and thereby is given a passing grade for the rest of the semester in all her classes.”
The crowd broke into uproarious clapping and I asked myself if it was really possible. With a wide smile I looked to my friends and pumped my fist in the air making them yell even louder and the room rose with noise.
For once, you did better than you ever dreamed possible, Equila Deshion De SkyJump.
Chapter 23
“The Atrium”
I had never felt more empowered in my life. After coming off the blocks, shaking hands with Delphine who congratulated me and making my way to my friends they talked about making plans for a party.
I leaned against Keten with a cloth to my nose and before I could really take it all in I fell asleep on Keten’s shoulder and had gotten the best sleep I had had in months. I was only slightly awakened when I was in Keten’s arms. I woke just enough to stand as he put me down. I dreamily watched Keten as he and Alissa decided I needed someone to make sure I made it to my room after today’s fiasco with Jack.
Alissa kindly walked me to my room and on more than one occasion had to tell me to stop closing my eyes.
“We need to open your door.” Alissa said with a huff, half dragging and keeping me upright.
Thinking in my head for the door to open as my nose felt puffy I opened my eyes just in time to catch the slight side look from Alissa as my crystal stopped glowing.
Waking to the fear of her catching the crystal glowing I started in but still felt lightheaded as I nearly ran into the door with my only saving grace coming from Alissa who pulled me from ramming into the door and helped me walk in.
“What the heck is that doing up there?” Alissa asked as I looked up and my mind and eyes focused, realizing she meant my hammock.
“I sleep in it.” I said, starting to realize I had been held by Keten only minutes before, that would be in my dreams for the rest of time just thinking about it.
Alissa looked up the wall.
“How do you get up to it?” She asked shaking her head.
“I cli…” my words fell short as I realized all that was on the wall were nails, not even the best SkyJump competitors could climb nails alone so I knew I had to think of something fast, “I jump from the bed.” I said and felt my mind question if I was really this bad at lying.
Alissa glanced at the bed and then shrugged.
“Well alright, I get it because of the springs in these awful beds but this is new.” She said with a laugh and fully took in my room, “Is that your father?” She asked glancing behind me and I turned to see the wall of photos.
We both moved closer and I nodded as she looked at all the 4x5's.
“Wow, Quil, when you said you traveled I imagined like half the pictures that you have here.” She said with a glint of respect looking over each one.
Still feeling tired, I nodded and tilted my head.
“It was nice to travel, but it’s also nice here not having to think about moving.” I said and Alissa looked to me and nodded as she stepped back from the real bed that still got in the way.
“My father moved a lot when he was young, that’s why we never move and for me, well,” She shrugged, “I never really thought how annoying moving all the time would be until hearing about your life.” She said honestly.
I nodded and laughed lightly,
“I think I would be the same if I had not moved all the time. I did like most of the traveling, but now being here and...” I looked up to the picture of Keten and Alissa followed my gaze and her smile came back like a cat’s.
“Keten?” She asked with a grin.
I smiled and laughed,
“Yes, him.” I said and with a nod, Alissa suddenly looked like she remembered something as she turned to me.
“QUIL!” She said nearly shaking my shoulders.
“What?!” I asked rolling my eyes sleepily.
“We have to go and get our dresses for the end of term formal!” She said and I nodded to her.
Laughing I put a hand to her shoulder.
“Alissa, it’s closed right now and I’m going to fall over from how tired I feel.” I said with a lazy grin.
Alissa came out of her thoughts and nodded,
“I meant tomorrow, but you’re right you need sleep and I need to wake up early and actually work for my classes.” She said as we walked to my door.
I rolled my eyes.
“Do you really think I will get a free run in Mr. Sheplar’s class even if I beat Delphine?” I asked her and with a smile she turned to me as she stepped out of my tiny room.
“No, I guess you’re right about that.” She said and with a passing goodbye she was gone and we planned we would be finding our gowns for the end of term formal tomorrow.
I got ready for bed, half in a daze as I still tried to comprehend the idea I had beat Delphine.
Once I was up in my hammock I felt at ease, I almost felt it helped sooth my mind as I drifted off with thoughts of Keten’s arms around me and the realization of how far he had carried me.
It was easy to say my mind rested, enough that when five in the morning came around and the sun graced through my tiny window, I was up feeling like I had enough energy to take on an army.
Getting ready, I put my hair up and felt so accomplished that even my sore red nose and cheek made me smile as if they were my marks of valor.
Walking into my tiny room again I found I had easily an hour to kill before classes and even that was leaving time to wander. Taking a breath, I considered what I could do as my eyes held on the bed that was ever in my way. I had already considered going
to the atrium, but decided that though I was excited, I still had to get my nerve up to go there and planned on going right after classes ended.
I still had the perplexing problem of being up before all of the students, especially right after our test day.
“Morning.” An elderly voice said not too far outside my door.
A light bulb clicked in my mind as the problem of my bed and the voice’s owner created what I would do for the next bit until classes started.
Rushing to the door I asked the door to open in my mind and the moment it got an inch out I flung it open like an average hinged door and leaning out I called after a man walking down the hall washing the floors.
“Harold!” I called with a bright smile.
The old man tilted his head and looked around before turning and catching me waving to him. With a cheery smile he came hobbling back and nodded to me with his bushy eyebrows knitting.
“Well, if it isn’t my little newbie who went and proved how good she is,” he said with a smile, “Good mornin’ Equila,” he said kindly.
I nodded to him and smiled slightly shy at the idea even he knew I had won.
“You heard about my fight with Delphine?” I asked, he smiled broadly and nodded.
“The whole school, and then some, know by now. You’re the only one in all the ages that beat her.” He said with a grin and suddenly I felt even more embarrassed though pride did hold in my heart, “I knew you were somethin’ the day we first met,” he said with a happy chuckle and I smiled and thanked him for his kind words.
After a moment, he looked me over and tilted his head,
“Anything ya need doing, child?” He asked with a smile of both his brows and his lips.
I nodded and glanced behind me then back to him as he waited.
“Harold, can the beds be taken out of the rooms by chance?” I asked reminding myself how often I sounded like my father.
He looked at me for a moment with confusion, then his custom smile for me came back and he nodded.
“Well, I never had such a request considering most like their beds,” he said and I wondered if I would have to live with the bed for the rest of my time here. “But I do believe it is alright. Why, no one ever has not wanted a bed so I think moving one out would not make that much difference.” He said with a chuckle and with that he put down his mop in the crude black water bucket and came into my room as I moved my guitar case from leaning on the beds frame.
“Well now, I never seen a room feature like this.” Harold said, rubbing his brow.
Slightly side stepping as I took my rug from under the bed as well as my shoe boxes I nodded to him.
“I wanted to change it up,” I glanced up. “So I made a hammock.” I said and thankfully Harold just smiled and did not seem in need to know how I reached said hammock.
Moving the bed was slightly harder than I thought as fitting it thought the door took skill and a few unsightly turns. Once, we even hit Lucy’s wall and that evil little part of me hoped it woke her up like all the times she had done to me over the past months.
When we finally got the bed to the girl’s wing supply room that housed extra items we were questioned by Livina, who I had only had passing hellos with since the beginning of school. She seemed confused about the bed, but after Harold explained, she shrugged, agreeing that nothing said I could not get rid of my bed.
By the time I got back to my room after thanking Harold, who said he would continue to root for me in all my classes, I had just enough time to lay out my rug, put my shoe boxes in one corner and then grab my bag, taking one glance back and for the first time feeling like this strange little hole in the wall of a room was MY home.
The classes for the day went by quite smoothly save the fact that every teacher and student now seemed to treat me differently and in all honesty, I hated being the center of attention. We had walked down the hall from Mr. Jacobsen’s class, Zac had scoffed,
“Only Quil would hate the attention while Lucy would kill for it.” He said and though we laughed, it only lasted a moment as the thought of how threatening the day before had been made me quiver.
There was something about Jack even when I was in class that made me want to stay away from him. Even if he never looked my way this morning, I did not want to face those eyes of his that felt ruthless.
“I still need to talk to Jean.” I thought aloud and Alissa slapped her head and stopped us from walking.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you last night, Keten said Jean told him that you should come by the office during lunch to talk,” she said.
Nodding, I feeling unnerved by the idea. If Jack and Lucy were getting worse, now what could happen if authority figures at the school were told I had felt threatened?
“You are such a scatter brain.” Zac said shaking his head at Alissa.
Putting her head in the air she blew him off easily,
“I don’t see you with a date now do I?” She said and with a huff, Zac scowled, I did not want to get into the conflict.
Mr. Sheplar’s class passed easily, he said we got this one day off to just climb or do what we liked but he warned that it would only be for today.
I decided to climb the blocks and while doing so I realized I had the perfect opportunity to get a picture of the engraved poem on the window.
“Come on it’s only a little higher.” I had told Alissa but after three tries to get up the finally block on her own I reached down and helped her up.
Once we both were standing as others of the class fought or did any segment of the test they wanted, I pulled out my old camera and looked through the lens getting the perfect shot before clicking the button as a flash ensued.
“So, this is the old camera I kept hearing about.” Alissa said as I pulled the picture from the camera and waited for the window to fade from gray into a photo.
I nodded and tilted my head realizing I had never gotten a picture of Alissa and Zac, that would have to change I decided. I showed Alissa the picture and we both enjoyed the fact that you could read the words.
“You know I still don’t get all of that thing.” Alissa said.
I told her about what I had learned as we sat on the blocks. Before we knew it the hour was over and lunch time was started.
I was told by Mr. Sheplar as we left that though my grades were safe for the year I could not miss more than five classes before I would be called in to explain why I was missing and maybe lose my, “free ride,” as Zac called it.
Waving to Alissa who said that they would be at our booth, I started off to the office hoping it would be a quaint conversation and hopefully not get me in more trouble with Jack and Lucy then I was already in.
Approaching the door to the office again, I heard speaking that seemed slightly hushed and I slowed my pace. I was absolutely the worst at wanting to listen in.
“Another letter?” The voice sounded like the principal.
“Yes, and this time it sounds more threatening...” Jean said with worry in her voice.
Glancing aside and behind me I found no one around but the walls that were marred by sacred Mage marks. We had learned about in class. A phone ringing nearly made me jump and lose my air of hiding outside the door.
“We need to keep this between ourselves, Jean.” The principal said quickly and a shuffling walk followed as he left the room and I assumed went back into his office.
Waiting a moment as I considered what they said. Worry knotted in my chest. What was more threatening? Was it Jack or Lucy? Neither of them seemed like something the principal already knew about.
Deciding I was not going to solve this mystery yet, I decided to walk into the room and act like I was just calmly coming in, though my mind raced.
Jean sat with a finger to her lips when she realized I had walked in and looked up.
“Oh, Equila!” She said, sitting up and looked happier then only a moment before.
“You asked for me to come.” I said nodding and trying to keep a ca
lm smile.
Jean seemed amiss for a moment but suddenly nodded as if she just remembered.
“Yes, yes about Jack and Lucy, correct?” She asked.
I nodded and she motioned for me to take a seat.
Sitting down I hoped this would be fast. I deeply wanted to see Keten again before I went to the atrium, even if it was just because I felt he was in some way my good luck charm.
“I was told somewhat about what has been going on from my cousin as well as Alissa and Zac. I trust their word and I simply wanted to know if there is anything you want us to do about them besides talking with them and also docking a mark on Jack’s record for this year for the display he showed at the test last night.” Jean said easily though I did feel she truly cared as she looked to me.
I felt uneasy with the idea Jack would have a mark docked and felt I was going to get pummeled by him and Lucy for something like this, but I knew I had to speak up.
“I don’t think anything else.” I said and Jean nodded slightly.
“Yeah know, Equila, from what my cousin says about you, you would never ask for it but I’m going to have the older student’s and custodians keep an eye on Jack and Lucy, alright?” Jean asked and for once I felt relieved by her words.
I nodded,
“Yes, thank you.” I said and she stood from her desk and I followed her move standing up. She was about to motion to the door when she looked to her desk and grabbed at a letter.
“I nearly forgot! This just came this morning for you.” she said and handed me a letter from my father I had eagerly been awaiting.
Smiling as I took it, Jean nodded to me, placing a hand on my shoulder,
“If anything happens again or if you need anything please don’t hesitate to come to me or the principal.” Jean said and I nodded, “Good, now you can get back to lunch. I hope I have not kept you too long.” She said and with a kind goodbye, our talk was over much quicker than I thought it would be.
Walking back and getting my food I hesitated going to our table. I almost felt to watch for Jack as the reality of how mad he might become made me feel quite on edge.
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