Rising Shards

After finishing a practice test Lillia prepared for us, I hit a wall with my studying and needed some time for my brain to relax a bit. I sifted through the various notebooks and textbooks strewn about the table. I was trying to find a Raina book I had gotten permission from Lillia to look at when I was feeling drained, but I kept seeing the one Tik Moonheart gave me. I probably shouldn’t have brought it with me, but I had been carrying it around in case I came up with anything for it and had to write it immediately.

“Have you gotten any new questions for the Tik notebook?” Oka asked.

“Will the Tik notebook be on any finals?” Lillia asked.

“I think we can take a breather to answer this, right?” Oka said. “We just finished the practice exam, that’s a perfect time to stop for a sec.”

“I suppose.” Lillia said, though she didn’t sound convinced.

“I don’t have any good questions…all I can come up with to write down is asking Tik what her middle name is but that doesn’t really tell me anything.” I said. “I did write down what I think is my family tree.”

I had roughly sketched out things based on what I knew, mainly just to visualize trying to fit the mysterious River onto it, as she introduced herself as River Kathron. I wasn't sure of the familial relation, but I assumed she and my father were siblings, which would make her my aunt. But she could be a cousin maybe, and I wasn't sure what that would make her to Stella and I. Thinking about how I might have seen another relative gave me a bit of a headache.

“It’ll be alright,” Oka said. “And if it’s too much, you don’t have to do this, right?”

“Right.” I said. I was reminded why Tik had told me to focus on finals first. If I thought too much about the visions I’d seen of my parents, Tik, and River’s pasts, it would take up all my attention, then I’d fail my finals, then I’d be dropped from Rising Shards. So I put the notebook back in my bag.

“Why do we have Echela questions for Cani class, ugh…” Kalei groaned as her head dropped to her textbook.

“That’s your last ‘head on textbook’ of the night, Kalei,” Lillia said, putting a tally mark on a sheet she’d taped to the table before lifting Kalei’s head with a ruler.

“But we haven’t even gotten to Soleri yet, that’s gonna need at least five instances of me smashing my head down.” Kalei said.

“It’s probably better to…not smash your head?” Marmalade suggested.

“I’m so hungry too,” Kalei said.

“If you’re going to keep complaining, you’ll meet the same fate as Iris and Maia.” Lillia warned.

Iris and Maia had joined us for a bit for our study session, but Lillia banished them quickly. Iris’ lack of studying ability was too much for Lillia to handle.

“All I’m saying is one slice of pizza would make me want to do this,” Kalei said. “Did everyone hear they’re doing another pizza party this week? It’s like they think giving us a bunch of pizza parties will make up for all the Wildfire Hearts stuff.”

“Berin told me it’s more an apology for the school’s frantic planning.” Oka said.

“Well, he should apologize by ordering me some pizza right now.” Kalei said. “I won’t complain about all these pizza parties if we get some finals cramming pizza. You get me?”

Lillia set up a stopwatch on her phone. “You have two minutes to let out your rambling before I get this back on track.”

“Alright, here’s my question,” Marmalade said. “Grumbelions, Big Slice, or Za n’ Da for pizza? Or school pizza?”

“Oof. Marms,” Kalei said. “You’re going for my heart here.”

Marmalade laughed, a nervous hint to her voice.

“I like Grumbelions.” I said.

“You would say that.” Kalei said.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Oka asked.

“Grumbelions is total trans girl pizza.” Kalei said.

“It is?” I asked, feeling a weird twinge of euphoria from that. Why a pizza chain being associated with having trans fans made me feel a rush of excitement about myself, I cannot fully explain.

“That’s what Marmalade told me, at least.” Kalei said.

“Do you guys talk about pizza a lot or something?” I asked.

Kalei shrugged. “It just came up that Grumbelions is trans girl pizza. I forget how we got to that, actually.”

“We were talking about pizza memes,” Marmalade said. “Have you not seen the Grumeblions trans girl?”

“I…haven’t?” I said.

“Zeta, you really need to get out more,” Marmalade said. “But like, on the internet.”

“I’ll have you know I am fairly happy with my internet use, mainly focusing on, of course, Raina Starlight fan pages.” I turned my nose up a bit. “Also my sister is very strict about what websites I can be on.”

“Pfft, cool dude,” Kalei said.

“I believe some studying was supposed to get done tonight.” Lillia said.

“You know, pizza probably wouldn’t be good now that I think about it, I don’t wanna get my book cover all greasy.” Kalei said, drumming on the fabric book cover that had logos of some of her favorite video game characters on it. “Look at this, it’s got Zup on it, and it’s this nice fabric so I can reuse it. I actually bought a few backups since these things tear so easily; you know?”

“Maybe we really should focus a bit.” Oka said. “Surely those two minutes are about up.”

“Nah, we got Lillia,” Kalei said. “She’s gonna carry this operation hard. We can coast.”

“I won’t let you.” Lillia said.

“You said that so dramatically,” Oka said.

“I mean it.” Lillia said. Her phone buzzed. “That was the rest of your allotted rambling time. If you stray from the topics we’re studying again, your screams of mercy will be the only thing I’ll permit you to let out besides the class material.”

“…damn. Is this why Ko isn’t here?” Kalei asked.

“Ko isn’t here because she needs more one on one tutoring for her finals.” Lillia said.

“Spicy.” Kalei said.

Oka swatted her with rolled up papers as Lillia sighed deeply.

“Did anyone start the reading?” Lillia asked.

“I read all the time!” I said.

“Yes, but have you read anything on the approved list of books for Soleri’s final?”

“Yeah, Zates, you think Soleri would let you pick one of your books?” Kalei asked.

“No,” I pouted. “That jerk always is ragging on my Raina Starlight…”

“Just a bit longer with him and then he’ll be too busy vice principal-ing to worry much about us.” Oka said.