Rising Shards

So, it all worked out in a way. It was a mess, and Zeta and her friends went through a really rough time, but they were alright, and made it safely home. I felt floaty but confident as I marched into the cafeteria of the school, my heels loud on the tile floor. I braced to see Zeta as beat up as she was after the fight with that bully.

When I saw Zeta, she was laughing. When she spotted me, she froze in place. I ran over to her, hugging her tightly. I hoped it wouldn’t be commonplace to have void incidents like this, but the relief I felt at being able to hold her again knowing she was safe made my worries about the day vanish.

“You were right,” Zeta said. “It all worked out.”

“Big sister instinct,” I said. Now that she was safe, I did have something to tell her. “I have good news, too.”

“What is it?” Zeta asked.

“I got the job,” Stella said.

OK, it wasn’t the big thing yet. I wasn’t sure when I would tell her about Evy and I, but I knew I had to at some point. For now, talking about the new job was easier. I didn’t want to drop anything she might react dramatically to after everything she’d been through.

“You did?” Zeta asked. 

"Uh huh," I said. "I hadn't heard anything up all the way to this morning, then in the middle of one of the calls with the staff about your deal they threw that at me too. 'Hey also, you're Stella Faleur, right? The new librarian?' But I guess it was a good bit of news to have randomly thrown my way in the middle of a day like today?"

“Yeah, for real," Zeta said. 

"Not to immediately make this about me." I said.

"No, no, you're not. I'd rather hear about it than talk about my day anymore!" Zeta said. "Congratulations!”

“So you’ll have me around bugging you a lot more.” I said.

“Good,” Zeta said.

I had been a bit worried she wouldn’t want me working at her school, but her smile answered that concern.

We turned to see someone listening to us, looking like a puppy waiting to be let in. It was Zeta’s girlfriend Oka, a sweet little thing. I could not stand Zeta’s first girlfriend, who was apparently responsible for a big chunk of the mess happening to Zeta’s class, so I was even more receptive to Oka’s arrival.

“Oka, did Zeta tell you the Faleur family tradition we gotta do?” I asked, inviting her over to us.

“Oh!” Oka said, seemingly stunned I invited her into our talk. She thought about it for a second. I didn’t know if Zeta told her the family tradition of taking the new partner to a restaurant of their choosing to celebrate the new partnership and for the guardian to judge em a little. “She did! The restaurant thing! I totally forgot! Well, I remembered now, but I forgot for a bit!”

I did not give Zeta’s first girlfriend this tradition because she failed my judgments pretty thoroughly, then did nothing to prove my take on her wrong.

“Well, tradition says that the new partner gets to pick the place.” I said. “Is there any kind of food in particular you’d like to get?”

Oka sat down, probably exhausted from the trip on her end too. I was glad she wasn’t banged up either. She spent a good time thinking about her choice.

“I want…pizza. Like. Fancy pizza.” Oka said.

“Oka likes pizza, alright.” I said. “Let’s plan that soon.”

I hugged Zeta and Oka together, satisfied that my little sister was safe.

“Alright, I’m gonna head back,” I said. “I’ll show you the new place soon, I’ve got most of my stuff over. I haven’t touched anything in your room, so don’t worry.”

I had to hold in a small yelp of concern when I saw another familiar face approach. While Zeta and Oka looked a little banged up, Evy looked like she’d just had her soul sucked out, stamped on, ran over with a truck, put back in her, then sucked out again.

“Hey, I’m going around to,” Evy coughed. “All the uh. Guardians and such to. Apologize. I really…messed up. I tried to make sure they were all safe but during a raid, they’re under Wildfire Hearts’ jurisdiction…” She held her head low. “I’m really sorry.”

I reached out to hold her shoulder. Zeta was still right there so I couldn’t give her comfort cuddles right there. Well I could’ve, but then I’d have to have a long talk with Zeta and

 there were a bunch of students and faculty around so cuddle would have to wait.

“Don’t beat yourself up so much,” I said. “Zeta’s here, and she’s safe. It’s all OK.”

Zeta yawned. “I’m gonna go too, so bye Stella!” It was such a casual bye for what we’d all been through, but casual was comforting.  

I watched Zeta leave with her girlfriend. Once they were out of sight, I thought about going someplace quieter with Evy, but she seemed like she was barely able to move so we stayed where we were. She stammered for a bit.

“Usually a raid isn’t,” Evy said, broadly gesturing in kind of a rowboat-like motion. “Like that. I know I said it was a rite of passage and all…I know it’s—I totally understand if. Certain things that were discussed…weren’t earned?”

“Evy…” I said. I really wanted to hold her and kiss her and tell her it was alright. I could do one of those while we were at school at least. “I’m not mad at you, you know. That was scary, but it wasn’t your fault.”

“Alright…” Evy said.

“How about I treat you to dinner at Like a Ski Lodge tonight,” I said. 

"That...sounds good, yeah," Evy said.

"We gotta celebrate too," I said. "What with it being official and all." I hoped the job news would help at least a little bit.

"Huh?" Evy asked. "What is?" She blinked. "Did they finally...?"

"Yup, whoever they get to call families about raids and that sort of thing told me," I said. "So I haven't heard it officially officially from someone yet, but..."

"But if the office staff knows it, it's definitely official!" Evy said, excitedly grabbing my arms. She then let go, scanning around us to see if anyone suspected couple. But nobody paid us much attention. "I knew it! I said, right? I heard you were a lock, so I'm glad they got off their asses, and..." She let out a sigh of a laugh. "That makes me feel a bit better."

"It should," I said. "I have another thing that might make you feel better."

"Oh yeah?"

I leaned over to whisper. “How about when things are more settled, I'll give you big reward tomorrow?”

“I’d…like that a lot.” Evy said.