GILROY, A Hudson [ebook reader computer txt] 📗

I The cold rain sheeting down as I made my way towards the next path and I followed it as it made it's way to the wash sheds. I carried my laundry bag over my shoulder and entered the small shed. I finally got out after 15 minutes or so from what I noticed as I waited for a cycle to stop. It must be washing day everyday just as Dee said. I was suprised the boys washed their clothes regularly unlike my brothers who had their dirty laundry with them each time they came home from school.

-------------------------------------------------

I began my slight snooping every now and then throughout the next few weeks that stretched into a few months. I didn't find out more because the 'classes' I was supposed to take hadn't been going on. I hadn't heard from Duke or Conner. Conner hadn't been around since I tried to confront him but that ended up in the grave like all my other attempts around here. 

The weather was typical with the sudden weather changes from the gorgeous sunshine to the small storms and continous clouded days. My parents called every couple of days and even two days in a row. It was good to hear their voices but I couldn't tell them I was homesick. I wanted to be home desperately but I prefer the torment of Trent over the taunts of an entire school. I'd laugh at my fathers nimble attempts to sound like he didn't care I was gone. I may not have wanted to go back but I constantly asked when they'd come and see me even if it was for a day. Same answer was that they will try. I didn't doubt it.

I found myself most nights at movie nights with Dee after I missed the first party of the year. I heard all about how she met one of the most spectacular men who happened to be French and a very, very good kisser. She said she couldn't tell whether her Southern lips were stained of her famous red lipstick or she had swollen lips but I know for a fact it wasn't lipstick. Most of that was all over his face when he dropped her off to my room because she lost her key to her room since she locked it. I completely forgot about my key. I never even thought about how often I leave it unlocked when I'm out at class or on social calls.

I had continuously tried to call Ashleigh over the months and she never answered. It always went to message bank and I realised that she had a scholarship to New Zealand for 16 months. I forgot so much. I thought being away from home would have me remembering all the little things but the months flew and so did my favorite things. I ran every evening just before the sun left it's stand in the sky. 

I'm certainly angry at Conner and Duke. They suddenly dissapeared just as I arrived. I didn't even know Conner for a whole day or two and he insulted me. Duke also doing the same and then boom. Both are gone. Over these past months I'd go to the rooms where I trained with Duke that first time and I'd sit under the sky light. I tried to do all of what we'd practiced but I felt nothing. None of the power I felt surging through me when he was here pushing me further and further in those mere hours. The damage in the cement wall that Duke had done was repaired to the state before. I just want someone to just tell me I'm crazy. 

And maybe I am.

It's been a few days since the break that I spent with my parents on holidays in Los Angeles and it's the first week of Semester Two and I'm already tired of it. I sat in my chair playing with my pen in my fingers during our religion lecture. Chewing on the inside of my cheek because of Trent and his attempts to throw blu tac at the back of my chair. Having two classes with him was horrible and I could possibly make a hole in my cheek within the next week. Yesterday in English he decided to make a poem about me that described how I looked and so on until it ended with how I had fallen over a weed and became one myself. He bowed as a handful of my peers had a small giggle to themselves and the teacher saying that he is a weed which I could only smirk at.

The bell finally went off and I got out of my chair and packed my books into my folder as the class already ushered out with Trent deep in the group. Dee made her way over as she weaved her hips and moved her way through the tables. I felt her hand pull on my blazer and grip my arm which made me look at her. I came face to face with a blue haired girl who's eyes were wide causing me to mirror the same face. "Conners back." She breathed out. I felt a warm wave come over me. I searched her eyes for any humor and there was none.

"When?" I asked almost with an excited but low voice. She simply lowered her eyebrows low over her eyes. "What do you mean by 'when'?" She asked and I simply gave a small 'ha' and breathed in. "I mean 'when' as in when did he come back." I said and she rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh, how stupid of me! Cassie texted me and said she saw him on her way back to her room for her free and she saw him with Duke and Master Para." She said as she smiled and I couldn't help but smiled aswell. And then the warm feeling left and my face straightened out. I turned and pulled my books with my left arm and pulled them to my hip. Without a word I left the classroom with Dee beside me with her new leather school shoes she's 'trying out' instead of her homely heels. She knew where I was going without having to ask any questions. She found out about it last semester on a just us night in the city which is actually beside the school which I thought was rather awkward. All of our conversation was confidential.

She sheilded her face against the wind as we followed the path and after a few turns, we approached the training building. We pushed the door and as it closed, the wind was gone. I headed straight for the training room I was in last time with Duke and I pulled the heavy wooden door open and made my way in and stopped as I saw Conner standing with a handful of daggers in his hand as he pulled out the last one in the target board and he paused in his place as his eyes came into contact with mine. Dee walked in and stopped as she felt the intensity in the air. She walked over to me and slipped my books free from my arm. I didn't remove my eyes from Conners as Dee said, "I should probably feed that terrible bird of Master Para." She turned and left with the closing of the heavy door as it thud. I felt my heart freeze.

Conner walked closer to me and he dropped his hand full of daggers down by his side as he continued to walk towards me. I stood still and grabbed the sides of my knee length school skirt. I let go and squeezed my nails into my palm. I felt my eyes burn and then the sting came.

"You." I said as I clentched my teeth together and closed my eyes. He was only a few feet away now as he approached me like you would to fragile glass. His free hand out and then he touched the side of my face with his fingertips. I moved a step back. I opened my eyes and the burning went down a bit but the anger sat there in the pit of my stomach and then rose to my throat like fire just waiting. I looked at his face as it presented his dissapointment and anger at himself. I felt the need to push back his hair off his forehead and tell him to not worry about it but I wanted him to feel that guilt.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. His hands by his sides and I stood silently. He added, "The Elders called us and we weren't ready for it." He said. I felt the fire spread all over me. I stepped forward and shoved him with both hands. He took a step back from the force. "The Elders? Ready for what? You tell me nothing Conner! Duke and yourself use all this cryptic bullshit on me and I can't do it anymore!" I yelled as I shoved him again. 

"Charlie. I never meant it. We just aren't ready for what's coming. There was never much time to tell you anything!" He raised his voice back. I didn't back down. "You left, you were gone for MONTHS!"I screamed as tears began to fall.

"It was an emergency. And why are you getting so angry over me leaving?" He questioned as he crossed his arms. I felt my ears burn. "I'm angry because of all the changes. I angry over Duke leaving just as I was getting my head around this." I said with my chin up and my tears stopping to slowly dry. I stared at him and then his eyes soften. "Okay, I'll explain it another time. But, I will tell you now that everyone will be split into groups for training for these next few weeks." He said as his head lowered. "You're talking like I know what you're saying. If there was a language called, 'jibberish', you would definitely have it down pat." I hissed with squinted eyes. Adding, "You are the most confusing person I have ever met." And he replied with a cocked eyebrow, "Likewise."

I felt my arms act before I could stop them. They lifted from my sides fast and wrapped around his sides to his back. I felt his spine stiffen and then losen as his own had came around my shoulders. I just placed my forhead on his shoulder and he positioned his chin on my shoulder. We stayed like this for a long time.

I was angry but I guess you could also say that I missed him.