Rising Shards

Aira knew exams generally weren’t a time of togetherness, but she still felt lonely getting sent off to a random classroom for the raided students who’d ended up back at Rising Shards for at least a few of her final exams. She would still have to do a few presentations, but a good chunk of her finals sounded like how in school suspension had been described to her by friends who’d been suspended.

That preemptive lonely feeling was muddled when she arrived at the classroom and saw the students present. She expected a group of those who’d been on the same bizarre journey back, but the full classroom said otherwise. Two prefects, Naomi and Clover, stood at the front of the room.

“Your teachers haven’t arrived yet,” Naomi announced. “While you wait, quietly, your prefects have authority. And we will use it. Grab your papers and keep them face down until the test start time is officially declared.”

“Question,” Aira said, approaching the prefects. “This seems like an odd bunch. This isn’t all raided students, is it?”

“They put the remedial exam students here as well.” Clover said.

“You’re not supposed to actually tell them that.” Naomi said.

“Well, the ones on the brink know where they stand,” Clover said.

Aira grabbed her question book and answer sheet and took a seat. She took a look around, seeing a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces.

No Laenie. I don’t know if that makes this easier or harder. Aira hadn’t thought about finals much, but she was sure she’d have them with Laenie when she started at Rising Shards. Now the two weren’t even on speaking terms. A deep sigh escaped Aira’s lips.

“Pre exam jitters?” Naomi asked, her stern nature letting up a bit as she stopped by Aira’s desk. “If you need to step outside for a few minutes, say so.”

“I think I’m alright,” Aira said. “Just…the end of a rough semester, I guess. It’s kind of surreal I’m at the end of it already.”

Naomi nodded. “It’s been a rough one for me as well, so I understand.”

Aira started a response, but her voice came out weak and pained, just an aching noise rather than words.

“I’ll take that as saying so.” Naomi said, and gently led Aira to the hallway, then to an empty classroom nearby. Naomi had a stash of fruit juice boxes and healthy snacks ready.

“You’re really prepared for people not doing so well, huh?” Aira asked.

“I’ve helped out with enough exams to know people could use a breather,” Naomi said.

“I always thought you were really strict,” Aira said, thinking of all the times Naomi had scolded her personally. She was surprised Naomi even wanted to speak with her after all the times the prefect had told Aira it was lights out time. “Sorry, that sounds rude.”

“I pride myself on my behavior as a prefect,” Naomi said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m without empathy.”

“I see…” Aira said. She felt a bit empty as she sipped her juice box.

“You’re one of the raided students, correct?” Naomi asked. “I can understand this being difficult.”

“Yeah,” Aira said. “I’ve gone back and forth and so much has changed all around me that I can barely keep up. But…”

She’d vented a bit to friends, but could she do the same for Naomi? Aira wasn’t sure if she could.

“Would it help if I went first?” Naomi asked.

“Sure?” Aira said. “I mean, go for it.”

“I understand that about zero percent of the student body enjoys my presence or appreciates my hard work, but this semester I could really feel it. The constant issues with Wildfire Hearts makes my class life chaotic and difficult. My one escape was the theater club, and that was a disaster that was run so poorly and so affected by Wildfire Hearts that it’s still on hold. And to top that off, I had a very messy breakup that I’m still dealing with.” Naomi said.

“Oh, dang,” Aira said. “I’m really sorry.”

“And, if you’re really curious,” Naomi said. “That blue haired prefect? She’s my ex.”

“Oh,” Aira said, not ready for the burden of gossip just bestowed on her. “Gosh…”

“So yes, I understand those going through it right now,” Naomi said.

“How can you keep going with all that? Working with her like it’s nothing?” Aira asked.

“I have duties to follow, and that takes priority over messy school drama.” Naomi said. “We both can at least agree on that.”

“Wow…” Aira said. “I just…my best friend’s brother is a Pyre Cani and went missing, but I think he just got recruited by Wildfire Hearts. My best friend has become obsessed with finding him, to the point that she’s now pretending to be a tough girl leading a bicycle gang to impress Wildfire staff so they’ll show her where he really is or something? Before that, she attacked me in her Exa Cani form because I dared to say we should take a break from the hunt for her brother for just a second. Also, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with her, which makes her wanting nothing to do with me hurt worse.”

“Ouch,” Naomi said. “I’m sorry you’re going through that.”

“I don’t know if I’d be able to work with her if we were both prefects like you’re doing.” Aira said.

“And I likely wouldn’t be able to function if I went through what you’re going through.” Naomi said. She held her juice box up. “So cheers to us for fighting on and for next semester to be a lighter burden?”

Aira smiled, pressing her juice box to Naomi’s. “Cheers.”