10 Never Ever Be Safe

Lyzbeth Heredis

After my last period class, I can see that Jen is already waiting for me outside. Right. . . I think she knows what happened. As I pack up my things, I hurriedly went out for her. From her crossed arms and tapping foot, I can tell that she's angry. Maybe I should not take this lightly like the others.

"Oh, hey," I say as I come up to her. "Sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to be there."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know, things I should not even hear. I know. I should not be there at all. Sorry."

"I don't know the hell you're talking about."

Oh. . . she doesn't know. Right. . . This is awkward. I shouldn't have said anything.

"Whatever you're talking about, that's not the reason why I came here. Come on, let's go home. You don't have any plans, right?"

"No, not really. But – "

"Good, come on. Let's go home."

Ummm, right. I still do not understand. Sure, she is my guardian, and she still is, but she never goes as far as to always be at my side. Yes, she's only one call away, but Jen and I aren't always together. I always assumed she has a life and that's why we never got to bond extremely on the "best friend" level of bonding.

Anyway, we got on a bus headed for home. We sat on the back row. This is an unusual sight. This bus is not that busy as yesterday. Maybe it's because Jen and I went home right away.

"So, what have you been up to yesterday?" she asks calmly.

Something odd is happening here. She asks it so casually to the point that it is too casual. Right. . . I still don't understand.

"Well, nothing interesting."

"Oh, do tell anyway."

"I do not know where to begin. I guess there's this sorcerer. We got into a fight. I rescued this boy and sent him home."

"Oh, really," she says, quite interested. "And did this boy lose his memories of what happened?"

"No, but – "

"Then surely, you can expect the persecutors right at your door, right!"

I froze up. She's right. However convincing Romain might be, there is still a chance that he will spill the beans.

"Don't ever do that again. You will never ever be safe in Scire. You cannot trust anyone here."