Something was burning.
Maybe it was another memory of the bakery. It could be one of those first few cupcake attempts. The smoke burned her nose. It felt more real than the icing that sometimes danced at the tip of her tongue or her mother's scent on her sweaters. It wasn't like her father's voice running through her head while she studied or the heat of the oven she felt when laying in bed. It lingered much too long to be a fading memory.
Marinette's eyes shot open.
She choked. The smoke obscured her room. There really was a fire! She threw off her blankets as she attempted to catch her breath. There had to be a spell she could use. Before her feet could settle on the ground, she hit the floor. Her face was the first thing to contact the hard, smooth, cold stones. It was easier to breathe at least. She massaged her face in an attempt to relieve the pain.
Marinette lifted herself, careful not to fall again.
A hand popped through the smoke. Marinette shrieked and fell backward. The dark smoke made the already pale hand look white.
"Marinette!" Her roommate's voice cut through the smoke, "Are you okay?"
"Juleka? What's happening?"
"A potion went wrong, sorry."
Marinette grabbed Juleka's hand. Juleka pulled Marinette to her feet and dodged as Marinette tripped towards her. Before Marinette could hit the ground again, Juleka snatched Marinette's shirt and pulled her back to her feet. Juleka whispered a spell as Marinette balanced herself.
The smoke gathered together forming a line. It moved past Marinette and into Juleka's hands. Juleka pressed her palms together. She parted her hands revealing a gemstone. The blacks and greys on its smooth surface swirled around each other in an eternal dance. Marinette resisted the urge to touch it.
It was odd for Juleka to be working on a potion so early in the morning. She brought her eyes to Juleka's face. Her eyes threatened to close any second. Her hair was pulled into a sloppy ponytail.
"Late night?"
Juleka nodded.
"What was so important?"
Juleka looked down at the floor as she explained. She was trying to make a potion to ward off bad luck that she could give to Marinette as a parting gift. She thought it was going well, but then it exploded.
"That's really sweet," Marinette smiled. "It was a nice thought."
Juleka sighed.
"A physical potion is a lot nicer than a thought."
"No, really, just the attempt is a gift on its own! Besides, my luck isn't so bad that I need magical intervention." Marinette attempted to sit on her bed, but missed and hit the floor. "Ouch."
Juleka offered her hand. Marinette thanked Juleka and pulled herself up. She leaned the bed frame. The frame broke. Marinette toppled onto her bed. Her bed collapsed under her. She screamed as she hit the floor. A leg from the bed flew up and hit Juleka's potion shelf. A potion fell, rolled to Juleka's bed, and blew up. Juleka's bed collapsed.
"Oops." Marinette struggled to her feet. She walked past Juleka to get the broom and her utility belt.
"I've tried everything."
"What was that?" Marinette passed Juleka and began to sweep up the glass from the broken potion.
"I have tried everything!"
Marinette jumped back. Juleka's wasn't usually so loud. Marinette started picking up the bed frame, keeping her eyes on Juleka.
"I've tried everything! I've tried potions. I've tried charms. I've tried spells. I've tried herbs. I've tried magnets. I've read every book I could find. I've scoured the deepest depths of the internet. I've bought fairy dust. I've ground dragon scales. Do you know how hard it is to find a dragon scale? Do you know how hard it is to grind a dragon scale?"
"Juleka-"
"Nothing works! Try after try, nothing can subdue that bad luck of yours!"
"Juleka-"
"I had to resort to creating my own potions with leftovers and it blew up on us! It would take some kind of ancient forgotten magic to even start canceling it out."
"Juleka, can you hold up these bedposts?"
"Oh, of course."
Juleka held the bed posts up as Marinette used her spool of wire to weave the bed frame back together. It was a quick job, but Marinette sure it was sturdy and looked like decorations. Juleka watched as Marinette worked.
"You've been through so much this year," Juleka's voice was back to its usual volume. "Chloe's harsher than ever and without Bridgette around I've noticed you falling behind in magic. I just wanted to help, even a little bit."
Marinette pulled Juleka into a hug. She hadn't even noticed Juleka was trying so hard to help her. Marinette thanked her. Juleka nodded. Her voice was quiet, but she accepted Marinette's gratitude. Marinette released Juleka and went to make her bed.
This would be the last time she made this bed or at least with Juleka standing by. Juleka packed away her potion kit. She apologized for her outburst. Marinette shook her head. She didn't have any reason to apologize.
The two picked up their bags.
They took a final look at the room-their room. With their things packed away, the room looked the same as it had when they'd moved in. Well, the same plus all repairs they'd been forced to make over the year.
"Well," Juleka tugged at the sleeve of her gown, "I guess it's time to leave."
Marinette nodded.
Juleka opened the door.
"Wait," Marinette reached for her waist and retrieved her wire. She dropped her bag and opened it up. She pulled out a silver chain and a pair of pliers. She put her palm out toward Juleka. "Can I see that smoke gem?"
Juleka handed it to Marinette. Marinette smiled and thanked her. Juleka crouched down. She watched Marinette's hands as she wrapped the wire around the gem. She ended the wire with a loop, reinforced it, then strung the chain through the loop. She turned and hooked the necklace around Juleka's neck.
"There a souvenir from our last morning together."
Juleka smiled and helped Marinette to her feet.
"I've always wanted a Marinette original," Juleka looked down as she spoke, "I was too embarrassed to ask. I didn't want to trouble you."
"It's no trouble! I love making stuff. Just don't go full Kim on me."
They both laughed as they made their way down the hallway.