A/N: Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! P.S. Anubis comes tomorrow.

I don't own the Kane Chronicles. Haven't I told you this before? :,(

Carter

Sorry you had to experience that yesterday. I did not know what had overcome me. So um, this is what happened today.

s/s/s/s/s

I was searching through books in the library alone for the second time this week. Zia had been ignoring me for the past two days, all because I wouldn't tell her why I refused to talk to her on Sunday. It was because of those wretched bets between me and Sadie. I was ready to stop them, but I wasn't going to give up either. The letter did say, "The one who is the wisest and strongest may open this." Not to be stuck up, but Sadie wasn't wise at all.

I was deep in my thoughts when someone came in. I didn't look up because I thought it was a trainee getting a book for research or something. That trainee ruffled around until he or she found a book. Then the trainee plopped down next to me in a chair and began searching and skimming through the book.

I was looking in a book called "Dangerous Egyptian Spells" when the trainee said, "Carter."

I looked up and jumped with surprise. "Zia, I didn't know you were there!"

For a second I thought she could accuse me for ignoring her again, but she just sighed. "Carter, I'm terribly sorry for not talking to you for the last couple days." It was true; she avoided me in my first class of the day for advanced spells as well.

"It's okay," I said. "I deserve it."

"No, you don't," she protested. "There are a lot of things you don't deserve, Carter. I know life is tough right now. With Apophis rising and so many trainees to train, you've got your hands full. You don't deserve that, you're just a normal teenager."

"Like you," I muttered.

"Yes," she said. "But I don't have as much worry stacked up on my shoulders like you do. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, that it's okay that you ignored me on Sunday. You were probably busy, and I simply got in your way. It's fine."

I wish I could tell her about the bets and what Sadie and I were doing. I wish I could just pour it all out and say that it was my fault. But I couldn't.

"So I forgive you." She smiled and stood up. "Let's look for books together then." She gave me a hand and I gratefully took it.

"Thanks."

We spent the whole rest of the morning searching for ways to beat Apophis. We looked at scrolls and called for different shabti. It was a fantastic start to my day. I was so relieved Zia had forgiven me.

[Sadie, I will kick you if you say we are nerd buddies again.]

"Well, I'll see you later," Zia said after we finished putting our materials back onto the shelves and cubbyholes.

"Okay." I waved and left the library. I went to the veranda to grab a donut. Trainees were just finishing up their breakfast and going to their first class of the day. That's when I saw Sadie.

My first instinct was to run, but I didn't want to make it look obvious. By the time I figured out a quick complex plan to jump across the table and turn into a bird, she already made her way over to me.

"Alright, so I don't want to repeat yesterday's incident," she started. I flinched as I remembered the warm puddle by my feet and as trainees walked by. But let's not get into details, shall we?

"So, I have the perfect idea." She smiled evilly, and I regretted that I had not turned into a bird earlier.

"You couldn't say 'I love you' to everyone who says thank you or thanks to you today," she presented.

I was shocked. "But what if I make them not say thank you to me?"

"Then I guess you don't have to say it." She shrugged. "Simple, right? So what's mine?"

I hadn't really thought of hers yet. I was so caught up with yesterday's incident that I forgot to think of a really good one. She hadn't really got sacked with yesterday's bet or that I know of. [Sadie is suddenly coughing, so did something good happen that I missed yesterday?]

Finally, I thought of something similar to hers. "I bet you couldn't kiss everyone's shoe who says a form of hello to you today."

"That's not fair!" she cried. "A thanks is not said as often as a greeting is!"

"Well, you should have thought about your bet before you said it," I said.

She scowled and muttered, "I'll show you." She turned and left to her first class.

I finished my donut and also went to my first class where Zia taught us for the week. The day slowly flashed by without a thank you for me or a hello for Sadie. Not until Magic Combat and Defense class which I taught with Sadie, that is.

Cleo came in about a minute late and said, "Hi, Carter and Sadie. Sorry I'm late." We didn't really care about lateness like regular schools, but what she said caused me to give Sadie a mischievous glance.

She returned the glance with a frown when she realized that Cleo said hello to not only me, but to her too.

Sadie got down on her hands and knees like a peasant (which I found extremely funny, by the way) and kissed Cleo's right shoe.

"Uh," Cleo stuttered. "You know, Sadie, that shoe got peed on by my old dog and stepped into chewed up bubblegum and bird poop."

That caused all of us to laugh hysterically as Sadie wiped her lips on her jacket furiously. She gave me one of those death glares that hinted she would kill me in my sleep tonight.

We started the lesson with throwing random monsters at the trainees, and then they would fight it or defend against it. Felix brought a penguin from Antarctica with one of his spells and used it to defend himself from his monster. The penguin squawked and waddled away when the monster charged at it.

"Here, Felix," I said helping him aim his wand better. "Why don't you try one of those spells we taught you for defense, instead of summoning a penguin?"

It took several tries, but then Felix formed a shield around him with a spell.

"Wow!" he said, jumping up and down. "Thanks, Carter!"

"No problem."

Sadie's eyes flashed over to mine and they seemed to taunt me. Felix had thanked me.

I hesitated before saying, "I love you, Felix."

He looked up at me with wild eyes. "Really, Carter?"

"Sure, bud."

"Awesome!"

I guess that wasn't too hard. I shuddered to think what would have happened if it would've been Cleo or Alyssa. But I thought too soon because Felix ran around everyone in the class and started yelling, "Carter loves me, Carter loves me!"

s/s/s/s/s

Later that day after classes were over, I made my way back to the library. Zia was there dusting off the shelves. I guess we both couldn't stay away from searching for research and spells.

We worked in silence as we flipped pages and read words. During this, Zia accidently dropped a book from the side table.

"Oops," she said as I picked it up for her. "Thanks, Carter."

I nodded and went back to reading. Realization struck me halfway through the page. She had said thanks.

I started to sweat it out. Sadie wasn't in the room, but that didn't mean I could break my vow. But then again…

"Carter, are you okay?" Zia asked once she saw me shaking with fear.

"Yeah," I wiped the sweat off of my forehead. "I'm fine."

How was I going to do this? I didn't want to tell her this soon. It would be too embarrassing and plus, she was probably still warming to the idea of me and her. Then I had an idea. I hoped Zia didn't know sign language.

I slowly raised my right hand as if I was giving her a high-five. Then I put down my middle and ring finger. I had just said what I'd been meaning to tell her since I'd met her, without saying anything at all. I had told her that I loved her.

She looked confused, but went back to reading. I think she was used to my weirdness.

[Sadie, that doesn't mean you can butt in and agree.]