Chapter Twenty-Six

After the heart to heart Ethel finally realised her sister loved her and started to accept her love. A few days after Christmas the two girls made their way to the local library as Ethel had never returned the book she borrowed and they wanted to study. They had asked Sybil but unlike her sisters she hated studying so she refused.

Walking in the library Ethel sneaked over to the section about the transfer spell and replaced the book before anyone could see her. She then went to another section as she needed some books for her essay she was doing.

Esmeralda found the books she needed first and went and sat at a table to start looking through them, a few minutes later Ethel placed the books she needed on the table next to her sister before sitting down next to her.

"Joy, an essay for HB." Ethel said sarcastically as she opened the book to the section she needed.

Esmeralda was studying knowing she had exams coming up soon when she heard Ethel sigh.

"Esmie...can you explain this?" Ethel asked wanting help. She didn't usually like to ask for help but she really didn't get it. Esmeralda smiled only too happy to help her sister.

"I understand how time spells work and everything but why do some spells last longer than others I don't get it." Ethel told her explaining what she wanted her help on.

Esmie took the book so she could see it and leaned close to Ethel to explain.

"Basically there are different things that can change the time a spell lasts, the spell itself makes a difference if it is not a major change it might not last as long and also the strength of the potion determines how long it takes to wear off." Esmeralda explained simply not understanding why the book was making it seem so much more confusing.

"Oh I get it!, thanks Esmie." Ethel said with a smile finally understanding "I want to get a good grade on this essay." Ethel said as she was only getting in the high 80's most of the time these days.

"Give me your notebook a minute." Esmie replied taking her sister's notebook and flicking through it seeing there were pages and pages of writing all on the exact same thing.

"You know you only need to write down the important parts, that is why you are not getting as high grades as you want, you write down so much information you can't remember it all, only write down the key points." Esmie suggested giving her sister an easy way to study.

"Oh thanks." Ethel said happily actually glad she asked her sister for help.

The two of them studied for a while longer until Ethel stood up needing another book, she walked to the section she needed but ran back to the table and sat down a moment later.

"What is wrong?" Esmie asked really worried why she had ran back so suddenly.

"Zac...Zac is there..." Ethel said clearly panicked.

"Zac...Zac who?" Esmeralda asked not able to think who she meant.

"Zac Hawthorn, you know the boy who was in the spelling bee last year." Ethel replied informing her sister who she meant.

"Oh you mean the one you have a crush on." Esmie asked laughing as her sister's cheeks turned red.

"I do NOT fancy Zac why does everyone always think that?" Ethel asked not getting why everyone was always saying that to her.

"Because you got so tongue tied you only managed to say Frogspawn." Esmeralda replied logically.

"Okay fine but..." Ethel stopped "He is coming over here." Her panic rising as he slowly approached her closer.

"Oh really let me see." Esmie said as both girls looked up spying as Zac rounded the corner holding a book.

Zac happened to glance up at that moment and both girls quickly looked down grabbing a book and pretending they were studying. Both girls kept their heads down as they heard him coming closer.

"You two go to Cackle's Academy don't you?" he asked recognising them.

Both girls looked up at him innocently as if they had not just being staring at him.

"That is right." Esmie replied politely to him.

"Oh yes I remember you, you were on the spelling bee team." he said looking at Ethel, causing her to get embarrassed as he looked at her and managed to elbow her book off the table.

Zac walked over to the fallen book and picked it up handing it to Ethel with a smile not seeming to notice she was embarrassed.

Ethel opened her mouth to thank him but instead of saying thank you she said 'broomstick'. Zac gave her a funny look but then another boy called his name.

"I have to go, see you around sometime." Zac said waving to them having to leave them. Ethel nearly fell of her chair and grabbed onto Esmie for support. Once he had gone Esmie broke into a smirk.

"Don't say anything." Ethel said knowing she was going to say something.

"Aww but it is cute, little Ethie has a crushy!" Esmie said in a baby voice causing her sister to blush more.

"Oh well, you embarrassed yourself with that Spanish boy and I embarrassed myself with Zac so we are even." Ethel said . Both girls looked at each other and remembering how they had embarrassed themselves they started to laugh.

As they laughed a lot of people looked at them with a glare as of course libraries were supposed to be quiet. The sisters laughed holding onto each other for support, they carried on like this until they felt the presence of someone standing over them.

Both girls looked up into the face of a woman who looked just as stern as Hardbroom and even had her hair in a bun but it was much messier and a pair of glasses on the end of her nose. Both girls knew this was the librarian.

"Will you both be quiet, this is a library." the woman said telling the sisters off.

The two girls stopped laughing trying to be quiet.

"We are sorry" Esmeralda replied seeing her sister trying her best to not laugh. The librarian turned away from them.

As she turned away Ethel gave her sister a sideways look and not able to hold it in anymore she snorted causing the two of them to burst into laughter again. The librarian turned around looking incredibly angry.

"That is it get out!" she shouted taking them off guard having had enough of their laughter.

"What?" Esmeralda replied shocked having not expected her to say that to them.

"This is a library not a fun house if you can't control yourselves leave." she said wanting her library to be peaceful and not tolerating children that are going to be causing havoc in there.

Both girls stood up still laughing and started walking home with their arms linked.

"I can't believe we got thrown out a library." Esmie said laughing some more thinking of how funny that whole situation was.

"Wait till Sybil hears she will be cracking up." Ethel replied excited to share that hilarious turn of events with her younger sister.

The two girls headed home arm in arm, both smiling and laughing together every so often having both had a good day together even if they got kicked out of a library for laughing.