Not having breakfast with Heironymous managed to feel odd, after a week with him at meals. If I'd come down at the same time he had, I think I might have joined him, but I was almost done by the time he came in, and setting up to meet after that just felt… odd.
And the fact that it didn't surprise me that it felt odd, that I even expected it, felt even more odd.
Still, getting back into the routine was a comfort in it's own way. Though I found myself avoiding his classes on Monday; it would have just felt weird.
Which managed to lead to: "Susan! There you are." This from Minnie, as I was exiting White Magic class.
I turned to face her, slightly confused. "Was I missing?"
"We were just looking for you a while. I didn't expect you to be here, you're usually in one of Grabiner's classes on Monday."
"Uh, yeah. I guess I just wasn't ready to have class with him again yet."
She looked at me oddly. "Did you have a good vacation?" She said, somewhat concerned.
"I did. It's just… I'm not ready to think of him as a teacher again yet."
A knowing grin lit up her face. "So, a very good vacation then."
I rolled my eyes, and changed the topic. "Why were you looking for me?"
"Oh, sorry. Just wondering if you'd thought of anything for the fundraiser this year."
"Honestly, I haven't even thought about it." Was my answer. I was going to apologize, when Minnie cut me off.
"Good. Jacob and I were talking about it over break and have a few ideas of our own. We aren't entirely sure which we want to do yet, but can we handle it? I know it's normally the Treasurer's job."
"Please. The last couple of months have been so crazy I haven't had time to think about things. And I still have to think about this summer as well. If you want it, go for it." I paused, then decided to ask: "So, if you and Jacob were talking over break…"
She blushed, and checked to see if anyone was nearby. "Yes, we fulfilled his oath. We aren't telling anyone, and we agreed it's in 'in name only'. His dads even made sure we promised to divorce at the end of the year, no matter what, so it's just for the year. We don't want to make any major life-choices just yet."
I nodded. "Ok. And don't worry: I won't be spreading it around the school if I can help it. Can I tell Virginia though? She's been avoiding the issue."
"Sure; it's not like she couldn't guess anyway." She checked the time. "Anyway, I have to get to class. See you around!"
"See you." I called after her.
Well, that was something. I was glad Jacob and Minnie had worked out what they were doing.
And having the fundraiser off my back was a blessing.
Wednesday morning, Virginia's sock drawer started dancing and singing the 'Tiny Toon Adventures' theme song when she opened it. I was just getting back from the shower, and Ellen… Well, she was trying to pretend she was getting ready, but couldn't stop snickering.
Which led to Virginia mock-glaring at her. "Did Donald put you up to this?"
"Uh, April Fools?" Ellen responded, and then answered: "No, he didn't. He did help though."
"You realize, of course, that this means war."
She managed the delivery perfectly — Ellen cracked up entirely.
I decided I was going to be above the madness, and headed to breakfast.
There were a lot of pranks being played that day — I'd decided on a Gym day, just to avoid most of them, but they mostly seemed to avoid me anyway.
Which was fine with me: I could appreciate a good April Fool's prank (and Ellen's was good), but most of them were just stupid, and I was glad to be free of them.
Still, I wondered if I was being avoided intentionally, because I was 'Mrs. Grabiner' (Hieronymus didn't get pranked either. Rumor was the last person who'd tried ended up with more demerits then they knew what to do with.), or if it was because I didn't actually have many close friends. I mean, I was friends with my roommates, and I can't say I didn't get along with people, it was just that there wasn't anyone I hung out with regularly.
Besides my husband, of course.
I was pondering that, when the peal of thunder broke my thought process. I looked up, thinking it was someone's prank — it had been clear when I'd gone to the gym. But the windows showed a rapidly darkening sky, and rain was starting to fall.
By the time everyone in school joined us for the Thunder Dance it was pouring, and the sky was nearly black.
It's hard to describe what a Thunder Dance is really like. Chaos unleashed really describes it: Everyone trying their best to make noise, to match the cacophony coming from outside, the flashes of lightning throwing the room into sudden relief, frozen moments of movement.
The first lights of the fire-dancers flowing around the edges just added to the effect of elemental power suffusing the room.
And I realized I could fire-dance this year…
It wasn't something we'd gone over in classes. But by now, any reasonably skilled student of Red magic could get fire to flow from their fingertips. I lit up, and started trying to duplicate some of what the others were doing.
My first clumsy efforts were interrupted by Hieronymus's mind-call: "The common way is to guide the fire. Like this." The image of how to guide and control the fire was clear and vivid.
I had to ask: "And the uncommon way?"
"Is more dangerous." He gave me another image: Shielding yourself, while you let the fire flow, trailing and propelling your movements.
It was much more in line with what a Thunder Dance was supposed to be, and I didn't want to restrain the fire. I cast the shield, and started to move.
Hieronymus approved. He headed off a couple of potentially dangerous mistakes as I got the feel for it, but I was soon dancing on my own. Eyes closed, listening to the thunder, feeling the power flow through my limbs, propelling me, warming me. It was an extension of me, and I of it. I let it flow around me, as I danced through and around it — I was no more controlling the fire than the fire was controlling me. I could feel it's energy, it's power, it's heat against my bare skin…
Which made me open my eyes. I was dancing alone, the center of a circle of wide-eyed students. Looking down, I hadn't completely burned off my uniform… It still hung in patches. Mostly. It even still covered all the important bits. Still… "Um, I think I need to get a new uniform."
I teleported to my dorm room, blushing furiously.
The storm was dying a few minutes later when Virginia and Ellen arrived. "Wow." Virginia.
"What was that?" Ellen.
"I just got carried away?"
"We couldn't really see anything until you stopped." Virginia reassured me. "The flames obscured everything. That wasn't like any fire-dancing I've ever seen though. Where'd you learn that?"
"Hieronymus — he said it was uncommon, and more dangerous. He saw I was fumbling at the start, and gave me a couple of pointers."
"I think William would want to learn whatever that was."
"Really? I mean — was I that good?" I remembered him from last year. He'd been amazing.
Ellen decided to answer. "You were good. Not as good as I remember him being but… Different. More elemental. Primal, or something." She blushed.
I looked at her, then at Virginia, who was also blushing. "What? I mean, I burned my uniform, but it didn't fall apart."
The two looked at each other a moment, trying to decide who would answer. Virginia eventually got elected. "It's just — that wasn't why people were watching. I mean, the fire did hide everything, so even if people had known your uniform was being burned…"
Ellen broke in. "It was — well, it looked almost like you were making love to the fire."
They were both in full blush now. I thought back to some of what I remembered trying to do… Yeah, I guess it could have been kinda sexy, now that I thought about it. "Really?"
Virginia nodded. "I heard a couple of boys talking about it. Apparently they are jealous of Grabiner now. How did you do that thing where you bent back…?"
I thought back, and tried to remember the move she'd mentioned. I'd bent to nearly touch my hair to the floor, then stood… "Um, I was using the fire to power my movements."
Ellen nodded. "Action-reaction. Simple."
"Exactly." I confirmed, avoiding the other topic.
Which was apparently just fine with my roommates as well.
We managed other topics for the short period until supper. There were more than a few appraising glances my way — but they didn't really feel any different than the 'that's Grabby's wife' glances that I'd gotten used to getting, so I ignored them.
I'd actually hoped to run into him for supper, and decided to take the initiative when I didn't. Though a mind-call could work for this.
"Hieronymus?"
"Yes Susan?"
"Just wondering why you didn't warn me I was making a spectacle of myself. It would have been appreciated before I nearly burned my clothes off."
It's kinda interesting to sense a blush through a mind-link: I could get the feel, the hints of embarrassment, but also a bit of pride and… 'interest', I think I'll call it, through the thoughts that came back. "I was distracted. One of the other Sophomores nearly started a real fire." Was his excuse.
"Really." I poured as much skepticism as I could into the word.
There was a pause. "When I did turn back, you took my breath away. I honestly didn't notice the damage to your attire."
Which made my face heat up. "Thanks, I guess. I suppose I'll need a bit more help in practice before I try that again in public."
Which completely scattered his thoughts, from what I could feel. Something about wondering what I was implying?
I got it a moment later. "Um, I didn't mean that… Not that I would mind, you understand, dancing like that, it's just… We agreed…"
Yeah, I was about as coherent as he was. He chuckled, across the link. "If you wish for advice on how to refine your red magic spells, you may ask at any time. As for private practice — I am sure I would enjoy being your practice partner, whenever we might feel comfortable with such an arrangement."
There was just a hint of some of the other interest in there, along with the amusement, and I found I didn't mind. I was even oddly amused myself. "Good night, husband." I tried to push through a smirk with the words.
It came back the same. "Good night, wife."
Author's Notes: This section took ages to write, for a variety of reasons. (It's the reason for one of my long breaks.) But in the end I'm happier for it. I wasn't thinking of the fire dance scene when I first got to it, and when I finally got to it, this flowed out and was much better than just a 'normal' dance. ;)
...And I'm a bit behind where I wanted to be in my writing. (I actually wanted to have my buffer through the end of the story by now, but I have two scenes to write yet.) The next chapter (whenever it gets posted) will be fairly short - but the one after that will be longer.
Thanks to Cherry20052 and Slygamer101 for their reviews. They are well appreciated. Yes, I'm trying to keep from rushing things (a common flaw in beginning writers, I find), and I'm glad you don't think I am. (And I hope this chapter doesn't change your mind...) And yes, people get nosy, it's a problem with places like that - but I'll admit if I was attending Iris I'd probably be nosy too - it's just to big a thing to not be nosy about. ;)
