Let The Chaos Ensue...
Chapter 22: Fleeting Magic
August 27th, 12:04 am, Arcadia CA
The last thing Jim knew was that Indi had left for the bathroom, and now…
"Indigo, Claire, you have to stop!" He yelled.
He had his arms around his girlfriend's waist, Darcy and Mary were struggling against Claire while trying to hold her back.
"She started it," Indi mumbled to Jim. "She was asking for it."
"This is all your fault," Claire screached.
"It's your own fault!" The other roared back.
"My office! Both of you. Now." Strickler said, pushing his way through the students.
…
August 27, 11:59 am, Arcadia CA
About 5 Minutes Earlier
Claire swung a fist at Indi's face, landing a solid punch. The bell rang and students began to gather to watch the spectacle.
Now angered with a bloodied nose, she charged.
Indi smashed her knee into Claire's stomach and brought her fist down over her back, sending her to the ground. From that position, Claire grabbed her ankle and brought her to the ground with her. It was a full on brawl of hair pulling and clawing from that point on.
…
August 27, 11:54 am, Arcadia CA
About 10 Minutes Earlier
Indi exited the bathroom stall, washed her hands and headed for the door. About to hold the door for the girl entering, she froze. Then, trying to ignore Claire, she continued out the door.
"What, you don't have anything to say to me?" Claire asked.
"Nothing nice," she said, and continued attempting to leave.
"So he told you?" she said with a sneer.
"Of course he told me," indi said.
"How much did he tell you?"
"Enough to know that you don't get any more special attention for your nightmares."
Claire growled. "What are you going to do about it? Huh? Aren't you mad?"
"Of course I'm mad, but I'm going to be the bigger person. I'm done getting in fights."
Claire's face was red, her fists balled at her side. Without thinking, she acted, and swung.
…
August 27, 1:54 am, Arcadia CA
About 10 Hours Earlier Than That
Jim had fallen asleep in Claires' bed, he was exhausted. That's when Claire pressed her lips against his.
He woke immediately and pushed her off.
"Claire what are you doing?" He asked, wiping his lips of her kiss.
"I just… I know you should be with me…"
"No Claire. That's not how it works."
"But…"
"No. And I can't believe you would kiss me. While I'm sleeping."
"I just… You help me with my nightmares. And sometimes you lick me, I thought that was your way of kissing."
He narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, it's also how I clean my cuts. It's like a splash of cold water for you."
"I thought…"
"Well you thought wrong. Ugh… You know what? I can't. I'm done. You can deal with your nightmares on your own from now on."
Swiftly, Jim left the room through Claire's window and ran back to his house. Explaining what had happened to Indi, not wanting there to be any confusion later on.
(Because communication is very important that way you don't have cliche misunderstandings that are really anoying).
…
August 27, 12:54 am, Arcadia CA
About An Hour Earlier Than That.
Jim held Indi tight to his chest. Rocking her back and forth licking the sweat off her forehead, kissing her cheek, and keeping her hair out of her face.
She was hyperventilating and couldn't focus. Her night terror woke Jim and triggered her panic attack, now Jim was dealing with it for the past hour.
"I swear, I'll protect you. Even if he did get out of prison, which he won't. I'll be here for you. Listen to my voice Indigo."
As she calmed down, she looked up at the troll cradling her in his arms, his eyes glowed purple and softened.
"Jim?"
"Yeah," he said.
His head sat atop hers, and she held his shit tightly in her fists.
"Have you ever thought about being Claire's boyfriend again?"
"Before I met you, yeah. I figured we'd get together again."
"And after?" She asked, wiping at a few stray tears.
"Not once."
…
August 27th, 12:10 am, Arcadia CA
With the girls sitting in his office, Jim explained what happened the night before. Including both girls' nightmares and Indi's panic attack. He entered his office, Jim standing at the back of the room.
The changeling sat at his desk and looked at Indi and Claire.
"Start talking," Strickler said. "What happened."
Indi didn't move to speak, she only looked at her hands. Blood still on her face, as well as Claire's.
Claire opened her mouth, presumably to start arguing, but Indi said, in a small, sad voice.
"Why do you hate me? You know I didn't steel Jim from you, and that I'm not trying to take your friends. So why? Why do you hate me?"
Oddly enough Claire didn't have an answer.
Strickler became awkward as the situation was and glanced between the people in his office. Jim stood at the back of the room, and noticed the odd mixing scents. One in particular he hadn't smelt before.
Claire looked at her hands in her lap and sighed. "It was my fault. I was egging her on."
"What?" Jim said. Surprised as Indi.
Claire looked back at her ex and nodded. "I've been out of line. And I know it. At first I was angry because Jim chose Indi over me. Then it was because even with my nightmares he still wasn't giving me the attention I wanted. And when Indi tried to make things better I just couldn't… I wanted Jim back and something in me snapped and I threw the first punch." She looked at stricker, ashamed of her actions, then turned to Indi. "I'm sorry, I've been awful to you. And I have no excuse."
"Actually, you do."
"Huh?" Indi and Claire voiced.
Strickler looked at Claire with an amused smirk. "You are aware my office is warded against harmful magics that aren't my own?"
"I am now."
"I believe your nightmares were something of a residual effect from Morgana's magic, and it was causing you undue anger towards Miss Stark." He fiddled with his pen. "And when you entered my office that magic was warded off."
"So you're saying," Jim said, stepping forward. The two girls were slightly dumbfounded. "Is that all this bad attitude was Morgana's bad magic in Claire's system?"
Strickler nodded.
"Wait, really?" Claire said, starting to grin.
"Magic?" Indi said. "All this time and all it took was a trip to your office?!" She yelled.
"Calm down…" Stricker tried.
Jim shook his head. "No, she's got a point. Claire's been kinda awful."
"He's right, I've been awful."
Indi stood. "I'm done. Jim let's go." She walked toward the door ignoring Strickler trying to stop her. Jim followed out with only a shrug. Mouthing to Claire for her to text him.
"All it was was some magic? Why is everything so weird with you?" She said with a sigh.
Jim walked closer to her and held her hand with his tail, then put his nose to her shoulder and scented her.
"What are you doing?" She asked, a nondescript look on her face.
"You're acting mad, but your scent says otherwise," he replied.
She sighed again and stopped. "I'm just… confused by your world Jim. Anytime I've been in a fight with someone it's been because they hated me or my dad, something I did, or didn't do. It's never been because magic was messing with their brain for a month."
"Hey, it's a first for me too." Jim laughed. She didn't smile though.
She had bags under her eyes from her night terror, and her hair was a mess. The blood had dried under her nose and a bruise was starting to form under her left eye.
"You know, let's ditch the last two periods and go hunting. We can swing by Scott's to borrow a bow. How does that sound?" He asked with a smile.
She nodded, they grabbed their things from their lockers and left.
The forest was always a nice quiet place to unwind. And the game of seeing who could get their prey first always put them both in a good mood.
Indi drew her bow back and let the arrow fly, finding it's target in a small cottontail. She then blew her whistle and a few minutes later Jim found her and her kill.
"You beat me," Jim stated. "Your whistle scared off my lunch." he smiled.
"That's okay," she said with the smirk of a winner. "I caught it for you." She lifted the arrow with the dead lagomorph on the end and let Jim remove it's carcas from the shaft.
"Jamison's dad has taught you well," he said.
"Yeah, but coming out here with you is what's honed my speed."
"Not that I've done anything to teach you."
They laughed together as they headed back to the house. Indi went inside and washed the arrow whilst Jim ate the rabbit.
Jim wondered all the while how he got so lucky to have her as his girlfriend. And Indigo, just glad to have someone who loved her.
September 5th, 1:34 PM, Arcadia CA
A few weeks later
The gang was gathered in the Lake household kitchen, playing what had become one of their favorite games.
"I bought an old, glass Coke bottle," Mary said.
"Chapstick," Claire said.
"Ohh nice,"
"Nope," Toby said. "I win this round with, drumroll please… Roadkill!" He plopped a plastic bag on the table with a dead squirrel inside.
Indi curled her lip and glarred. "I have to kiss him, you know!"
Jim simply smiled. "You guys are losing your game," he said. "Roadkill is delicious."
The name of the game was simple, 'Eat It'. Everyone bought something and Jim had to eat it, the goal was to get him to pass. He had yet to pass on even toenails. Toby almost won that round the week before.
Everyone gave their cries of disgust but Indi just shook her head. "One time he ate a skunk," she added.
"Oh! That's worse," Darci squealed with a smile.
"Alright, let's do this," Jim rubbed his hands together with a grin and finished the game quickly, winning the game once again.
"Yeah," Indi said, "You have to go brush your teeth before you make us lunch."
"Agreed," Toby and Claire said.
"Oh come on, toothpaste is disgusting!"
"Says the guy who just ate, a tube of chapstick, a glass bottle, and raw roadkill," Mary said, typing away on her phone.
"Fine, fine," Jim left and reluctantly brushed his teeth. He came back and began making their lunch, everyone talking and having fun.
Jim's phone rang, he checked the caller ID, unknown. He answered and put the phone to his ear. "Jim Lake speaking."
"Master Jim! It's Blinkey. We are in Dire need of your help!"
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