Chapter Five

By: Sokai

Disclaimer: I, Sokai, do not claim ownership to the workings of W.I.T.C.H. -- I leave that honor up to Elisabetta Gnone. However, I can and DO claim to own this story and its inspired ideas FROM said series, as well as the original character, Sitara/Amandella.

Note: Oh, bugger! I'd forgotten to add in my traditional disclaimer that I also do NOT own Subway (GOD, no – their sandwiches suck LoL), before Subway people try to sue for me endorsing it without their consent or some crap my meager college student salary just canNOT handle right now. LoL But I do still own my opinion, and yeah. I hate their food. Pfft. LoL I'll take regular, good ol' deli subs or something from Quiznos (which, I also do not own LoL).

Also, while I did write her as such on purpose, I in no way am making light of Irma's situation that sadly happens every day in real life to some unfortunate individuals. So . . . yeah. Don't bother flaming me for that, because like I said, that's not what I'm doing. So back off. LoL


ANYway! I gotta say, I'm honestly overwhelmed at the immense popularity this story's earning, and this is ONE story of mine I'm NOT so confident about. LoL Go, fig. Anyway, thanx for all the reviews! Reading it over, I've realized I'm kinda (for/to ME, anyway) moving it a tad fast, plot wise, even though it doesn't seem that way when you read it. But, I mean, pretty soon I'm already gonna HAVE to reveal the MAIN-main plot, and then poof! The story will end. LoL So, with this chapter, it's sort of a filler, if you will. That is, I've decided to take it a bit slow and offer more insight to the other Guardians, before I write the Hay Lin/Cornelia phone call scene, perhaps in the next chapter. So, yeah. This chapter won't be as racy/exciting as its predecessor, but it's still a chapter. LoL Enjoy!

Oh, P.S. NO, that dude Amandella transfigured into trash the other chapter isn't dead, as I'd been asked in review . . . Although, I suppose he COULD be if someone puts him through a paper shredder. LoL

This chapter was written/created in March 2006.

"Mom! I'm home!" called out Wilhelmina into a seemingly empty and rather quiet loft once she'd arrived home after school later that day. She only had an honest half hour to spare before she had to leave for swim practice, and so she was looking forward to a rare opportunity to grab a bite with her mother as she'd used to before her having married her new husband.

"Mom?" Wilhelmina called out once more as she closed the door behind her and made her way into the lonely kitchen. There, she found a white sheet of paper waiting for her upon the table.

Curious, Wilhelmina picked it up with one hand to read as she set her book bag onto the floor with her other:

Willie,

Left you some of your favorite bread and chocolate to snack on before swim practice. Your father surprised me with a very romantic picnic surprise and movie date, so we won't be home until late.

Be sure to lock the door and windows before you go to sleep, and do your homework!

We love you!

Mom

Wilhelmina groaned heavily and rolled her eyes heavenward as she crumpled up the note and tossed it aside. Once again it'd be another lonely evening for the crimson haired young woman at the Vandom-Collins loft. If she didn't have such a busy schedule, she'd actually have more of a chance to be bothered by that fact.

Much has changed within the sixteen year old's life, most of which she was honestly all right with. She'd become much more responsible when it came to her priorities, her grades had tremendously improved, and for the most part, her home life was pretty substantial. Except . . . she had already been seeing less and less of her mother while she'd been dating her new stepfather, and now that the two were married, it was almost as though Wilhelmina had a gained a father (whom she still could not refer to as such, although her mother obviously preferred that she do so) but completely lost a mother.

But I can't honestly complain -- I mean, I've never seen her so blissful before . . . And besides, Dean's not such a bad guy -- he is the one footing most of the bill to get me a new car for my upcoming birthday, after all, thought Wilhelmina idly as she maneuvered around the kitchen table to get the package of bread from out of the pantry and the jar of chocolate spread from out of the refrigerator.

At least she still had her social life, which was thriving . . . or was it? Lately she'd been feeling a bit off, at least emotion-wise. Her traditionally happy and content attitude had been fluctuating on and off, and she hadn't the slightest reason why. One moment she'd feel like herself, and then the next feel a great desire to scream, shout, or cry her eyes out, and over matters that normally didn't bother her in the slightest.

The red head supposed it was merely the traditionally hormonal pilgrimage into adulthood, and so for the most part rarely thought anything of it. However . . . this week especially, since that past weekend, did Wilhelmina feel a bit concerned about it.

Maybe it's just because of that awkward lunch with the others, and that's why I feel so odd, she thought, taking a bite of her chocolate smeared bread as she reflected upon the inconsolable tiffin with her once close friends.

It'd been so long since they'd last gotten together, that she honestly hadn't much noticed when they'd all inevitably parted ways.

I wonder how that happened, when it had precisely, and . . . and why I don't really seem to care much about it . . . Wilhelmina mused with melancholy, the sweet, rich chocolate flavor within her mouth now taking on a slightly bitter taste.

"But what can I do? That's life, and it happens. Mom's happily married, and while I don't see her much, why complain? I'm not a little kid anymore. And as for me and the Guardians, we were only all brought together because of our shared destiny as Guardians of the Veil, and that's all done and over with.

Even our powers have all but left -- well, mine, anyhow. I can't remember the last time I've called upon the Heart of Candracar or felt its warming presence surging within my being . . ." recalled Wilhelmina thoughtfully of the mystical gem that she'd been bestowed with and contained the elements of Air, Fire, Earth and Water.

Finishing the last of her snack, the young woman folded her arms across her chest as she lightly tapped her sneakered foot against the floor.

"I probably should be more fazed by this, but . . . I just don't know. Two years have passed and nothing catastrophic has happened, so I suppose everything really is all right. Who knows? Maybe the Heart's left my body too, without my having realized," she prematurely concluded as she then put back the bread and chocolate spread in their proper place.

Looking at her watch, Wilhelmina saw that it now read ten minutes until swim practice. Racing around the table, she tied her rose colored hair back into a messy ponytail before heading to the front door and throwing it open.

"I'd better book it out of here before I'm late for something that truly matters! 'All's well that ends well,' I always say: this new life of mine can continue to go on just as it is, magic-free, for all I care . . ."

-- End of Chapter Five

(A.N. Short, and kind of pointless, I know. I'd write more, but I hate this chapter and can't bear to continue on with it. So, I'm just gonna do Will's next scene in chapter six. I'd say what happens, but then you won't read it. LoL HELL, you PROBABLY didn't even read THIS one, it was so short and . . . "out there." LoL But anyway, even though I'm writing this story, the way the girls have turned out now is annoying me. That is, they're all heartless and btchy now, pretty much. LoL Sweet. LoL Stay tuned for the next chapter -- which will be far much greater -- leave NICE reviews, please, and there we go! LoL)