Picture Day

Looking at the outfit options spread out on his bed, Sigmund pouted and rested his hands on his hips. With his first term over, being given a Milkweed award and winning his first ever Wizard of the Year award, he wanted to be sure that his first picture day was flawless. Waking up the morning after such a hectic day, he hadn't gotten the chance to choose what he wanted to wear for his pictures today. Having to pack away clothes for summer holiday gave him even less time to settle on an outfit.

Urgently, he'd given his stylist a last minute call, but they weren't able to come through for him. Kyle on the other hand, actually worked to brush the tangles out of his hair. On his crystal ball, his mother wouldn't stop instructing him on what to wear and how to style himself. This was also Kyle's first realm yearbook and it was a major deal to his family.

"Alright already!" Kyle groaned, pointing out his hair to his mother. "I've already brushed it! Stop patronizing me!"

"I liked the way you had it for the Yule." His mother told him, a comment that made Kyle scoff. "The photos I saw were very dapper!"

"I'm not putting any hairspray in my hair!" He argued. "That wasn't my idea, it was my roommate who did it."

"Well, that's why Sigmund's hair always looks so nice. You said it yourself when we watched his Christmas special." Hearing what Kyle's mother said, Sigmund raised a brow in the direction of their conversation, a knowing smirk forming on his face. Kyle blushed.

"Mum, PLEASE!" Kyle gasped as Sigmund snickered. "I have to go!"

Before his mother could say anymore, Kyle ended the call. Sigmund approached Kyle's desk with two different vests.

"Black or green?" The sorcerer asked. Kyle shrugged.

"What does it matter? You're gonna be wearing Milkweed robes. No one sees what's underneath, only at the collar."

"Oh?" Sigmund blinked. He'd completely forgotten. Now he had a whole new dilemma, silk or lace around his neck?! Kyle opted for the red bow tie he'd worn at the Yule. Straightening it out in the mirror, he sighed, running his fingers through the fringe of his hair.

"Do you think I need hairspray?"

"Is that even a question?" Sigmund chuckled, turning away to adjust the silk cravat around his neck. He was pleased with his choice. Kyle groaned.

"I know I'm supposed to look polished, but what if this is my only photo ever in the yearbook? I want to look like myself, not some posh wannabe."

"Was that an insult?" Sigmund asked, his eyes narrowing toward the wizard. Kyle rolled his eyes.

"The difference between you and I, is the fact that you're actually properly posh. I'm poor. I'd look stupid suddenly sporting a comb over in the yearbook."

"Then do what makes you feel comfortable." Sigmund advised, finally sitting in front of his own mirror to touch up his hair and moisturize his face. "Now that you've actually brushed it for once, it doesn't look half bad."

"I'm not sure if I should thank you or take offense..." Kyle mumbled, turning back to his own desk. He opened a drawer and pulled the purple box he'd been gifted after being awarded by Headmaster Merlin. Opening it made him smile all over again. There was a knock at their door suddenly that caught the attention of both boys. Sigmund stood up quickly to answer it. It was Professor Flan, who happened to look more tailored than usual.

"Professor! Good morning!" Sigmund greeted. Kyle closed his box and quickly stood up to meet the teacher at the door.

"Good morning!" The wizard greeted. Professor Flan held up two covered garments.

"I've come to deliver your robes." He told the boys, handing them each a clothing hanger. "We have to get going soon. All yearbook photos are taken at the realm's assembly hall. The buses will be here momentarily, so get those on and meet everyone down in the great hall."

"Yes, sir!" The boys responded together, closing the door as the Professor turned away. Quickly, they set their garments down on their beds and unzipped them.

Sigmund's robes differed from Kyle's. Both were grey colored and there was a purple military styled cord on the shoulder of each, but Sigmund's also displayed a shimmering gold sash that sat across the shoulders and there seemed to be some type of beret as well. They pulled on and zipped up the oversized robes and worked to secure the medallions they'd been awarded. Glancing over at Kyle, Sigmund rushed over to straighten out the medallion for him.

"Crooked..." Sigmund mumbled. Kyle was thankful in that moment. He was also entranced by the golden sash around Sigmund's shoulders. He'd never seen the Wizard of the Year robes in person, yet alone this close before. Once fixed, Sigmund turned back to pull that hat on. To the surprise of the boys, there was a massive, white feather attached to it. The ridiculous look of it sticking up in the air made Kyle laugh.

"Fitting!" Kyle teased. "Just as extra as you!"

"They can't be serious..." Sigmund pouted, looking in the mirror. He tried to adjust the hat, sitting it sideways on his head instead, but the feather was just as distracting. It also annoyed him that his hairstyle wasn't as visible. "I hate this."

"Anyone who's Wizard of the Year sports that mortarboard cap for the yearbook."

"Well then, I'll be the first not to. This is ridiculous!"

"Let's get going then." Kyle giggled, grabbing his suitcase. "I'm ready for this to be over. I need a break already."

Sigmund nodded in agreement and pulled off the hat, keeping it in his hands instead. After picking up his own suitcase, the boys headed out of their dorm and down to the great hall.

With all the gowned students collected in the hallway lobby, they were all ushered into the school buses outside of the academy. The boys sat next to each other and when the ride started, Kyle turned his attention to the window. Sigmund could hardly relax on the ride with student after student congratulating him on his rank.

After a while of driving, the buses finally pulled up to a white, marble building with massive stone pillars lining the entrance. The students left their suitcases and backpacks on the bus and started up the tall staircase together into the realm's assembly hall. Kyle marveled at the size of the building and the height of the ceilings once they stepped foot inside.

Faint camera flashes caught the attention of the Milkweed students. Students from the neighboring schools seemed to already be present and were actively having their photos taken in front of their respective backdrops. The robes for the University of the Underworld resembled their uniforms, looking just as grim. Literally. Their black robes cascaded to the floor and their own student of the year was awarded with a scythe to hold in their photo along with their own golden sash.

As Milkweed Academy lined up and waited to be photographed next, Halfmoon Hallows witches arrived to the assembly hall. Their navy blue, puffy dress robes with white, scalloped Peter Pan collars and pointed black hats stood out upon entry and immediately caught the attention of the other schools. Besides the Yule ball, this was the only other event where the students truly blended.

Spotting Erin wearing a golden sash of her own, Sigmund waved her down frantically till he caught her attention. Erin's hair and makeup were done beautifully. Catching her gaze gave him butterflies. The witch skipped over quickly and met the sorcerer with a warm hug, though she quickly stepped back, the medallion and multiple cords on her robe jingling.

"Wait, wait! Do you like my feather?" Erin asked with a giggle, tilting her head down for Sigmund to see. "Haha! Isn't this insane?!"

"They're making you wear one too?" He gasped. He'd been holding his own cap in his hands, but pulled it on after seeing Erin's. Kyle had a great laugh all over again.

"I just think it suits him!" The wizard told Erin, to Sigmund's displeasure. "I don't see why he's unhappy with it."

"Shut up!" Sigmund pouted, folding his arms in annoyance. "I look stupid!"

"Exactly my point." Kyle teased. "It's perfect for you." Before Sigmund could argue with him, Erin intervened.

"Well, I think it's neat." She told the boys, adjusting the brim of her hat. "Ridiculous, but nifty."

"You're adorable in anything you wear though..." Sigmund swooned. "It's unfair." Erin rolled her eyes.

"You don't know how handsome you really are." She told him, pulling her cellphone from under her petticoat filled robes. Sigmund blushed as she pointed her phone in his direction. "Smile! I need a new background for my phone!"

Sigmund did as his partner requested, but froze when she started to snicker.

"What?!" He asked, looking behind him. Kyle had been unknowingly holding up his fingers behind Sigmund, giving him bunny ears in the photo. When he'd been caught, he quickly dashed off before Sigmund could grab him.

"C'mon Sigmund!" Erin laughed. "Stop! Smile again!"

"No!" Sigmund frowned, folding his arms. Erin pouted cutely.

"Please? For me?"

"Ugh!" The sorcerer gave her a soft smile, something that caught the attention of other witches, who also pulled their phones to snap photos of the celebrity sorcerer. They squealed with delight after inspecting the photos. With the quick photo nearly becoming a photo opt, Sigmund pulled his own phone from his pocket.

"Now let me get one of you too, for my phone!" He suggested. The same result seemed to come from Erin smiling for Sigmund's photo, but the enchantress quickly shied away from other camera flashes coming from Milkweed boys. Hiding in Sigmund's robe, the sorcerer wrapped his arm around her and pointed the camera to them both instead for a selfie. Erin quickly hugged onto him and stood on the tips of her toes to get closer. Sigmund ended up leaning over to meet her height and dodge the wide brim of her hat.

The pair were incredibly attractive as they smiled together, their awarded sashes sparkling with the flash of the cellphone camera. Erin pressed her face against Sigmund's, who laughed towards the gesture. In return, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and let the camera snap again. The scene made students from both schools leap with surprise. Some in admiration and others in jealousy. Meghan the Malevolent, who was there as a top three for her academy, figured she'd had enough of all the girly chatter from the Halfmoon witches and quickly approached to collect Erin.

"Let's go." The witch groaned. "Enough of this. You're both nauseating." Sigmund grabbed the green witch, which shocked her completely.

"Wait! Take a selfie with us!" Sigmund grinned, snapping another photo before the witch was ready. Erin bursted out in laughter as Meghan did her best to wrestle out of Sigmund's grip. When Kyle also approached, Erin grabbed him too. The wizard blushed.

"I'm sorry, what's happening?"

"Smile!" Erin laughed, pointing out Sigmund's phone. Kyle blinked in confusion, but actually smiled for the photo that followed. He hated smiling and he wasn't planning to smile for his yearbook photo, but he'd smile for Erin. When Meghan finally managed to pull herself away from the sorcerer, she pulled her wand and zapped his arm, causing him to drop his phone.

"AH!"

"Don't you EVER grab me like that again!" Meghan spat, adjusting her robes and hat. Grabbing Erin's hand, the green witch pulled her away as well and started in the direction of their class. Erin waved to Sigmund.

"Send me those photos, please!" She called back to him before turning away. Sigmund waved back, a deep sigh escaping him. Looking down at his phone, he quickly collected it from the floor and inspected it. It hadn't cracked, thankfully. At the front of the line for Milkweed, Professor Flan snapped his fingers to grab the attention of the students.

"Alright Milkweed, we're next!" He announced. "We're going in order of rank and then we'll follow up with the awarded participants. Can I have my Wizard of the Year and following top two, please?"

Kyle turned to Sigmund and helped him straighten up quickly. Sigmund frowned at the hat, but seeing Erin with a feather on had lifted his spirits...at least a tad bit. When everything seemed to be in order, Kyle gave a thumbs up, a gesture Sigmund returned.

"Thank you." The sorcerer smiled, turning away to take his place at the Milkweed backdrop. He took a seat on the tall stool and followed the instructions of the photographer.

"Sit to your side." The purple skinned gremlin instructed. "Chest angled, face forward, hands on your lap." Sigmund posed perfectly, straightening his posture. Even with the ridiculous hat on, he almost seemed to sparkle and somehow made it look fashionable. On the Halfmoon Hallows line, witches quickly pulled their phones out again to snap a photo of their own. Erin quickly rushed to stand behind the photographer, pulling her own phone out to catch a photo for herself.

"Okay, smile!"

Sigmund's expression stayed void of any smile, but the depth in his blue eyes did the trick for him. Clearly, the sorcerer had experience behind a camera. Two photos were snapped before the photographer waved for the next student. Hopping off the stool, Sigmund finally smiled. He gave Erin a wink as she turned away and rushed over to Kyle.

"How did I look?" He asked. "Do you think the photo came out bad?" Kyle's eyes narrowed.

"Are you kidding me?" Kyle asked. "You're so annoying! Didn't you see all the witches snapping your photo just then? I even saw Underworld students taking your photo." Sigmund shrugged as he glanced over at the neighboring school.

"It's always like that. That doesn't mean my photo looked nice."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that."

As the students rotated to take their photos, Professor Flan turned back to the students.

"Alright! Awarded participants, line up here please! You too, Mr. Nightbreed!"

The students quickly queued up, all eager to have their photo taken. Kyle was extremely nervous all of a sudden. He seemed to be rocking on his heels and fiddling with the wand in his hands. Sigmund took notice and tapped him on the shoulder, catching his attention.

"Relax!" The sorcerer chuckled. "It's just a photo."

"Says you!" Kyle gasped. "You're getting two photos in one year! This might be my only chance."

"Not if you study more. And honestly, who cares about the yearbook? It's filled with a bunch of old people anyway."

"WHAT?!" Kyle was shocked by what Sigmund was saying. He was so dismissive about how big of a deal this was for students. Kyle knew this was his first year attending a school in the realm and he tried his best to sympathize with his lack of understanding, but it still annoyed him.

"Sigmund, this is really important. Being in the yearbook can raise your status and open opportunities for higher levels of study."

"Why should a picture in a book be the defining factor though?" The sorcerer asked. "Shouldn't your skill be what people look at? Or your passion?"

"Hm..."

"If a photo alone makes someone want to work with me, I don't want to work with them. They only care about appearances."

Kyle couldn't find it in himself to argue with Sigmund. He actually agreed with what he was saying. The problem was, this was just the way it had always been. The yearbook was for high achievers from every academy. It was a way for the academies to show off their best and only the best were featured. The line moved along quickly and soon, Kyle found himself to be next. The panic seemed to start all over again.

"Do you want me to shoot first?" Sigmund asked. "You're sweating."

"I'm sweating?!" Kyle gasped, patting his forehead with the back of his hand. Sigmund conjured a handkerchief and offered it to him.

"I'll go first, okay? Collect yourself."

As Sigmund passed him to sit on the stool again, Kyle frantically blotted his face. He watched Sigmund pose for his picture again and took into consideration what he had said. It was just a photo and it went by really quickly. If it was just a photo, why did he feel like everything depended on it?

He recalled the argument his father had on Family Day with Sigmund's father. That yearbook photo, even in his adult age, had still meant so much to his father. So much so, that he conjured the old yearbook just to flaunt it. Sigmund seemed to be right, everything was about appearances and it was always that way to his parents. Even this morning, his mother actually called for once, just to make sure his hair was done. She hadn't called him all semester. Neither of them had.

"It's just a photo.." Kyle muttered to himself as Sigmund hopped off the stool. Professor Flan ushered the wizard to go next and after straightening up one last time, Kyle took his spot on the tall stool in front of the camera.

"Sit to your side." The purple skinned gremlin instructed once again. Kyle turned his body, but the gremlin madly waved his webbed hand. "The other way! Right, there you go! Chest angled, face forward, hands on your lap, rest your wand on your forearm."

Sigmund noticed a bit of static making the wizard's hair stand up at the top of his head. Before the photographer could snap the photo, the sorcerer sneakily rushed onto the set, catching Kyle off guard. Sigmund heated up his hands, rubbed them together and quickly smoothed out Kyle's hair before rushing out of the way again.

"Ya got yourself a stylist, huh?" The photographer snickered, leaning over to angle the photograph. Kyle blushed. "Smile!"

Kyle wasn't one for smiling, but considering his braced teeth protruded most of the time, he settled for a sinister smirk. He was surprised with how quickly the photos were taken. With two snaps of the camera, the wizard was waved away from the set. A wave of relief washed over him as he slouched again and hopped off the stool.

"You looked adorable!" Erin cooed as she passed by the wizard for her own photo. "I like your smile~!" Kyle covered his face quickly to hide the embarrassed blush creeping up over his cheeks. Also rushing past him were other students from Milkweed and the Underworld, hoping to get a photo of Erin for themselves as she sat on the set for Halfmoon witches.

Kyle watched as Sigmund forcefully pushed students out of the way to get to the front of the crowd with his own cellphone. Erin, looking on, was having a great laugh.

"MOVE!" Sigmund yelled in annoyance, rapidly parting the crowd straight down the middle till he was stood behind the photographer. Finally in the best spot, the sorcerer smiled. Erin fluffed her hair and followed the photographer's instructions, giving a gentle smile to the camera that made onlookers swoon. Before she could hop off the stool, Sigmund waved his hand.

"Waaahh! Wait! Wait! One more! Smile again, it came out blurry!"

"Excuse me! I don't have all day!" The gremlin photographer groaned. When Sigmund ignored him to snap more photos, the audience of students had a great laugh. Especially towards the way Sigmund bent over to get a better angle. Kyle facepalmed and walked to the front of the crowd to snatch his roommate.

"Enough!" Kyle groaned, pulling him away. "He's getting angry." Erin hunched over in laughter watching Sigmund get dragged away and swiftly hopped off the stool on the set before the gremlin became upset with her too.

Once all the students had been photographed, they headed out of the assembly hall and down the stairs towards their school buses again. Sigmund caught up with Erin on the stairs and took her hand to help her walk down.

"We're still taking the train together later, right?" He asked her, eagerly. Erin nodded with a bright grin and a squeeze of his hand. Overnight, the pair had been excitedly making plans to kick off the summer holiday. Erin had wanted to visit sooner than later and Sigmund was more than happy to have her over. Erin's older brother, Eric the Enchanter, had also asked to visit when he realized his sister wasn't coming straight home for vacation. The sorcerer figured it was to keep an eye on him, something her brother was known to do. Erin assured him it was only because her brother was an undercover fan, but he doubted that. Highly.

"I'll meet you on the platform with my stuff." Erin spoke. "Make sure you bring plenty of snacks like you promised!"

"I will, I promise you!"

"What are you two talking about?" Kyle asked, catching up with the couple on the stairs. Erin smiled as they reached the bottom.

"I'm visiting Sigmund." She told Kyle. "We're taking the train together this afternoon. I'm staying over for a week."

"Really?" Kyle gasped. "That's interesting. Seems like I wasn't invited."

"Well, are you doing anything this week?" Erin asked. Jumping in on the conversation, Sigmund immediately protested.

"No! No! No!" He hollered. "Why are you even telling him? This was supposed to be just you and I and that's already ruined as it is! He's not invited!"

"Well, excuse me!" Kyle spat, crossing his arms. "How rude! I didn't want to come anyways!"

"Stop guys..." Erin mumbled. Turning away with Sigmund for a moment, Erin held a finger up to Kyle to wait. Sigmund wasn't having it.

"Whatever you're about to say, I don't wanna hear it!" Sigmund mumbled, folding is arms with a spoiled pout. "I'm finished!"

"Oh, c'mon!" Erin groaned. "I just thought it would be a good idea to have Kyle come along too. Maybe he'd be good company for my brother every now and then?" Sigmund definitely caught her drift.

"...you think so?"

"Maybe? And what's so bad about having extra company? You told me you've never had visitors."

"Erin..."

"Sigmund..."

"FINE! Ugh!" He hated when she spoke rationally. As they turned back around, Sigmund pushed his hands into his pockets. "You can come too, okay?"

"Oh? Is that an official invitation?" Kyle smirked. Sigmund's eyes narrowed.

"Don't push it, Constipator."

"Be nice!" Erin ordered, setting a kiss to his cheek. She gave Kyle a friendly wave as she turned away to her school bus, catching up with Meghan. "See you on the train!"

The boys waved back at her together and turned to their own bus, finding their seats. Sigmund folded his arms again when they sat down. Kyle smiled brightly.

"What? Afraid I'm gonna see the mess you live in?" Kyle teased. Sigmund finally smiled before he snapped back.

"Mess? Haha! Wait on it."