Author's note: Short chapter, I know. But originally the last chapter and this one didn't even exist and we skipped right to track and field day, so really this is all bonus material. :P Don't know why I haven't posted this, yet, cuz it's been done for a while. I guess I was hoping to give it another draft, but really it doesn't need it, and I'm still busy trying to get the next chapter of Magpie to cooperate, so I haven't had a chance.
Finished with her business, Sofia washed her hands, then splashed some of the cool tap water on her face. Get a grip, Sofia. She scolded herself, facing her reflection in the mirror. The stranger she'd just run into in the hall had been handsome, with his piercing dark eyes and crooked grin. His hair, dyed silver in the front and hanging shaggy all over, seemed to call to her fingertips. To top everything off, he'd been so kind, saving her and then dropping everything he was doing to escort her so she wouldn't fall again.
It seemed the encounter had triggered in her the feelings everyone around her had been experiencing for quite a while now, and she had no idea how to handle it. When he held her to his chest, which she tried to remind herself was simply part of keeping her from getting hurt and held no deeper meaning, her heart hammered so hard against her ribcage that she was sure it was going to explode.
Is he still out there? She wondered, glancing quickly to the door. Just my luck that this sort of thing happens when I'm desperate to use the wash room. How embarrassing!
Gathering her courage, she tiptoed to the door and slowly pushed it open. The hallway was empty, with no sign of the man in any direction. Sofia wasn't really certain if she was relieved or disappointed by his absence. Deciding not to give the incident any more thought, she made her way back to the infirmary.
"Sorry for the wait." The nurse apologized as Sofia peeked into the back room with the cots. "It's just that I can't seem to find your records anywhere, and I was trying to figure out why."
"Weird." Sofia mumbled, chewing her lip nervously. The nurse waved her hand dismissively, smiling at the girl and urging her to come inside.
"Not really. Our computers are practically antiques, so they're not as reliable as they used to be." She reassured Sofia, who relaxed a little. "As for paper records, they're not kept very well, since everything is supposed to be on the network. They'll turn up, so for now I'll just start a new file with your exam."
The nurse carefully measured Sofia's height, then took her weight and measurements. "Hop up." She instructed, patting one of the cots, and Sofia did as she was told.
"Is there anything you'd like to talk about? Any concerns you might have?" The nurse offered as she examined Sofia.
"I don't think so. I wasn't feeling well, which is why I missed the group health check, but I'm pretty much over it now." Sofia frowned as another slight nuisance entered her mind. "My... Um, my breasts are sore sometimes." She muttered, her voice nearly a whisper as she relayed the embarrassing information. The nurse glanced up at her for a moment, giving her a gentle smile.
"That's normal. They're growing, and some girls are more sensitive to it than others." She crossed the room to fetch a pamphlet, returning to hand it to Sofia. "Here, information on how to check them for problems. Do it once a month, but you shouldn't worry too much."
Sofia nodded, skimming the print out while the nurse tested her reflexes.
"Alright, my dear. You are fit as a fiddle, and ready to return to class." The nurse announced, and Sofia happily hopped down from the bed.
"That wasn't so bad." She grinned at the woman, not sure what she'd been expecting from the exam, but glad it hadn't been anything to fret over.
"I'll get out of here so you can get dressed."
Sofia stood in front of the full-length mirror that hung beside the door, taking mental inventory of her reflection. She was more petite than many of her classmates, especially Grace, who stood head and shoulders taller than her, and she wondered if her height made her seem more childish than she really was. Her burnt-copper curls were tucked up into a practical ponytail, and she never really bothered with makeup the way her peers did.
I wonder if he even really noticed me. She pondered, reaching a hand up to tug the ponytail out so her hair could fall in spirals down her back. She frowned, still not entirely satisfied with the teenaged girl who stared back at her. He probably saw nothing but a little girl. A clumsy one, too.
...
Cedric hurried away from the rest room as quickly as he dared, cursing his misfortune at having to interact so directly with the spelled princess before he intended to do so. She'd looked so amazing, maybe even better than the last time he'd seen her, and he could hardly bear being so close to her without being allowed to tell her all the ways he adored her. Hello, you don't remember me but we were madly in love hundreds of years ago, and I'm still completely crazy about you. Yeah, he could just imagine the sort of reaction that would get. For good measure he could even tell her that she was a princess and he'd probably doomed what remained of her family and kingdom by sending her to the future. Returning to his cart, he took up his mop again, actually grateful to have busywork to take his mind off of the encounter.
"You're doing great." Glancing up, he found the man who'd hired him standing and watching his work. "I have a request, and it's going to seem a bit odd, but hear me out..." Cedric leaned his mop against the wall and brushed his hands off on his work uniform, turning his full attention to the headmaster.
"Track and Field day is on Friday, and Class 4 is short a student for the obstacle course." Cedric's new boss eyed him, sizing him up carefully. "Normally, the gym teacher would fill the extra spot, but he's participating in another event at the same time."
"You want me to do it." Cedric surmised, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the ludicrous suggestion.
"You seem like you're in pretty good shape." He sighed when the compliment went unacknowledged. "Look, the truth is that I've already asked pretty much everyone else, and you would really be helping me out of a bind."
Reluctantly, Cedric nodded his confirmation, recognizing that he should probably do everything he could to get into the headmaster's good graces in order to keep his position in the school.
"Alright, just tell me what's expected of me." He conceded, internally hating his luck even more than earlier.
The headmaster gave him a verbal overview of the course, then hurried off, leaving Cedric to sulk while he worked. As if being a janitor wasn't bad enough.
