Love

Homework and exams, Olivia had decided, were created simply to make the lives of the young miserable. A mountain worth of paper is spread out in front of her, all of them holding information she'd have to commit to memory within the next week in order to make certain she'd stay to pace with her peers at a school she'd hardly knew anything about before a month ago. Praise God above for smart parents, like her mother, that helped to make the information easier to learn.

"Alright Livy, one more time: Name the ambassadors that signed the Treaty of Vytal."

The girl mulled over it for a moment, sifting through a sea of names before some familiar ones come to mind. "Earl Tiberius Rene of Mantle, now Atlas; Victor Grange of Mistral; um…Rachel Ma…ROWAN!"

Olivia leapt from the floor and threw herself at her brother, nearly knocking him into Tati and on to the floor. "You're home, you're home, you're home! Hiya Tati."

"Olivia," the tawny haired girl smiled, "I think you're choking your brother."

"He can take it."

"Speak for yourself," Rowan choked, tickling his sister's middle to get her to release. With a laugh, she let go and hugged the other girl far more gently. "What are you working on?"

"History," his mother answered, "or at least we're trying to. How was the exam?"

Rowan remained silent far too long for Olivia's liking. "Rowan?" she whispered inquiringly.

"Well," he responded after clearing his throat, "let's hope their impressed by my grades."

"I thought we went over this, Ro," Tati said exasperated. "He did very well, Mrs. Hartins; totally kicked the other guy to the curb."

"Thank you, Tati," the woman responded. "I'll walk you home; Rowan, dinner's in the fridge."

"Thanks Mom," the boy responded.

Olivia watched as they left, then as the door closed, she grabbed her brother's golden tail and yanked…hard.

"OW…Liv, what's your deal?"

"I'm not going without you, Rowan."

"Olivia," her brother sighed, walking towards the kitchen, "you don't get to make that decision."

"Well too bad, I am. And I will not go to Beacon unless they let my brother in too. I'll call up that Goodwitch lady right now and tell her that unless you get a scholarship too…"

"Why do you want me there anyway?"

"I'm freaking 14, I've been asked to go to some school because of some semblance they think that I might have, and I'll be all by myself. Rowan," she whimpered, eyes brimming with tears as she threw herself into his arms, "don't let me go by myself. I'm scared."

"I know, sis," he whispered, running his fingers through her red hair, "so am I. That's why," he said, hands on her shoulders and kneeling to her eye level, "I'm going to do everything in my power to LEGALLY get in."

"No black mailing then?" Olivia giggled.

"I don't think so," Rowan laughed in return. "So stop worrying, Liv," he said kissing her head.

"I love you, Rowan."

"I love you too."