W.I.T.C.H

Chapter 21

Water

Warm sun, warm covers and, yes, even birds chirping! A perfect spring morning! If I had my way, this is how every day would begin.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Irma Lair, and I am the Guardian of Water. Or is that Water Guardian? Doesn't matter now, I guess, since I'm not the Guardian of anything anymore. Twelve hours ago, Will lost the Heart. Well, to be fair, she didn't really lose it, a couple of weirdo Kandrakar knight things took it from her. Either way, it means I'm powerless. Irma Lair, just an ordinary girl from Heatherfield.

I savor the morning for a few, fleeting seconds, then roll out of bed. As I run through my daily schedule, I realize that it's empty. To my surprise, I find that that without monsters and villains, I don't really know what to do with myself. It's a pretty nice feeling actually. I can do what ever I want, as long as it doesn't require wings to get there.

I scarf down breakfast and feel an overwhelming sense of boredom begin to creep up on me. Mom is in the kitchen, dad's at work and Chris…

"Chris, put down that diary! It's not yours!"

Chris is Chris.

I decide that I need some fresh air, so I head out for a walk. I used to go on walks all the time before the Guardians happened. Come to think of it, there are a lot of things I used to before the Guardians that I don't have time for anymore.

With no particular destination in mind, I head downtown. Okay, so not exactly the best place for 'fresh' air, but hey, I'm not picky.

"Morning Irma."

"Morning Mr. Peterson."

Mr. Peterson, the baker. Best in Heatherfield. The man can do amazing things with dough.

"Good morning Irma."

"Good morning Mrs. Davis."

Mrs. Davis, owner of Daisies by Davis, the local flower store. I buy a dozen roses from her every mother's day.

As I walk through the crowded streets, saying hi to various people, I realize I know every store and every street in town. I've lived in Heatherfield my entire life, and there is nothing in it that's unfamiliar. And I start to realize, that's the problem. There's nothing to explore in Heatherfield. Just this week, I've visited two other worlds, now I'm supposed to be content with one city? Can I really live knowing what's out there?

O.K., that line of thinking is getting way too serious. I whip out my phone and give Hay Lin a call. She picks up on the first ring.

"Hey Irma, what are you doing?" she says.

"I'm bored out of my mind! Lunch at Moxie's?"

Moxie's is one of my favorite restaurants. It's a little out of my price range, especially considering my lack of employment, but I feel I need a pick me up.

"You too, huh? Sure. I'll meet you there." She says.

Hay Lin and I have known each other since we were kids, longer then anyone else on the team. (Although I guess now we're not a team anymore, just five friends.) Either way, I've always felt closer to Hay Lin then anyone else. Whether it's a mission or just lunch, there's no one I'd rather have at my back.

Thirty minutes later, I'm checking out the menu as Hay Lin sits down across from me.

"So, how's life for Hay Lin: Ordinary Heatherfield civilian?" I ask, perusing the entrée's.

"I could get use to this." She says. "No monsters, or weird slimy things trying to eat me, just rest and relaxation. Hey, did you know there's a restaurant down the street that's actually called Meridian? How cool is that? Eric's taking me there tonight."

See, here's the thing with Hay Lin. She's so sweet that I know she's not trying to rub in the fact that she has a boyfriend and I don't, so I can't really be mad at her. Still hurts when she says it though, more then it should. I guess just seeing Eric and Matt and Caleb just makes me wish I had someone, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon. Add that on to the fact that Meridian and Elyon may be in danger and I'm powerless to help them, and you could say I'm not in the best of moods.

"How's your job search going?" Hay Lin asks, accidently adding another worry to the pile.

"Not so well. I was a stacker at Val-u-Mart until a pile of cans landed on Mr. Tomlinson, and I was a fry cook at Sit n' Slurp until one of the patties I was flipping hit Mr. Peterson right in the face."

Hay Lin laughs, thinking I'm joking. I make a mental note to swing by the hospital to see if Mr. Peterson's burns have healed.

The job situation just gets me even more down. Something else I don't have. No need to have Hay Lin worry about me too. That's why I'm the funny one. That's why I make jokes even when we're risking our lives. If I pretend everything is okay, maybe it will be.

"What's going on in there?" I ask, waving my arms wildly. "What's taking our food so long? Cornelia takes less time to put her make-up on then this!"

The waiter scurries over, breathing apologies. I order my favorite, Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo. If you want to hear me take something seriously, just start talking about food. I love eating it, (obvious if you've ever seen me), and I love making it even more. Nothing tastes better then a meal you've worked on. It may sound stupid, but food is one of the few things I will not joke about. If we're really not Guardians anymore, I might start learning how to become a chef.

"How's things with Eric?" I ask, tying to spark some conversation.

"Fine, fine. Why do you ask?" Hay Lin replies.

"Oh, no reason. And the folks, how are they?" I ask.

"They're good. This is a real busy time at the restaurant. I should be there helping out, but I just couldn't get my head into it this morning. What about your parents?"

"They're doin' alright. Chris is still annoying. Hey, do we have a math test on Friday?"

"Yeah."

"Hmmm, I should study."

"Yeah, me too."

As our food arrives, I realize two things, neither of which I like. First of all, Hay Lin and I are both doing everything we can to not talk about Elyon or Meridian. I guess we feel like if we don't think about it, it's not really there. And secondly, I realize that neither of us have anything to talk about outside of our Guardian lives. It's as if Irma and Hay Lin the People have been replaced by Irma and Hay Lin the Guardians. Not a pleasant thought. Then again, Irma the Guardian can fly and go to different worlds, while Irma the person is sitting in a restaurant eating a poor meal.

Wait a second. This is an expensive meal, so why does it taste like cardboard?

"Man, this tastes like cardboard." I say.

Unfortunately, we're sitting right under the kitchen window, so the chef hears me.

"Hey," he says, his head popping over the windowsill, "I'd like to see you do better!"

See, here's my problem. I have this big, beautiful, brilliant brain, that's always coming up with really good ideas. The trouble is, my brain has very little control over what my body actually does, and it has no control over my mouth. So while my brain is telling me to apologize and eat my pasta, my mouth is already open.

"I bet I could. In fact, I know I could!"

The chef is slightly taken aback by my words. To be honest, so am I.

"I could out cook you any day of the week!" He says, quickly regaining his confidence.

This is what my brain is thinking: "I'm sorry sir, of course you're a better cook. You are a professional, after all. I'm sorry if I offended you."

This is what my mouth actually says:

"Bring it on!"

For some reason, my legs decide to agree with my mouth and I start walking towards the kitchen. My ears also choose ignore both my brain and Hay Lin, who is vainly trying to stop me. No chance of that now, though. My mouth has gotten me into this mess, time for the rest of me to get me out of it.

I've just resigned myself to this culinary battle when a short, stocky bald man comes out of a room labeled OWNER. Looks like he'll put an end to this.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he says, turning to the crowd, "it appears we have a challenger!"

Or not.

"What is your name young lady?"

"Uh, Irma. Irma Lair." I say, not sounding nearly as confident as I would have liked.

"Well, Ms. Lair, my name is Mr. Reid. I have seen you in here before, have I not?"

"Yeah." I say. I guess I've been in here more then I thought.

"And now, you say you can cook better then one of my best chefs? And you are willing to prove it?"

"Yeah."

"And you, Josh," he says, turning to the chef, "do you accept this challenge?"

"Of course." Josh says. "I can cook circles around her."

"Very well." Mr. Reid says, "Here are the stakes. Irma, if you lose, you can not eat here again for a full year."

"And if I win?" I ask, mentally watching a years worth of food drift away.

"What would you like?"

For once, my mouth and my brain agree on an idea.

"How about a job?"

Mr. Reid thinks about this for a few moments.

"I believe that could be arranged."

I'll say one thing for this guy, he knows how to work a crowd. The place is packed now, and all eyes are on us. People on the street have heard the commotion and have come inside to get a better look. Now it's really time to put up or shut up, and I've never been good at shutting up. Man, I'm really glad Cornelia wasn't around to hear that.

"I am going to go back into my office." Mr. Reid says, "In the next thirty minuets, each of you make the best dish you are capable of. Once you are done, one of my waiters will bring me both plates, and I will taste both, not knowing who cooked which one. I will then decide the winner. Understood?"

"Yes sir." We both say.

"Very well, let us begin!"

With a last little smile at the crowd, he walks back into his office and shuts the door.

I hate to admit it, but for one, brief second, I panic. I'm surrounded by people I don't know, I'm in a strange kitchen, and I'm about to face a professional chef in a cook off. Of course, it's Hay Lin that shocks me back to reality.

"Come on Irma! Take him down!"

I give Hay Lin a wink and turn around. This is just like a battle on Meridian, always check your surroundings first. I'm used to having to cook with whatever is left in the fridge from last night, now I've got every ingredient I can think off available. I feel a smile begin to tug at my lips.

The next thirty minutes are a blur. I'm putting together a great meal, but I'm not even thinking about it, I'm too busy enjoying the moment. The crowd is pumped, Hay Lin's shouting encouragements, and I can feel the energy flowing through the room. My hands are sweaty, my legs are weak and my heart is pounding. I feel alive! And as all this is happening, I realize that this is what it felt like when I was a Guardian. All the excitement, the power, and yes, even the fear, it all feels wonderful! And I realize that I can't live without knowing this feeling.

I barely recognize the fact that the thirty minutes are up. I barely remember the waiter taking our plates to the owner. I'm barely paying attention when Mr. Reid tells the crowd that I won.

I feel the thrill of victory as Hay Lin gives me a hug and Mr. Reid tells me that I'm hired. I know for the first time exactly where I belong. I'm a Guardian because I need to be. The excitement, the danger, I want all of it. How can I live an ordinary life when it's so much fun being extraordinary? There are so many adventures to have, so many places to explore, and I want to see them all! It's what I was born to do, and it's what I will do until the day I die.

My name is Irma Lair, and I am a Guardian.