Chapter 6, Wooo! This chapter was fun to write. Hope you enjoy it!

I would also like to thank everyone who reviewed! THANK YOU SO MUCK PEOPLE!

And it was mentioned in a review, so i would like to say that Lark was not an actual character, she was just MC in disguise. But this story is set in a boarding school, and i figured if MC was in a boarding school she would need like, two best friends who were like ,sidekicks or something. So i looked back at the series and i discovered that MC, doesn't really have any friends. I felt sorry for her, so i figured Ravess sort of counts ( even though shes more of a slave then a friend). So that's one. but there is no one else, so i decided that in this story, Lark could become an actual character. And if she was an actual character, i guess she would be how MC acted her, you know, all happy, smiling, bubbly, but can be rude, loud, mean, that kind of thing. So there! I hope people didn't get too confused by that, sorry!

Okay, on with the story!

Chapter 6 – Perfect Payback

I was halfway into my test. I had perfectly shown Ayrgyn how I can use crystals in combat, and now I only had to show how well in tune I am with them. I had tried lifting up my Windstone just before, and I had lost concentration for just a moment, and it had crashed back into the sand.

"Again!" Ayrgyn yelled, his voice echoing in the large arena.

I have to get it this time. This was my chance to show him I belonged on this team. The Trio watched me from above. I chanted Dove's tips over and over in my head. Chin pointed up, Shoulders relaxed down. Chin, up. Shoulders, down.

I sat perfectly balanced in the arena dirt, legs crossed. I looked up briefly at Ayrgyn, and then looked down quickly. "Come on Pipes! Don't be distracted!" I told myself.

I took a deep breath. My hands raised and I gripped them into fists, including the one grasping my borrowed gravitational crystal. I let my eyes close, and I focused my mind on the Windstone in front of me. I felt my eyebrows frown in concentration.

Before long I felt a blue aura spread up my arms and into my chest, and flow throughout my body. 'Yes!' I screamed in my head.

I sensed the aura spreading to the Windstone. 'Up, up, up, up,' I chanted again and again in my head. I squeezed my eyes shut further, tightening my grip on the crystal.

Ever so slowly, I sensed the Windstone lift off the ground.

When I felt it reach head height, I chanted 'stop, stop, stop, stop.' It worked much better than last time, stopping instantly. Now I only have to keep it floating there for ten seconds.

I felt my head tip forward a bit, but I snapped it back up, remembering to keep my chin up. The sudden movement caused the Windstone to shake, but only for a second.

'Come on,' I thought. '4…5…6…7…8…' I felt my hands shaking. '9…10!'

My hands spread open, palms faced down and crystal falling into my lap. There was a loud whooshing sound. I pointed my fingers in the direction of the flag pole in the centre of the arena.

I was supposed to use my Windstone to blow the flag. Sounds easy enough, but it takes a lot. To be sitting with your eyes closed, and then having to aim at a flag you can't see, is pretty hard. A good mage should be able to sense it, and I doubt I was a good mage. I mean, I sensed something, but it could have been anything!

That was enough wind. I dropped my hands and opened my eyes. As soon as my eyes opened I saw the Windstone stop glowing and drop to the ground. I glanced up at the flag.

I couldn't tell if it had blown at all. I could only hope it had.

I stood up and picked up the Windstone and gravitational crystal. After a quick glance up at the Trio, (who were glaring at me), I headed to where Ayrgyn stood.

"Nice job," he said when I stopped in front of him.

"Thank you." My hands trembled as I handed him back his crystal. He put it on the table and picked up his clipboard. He wrote something in it. Was he writing how bad I was?

He looked up at me. "For being the newest member on the team, you have a remarkably strong will, perfect balance and a nice style. If you're committed to practising every day and attending all meetings on time, I'm starting you off in the intermediate class. You'll attend lessons with Group A: Ravess, Lark, Nella, Cyclonis, and Dove."

Intermediate! I must have got the flag! I could barely keep myself from dancing right there in front of him. "Thank you so much! Ayrgyn, you won't be disappointed."

"Make sure I'm not," he said, and gave me a brief smile. He headed out to tell the next girl it was time to test. When he left, I turned to the skybox and grinned up at Cyclonis, Ravess and Lark.

"See you at practice!" I called up to them.

Cyclonis scowled. The other girls' eyes narrowed.

Ha. Perfect payback.

I skipped all the way back to my locker. I was officially part of the team! People would count on me and I had to do my best for the group.

Plopping down at my bench, I checked my Windstone for any damage and then swiped a cloth over it. When it was gleaming I put a finger lightly on it. It felt a bit too hot. I picked it up and went to the supply room, ran it under the tap, and dried it, all in record time. I put a finger on it again. Perfect temperature.

I put the stone back into my locker and headed out. I spotted a glass case on my way out. I looked closer. Trophies, medals, and ribbons from many famous Helix graduates filled every inch of space. A glossy wooden board with gold plaques hung beside the case. Each plaque had a name inscribed on it.

I stood in silence, staring at the glittering case. Maybe one day I could be that good. Maybe, people would know my name from all corners of the known Atmos. And then, I'll hear them shout 'Look! Here comes the almighty Piper and her …..' Nah, I doubt it. I still have a long way to go to reach a status like that. I left the lab and dialled home from my phone.

"Intermediate!" I screamed into the phone when Dad answered. "Can you believe that?"

"Oh, Piper! Wow!" Dad said. "I'm so proud of you!"

"I have a shot at the advanced level now," I said.

"Always looking ahead, huh?" Dad laughed.

I talked to Dad for another few minutes, and before long I was back at Carnival Hall. I said goodbye to Dad and made my way up the stairs.

When I got back to the dorm, Starling wasn't there. My stomach rumbled. I was too hungry to wait for her to come back before I ate. What was I going to do every time Starling couldn't go with me? Starve?

I inhaled and exhaled, the way my yoga T.V show had taught me – except for the whole breathing-into-your-soul thing. What did that even mean, anyway?

A few minutes of yoga breathing later, I found myself in line for a salad, cupcake and water.

I scanned the cafeteria. There was no one from Carnival Hall or any Mages anywhere. Then I spotted an empty chair at a table near a big window where only one person was sitting. When I got a few steps closer, I realised it was Mr Moss. Too late to turn back now. Sitting with Mr Moss had to be better than sitting alone, right?

"Can I sit here?" I asked.

"Sure," he said, barely looking up from his extra-large beef burger and fries. "How are things so far?" he asked.

"Okay. I had my first meeting today," I said.

Mr Moss smiled and offered me a chip. I was going to refuse, but the look in his eye told me that if I didn't take it, he would do something to me.

I took the chip. "Don't worry," he smiled. "work hard, and you'll be rewarded."

I took a bite of tomato. "Besides," he went on, looking cheerful all of a sudden. "Everyone will do well this semester because we're all going to study, study, study! Right?" His smile faded in an instant and he stared intently at me.

Right. I didn't answer him.

When we finished our food, Mr Moss said, "Well, I better get back to my office. See you later, Piper." He gave me a wink and got up from the table.

As soon as he was out of site, I jumped out of my seat and headed for the exit. On my way out, I passed a group of guys when I noticed that one of them was the cute green-eyed guy I'd seen outside my window on my first day.

I instantly stopped and turned to the side. I glanced up in his direction. He wasn't really facing me, so I couldn't see his face, but I was so close I could smell him. Mmm. He smelt good. I just wanna grab a tissue, rub it all over him, and then stick it up my nose for the rest of my life. Oh I could die happy.

I took a deep breath and kept walking. I wanted to smile at him as I walked my by, but I couldn't. A group of giggling girls walked by me and I quickly jumped in behind them. I stuck close to them all the way out of the cafeteria. The guy didn't notice me anyway. But maybe next time, I wouldn't be so tongue-tied.

After all – the old Piper was shy around guys, but the new Piper didn't have to be.

Aww, Piper is a wittle shy :)

Too cute. But anyway, next chapter should be up pretty quick, im nearly finished it. (The chapter, not the story)

Hope people liked it, and please tell me what you think in a review!

So, bye! And please Review!

~LouiLuvr