I AM POOPED

Sorry im just tired, ignore me. So yah, ive been really sick lately, had to go to hospital :P BLEH I've never been to the hospital before and they did all these tests on me, YUCKY BLOOD TESTS. Turns out I was sick because my liver was messed up and it was leaking fluids onto my other organs, which apparently can kill you, so now im a freak for still being alive. BUT I ALREADY KNOW THAT SO WHATS NEW

But dont worry, it only leaked a few drops then stopped so i diddnt need surgery, only a NEEDLE. But as I was sick I took a long time to finish this chapter, but I got there! Um, it might be a little rushed so beware! I wrote it all at once, when I usually write a little every day, about 200 words, until chapter is over. Its not a very important chapter but I did it anyway. HERE IT IS – READ ON MATE ;)

Chapter 13 – The New Piper

The second we had parked in the garage last night, I'd raced into my room. Even though I knew everything would still be there, I was relieved Dad hadn't turned my room into a temporary gym or something. He had left all of my things in place, including my overgrown book collection that lined my desk, bookshelf, and windowsill. And best of all, I slept better than I had in weeks – and woke up to the smell of a home-cooked breakfast.

"Two weeks until the show," I told dad as I ate my waffles. After three weeks at the Academy, it felt good to be home – I felt like I had been at Helix forever. Last night, I'd wondered what Starling and Dove were doing, and I actually missed my dorm a little.

I checked the wall clock. "We've got to leave soon."

"I can't believe you're ditching me to visit your old school," Dad teased.

I reached past him for the maple syrup. "Just for an hour. I need to see my old teacher, she did a great job in teaching me and I just have to visit the Crystal Lab."

Dad wiped the counter with a sponge.

"I took the day off so I could be with my girl," he said.

I helped him put the dishes in the sink and then we headed out, with dad strumming his invisible air guitar and warbling some made-up song about being lonely.

The trees outside had yellow and orange leaves. The road twisted and turned through the country-side. We could have flown the skimmer, but dad insisted on driving by the road.

The first thing I noticed when we got there was that the small arena where I had learned Sky Fu was gone. The sandy ground, once plastered with the footprints of students, was now just grass. I stood in the driveway and stared at the spot before heading inside the Lab.

Most of the students were in class, so the Lab was pretty quiet. I made my way down the narrow aisle, peering at the names on the small lockers. I recognised most of the names, but some were unfamiliar.

A few girls I didn't recognize were cleaning crystals in the aisle. They didn't even look up as I walked past, heading for the back of the Lab. I wondered if my old friends even went here anymore.

The further I walked, the more unfamiliar the names became. There were lots of new kids this year. I spied the office door slightly ajar, and headed in that direction. It was small and cluttered – nothing like Ayrgyn's spacious, air-conditioned office. But I'd missed it.

"I'm baa-ack," I said, knocking on the door as I entered.

Mika whizzed around in her chair when she heard me, surprised. Her face lit up when she recognised me. "Piper!" She jumped up and grabbed me in a tight hug. "It's great to see you! And you look fantastic, hon."

"I really missed you!" I said.

"We've changed quite a bit here, huh? Well, the school is the same, but the Lab has had some changes."

"You have a lot of new students," I said.

Mika's gaze flitted to the pile of paper on her desk. "After you left, the team needed someone to replace you in the competitions. I added a dozen girls hoping one would stick and be able to fill your slot."

"Did you find one?"

Mika handed me a folder. "I did. Check out her file."

There was a photo clipped to the folder. A could-be magazine cover model looked back at me, about my age with long blonde hair pulled into a flawless ponytail which cascaded over her shoulder. She looked like another Cyclonis. "Ziana," I read out. "Two-time national champion in juvenile Mage Craft and supreme master in Sky Fu." Hmm. Better than me.

Mika grinned. "Impressive, huh? I was lucky to get her. Ziana could have started ninth grade at Helix, but she's not as mature as you. She wasn't ready to live twenty-four seven in that ultracompetitive environment."

"She seems perfect," I said, with little enthusiasm.

"She takes directions well and gets along with all the other students."

"I'm happy the team is doing so great," I said. My fingers fiddled with a pen that was on Mika's desk. "You're not upset that I left, are you?"

Mika twisted her chair away from her desk and stared at me. "Why in the world would I be upset?"

"You don't think I left you guys for something better, do you?"

Mika reached across the desk and patted my hand. "I know you left us for something better. I would have been upset if you'd stayed. There was nothing else for me to teach you. Your talents would have been wasted here. That's why I was so thrilled about you getting sent to Helix."

"It's weird practicing for someone else," I said. "You've always been my instructor."

"Things change," Mika said. "One day, you'll look back on your time here and see it for what it was – a stepping stone. Do great at Helix – show people how much you've learned here."

I smiled at her inspiring words. "Thanks Mika."

She smiled back at me. "So, how are things with Cyclonis? Your dad's been telling me about Helix."

"Oh you know. Cyclonis is like a wild dragon – unpredictable and uncontrollable."

Mika smiled in sympathy. "Ouch. Do you have any shows coming up?"

I grimaced. "Yeah, in one week."

"You're going to do great. I'll be visiting a friend in town, but I know you'll tell me all about it."

"I will. We've been practicing at least six days a week," I said.

"If you give Helix half of what you gave me, you'll never disappoint," Mika said.

"Thanks. Dad would be here soon," I said, checking the time on my phone. "I better go."

Mika got up from her desk and gave me a hug. It wasn't easy picturing me hugging Ayrgyn like this.

I left Mika's office and headed outside to wait for dad. The gravel crunched beneath my feet as I walked. I missed this place. But now, I missed my friends at Helix, too.

A sudden breeze picked up and blew through the trees. Reddish leaves floated down and dotted the ground. I pulled my cream-coloured sweater tighter around my waist to ward off the chill. Dad's skimmer pulled up and I hopped on. As we drove away, I turned in my seat and watched the school. It got smaller and smaller until it was nothing more than a speck.

ERLACK. So terrible. Its ok if I don't get any reviews, I know it was pretty bad, well, it was to me. Next chapter will be up quick but it will be short. I'll see you guys then!

~LouiLuvr