Spring 8

I stepped out of the academy with a smile; I was super proud of the two perfect ice cream cones that I had made! One for me, and one for the most beautiful girl ever! I blushed as I trudged down the stairs, I turned left to head towards the De Sainte-Coquille park.

"Hey! Leonel!" I stopped in my tracks, looking over towards Alicia who was walking toward me.

"Uh, yeah? I'm kind of in a hurry, Alicia!" I exclaimed, holding up the two ice cream cones.

"I won't take long! I just want to tell your fortune!" I blinked at her in confusion.

"Uh…why?" I asked, squinting my eyes in suspicion, "What's the catch?"

"No catch! I just want to prove something to myself. And this one will be on the house today!" Alicia exclaimed as I sighed with a nod.

"Fine but make it quick…" I said.

"I know, I know! You're trying to impress Clara with your homemade ice cream." Alicia said nonchalantly as I grumbled. She then began to make some weird chants as the leaves and flower petals began to dance around her. What the hell kind of reading was this?

"Ah! Yes, I see! I see!" Alicia exclaimed. As the leaves and flowers suddenly blew along in a normal rhythm.

"Well, Leonel…I can see you're going to have some risky twists and it's not going to end well." Alicia said as I blinked.

"Wh-what kind of risky twists? How is it not going to end well?" I asked.

"Eh…that's the thing…I'm not sure. The new incantation I just learned will only tell me so much. Anyway, thanks again for being my test subject, Leonel! I'll keep on practicing this method before my voyage!" She waved at me as I sighed, making my way to the park where Clara was waiting for me!

I handed my best friend her ice cream cone as she took it with a smile. She took maybe two licks before staring off into space. I could see she had a lot on her mind and that she didn't want to talk about it. I sighed, handing her a wet cloth to wipe her hands. She took it and wiped her hands, but more of the sticky cold stuff melted on them. I decided to start a conversation.

"Uh...Alicia told my fortune today." I said, as Clara politely replied with a 'Hm?' I blushed, looking down and continuing.

"Yeah, Alicia told my fortune. She told me I was going to have some risky twists, and it wasn't going to end well." My head snapped up when I heard Clara snickering. What was so funny about that?

"You know how she is! She'll probably rob you or something to make her fortune come true." Clara exclaimed, though this was true, I wasn't sure about the risky twist.

"B-but...the risky twist..." I began before Clara interrupted me.

"She's probably going to trick you." Clara said as I snickered as well.

"You're probably right, Clara." I said, rolling my eyes at myself over my stupidity of letting Alicia do that reading on me. "You're probably right."

Spring 9

I groaned, at the pounding rain, looking at the clock on my end table. 7:30 AM, I closed my eyes before shooting them open. Grabbing the clock to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Oh my gosh! I was late in helping dad with his afternoon lessons! Why didn't anyone wake me? I struggled to get out of bed, and landed on the floor with a thump as I wrestled to untangle myself from my blankets.

"Leonel?" Mom asked in worry, bursting the door of my room open.

"Mom! I'm so late! I usually help dad with his lessons as you know!" I was finally free from my blankets as I began to head for the door before turning back into my room.

"I-I gotta get dressed first!" I turned back on my heels, heading back to leave my room again.

"I don't have time to get dressed!" I exclaimed anxiously as I noticed my dad standing next to mom at the doorway. A confused expression was plastered on his face.

"What the-? What has gotten you so distressed?" Dad asked as my eyes widened.

"Y-you're still here?" I asked as he blinked at me.

"Yeah, I'm still here. I actually did my curriculum last night, so I didn't need to go into the academy early today."

"Your father probably should have told you that." Mom said in slight irritation.

"He was already asleep when I finished, Dorothy!" Dad exclaimed.

"You could have told him this morning so he wouldn't have been in a frenzy!" Mom exclaimed as I began to chuckle nervously.

"Okay, okay! That's all behind us now. But I do need to get ready for Ms. Mana's class." I said as my parents looked over at me, nodding their heads. They left my room, closing the door behind them. I groaned in frustration before getting dressed for the day.

I grabbed my rain poncho from the coat hook, opening the front door of our house.

"Bye, mom! Bye, dad! Bye, grandpa!" I exclaimed.

"Be careful, sweetie!" I heard mom exclaim as I shut the door. I saw Orland up ahead in front of the inn as I sighed. I honestly didn't really like Orland. My dad seemed to really favor him…I guess my dislike for Orland was just dumb jealousy. I wanted to be like him because I wanted my dad to like me and to be proud of me!

"Uh, do you need something?" Orland called out as I blushed, I guess he noticed me looking at him.

"Ah, no…no. I'm uh…just waiting for Clara!" I lied.

"But she doesn't even live down this way!" Orland called out again in confusion.

"Ah, but she's at Leann's, right?" I asked. "I-I thought she said she was going to spend the night!"

"Oh, no! My cousin's not at my place!" Leann exclaimed, walking next to Orland, an umbrella over her head. "She did come by last night, but she didn't spend the night! You must have misunderstood her!"

"M-maybe I did." I blushed slightly, I'm kind of glad they took that lie; or at least, Leann seemed to have taken it. They were walking closer to me.

"But, do you want to walk with us, Leonel?" Leann asked.

"Yeah, Clara could be at the academy already." Orland said with a shrug.

"Uh, you two don't mind?" I asked as Leann shook her head.

"No, of course not! You're our friend, Leonel! We care about you! Probably not as much as Clara since you two are super close, but… we do care!" Leann exclaimed as I saw Orland nod his head. It made me wonder slightly if they really cared, or if they pretended to care because I was best friends with Leann's cousin that they felt obligated. I tried not to think too much about it as we walked to the academy.

I heard the sound of footsteps splashing as I looked over at Clara rushing as fast as she could towards us. She looked like she was in a frenzy, so, she must have woken up late too! Orland had already fully entered the academy, but I was peeking out of the doorway; I wanted to at least say hi to her! I immediately felt my face go red as I saw the inside of her dress. I think I'd better just get to my seat and say hi to her later.

"What happened to you?" Orland asked in concern and confusion.

"Uhm…" I began, not sure how to say that I saw the inside of the dress of the girl I have a crush on.

"Oh! Are you sick, Leonel?" Ms. Mana asked in concern.

"Ah! N-no! I'm fine! I'm fine!" I exclaimed, still super flustered.

"Uh, alright then! But if you need to leave, please let me know." Ms. Mana said as I nodded my head, hearing Clara and Leann enter the classroom, taking their seats.

"Today, class," Ms. Mana began, taking a piece of chalk and jotting a few notes on the board, "We'll be learning about babies and taking care of them, this is an important role, especially for you girls." It seemed like we all groaned at the lesson which caused Ms. Mana to clear her throat.

"Now, now class, remember your parents had to learn how to care for you, and someday, in the future you might become parents, so you'll need to learn ahead of time." Ms. Mana exclaimed as she began talking about how cute but demanding a baby can be. My mind began to wander; I started to imagine myself as an adult, married to Clara with our own child. I really hoped my future would look like that! Or at least similar to that! We didn't even have to have any children! Just being married to her would be good enough for me!

I jumped when I heard the bell ring. Ms. Mana dismissed us as I blushed. I had been daydreaming this whole time and not paying any attention to the lesson! I didn't even have a chance to talk to Clara today as I noticed her giving Leann a scarf and rushing home from the window. I kind of wondered if she knew I had seen down her dress as my face turned red again.

"Leonel?" I jumped slightly at my dad's voice.

"Ye-yeah?" I asked.

"Go to Dr. Ray's." He ordered.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"You were so spaced out during my lesson and your face has been red this whole time! That isn't like you!" Ms. Mana exclaimed as she looked over at my dad.

"I'll walk him to Ray since it's on the way to the general store." Ms. Mana said as dad nodded.

"Thanks, Mana. I would take him myself, but…I do have my class to teach."

"Think nothing of it, Barrett!" Ms. Mana exclaimed as she led me out of the academy, my face became even redder. The only fortunate thing was that the rain had stopped.

We had just entered the De Sainte-Coquille park. I inhaled deeply.

"Ah, M-Ms. Mana?" I asked.

"Yes, Leonel?" She asked, "Do you need to rest for a minute before walking more?" I became nervous, but I really needed to let her know that I am not sick, just embarrassed…and I didn't need to go to the clinic, mainly because I didn't want mom to know the reason why I was embarrassed.

"I-uhm…I'm not sick…in the way you're thinking." I blushed harder.

"Ah! I think I know what you're saying!" She exclaimed, "I'm betting it has something to do with the scarf Clara was wearing, right?" I groaned in shame.

"Please don't tell my mom! Nor my dad! Especially my mom! She'll be so ashamed of me! I-" Ms. Mana stopped me by placing her hand on my shoulder, turning me to look in her eyes.

"You're a fourteen year old boy, Leonel! Your body is changing in ways that…" I interrupted her.

"Oh my gosh, please don't give me the birds and bees talk! It was awkward enough when dad was giving me the talk." I squeaked as Ms. Mana began to laugh.

"All I'm saying is it's okay for you to be embarrassed! Especially since Clara is becoming such an attractive young lady!" She said the last part in a joking manner as I blushed, groaning slightly.

"And you better tell her how you feel soon! You two would be so cute together! I'm rooting for you, Leonel!" She exclaimed, giving me a hug. She began to walk away, but back towards the academy.

"H-hey! Where are you going?" I asked as Ms. Mana turned her attention back towards me.

"Well, I do have to tell your father that you didn't go to the clinic in case he asks your mom. Don't worry, though! I'll make something up for why you didn't go. Now, march on home!" She commanded as I nodded, making my way back home.

I sat at my desk, working on a homework assignment for Ms. Mana's class for the next period; the door to my bedroom burst open as mom entered, slightly panicking; dad was shaking his head in disappointment.

"So much for knocking, dear." Dad said sarcastically as mom grabbed my face, paying no mind to my father while examining me closely.

"Are you alright, sweetie?" She asked worriedly.

"Uh…" I began, not sure what was going on.

"For crying out loud, Dorothy. Mana only said he threw up and looked better immediately after that! And if there was blood, she would have taken him to the clinic." Dad said annoyed; that was the excuse Mana gave?

"Oh, yeah! I-I'm fine now, mom!" I exclaimed as dad sighed.

"You probably shouldn't eat dinner as quickly. I noticed you were horking down your food last night and that probably made you sick. Ah, speaking of…Dor…"

"Oh my gosh! The flounder is burning!" Mom exclaimed, cutting off dad's sentence; running out of my room. Dad sighed.

"I'll teach your mother how to knock before entering your room too. Uh, I'll call you down when dinner's ready." He said awkwardly before closing my door behind him. I sighed, being a teenager was definitely exhausting.