Racing the Storm

Chapter 13

The nurse had been so kind as to let Thalia leave the infirmary so soon. The color had returned to the tan girls face, and while the pouty look of a kicked puppy remained in her brown eyes an extra spark seemed to have arrived.

Beside her, her blond caretaker. Behind him, her blonde best friend ready to maul the boy for inserting himself in her life.

"He's been gone six days?" Thalia asked, looking up at Noah. He nodded.

"He probably felt so bad about it that he left the academy. Good riddance," Avis scoffed. Noah shot her a glare but the one she sent back was stronger. He averted his gaze to the walkway ahead of him.

Thalia's heart sunk, silently wishing he would have held his ground with Hastings and stayed. Or, better yet, wishing he had said something before leaving. Maybe she could have gone with him.

"Look regardless of why he left or where he went, it's not that important. He'll be back sooner or later," Noah hummed. Thalia bit her lip, looking down at the floor. Her black sneakers squeaked slightly as they pressed in to the grey stone below them. She needed new ones.

"Devon doesn't seem like the type to come back without what he left for. If we're being realistic here, he's probably dead or dying by now," Avis rolled her eyes, the annoyance evident in her voice.

Thalia stopped and spun around, "You aren't helping," she growled.

Avis was taken aback by the girl's attitude. She blinked and tilted her head, a scowl slowly crossing her face, "What?"

"What do you mean what? You're being a fucking bitch! I was glad to have you here but ever since I got out you've been nothing but rude and snappy. Would it kill you to be positive for my sake? Can you not read the fucking room?" Thalia's anger boiled over and spilled on her best friend, her brown eyes shooting daggers at Avis.

"Are you serious right now?! I'm acting how I always act!" She protested

"Well then you're always a fucking bitch then! Maybe you should learn when it's good to fake your personality!" Thalia shouted. A few people turned their heads to see what was happening.

"By the seven dragons, give me a fucking break! You walked out here acting like it's a normal day all of a sudden and you still want me to walk on eggshells with you?! I'm trying to help!" Avis shouted.

"Help?! Are you fucking kidding me Avis?! I just lost my dragon and now Devon is missing and you somehow think it's okay to be rude just because I managed to get out of bed this morning?! Is that the line now, Thalia isn't in bed so I can act like it's a normal day?" Thalia stepped closer to her friend as she shouted.

Avis' eyebrows furrowed and her mouth opened, ready to shout back, but Noah placed his hands on Thalia's shoulders and pulled her away from Avis calmly.

"I think you both should just separate," he said.

"Fine! Go have pretty boy take you back to your room and take care of you like the child you are!" Avis snarled.

"I lost my best friend, excuse me if I'm a little bit out of it!" Thalia had had enough with her. She lunged, reaching her hand out to grab a strand of Avis' long blonde locks. Avis moved out of the way as Noah grabbed on to Thalia. He wrapped his arms around her body tightly, lifting her off the ground so she couldn't try to run away.

Avis glared and shook her head, stomping off with her nose held high. Thalia began to struggle more and then burst into a fit of angry tears. Noah tried to soothe her, placing her back on the ground to make Thalia face him.