Magic Love Academy (VWTB AU)

28 - Epiphany (FOOTLEtuce)

     Toaster comes up behind Wilton and knocks him out. His body falls to the ground and brings down Doge with him.
     I sprint to him as fast as I can. "DOGE!!!"
     I shake his body. "DOGE ARE YOU OKAY???"
     He's shaking and crying. "I-I'm alright.."
     I pull him onto my lap and cradle his upper body in my arms. I stroke his hair over and over again. "Doge I- I thought I was going to lose you.." I say while crying.
     He buries his head deeper into my chest. "I'm so glad you're here," he says.
     "And I'm so glad you're okay.." I catch myself feeling a little too happy. Why.. Why do I feel like this? Anyone would be this glad, right? Who wouldn't be happy if their friend was safe and sound? Friend.. Doge is just my friend. 
     He stops crying and sits up, looking me in the eyes. I feel my heart skip a beat. Would I react this way to just a friend?
     "Thank you Footle," He says.
     I love when he calls me that.. "No, no you don't have to thank me. Anyone would do what I did, I wasn't just going to let you die.." I tell him.
     "Not just for that, but for everything. We had a rough start, but I'm so happy I got to meet you. I didn't think you'd end up as one of my closest friends, but you did."
     'Friends'... Why did hearing that sting so badly..? He's right, I am one of his closest friends... But I don't know if that's all I want to be..
     "Yeah.. Don't mention it. Are you feeling okay?" I ask.
     "I guess, yeah. I'm still shaken up from everything, but we can't wait right? We still need to save the academy.." He says.
     "Uh huh... Why don't you go meet with the others? They're over there. I'm gonna check on Wilton." I let go of his hands, reluctantly, and shift my focus toward Wilton.
     It hurts me to see him like this. What happened, Wilton? You had me.. It was Wilton and FOOTLEtuce against the world.. What went wrong? I take a look at his face, still passed out, and I graze his cheek with my fingers. You're gonna be okay.. 
     "FOOTLEtuce?" He murmurs, eyelashes fluttering.
     "Wilton? You're awake?" I ask, surprised.
     "Yeah.. It's gonna take more to keep me passed out for that long.." He chuckles, awkwardly.
     "Wilton I.. I can't trust you anymore."
     "I know.. I—" He begins to say.
     "No, and I can't talk to you right now either. I need space... I just can't. I'm sorry." I didn't know this would hurt me so bad, but it does. I can't be around Wilton right now, not after what he did to Doge.
     "FOOTLEtuce wait! I have something important to tell you." He begs.
     I turn to him. "What is it?"
     "It's about Trick. He's behind it all, the sorting going wrong, the universe being off balance, everyone's power going away, it's all him. He's the one who manipulated the book's magick. We need to find him and stop him." He states.
    "What?" Klicks chimes in. "I knew it! I knew he was up to no good! Someone text Alex and Vwoozi this!"
    "Text them? We need to join them! Where are they?" Toaster says.
    "Uh I don't know," Klicks says sarcastically. "Maybe that's why I said to TEXT THEM."
    "Mehmemehemmh" Toaster mocks Klicks. "Whatever, I'll call them."
     RING RING RING RING RING
     The phone picks up.
     "Hello? Hello hello?" Alex says on the other line.
     "Alex, where are you? We just found out from Wilton that Trick is behind everything." Toaster says.
    "Oh yeah, no we got him. He didn't get far, we found him on the other side of Lúthien Hall, trying to seek refuge in Spiky's dorm. We tied him up back in his dorm and were waiting until you guys got back." Alex explains.
     The sides of Toaster's mouth curl up at the sound of that. "Great, we'll meet you there."
      "Come on guys, let's go!" Klicks says, ushering us to Lúthien hall.
      I walk behind them, following the group, and suddenly stop. I turn around to look at Wilton standing sheepishly behind all of us, his right arm rubbing his elbow awkwardly. 
     "You comin?" I say.
     He smiles at the sound of that and jogs to catch up with us.