The Haven High Book Series (Wattys2017)

Chapter 14

I just want to take a moment to acknowledge all the support that you have all given me. I've reached my milestone of 2K reads and over 500 hundred votes and follows. I never would have been able to do it without you. Thanks for everything. My goal for the two month anniversary is 5k reads and 1000 followers, and I know I can do it, because I have the best supporters in the world. I love you guys. You're the best. 

                                          ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Zach exited the bathroom to find Lauren tapping her foot impatiently. "

"Geez! took you long enough. Rethinking the Mexican food you had last night ha?"

"Yeah something like that." He mumbled.

"Okaaay. Welcome to the magical world." Lauren pivoted on her heel and began to walk away as she said, "I will be your guide."

"No, really," she called over her shoulder when he didn't immediately follow, "I've been assigned to you for the rest of the week. You didn't think you were going to have to navigate this all alone, did you?"

"The teachers are magical creatures, Zach, not crazy people" she barked out a laugh.

"Let me show you the best part."

"They rounded a corner and Lauren said, Zach do you remember the train station in Harry Potter -- Platform 9 ¾," she asked?

"Of course," Zach rolled his eyes.

She pointed at a mundane wall and said, "This wall is just like the pillar on the platform."

He couldn't believe it. There was absolutely nothing at all special about the wall. There were no paintings or pictures, no awards or school memorabilia, nothing to signify that it was different or important in any way. The perfect place to hide the magic wing he thought.

Lauren stood back and said, "now make sure you take a good run at it, but mind your head doesn't go first you never know what might be on the other side."

Zach stood back and taking a deep breath launched himself at the wall, colliding with a solid immovable object, and bounced back a few feet, before landing on his ass.

The dazed teen lay in a heap on the cold linoleum floor desperately trying to suck air into his collapsed lungs. His mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

Next thing he knew Lauren was leering over him doubled over laughing and clutching her stomach like her insides were going to fall out. She literally couldn't talk and she had her legs crossed like she was trying to prevent herself from peeing her pants.

When she finally could speak she forced out between gales of laughter. "I __ just __ couldn't __ help __ myself," and then she knocked the wind out of him again when she collapsed on top of him.

He started to scowl at her, but then the humor of the situation hit him and he was soon laughing hysterically and rolling on the floor with her.

He grabbed his cruel friend and began tickling her mercilessly -- thankful for her quick wit and sadistic mind -- He needed this laugh and she had known it all along.

When they finally stopped laughing she helped him up and he said sarcastically, "You know, I'm going to end up with some real trust issues because of you."

Lauren just smirked at him and said, "You know you love me," and batted her lashes at him comically.

When his best friend showed him to a broad staircase that led to the basement, he realized he'd never been down this way before, at least he couldn't remember ever seeing it, but maybe he'd only overlooked it, because he thought it was just for support staff, but could it really be that mundane an explanation? Was that the only reason he'd never spied the mysterious wing?