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She started in her seat, and tensed, unsure if she had really heard something or if her mind continued to toy with her sanity. As if on cue, the voice called out again, this time from somewhere in front and a little vague. As she peered out trying to locate its source, she heard another whisper, this one right next to her, so clear that she was almost sure she’d also felt the hot release of breath on her ear as her name was spoken. It was all she could do to jump out of her skin, which she did, eliciting varied glances from amusement to disapproval from folks around her, and a low giggle from Joe. Feeling her temper rapidly rising, Mara sharply turned to Joe to let her know exactly how funny she thought it was but catching sight of Joe imitating the act of smoking a reefer caused her to do a quick 180 and bite her tongue from laughing out loud. Is that what all this is about?, she wondered, feeling somewhat relieved already and settled down in her chair, hoping the day ended sooner. She really needed heavy duty shut eye.
“And that concludes Spencer’s argument on the time and space equilibrium. I expect a fully supported counter from you all by Friday. You may work individually or in pairs but I expect it to be no shorter than ten thousand words” summed the androgynous voice as the whole hall groaned and sighed in unison about how little time that gave them. “And remember, time is but an illusion, as Einstein himself said”, the professor returned in an uncharacteristic and surprising show of life and, of all things, wit!
“Wow today ended sooner than I could have hoped for, now that’s a first!” exclaimed Joe, gathering her books, unwittingly echoing the sentiment that stood out in Mara’s confused head. She linked her arm around Mara's, and continued, “… didn’t think bicentennial man there would let us off so easy. He even tried a funny, gosh! You’d think he read it off a book or something. He did actually, ha-ha…”, completely unaware of her friend’s lost expression and continued talking, mostly to herself, since Mara wasn’t listening. Joe stopped abruptly in her steps, halting Mara with her, the jolt bringing Mara back to the present urgently.
Twinkling eyes turned to Mara in undisguised curiosity. “Speaking of firsts… WHERE did you guys run off to last night? Meren showed up minutes after midnight, I saw you two embrace and then you both took off!! Want to fill me in? Oh wait, you can spare me the deets, its Meren after all!” she whooshed in one breath.
But it was Mara who felt bereft of any breath instead, vivid images of her dream assaulting her inner vision, panic beginning to swell like bile, intermingling with raw fear. So it wasn’t a dream after all. But how had she seen herself AND Meren like a running picture? It was like she had seen everything from both her eyes and Meren’s. “What’s wrong Mara?”, Joe asked gently, “Meren didn’t pull an asshole card on you did he?”. That snapped Mara out of her self absorbing train of thought, forcing a reply out of her. “Uh, no why do you say?”
“Well you looked worried, and lost, and I assumed we were on the subject of you and Meren… is something else eating you up”, asked Joe, beginning to mirror some of Mara’s worried expression.
Mentally giving herself a shake, Mara realigned her features into a smile. Hugging her elfin friend warmly, she assured her, “there are no ‘deets’ to speak of girl. I think I passed out and your brother was kind as ever to tuck me into bed and leave I guess. I’m still reeling from the fabulous party you threw for me. Did I thank you yet? No? Now I'm sure I did! Hah!" she blabbered on, glad to see the familiar smile back creep back onto her friend's face.
"Speaking of eating, I think I’m beginning to get a feel of those infamous munchies craving I was warned of! Let’s raid the Tavern, it’s on me”, she joked, knowing fully well the Blake siblings would never let her open her purse to even tip at their pub and grampa Blake wouldn’t let her go without a lengthy sermon for even trying. They were family, her and the Blakes- one way or another. No other relations to call their own for any of them.
She knew she had to meet Meren, or at least see him before she could shrug away her fears as mere intoxication induced paranoia. So she walked on, chatting airily with Joe, and pretended not to notice the unseen presence following her, the same aura as the one she’d felt before, in the morning.
“And that concludes Spencer’s argument on the time and space equilibrium. I expect a fully supported counter from you all by Friday. You may work individually or in pairs but I expect it to be no shorter than ten thousand words” summed the androgynous voice as the whole hall groaned and sighed in unison about how little time that gave them. “And remember, time is but an illusion, as Einstein himself said”, the professor returned in an uncharacteristic and surprising show of life and, of all things, wit!
“Wow today ended sooner than I could have hoped for, now that’s a first!” exclaimed Joe, gathering her books, unwittingly echoing the sentiment that stood out in Mara’s confused head. She linked her arm around Mara's, and continued, “… didn’t think bicentennial man there would let us off so easy. He even tried a funny, gosh! You’d think he read it off a book or something. He did actually, ha-ha…”, completely unaware of her friend’s lost expression and continued talking, mostly to herself, since Mara wasn’t listening. Joe stopped abruptly in her steps, halting Mara with her, the jolt bringing Mara back to the present urgently.
Twinkling eyes turned to Mara in undisguised curiosity. “Speaking of firsts… WHERE did you guys run off to last night? Meren showed up minutes after midnight, I saw you two embrace and then you both took off!! Want to fill me in? Oh wait, you can spare me the deets, its Meren after all!” she whooshed in one breath.
But it was Mara who felt bereft of any breath instead, vivid images of her dream assaulting her inner vision, panic beginning to swell like bile, intermingling with raw fear. So it wasn’t a dream after all. But how had she seen herself AND Meren like a running picture? It was like she had seen everything from both her eyes and Meren’s. “What’s wrong Mara?”, Joe asked gently, “Meren didn’t pull an asshole card on you did he?”. That snapped Mara out of her self absorbing train of thought, forcing a reply out of her. “Uh, no why do you say?”
“Well you looked worried, and lost, and I assumed we were on the subject of you and Meren… is something else eating you up”, asked Joe, beginning to mirror some of Mara’s worried expression.
Mentally giving herself a shake, Mara realigned her features into a smile. Hugging her elfin friend warmly, she assured her, “there are no ‘deets’ to speak of girl. I think I passed out and your brother was kind as ever to tuck me into bed and leave I guess. I’m still reeling from the fabulous party you threw for me. Did I thank you yet? No? Now I'm sure I did! Hah!" she blabbered on, glad to see the familiar smile back creep back onto her friend's face.
"Speaking of eating, I think I’m beginning to get a feel of those infamous munchies craving I was warned of! Let’s raid the Tavern, it’s on me”, she joked, knowing fully well the Blake siblings would never let her open her purse to even tip at their pub and grampa Blake wouldn’t let her go without a lengthy sermon for even trying. They were family, her and the Blakes- one way or another. No other relations to call their own for any of them.
She knew she had to meet Meren, or at least see him before she could shrug away her fears as mere intoxication induced paranoia. So she walked on, chatting airily with Joe, and pretended not to notice the unseen presence following her, the same aura as the one she’d felt before, in the morning.
category: chapter2, fantasy, series, short story
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