19 Chapter 19 (1/2)
The next morning, before class starts, Refus showed up at the Principal's office. ”Ryan!” Refus says as he hastily enters the office, ”I-I... I'm not sure where to begin!”.
”Calming down would be a great start” Ryan says. ”Is it about this girl, Emma?”.
”Yes, and I met with Emily's parents last night” Refus says.
”Are the two connected, or are you changing the subject?” Ryan asks.
”Well...” Refus says, collecting his thoughts, ”the information I gained from Lyra and Jay are connected to... well... it'll be easier if I explain it like this. Skipping all the extra history lessons, it's possible... no, it's definitely the case... Emma is what they call a descendant of The Amethyst tribe. It doesn't pose any outward danger... but...”.
”But what?” Ryan asks. ”Isn't it a good thing? I thought they were extinct”.
”Wait... you knew about them!?” Refus asks. ”How did you know?”.
”I'd rather not talk about it” Ryan says. ”It was... a darker time, and I'm afraid I don't have the time to explain that”.
”Make the time!” Refus demands. ”Even I, a laibah, never knew about this!”.
”I refuse” Ryan says. ”There's no point in digging up that which should remained buried. Now, what has you so worried about the girl?”.
”Well...” Refus says, trying to calm down, ”do you know about quarter shifting too?”.
”Quarter shifting?” Ryan asks. ”I'm afraid I'm not familiar”.
”Well, that's kind of the issue at hand” Refus says. ”It's a bloodline thing for her breed, and it might put her in danger. The ability allows them to hold more forms than normal laibah, but it-”.
”Causes them to lose control over their human forms?” Ryan asks. ”So... that ability was called quarter shifting...”.
”So you have heard of it?” Refus asks.
”What I've heard” Ryan says, ”was very little from an old friend. A dead friend... I don't know the specifics, but I figured there might be trouble if she did have the ability”.
”If?” Refus asks. ”Do you mean... there's a chance that isn't the case?”.
”I don't know for sure” Ryan says. ”Again, I only know what little I had heard. Can you confirm that she has the ability or not?”.
”I... I'm afraid not” Refus says.
”Then we're back to where we were yesterday...” Ryan says. ”Look, I don't know how the ability works, nor do I know if it is a dominant gene that passes to everyone of their bloodline. It's a possible problem still, due to the fact that it may be much harder for her to hide her identity from her classmates. Once students know about her, in our current society's condition, they will begin to target her. However, we also can't go out of our way to help with something unless we know there is a direct problem, because we could arouse suspicion towards her unintentionally. Do you know of a way to confirm if she does or does not have the ability?”.
”I'm... not sure” Refus says. ”I don't even know how to ask about it. There's too much to think about, like how would they know? Does Emma even know? I mean- I'm a laibah and I didn't know, so-”.
”She would likely know due to being a part of that family” Ryan says.
”But she never has contact with her parents that we know of!” Refus says. ”What if she doesn't know her family, or isn't anywhere near them? What if she was removed from that family before they had a chance to tell her? What if-”.
”Refus” Ryan says, ”calm down. I know, the state of your class is fragile. You're trying to get people used to the idea of befriending the laibah before revealing them. You're trying to give them the same chance every human has, and it's a great thing to do. It's a delicate matter, but it'll be that much more difficult to handle if you allow it to stress you out. Got it?”.
”Y-Yeah...” Refus says. ”I've got it...”.
”Take some time” Ryan says, ”make a plan, have it taken care of. That is how we should start”.
”Alright...” Refus says.
”Now, you should go” Ryan says, ”it's almost time for class”.
As The Rejects sit in the classroom, Emily was acting nervous and agitated at the same time. She wanted to find a way to ask some questions, but she couldn't figure out who to ask or what questions to ask. ”You okay there?” Aeris asks Emily. ”You seem bothered”.
”I-I'm fine” Emily says. ”It's just... do you guys know if The Amethyst tribe was real?”.
”That's kinda a silly question” Jackson says.
”I'm not so sure” Emma says, ”but I'm curious too”.
”You too, Emma?” Emily asks.
”Y-Yeah... is that weird?” Emma asks.
”I don't even know that much about laibah” Wyatt says, ”so it all came as a surprise to me”.
”So... no one knows then...” Emily says.
”Afraid not” Aeris says. ”They're just old stories though, so it doesn't really matter... right?”.
”R-right...” Emily says.
”Sorry I'm late!” Refus says as he enters the classroom. ”Good morning!”.
”Looks like this conversation will have to wait” Jackson says.
”I'll need to talk to you” Emily says to Jackson.
”I already have a girlfriend...” Jackson says.
”What?... no! Not- argh...” Emily says. ”Just... let me ask you something during lunch... separately... and it's not that!”.
”Okay...” Jackson says.
After classes, Emily pulls Jackson aside and talks to him separately from the rest of the gang. ”Whoa, you were serious about talking privately?” Jackson asks.
”Just... shut up!” Emily says. ”I have a few questions”.
”What?” Jackson asks. ”First it's 'shut up' and now you want answers? Make up your mind”.
”Do you want me to hit you in the face?” Emily asks.
”Can you even reach that high, shorty?” Jackson teases.
”Can you just- argh...” Emily tries to calm down, then asks ”Look... you guys know Emma is a laibah right?”.
”Yeah...” Jackson says.
”And you guys knew, even though she never shows her other forms, right?” Emily asks.
”Yeah, what of it?” Jackson asks.
”How'd you know?” Emily asks.
”Laibah Secret” Jackson says. ”Only laibah have purple eyes... how'd you know?”.
”She told me” Emily says. ”Now how do you know that only laibah have purple eyes... but don't know anything about The Amethyst tribe?”.
”The Ameth- oh!” Jackson says. ”Is that what this is about? Wait... do you think the two are connected?”. Jackson then laughs and says ”those are kids tales!”.
”I'm serious, asshole!” Emily says. ”Where did you learn that only laibah have purple eyes?”.
”From my parents, duh...” Jackson says. ”Though, most people you see with purple eyes are just wearing contacts. For some reason, that's popular or something”.
”And how do they know?” Emily asks. Jackson simply shrugs his shoulders in response. ”Really?” Emily asks. ”Nothing?”.
”What do you want me to say?” Jackson asks. ”You're on a witch hunt here...”.
”I've heard all about the history from my parents” Emily says. ”How do you not know that Emma is from The Amethyst tribe!?”.
”She's... what?” Jackson asks.
”Emma...” Emily says. ”She's a descendant of The Amethyst tribe... and you never knew?”.
”Wait... so...” Jackson says as he collects his thoughts. ”Let me get this straight... your parents know all about the history, the old stories are supposed to be true, and Emma is the proof?”.
”I... wouldn't word it like that” Emily says, ”but essentially, yes”.
”And... Emma... doesn't know?” Jackson says. Jackson pauses for a moment then laughs. ”So she's that clueless!?”.
”What?” Emily asks. ”Don't you give a shit about your friend?”.
”Why?” Jackson asks with a laugh, ”is she in danger?”.
”Well, yeah” Emily says.
Jackson stops laughing. ”From whom?” He asks.
”Well... from herself I guess” Emily says. ”Her bloodline... they don't have good control over their human forms. Have you ever noticed her... suddenly shifting forms against her will?”.
”Against her....” Jackson says as he thinks. ”Oh! Yeah! There was that time she came to school sick, and her ears started popping out when she sneezed! If I remember correctly, Aeris covered for her during that time!”.
”Then does Aeris know?” Emily asks.
”Don't know” Jackson says. ”Never asked”.
”Then let's go ask her” Emily says.
Jackson and Emily enter the rooftop, where the rest had already gathered. ”Where have you two been?” Jessica asks.
Without either of them saying a word to anyone else, Jackson walks over to Aeris, sits down, and whispers in her ear. ”Apparently Emma is a descendant of that tribe” he whispers, ”did you know about that?”.