26 Chapter 26 (2/2)
”So... you're a laibah?” Jackson asks.
”Yep” Darren says. ”Second year here, too!”.
”And you haven't already joined a club?” Jackson asks.
”Nope” Darren says. ”I like spending my time relaxing, and most clubs involve work... that's not really my forte”.
”Anyways” Rose says, ”I'll have to get everything registered during break. If you'll excuse me, I'd rather not be stuck in your conversation”.
As Rose begins to walk away, Darren waves at Rose and says ”See ya tomorrow, Ms. Weber!”.
”Yeah yeah” Rose says, ”whatever”.
Darren sits down with the rest and asks ”Mind if I join you guys?”.
”N-not at all!” Wyatt says. ”If you want to join the club, that's fine!”.
Darren laughs and says ”I meant join you for lunch... but yeah, that too”.
”So what's the real reason you're joining the club?” Jackson asks.
”Well, if I'm in a club, people will stop asking me to join their clubs” Darren says. ”Easy way to get out of extra work!”.
”That's one way to look at it” Emily says.
”Anyways” Darren says, ”don't be so intimidated by Ms. Weber. She may seem mean, but she really is a nice teacher. Besides, she'll likely be one of your teachers next year anyways, so may as well get used to her now”.
As the rest of the day passed, then the next day, The Rejects couldn't seem to get past this tension that built up amongst the group. However, it was finally the end of the semester. Their break between semesters, winter break, finally arrived. When they would return to school the next semester, it would be time to finally start their club activities. Before that, there were other things Wyatt and Emma had to take care of. On Saturday of December 7th 2019, Wyatt and Emma went up to Savvy Threads like they do every Saturday.
”Emma! Wyatt!” Matilda says as the two of them enter. ”So you did keep your promise of bringing Emma back after all!”.
”Y-Yeah” Wyatt says.
”I'm sorry” Emma says to Matilda. ”I'm sure I made you worry”.
”Child, I told you before didn't I?” Matilda asks. ”If you're not honest, bad things happen”.
”I-I'm sorry...” Emma says.
”That doesn't matter anymore” Matilda says. ”What's important is that you're fine. So, you have more clothing for me to sell?”.
”Yeah” Emma says, ”and a favor to ask”.
”What's the favor?” Matilda asks.
”W-When Wyatt came for me...” Emma says, ”I-I costed him... his job. S-So I was wondering if you guys would be able to help him?”.
”So Wyatt lost his job after all?” Emily asks as she approaches from the back of the store.
”Y-Yeah...” Emma says.
”Don't worry so much, Emma” Wyatt says. ”Worse things have happened”.
”I don't know if we're hiring” Matilda says, ”but I'll definitely be sure to ask Dylan about it later tonight”.
”Dylan?” Emma asks.
”Dylan Freud” Emily says. ”He owns this store”.
”Yes” Matilda says, ”he's the one who's scared of hiring laibah because he's afraid they'll scare away all of our customers. I've told you about him, haven't I?”.
”You have” Emma says, ”but I don't think you ever told me his name”.
”Well, I'll let you guys know as soon as I find out” Matilda says. ”We may be able to hire you to be my assistant alongside Emily here”.
”I didn't know you got paid to work here, Emily” Wyatt says.
”I don't” Emily says. ”I just come here after school because I get lonely and bored at home. Ever since my parents left town again, it's been quiet. So I'm helping Matilda out here again”.
”Oh yeah” Emma asks, ”did you ever talk to your parents about that one thing?”.
”Y-Yeah” Emily says. ”Although, I knew they'd be understanding about it. They were always too nice to me...”.
”That's Jay and Lyra for you” Matilda says. ”They're a couple of sweethearts, those two”.
”Aren't they scholars?” Wyatt asks. ”Does that mean that jobs like those hire laibah now?”.
”Ah, yes and no” Matilda says. ”They act as scholars on their own merits, so yes they are scholars. They aren't working as scholars though for a profession. They collect information and publish books under an alias name. That's where they get their money”.
”If only we could have their books in our schools” Wyatt says. ”I'd like to learn more about laibah history, as well as it'd probably help people understand more about laibah, and make people less afraid of them”.
”That'd be one way to help move the world forward, Wyatt” Matilda says. ”Why don't you guys try to find a way to make that happen. After all, your generation is the next one to take charge of this world in a manner of speaking. Why don't you try to be something like a teacher, and try using those materials to help people understand what laibah really are?”.
”I don't know...” Wyatt says. ”I'm not sure if I'd be any good as a teacher”.
”Well, give it some thought” Matilda says, ”but don't rush it. You've still got a couple years to go until you have to make your decision”.
”Yeah, you're right” Wyatt says. ”I'll definitely think about it”.
Emma and Matilda do their exchange of selling clothes for the store. After that was done, Matilda says ”I'll find a way to let you guys know about job openings here”.
”Thanks, Matilda” Wyatt says as the two of them leave.
After Wyatt and Emma return to the dorm, Jackson asks ”So you guys are back already?”.
”Did you miss us?” Wyatt asks with a laugh.
”Yeah... no I didn't” Jackson says. ”Because every time you guys are here, it's always the same mushy bull crap”.
”Geez, I'm sorry” Wyatt says. ”Did you want to do something this weekend?”.
”I'm actually planning on just relaxing” Jackson says. ”But then I remembered that you guys also live here, so...”.
”You could at least lighten up a little...” Emma says. ”Look, do you want to... try hanging out this weekend or something? We have a while off of school, and you really need to work on your attitude”.
”Whoa” Jackson says. ”Since when did Emma get the courage to criticize people?”.
”I don't know what you mean...” Emma says.
”She also threatened you before, when you called me a girl” Wyatt says.
”Oh yeah... I remember that” Jackson says.
”I'll still do it too, if you don't learn how to be less of an ass” Emma says.
”Okay, okay!” Jackson says. ”I get it! If you guys can find something interesting to do, then I'll go with, I guess. Until then, I'll be laying here in bed. Deal?”.
”Good enough” Wyatt says.
”Deal” Emma says.