Remy nodded, then looked to her familiar, who’d been quietly watching my entire meltdown and subsequent comedown with Edith, like she understood their calming effects. I hadn’t seen Remy lose her cool since meeting her. Did she stress?
Go to space? No biggie.
Create security systems with magical armor? Easy peasey, lemon squeezy.
“It is a lot. Magic isn’t easily controllable. It’s chaos, and I don’t like things I can’t control.” She sighed and lifted her hands to rub her temples.
“Are you doing okay?”
“I’m hanging in there. Managing businesses and going to school at the same time isn’t easy. I can’t give one hundred percent to both, and I hate that. But I’m doing what I can.” She gave me a weak smile, and I would offer a hug, but I didn’t want to risk being shut down right now. We were both feeling vulnerable.
It made sense, though. She was always on her tablet or computer. Most people had jobs outside of going to school. I sublet out my apartment while away to keep everything ready for when I got home. Besides the bills, I had no overhead. I got to go to school without a business to run, or jobs to keep.
“I’m not a rocket scientist, or whatever you are, but if there’s anything I can do to help. Even if it’s to go on coffee runs, I’ll do it.”
“Noted and thank you. Now, here’s my advice for your situation. You can either be scared of all this chaos and go home, where you know the life that waits for you. Or you can be scared and create the life of your dreams. Either way, you’re going to be scared. Magic isn’t going anywhere. The old way of life is gone, and we can’t undo it.” She stood and walked to me with her hand outstretched. “I know you aren’t choosing what you had, so let’s get to class.”
She was right. This was hard, and scary. I still hadn’t gotten a grasp on myself or this new life. But I wasn’t going back to that job at the bank, or a life on autopilot.
I grabbed her hand and stood. Edith slithered up my arm and into the breast pocket of my sweater.
“It smells dirty in here.” She coughed and I thought about changing but the fifteen minute alarm on my phone went off, pushing us out the door.
Remy suddenly paused at the stairwell and faced me. “While I’m rooting for you and Rylan, because I think he’s a good match for you, just know if you need to focus on you, he can wait.” She pursed her lips once then continued. “And, if he doesn’t wait, which I don’t think will happen, then he isn’t the one for you. End of story.”
She made it sound so simple.
“Thanks, Remy.” I smiled as the recently familiar sound of creaking of metal came from behind me.
“You know, she’s right. You’re a strong, smart, beautiful woman, Temperance Carmichael. Mr. McKenzie would be such a loser if he missed out on you. Take your time, it’ll only make him want you more.” The suit of armor known as Randy stood behind me with hand raised and waiting.
In the short time these sentient armors were created, Randy was my favorite. Mostly because he was everyone’s hype guy.
My least favorite was Susan who stayed near the dining hall. She was strict. Like the teachers in high school that would make your lower your fingers to your thighs to see how short your skirts were. Or yell to keep five feet between the opposite sex at all times.
“Thank you, Randy.” I slapped my palm to his since he loved giving high fives.
“We love you, Randy.” Remy paid the price for his hype and strode down the stairs without another word. Because truthfully, I didn’t need to hear anymore.
This was just a temporary moment. I’d be fine, and I was slowly taking control of my life. Figuring things out one step at a time.
Remy stopped at my class and put a hand on my shoulder. “Maybe we’ll go to town this weekend after our club meetings.”
“I want to go, too,” a little choice chimed in from my pocket.
“Sounds good.”
“You got this, Temperance,” Remy said while walking away.
“You do too!” I shouted back.
Wedidhave this. I wasn’t gonna let a little lava bear incident fuck up this new era of my life.
Rylan watched me walk into class, posture taller, and demeanor less frazzled.
“Temperance.” He stood and pulled my chair back for me to slide in.
“Er, thanks.”
