We left the area and everyone stopped talking as I opened the door and left. The tension was high, and it seemed like everyone knew the outcome but me. I was skeptical, there had to be another medium or one who has a goat like mine. I didn't just develop mine at the age of thirteen so I could beat out adults who are much more experienced than me. I walked through the halls with Jake silently. He stopped me before we got close to my entrance.
"Listen to me, you can do this. Princess, you have a gift that is so special that you didn't wait until puberty to develop it. Who was the highest scoring medium of our class?" He asked gently.
"Me." I said.
"Who, despite everything people said to her, treated everyone with kindness and respect because that's what you were supposed to do?" He held my hand. I looked at the wall.
"Me." I responded.
"And who made it possible to have mediumship classes start at the age of twelve because they were convinced more mediums, if screened earlier?" He asked and I looked up at him. He was staring at me with intent.
"Me."
"So wouldn't it make sense, they summon you? Go out there and show everyone who told you that you were too young to know what you were talking about because you were a young kid? Each student who told you screening earlier for mediums was ridiculous then you showed up during our final test in school will now be watching you. I know for a fact Cortney will be there too."
Cortney was a girl in high school who really didn't like me because Caitlin trusted me more with things because I was the one who raced in between planes to save her from death when she was going through shit. She also resented the fact that Jake ended up liking me more as a friend than her and stopped hanging out with her. He was protective when she started her insults and sly comments, but when we started dating it got worse then died out. I never knew why but I assumed Jake had a hand in it. He saw my expression change from nervous to anger to nervous again. I didn't want to go in there with anger. It was a negative emotion that would screw up the reading.
A"I didn't intend one making you angry, show her you have something to prove." I nodded. My mother had about a half hour left until the ting sounded, so I decided to prepare myself for connecting to the other plane.
"Jake?" I said before I did.
"Yes?" He asked me.
"You know I am the only medium we had in our grade right?" He smiled and nodded.
"That's what makes you better." I laughed and found a flat surface that wasn't the floor and sat there with my eyes closed. Jake paced a few years ahead of me not to mess up my connection with his wild emotions or to distract me. Once I felt connected enough that I wasn't going to get anywhere else without actually slipping into mediumship, I opened my eyes and watched Jake pace.
"You seem more nervous than me right now. Why?" I asked. That's one thing he still didn't like, when I connected to the other plane my senses and feelings were heightened more than usual and I could tell exactly what he was thinking. This was nervousness around being seen with me.
"My ex, she's here tonight. I know it's stupid but I do have to walk in with you but I am scared she's going to think that you were the reason I broke it off." He said.
"The relationship?" I asked.
"No, the engagement. I didn't want to marry her, I don't know why I thought I did but then when we lived together it seemed to fall apart. I broke the engagement but not the relationship because I really did like her. She broke up with me out of spite and anger." He said.
"Jake, you realize that this is the most communication I have had with you since you got engaged three months ago. I can prove that if she wants. However, that means everything needs to be professional. No secret messages behind looks, strictly our jobs. After, we can talk. It looks like you still have unresolved feelings. For whom I don't know, but right now it's this we need to focus on." I said and he nodded. I lied, we both knew who he had unresolved feelings for, everyone did.
The gong sounded and my mother was dismissed, it was almost 11 at night but I wasn't tired. I prepared myself and went to walk towards the entrance to wait for my call. Jake pulled me into a hug and sighed. I indulged in the comfort, I felt him kiss the top of my head but neither of us acknowledged the habit. We pulled away and then recomposed ourselves, took a deep breath and they announced my name.
Jake opened the door for me and the arena went silent. I am sure my old high school peers were surprised. The entire school was pretty much here, except for the few that were working security outside and at college in the world. But most were here, even those who were years younger than me. I walked through the doors and waited for Jake. This was tradition, your guard went with you to the podium where you spoke to the Elders and then they left you after you dismissed them. I wasn't going to dismiss Jake until I had to. He was my emotional support in this even though we couldn't show it. I saw Jake's ex and his breathing changed.
She made eye contact with me and then saw Jake and I assumed she guessed the worst, like Jake said. I sent out a small wave of energy to her to remind her of all the times I never stood in the way of them while they were together and that me and him were just friends. Her expression softened then she looked guilty. She sent a wave back apologizing. I moved on quickly. The podium was in the middle of the arena. Before I got there, I saw Cortney and her friend Kayla. She looked angered. I smiled at her sweetly and Jake held his hand out to help me on the podium, professionally of course.
His ex sent a wave saying she didn't care but found it funny how enraged Cortney was by the action and my presence that she would've let Jake do the guard job anyway because she didn't like her as much as I did. She became protective as well when she started dating Jake, and she continued to be protective I guess because she knew in her heart that she couldn't be angry with me. I have her Jake when I wanted him, she let him go and it was time for him to find what he wanted. I shook off the energy, she would understand.
"Roslyn." One of the elders said.
"Yes?" I asked respectfully. They said that this was a time for professionalism but not for strict name calling. Two of them I had in my shop medium classes, I was their best student. Mr. Ballgerion was talking to me now.
"Welcome, we assume you had time to prepare your gift?" He asked.
"Of course, I am already connected and ready to start after the questions." I responded, Jake stood there proudly. I restrained from rolling my eyes, Mr. Ballgerion could tell I am sure.
"Always the prepared student, you are." He said.
"I learned from the best." I responded with a smile.
"Now," My other teacher MV said, "You have prepared yet nothing was written next to your name. I assume you know why that is?" She asked.
"Yes, I believe that since I was called and I recognized each person that has performed before me had their specialty next to their name or what they have mastered. My level of mastery hasn't reached fully yet because there is still one step to take until I get to the mastery level of my skill. However, each person that has come didn't have an affinity for one skill that I am very close to mastering." I responded.
MV smiled, she knew I knew and my assumption was correct. They chose me as the wild card and the one who would take the Elder's place. "What would that be? Please share with the entire arena what the other plane has given to you as an answer."
"With pleasure, I am referring to mediumship. Or psychic work. Work with those beyond the veil to the other plane. My presence here is so mediumship will be represented." The entire class that I graduated with was surprised.
They all figured the mediumship was another one of the Magic's I picked up for fun, no one expected it to be my master skill. I felt the anger flare off the Cortney and toward the arena. The elders did too.
One nodded to Jake and he brought out his atheme and drew a protective rune behind me that would throw a wall between me and the oncoming energy, I turned to see him making eye contact with Cortney. I followed his gaze up to her, I kept my eyes surprised and sprightly betrayed. I didn't think she would've one that far. I saw Kayla say something to her, and she sat down but still was upset. Kayla was always one of the two to have the feelings.
"Does someone have an objection?" MV asked while looking at Cortney.