Through the noisy cafeteria with those annoying white, constantly buzzing lights, now unhearable because of the overall cacophony of teens on their lunch break, was walking a girl. She had black curly hair, barely contained by a dark grey beanie. Still escaping on the sides of her head.
A simple black T-shirt with holes in it, and jean shorts exposing her legs in black stockings. The leather bag on her shoulder was so packed that she had to constantly readjust it, even walking such a short distance, and she was walking with intent. Ignoring all the groups gathered around various tables, enjoying the meal in each other's company, and as a bonus filling the whole vicinity in a mix of loud voices so entangled that one could not understand a thing that was being said.
She had her own goal. A table deep inside the cafeteria in a corner where a brown-skinned boy was sitting. All by himself. He was wearing the usual, old jean jacket, over the light-gray hoodie. His skateboard was resting, leaning on one of the chairs while he was looking at something on his phone. There was also a plate with some cafeteria food with a plastic fork stuck in the mashed potatoes, indicating he tried the food but gave up quickly.
- I thought that I would find you in the library, but you weren't there – she said getting closer, loudly enough to pierce through the background noise.
- I had an incident… - he started, still looking at his smartphone, but couldn't finish the sentence.
- I heard about that one too – she interrupted him, and then took the bag off her shoulder to place it on the table as she finally reached it.
Now, being a bit closer, she could clearly see a bruise slightly below his left eye.
- You should really tell the teachers. You can't just let them beat you like this.
With the bag out of the way, she pulled one of the chairs slightly back and sat on it, joining him.
- I didn't exactly let them.
- You fighting back only make it worse, Trev!
- I'm not surrendering – he slightly raised his voice, just like his head, to look her in the eyes.
- I didn't say anything about surrendering. There are other ways to fight than physical – she responded not hiding the sourness in her voice. - For example, you can tell the teachers.
- Yeah… And what will that accomplish exactly? - he asked with a grimace twisting his face. - You forget that maybe Billy and Joe are losers just like us, but their parents are not. They are still a family from the third district, and no one from the school is going to do shit for a loser like me. Besides, do you really believe they don't know at this point?
- Then tell your parents.
- Yeah, and what will they do? Transfer me to another school, where some assholes will find out either way that I'm a fucking 'Zero' and start picking on me again? At least here I'm handling it – he said, and returned back to looking at the screen. - Besides, they already know. I just told them I'm handling it.
- If you wouldn't go so crazy about that stupid letter they wouldn't find out that you have zero magic powers in you.
- I went crazy – he rose his head again – because that was my last chance. Do you know what they do to people like me? They send them to the fifth district. I'm not so lucky as you. Oh, Great Liv, who can even manifest her power.
- You are overreacting - she said, ignoring the 'oh great' part. - You are still in middle school. You have plenty of time to develop magic powers. There are plenty of people who got their powers in high school.
- But very few who had no magic in them at all before awakening. I'm not taking any chances. I'll find it, and all my questions will be answered – he gave her a fake forced smile before returning to his phone.
- It's a legend, you dummy! There is no 'Grand Library'! Nobody ever confirmed its existence. There are only stupid rumors probably spread by some bored teenagers hundred years ago.
- Your great, great grandmother confirmed it for me – he said, and raised his hand to show her a middle finger.
She slapped his arm.
- It was a great, great, great grandmother.
- Does it matter? What's the matter is that the Grand Library exists, and we got a confirmation from Lex Roy himself. I still can't believe that you had somebody in your family who knew him – a smile crawled on his face, this time genuine.
- It's just an old letter. You put too much trust into that, Trev.
- No. It's a game-changer. I just need to find it, that's all. From what he said it's random, so all I have to do is open the door to a library or a bookstore enough times, and it will eventually open for me.
She shook her head. This was just too much wishful thinking and horseshit for her to handle.
- Then explain to me why it only 'allegedly' opened to four people in history, hm? You are just bullshitting yourself because you don't want to face reality. You won't ever be like those half gods from the first district. You are a loser from the fourth, just like everybody in this stupid school. Embrace it.
Trevor suddenly moved, placing both of his hands on the table as he leaned over it, getting closer to her and looking her straight in the eyes.
- Never.
She rolled her eyes.
- So you will be going in and out of the library making everybody laugh? Yeah… A genius idea, and definitely won't make Billy and Joe want to pick on you even more – she said and crossed her arms on her chest.
- I already have something in mind for them.
- What?
- Well, they keep stealing my lunch, so I'm gonna make a shit-sandwich for them to enjoy – he waved his eyebrows with a sly smirk on his face before grabbing the smartphone from the table and the skateboard from the chair. - Maybe at least I won't have to keep coming here and risk my life trying the food provided by the school.
- They will kill you for that – she said catching a glimpse of the photo of the letter she showed him a while ago on the phone screen.
- Maybe, but I will have at least a slight taste of revenge on those assholes – he said pocketing the device and picking up his black backpack from the ground.
She sighed, and also grabbed her things, to follow him, as he clearly was about to live the cafeteria, but to her surprise he stopped, looking straight at her.
- Liv, I know you want the best for me, just as I want the best for you, but I have to do this. You have to understand that there is no other choice. Look… When I came to this school and somehow the fact that I'm a black kid and have white parents didn't grab anybody's attention, I was overjoyed. Nobody paid to me any attention. It was like a miracle because nobody found out about my magic levels thanks to that. Unfortunately, it's all gone now. They know, and if I want to have some kind of life here, I have to do something.
- There are breathing exercises… Besides, it's supposed to be confidential information.
- Yeah. Unfortunately, all they have to do is get your daily report, or find out from the teachers – he said and started walking again. - Somebody probably looked over my shoulder when I was being tested, or they somehow got it from teachers. At this point, it doesn't matter. Everybody knows anyway.
She sighed again.
- Let's just go and annoy the hell out of everybody in the library – she mumbled without any energy, as it all for her was completely pointless.