"How was it?'' Later that night, Claire, Jackie's mother, asked her the question. They were eating her mother's famous steak and almond rice. "I can't jinx it mom, let's just say it was good." She stuffed her face with rice, avoiding to answer any more questions. "i' m just saying love, it doesn't hurt to apply to other academies." Claire spoon fed her mother, who was looking down at her plate. "You don't believe that I can pass?" Jackie asked, knowing she was just joking around. The doorbell rang, and her mother made an o with her mouth. Jackie wiped her face with the napkin and opened the door without asking who it was. She knew who it would be at this time. It was the only time they got to spend together. "Hola." A boy taller than Jackie, wearing goggles over his head and a chain around his neck, stood on the porch. His hair was tied up in a messy bun, while his shoes had mud on them. "You went to the beach without me?" Jackie said, looking at his shoes.
"I came for you at 2pm, but you were sleeping soundly. I even played Metallica on your airpods but no reaction." He went past her and into the dining room, taking off his shoes outside the door. "Hey Claire, smells good." He dramatically sniffed the steak on the table and turned towards Jackie. "your mother thought you were on drugs." Claire laughed and shrugged her shoulders, "what, I thought your exam went bad. Here you go, Luke." She set down a filled a plate for him. Jackie took her seat opposite him. Luke became her only friend in the neighborhood when they moved to the city 10 years ago after her father's death. He was an elemental and a genius. He got his magic when he was just five years old and took command of all elements at the age of 10. His goal was the same as Jackie, to become a Slayer. She knew Luke would pass the trial without hesitation, but he never applied considering he was a year older than she and should've been in an academy. She had asked him continuously when they graduated, but he never answered her. One time he became angry and stormed off, so to maintain their friendship, Jackie stopped pestering him, knowing he will tell her one day.
"How was it?" he asked, already clearing half the plate.
"Like I said, I don't want to jinx it." Jackie had finished eating.
"We'll get to know about it on Thursday," her mother said.
"Let's go for a walk, I need to tell you something." Luke said once her mother had disappeared in the kitchen with the dirty plates. Jackie nodded, got up, kissed her grandmother on the cheek, and with a goodbye to her mother, she went out with Luke.
Fall was settling in, Jackie noticed the light chilly atmosphere as the trees rustled with the wind. They walked on the sidewalk quietly, watching the houses on the street with lights on, people sitting down to eat, some opening bottles of wine, others going out for a movie night. "What is it?" Jackie asked when they turned around the corner. She realized they were walking towards the convenience store, where they used to meet up after school. The wooden tables and chairs were empty. They sat down. "Alaric and his two gums came to the cinema yesterday." Jackie folded her legs on the chair. "Alaric? The'm-the-richest-and-the-best-magician-ever, Alaric?" Luke nodded, grinning. "Why there? I thought his kind never visited a neighborhood like this." Luke shrugged. "guess they just wanted to see how the other side lives." They both met eyes for a second and then erupted into laughs.
"I still hate Alaric and his jelly prank." Jackie covered her face, reliving the embarrassment. "Well I should get going. It's Saturday and you know what that means." They got up and were about to walk away when Luke grabbed her arm and shook her. "look look." he whispered. Walking down the street, with his hand in his pocket, a beanie hiding his silver hair, wearing hand-me-downs, was Alaric. He was alone, looking over his back every few seconds, keeping his head down. Alaric took out a paper from his pocket and then looked up at the sign on the intersection, turned back and then marched a few more steps, then stopped. He looked at the two rows of houses in a perfect line. Behind him, Jackie and Luke followed him.
"Why is he standing there?" she whispered, standing a little further away from him.
"That's where we live. What's he doing here again?" Luke asked himself. Alaric started walking down the road. "That's it, we are going." Jackie said, walking faster, "what are you doing?" Luke tried catching up with her, "I live there, I'm going home." She said, making a point. Alaric was walking down, reading the house number one by one, and then walking past them. Jackie was a few feet behind him, staring at the back of his head. Suddenly, a dog barked, which made her jump and stumble against a rock and fall on her knees. "Oh, shit." Luke said, holding her arm, picking her up. "You alright?" he asked.
"Why are you both following me?" a polite, bitter voice asked them. The duo looked up and saw Alaric glaring at them with hate.