Mason returns like a storm an hour before lunch, unceremoniously announcing that we are going home. Graham and I spent the rest of the time catching up after I'd calmed down, thanks to the cup of tea he had brewed. His knowledge of herbs is quite impressive, and his green thumb is something worthy of envy.
He says that all the greenery in his house is for Shay, but it doesn't feel like it. The plants are healthy, and thriving. It takes quite a lot of effort to keep something alive that tends to be rather pretentious.
Even though, I wasn't expecting for my visit to be cut short. I also don't want to spend the holidays travelling back to Morston. So I begrudgingly agree to go with him, even though we are not exactly on speaking terms at the moment. Something he has made very clear, by addressing me in a rather curt manner and only when he deems absolutely necessary.
The urge to roll my eyes at him, and make a show of it rears its ugly head but I'm done for today. After trading places with Graham, Mason sidles next to me on the chaise, while we wait for Louis to call for Shay which is at noon.
At least, I'll get to see Louis, that cheers me up a bit, and some of my anger slowly slips away.
Grouchy, and unrelactant we sit next to each other but do our best to keep our eyes on Graham, who is struggling to keep a straight face at the sight of us.
We probably look absolutely ridiculous. The feud that we have going on is utterly childish and more than worthy of his mockery. Mason doesn't seem to think so, because he groans and grumbles under his breath, pretty sure he is cursing like a sailor.
We say our goodbyes to Graham just a minute before the gong strikes twelve, and we both disappear in a flash of blinding light, along with Shay.
When we reappear, I take a moment to breathe through the nausea that has my stomach folding onto itself, ready to spill everything that I ate in the past week.
It takes me longer than the first time around to recover, but the room is so silent, I force myself to open my eyes, only to find myself in Mason's office with Louis blinking at me baffled to see me there.
The joke is on him because that is the last place I was expecting to find myself in on Christmas Eve. Nonetheless, here we are.
" Hi Louis," I give him a queasy smile, and before I know it I feel it coming up and there is no stopping it.
Mason hands me a bin, and I spill the contents of my stomach, mortified, above all else. Someone pulls my hair off my face, and I hear Mason tell Louis to get some water and a slice of lemon.
I'm wretching so badly that tears begin streaking down my cheeks, and my mortification grows tenfold. At least I know, that my limit is one a day of getting dragged across Districts with Shay as a means of transportation.
After what felt like five hundred years, I have nothing left in my stomach to spill.
Mason hands me a glass of lemon water while Louis is keenly studying me with a curious eye, but doesn't speak until I have settled into a seat.
" Quite a surprise, Miss," He says with a wry smile, and I groan at the use of the word Miss.
" Don't call me Miss," I feel lightheaded and on the verge of fainting. As it happens, in the next second everything goes blank, and all feel is my body hitting the floor.
When I finally came too, I instantly recognised my surroundings. It's the same room I've called my own for two years, but is exactly in the same state, as if I've never left. Everything is the same, just exactly how I've left it. If I wasn't so angry with him, I would have found that endearing
Still fuming over my bout with Mason, I push off the bed, determined to get the hell out of here, only that wanting and doing are entirely different things. You'd think that passing out would have taken the edge off my anger, sadly it has not.
The moment I sit up, the room begins to spin and find it difficult to get a steady foothold. I plop back on the bed, unceremoniously, while I worry that someone might witness the sorry state I've been reduced to. I don't understand why everyone else is absolutely fine getting magically zapped across Districts, whilst I end up bedridden just after two trips.
Note to self, avoid using Shay as a form of transportation.
Heated voices drag me back from my misery, and I make another attempt of getting myself off the bed. At last, I'm successful and stagger to my feet. I'm still slightly lightheaded but it is something I can cope with ease. Fumbling with my shoes that have been left at the foot of the bed, almost rushing to tie the shoelaces at the sound of the voices getting increasingly louder, and oh joy, angrier.
"-- understand why have you brought her here-" Ava questions. I'd recognise that squeaky voice anywhere. I didn't hear the rest because I stormed out through the french doors before they entered the room.
Definitely, didn't want to get caught up in that whole mess that Mason has going on for himself. I made a vow to myself that I would stay out of it, but up until this point, I'm doing a poor job of it.
As soon as I'm at a safe distance from the Northenhay, I take to the trees. It has proven to be a safe route, and I can easily access the academy without drawing too much attention to me. And with a bit of luck none at all, but since is broad daylight there is always a risk. A risk I'm willing to take as long as I don't have to watch Ava belittle me in front of Mason. After all, she has every right to, she is his fiancée.
Tree hopping paired with the frigid air, and the lack of my winter coat, definitely helped clear the remaining queasyness lingering in my body.
The moment I land on the roof of the academy I let out a breath of relief, and slide inside the loft through the window.
I'm sort of short of a week's worth of food but that is nothing a good shopping spree can't fix.