𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝔼𝕀𝕃 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝟙

“Tell me how practice is.” I texted as I turned on my Tv.

“Yeah, I will I hope you feel better,” Elizia replied. As I got comfortable flipping through the channels searching for something to watch.

After a while I finally landed on something, trying to get comfortable, my ankle throbbing as I wiggled myself into a lying position sliding my blanket down on top of me from the back of the coach.

Oh yeah, I remember….

I glanced at my finger the ring sat loosely on my finger, the galactical theme spiraling in the stone.

I still can’t figure out how this happened how did the gem change its insides? I wonder what these lines are what are these lines for and why is it blinking?

I spun the ring around my finger, the cool metal sliding along my finger. I thought heavily about the ring, the changing of its stone and the strange blinking lines when the ring-spun right off my finger falling onto the couch.

Uh- oh, when did the ring get so big? It was so small last time I looked at it. Is this even a ring? If this was a ring why is the German side moving and why are there lines blinking like a calculator waiting for somebody to type in a digit?

I fumbled around for the ring praying that it didn’t fall in between the cushions when I could feel the cold metal lie against the fluff of the blanket.

“Thank God, it would’ve been really annoying having to find it underneath the couch especially if I can’t stand upright.

I picked up the ring to look at it, the metal around the ring changing its color in front of me, strange symbols appearing. Moments later the little lines vanished from the ring, exposing my name at the top and two sets of numbers at the bottom where the lines used to be.

What! How is this even possible what is happening? Is this… No, I can’t be at least not in real life. Anything that’s close to magic-related is not exactly like this usually more discrete than this right? Or is that just what I think from watching so many TV shows.

“If this is a magic ring why the heck does mom have it? And why did she want me to have it?”

Why does mom have so many secrets what is happening? Should I wear it and keep it?

I sighed then put the ring on a finger that fit it. And went back to my show.

How did the ring change sizes anyway? Wasn’t it like size 0 for a baby?

Several episodes later my phone vibrated on the table startling me.

“You wouldn’t believe what I just saw.” Elizia texted.

“Huh?” I replied putting the phone down on my stomach as I pushed play on the TV remote. I got halfway through the episode when I got another text from Elizia.

“So, I was happily watching the soccer practice when guests who showed up out of nowhere? With her several butlers and two giant coolers filled with water and Gatorade. It was annoying everyone practically swarmed the soccer players I couldn’t even get a chance to talk to Blaine because Raven hogged them to herself and glared at anyone who tried to say hello.”

“How did I know that was going to happen? She so… I can’t even think of a word to think about how annoying she is.” I typed rolling my eyes and annoyance.

“I’m very sorry Elizia I didn’t think she’d show up since she left and I definitely didn’t think she would entrance the whole team you’d think they were actually having a soccer game the way you described it.” I texted.

“Right! After a second I had to look around just to see if I was still at the school.”

“So is practice still going or are they Just chilling with Raven?”

“It’s finished now the coach thought it was a good idea to let everyone off early since Raven thought they were practicing too much.” Elizia texted with an annoyed emoji.

“What! Clearly, she wasn’t paying attention, before her sudden vacation in the middle of the school year, or she would have known that practice was canceled for most of the year because Mr. Randle was absent due to an injury.” I replied with an eye-roll emoji.

“I guess money can buy everything including convincing a teacher to cut practice early just because someone thought it was too much work. Also, how’s your ankle by the way? I hope you haven’t been walking around on that thing.” Elizia typed.

“Just as sore as it was this morning, though it feels better to have elevated.” I texted

“Blaine said he’s on his way, he said he’s just going to stop by at the house and see if dinner was made.” Elizia texted with a drooling emoji.

“Thanks for telling me, and I’m sorry that Raven is flaunting her wealth at the school again.” I texted as if she was the principal and I was Raven’s mother apologizing for something stupid on the back half of my child.

I sat up, putting my phone back on the table after no more replies from Elizia.

“Wow practice was cut short; I’ve only been watching a few episodes and usually practice goes for until sunset. Looks like they got at least two hours less than what they normally would get. I thought as I slowly rose from the coach.

I struggled to get up the stairs, wincing in pain every step of the way.

“It’s been so long since I sprained my ankle, I forgot how much I hate it,” I said grunting as I looked at the last three steps separating me from the top and the bathroom.

“I wonder if it will kill me if I fell down the stairs?” I asked myself as I turned and looked at the several stairs that led down, and the smooth hardwood down below. “I don’t think I want to find out.”

I struggle to the bathroom, the feeling of the ring on my hand surprising me as I put my hand on the wall for added support.

It feels so weird to have something on my hand, how did mom get so comfortable with wearing rings when married to dad? I wonder if she feared getting wet or losing.

“Zaphira?” Blane called from below. I could hear Blane’s footsteps below as he called for me.

“I’m upstairs I’ll be down in a moment.” I texted.

I slowly moved to the stairs, the smell of shepherd’s pie filling the air.

“Need help?” Blane called from around the corner, popping his head out as he glanced at me.

“No, I think I got it,” I said as I gripped the railing, slowly descending the stairs. “I managed to get down here the first time I can do it again.”

“Okay, just be careful don’t want you falling down the stairs and breaking her neck,” Blane said as he disappeared behind the wall again.

“Did you bring bread and butter? I love the little buns your mother makes they taste so good.” I asked as I continued my descent. I’ve only walked halfway down the stairs but it feels like a never-ending flight. I thought annoyed as I contemplated giving up and just calling it quits on the step.

“Yeah, she even buttered them for you,” Blane said as I could hear the sound of plates and silverware.

“Yum! I’m so hungry.” I said as I slowly sat on the step, my ankle practically screaming at me as I began to crouch. Holy hell! At this point just cut off my leg I don’t care, it hurts. I thought as I winced in pain gritting my teeth as I tried to suppress a scream.

“Are you sure you don’t need help? You look like you gave up.” Blane asked as he stood and watched me struggle.

“I didn’t give up I’m just… Taking a break it’s a very long dissent look at the stairs.” I said defensively.

Blaine glanced at the steps then at me then at the stairs again. “Yeah, four stairs must be painful accept defeat it looks like you’re not going to get off those stairs,” Blane said teasingly as he slowly walked towards me.

“Just accept that you need help, you may have gotten downstairs this morning but you’ve been walking around on your foot practically all day,” Blane said as he slowly walked towards the steps stopping on the first one.

I rebelliously folded my arms over my chest. “I am not going to—” I began but stopped short when I nearly fell forward my ankle speeding up as I could feel it give out on me sending me forward.

“Son of a….” I screamed as Blane rushed forward catching me in his arms, I could feel tears escape my eyes as they trickled down my cheek, I had to bite down on my lip to prevent myself from crying.

Blaine said nothing, he just picked me up taking me off the stairs and carrying me to the couch. His expression hardened as he walked forward. My ankle feeling numb as he slowly put me down.

“Blaine?” I said in a soft voice as I looked at him. Blaine said nothing as he turned around and made his way back to the kitchen.

I sat on the coach my leg out in front of me. Blaine? I thought as I looked at the empty hallway. My God did I… Did I actually for the first time in my life actually piss Blaine off? I thought as a strange feeling swelled inside me, my eyes watering at the thought.

Moments later Blaine emerged from the kitchen, his expression still serious as he walked towards me. I looked at him nervously as if I was expecting him to yell at me.

Blaine said nothing as he crouched down in front of me, his hands gripping my leg as he lifted it. Gently he put my leg over to cushions, I had to wince in pain as my leg adjusted to the new elevation.

Blaine then grabbed a warm cloth and put it on my foot before undoing the bandage. Holy! Why does the cold air hurt more with the bandage off then when it was on? You’d think that now that my ankle didn’t have pressure on it the pain would slowly subside. I thought through painful tears.

I watched as Blane grabbed the warm cloth and put it on the swollen part, I thought I was going to melt and how soothing it was and how warm it was.

“Does that help” his tone still rough as he glanced at me?

“Y- Yeah...” I said hesitantly.

“I know that you probably would want to go to school tomorrow but I don’t think you should,” Blane said as she stood up. “There’s a strong possibility you may have fractured or cause your sprain to get worse.” He said in a soft voice as he got up grabbing a bowl that sat on the floor.

Why would anyone want to go to school? Unless your part of the school team or really love school, nobody would want to go there not by choice anyway. I thought as I looked at the cloth on my ankle.

The only thing concerning me is whether or not I should expect a quiz when I get back. I shuddered at the thought, my grandparents may not bother me much when living on my own but I’m not sure if they would be pleased to hear that I failed a class because I sprained my ankle and didn’t go to school.

Blane came back into the living room holding two plates, I could see two buns resting on the corner on one of them.

“You may not be able to stand or go to the kitchen but you still need to eat, just because the ankle is sprained doesn’t mean you should skip out on food.” He said handing me my plate.

“Thanks,” I said taking the plate, the smell of the shepherd’s pie-making me drool. God, it’s been too long, if only I knew how to make shepherd’s pie as well as Teresa. I thought as I picked up the fork.

Blaine grabbed the TV remote pushing play on the episode I was watching. “So, what did I miss? Did Elie find out the truth? Or did Cassie find another way to keep the secret?” Blane asked as he picked up his fork.

“Neither Cassie betrayed them and sold the information to the enemy now she is blacklisted from the city,” I said as I watched the screen.

“Damn I didn’t see that coming, she was so nice to goes to show you can trust everybody,” Blane said sounding upset.

“I think you’re only upset because Cassie was your favorite character and she turned out to be a total bitch.” I said bluntly.

“Maybe so but I didn’t expect her to go that far, especially since she too was betrayed by her own family and made it very clear on how she felt about it,” Blane said looking disapprovingly at the TV. “I didn’t expect her to turn around and do the exact same thing.”

“I’m pretty sure everyone didn’t expect her to do it, she was a very nice character and probably the most liked.”

Blaine nodded in agreement as he ate his pie watching intently as Cassie planned her evil scheme against the people that she once called family.

“This leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” Blane said as he put his fork down.

“The food or the TV show?” I asked confused.

“The TV show, the shepherd pie is delicious, I just really don’t like what’s happening I kind of just want to scream and tell them to not trust her.”

“There, there it’s only a TV show it’s not like she is really evil in real life, or is she?”

“Please don’t, I don’t want to imagine whether or not her very good acting skills has anything to do with her being evil on the outside of the screen.” Blane pleaded.

I shrugged as I continued to watch the TV show, Blane watched silently until Blaine’s phone startled me.

“Blaine!” I said not looking away from the screen Blaine’s phone continued to ring. “Blaine!” I called again turning to see him passed out on the chair.

Dammit! Did he have to pass out? I thought as I struggled to sit up, my ankle throbbing as I struggled to reach for his phone.

“Hello?” I said into the phone.

“Is Blane with you?” Teresa asked on the other line, her voice sounding worried.

“Yeah, he’s currently asleep on the couch, we were watching 2300 seasons six,” I said as I propped myself up better. I could hear her sigh in relief in the background as she talked to somebody in the background.

“Okay, I was just getting worried since I haven’t heard from him since he left and it’s pretty late now,” Teresa said.

“No worries, I’ll wake him up now so he can have a home,” I said reassuringly.

“How’s your ankle sweetie?”

“I’m not sure I nearly fell down the stairs earlier and Blaine said there’s a possibility I may have fractured it or just severely caused my ankle to get worse so I won’t be going to school tomorrow,” I said as I winced in pain.

“Oh my! I’m so sorry sweetie don’t worry about Blaine just leave him, I don’t want you to make your ankle worse just have him call me in the morning.” Teresa said sounding worried again.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind waking him up.” I spoke.

“Don’t worry Zaphira, as long as I know where he is I have nothing to worry about just make sure he calls me is all.” Teresa said again. I sighed as I leaned back on the couch, glancing at Blaine who looked peaceful his head cocked to the side as he snuggled against the pillow.

“Okay, I’ll make sure he calls you,” I said once more.

“Thank you, I’m going to let you go now you take care Zaphira,” Teresa said tenderly.

“You to and thanks for the food and enjoy your night,” I said before Teresa hung up.

I glanced at Blaine again before looking at the small blanket that rested on the floor, struggling I reached for the blanket and threw it at Blaine hoping it wouldn’t cover his head.

“Damn, if only I had really good skills to wrap a person in a blanket just by throwing it at them,” I said as I took a deep breath before struggling to my feet.

I bit my tongue as I stood on my good foot propping the blanket better on him before turning off the TV. Good luck, here’s hoping I make it to my room before breaking my ankle off. I thought to myself as I struggled to make my way to the steps.