Ten

"…and I had chocolate cake and it was really, really yummy!" I laughed at the enthusiasm of Kia's voice coming through the phone speaker. I could just imagine her, waving her arms around in excitement as she spoke. She is just the cutest.

"That's good. But it must be really weird living with your teacher, right?"

"No! It's the collect! Aunty Erica is so nice! Not as cool as you though, Mika!" there was a slight pause. "When can I see you again?"

Her voice was quieter, and sad. I was so temped to give in an tell her about my surprise. But also I want to see her look of surprise. Dammit, this girl will be the end of me. "Soon, I promise." A bell goes off in the background. "Sounds like, lunch is over. I'll talk to you after school, yeah?"

"Okay! Bye Mika!" I laughed saying 'bye' back and ending the call before she got told off. Of course, no one would tell of such a sweet girl. Honestly, she has everyone wrapped around her finger. She got Calamov's charisma and Lexicon's knack of seeming innocent.

Finally, I pay attention to Connifer, who had been standing at my doorway, waiting for over 5 minutes. Well, when I say pay attention, I mean send her a death glare, shaking my head and turning away.

It had gotten to Friday and they still believe that I was going to be the one to burn down half the condo; Lexicon off all people thought that! They needed to have a look in a mirror. "Mika, please. It's not that we don't trust you…" my sister stopped, apparently not knowing how to say it in words.

Lex came up behind her and corrects her. "We don't trust you to keep in control. Have you seen your magic reports?" Yes, I have. I have been looking at them for the past 3 years.

"You realise you are telling me, the person who brought up your daughter, that I can't look after myself?" That was a low blow on my part but it successfully shut them up. It definitely counted as playing dirty but it worked.

"By the way, have you guys got a teacher who knows how to cook without magic? It would be a joke if Elecon Prep, one of the most prestigious schools in the world, let 100 odd students and staff go hungry over the weekend."

Con frowned at my words. "Why do you pick up the useless stuff?" Apparently she didn't appreciate my bettered way of speaking. While I was slaving away at the classwork, I had pretty easily adapted to the cleaner speech of the other kids. I just adapt easily, although I couldn't deny that I put the voice on a little more around Lexicon, it seems to piss them off.

All week they had been trying to convince me, going as far as to get Zira to try and convince me – the idiot unfortunately wanted me to go too. I was so sick of their bullshit now and they were sick of mine too. They just had to do was leave me here and then come back to an edible meal Sunday night, was it that different from when we used to live at home together?

"Because I'm a motherfucking boss." Lex scoffed, shaking his head, as Con sent me a flat look. Apparently they didn't agree.

I picked up my sketchpad and box of charcoals up from the short table I had put next to my bed to my left and flipped over onto my stomach. It was only half 12, there were still a couple hours before I needed to leave meaning I had enough time to draw something. In fact, I could start filling out the sketch from a couple nights ago.

It was a picture of Lexicon joining, as creepy as it is, it did look awesome – which I had drawn once before ages ago, even before they got pregnant with Kia. Since I'd done it so early on, there were a few mistakes and Lexicon were my age. They've changed and I've gotten a shit ton better. That's why after cleaning this place up, I decided to redo it, getting the sketch done a couple days ago.

Lexis, "Isn't there any way we can get you to go?"

Me, "It's not compulsory for me, so hell no. Now fuck off."

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what I wanted on paper in my head. Obviously I wasn't going to use magic for this, even though it is the one few things I could do. Magic had a way of making things effortlessly perfect, so perfect it pissed me off. Drawing with my hands and magic were two different things entirely.

There was a sigh from Con. "At least get changed out of your uniform now. It will get dirty." I ignored her for two reasons: it was the end of the week, I was washing a lot over the weekend anyway; more importantly, while I should, just the fact I was being told to meant I won't.

The door finally closed, leaving me in silence.

Finally.

Opening my eyes, I immersed myself with drawing lines of different lengths and pressures, changing between the charcoals when needed.

I knew I wouldn't get the entire thing completed today, I wasn't even going to try for that. Things like small details, what makes the picture more alive and all the things I love about art, they weren't going to show now. I'd need a good day at least for that.

But with the couple hours I could get from a sketch to an almost decent, basic line art. All I was hoping for was a everything to have a firmer shape, some idea of light dispersion and a little depth perception.

Really, my biggest goal, drawing aside, was to lose myself into something normal and away from all the magical bullshit I've dealt with so I can at least seem happy with Kia.

I couldn't go and worry that too-clever cutie now, could I.