November marched down a set of stairs and turned into a less frequented corridor. She thought she heard a light squeak, the kind you'd hear when rubber soles rub against freshly waxed floors. She stopped briefly and pivoted her head before turning around. There was no one. There was nothing. She smiled, shaking her sable locks at her foolishness. November reached the hall of mailboxes and opened it up with a small key. She flipped though the stack of envelopes.
Dad.
Dad.
Dad.
Mom.
Mom and dad.
- "What? An ad for breast enlargement pills?"
And at the bottom of the pile, a stampless cream-colored envelope. She tossed the others into the nearest receptical, save for the little manilla envelope, and headed for her dormitory.
Cricket was reclining in her cot, her nose buried in the latest issue of Arcane Arts and Times magazine. November grunted salutations and promptly sat at her desk, sliding the bear Jaygo had given to her out of the way. With great care she peeled open the envelope,
"Nejdražší 'Pad,
How are you? I am sorry I have not written sooner, Mamka has been very sick and I've been an emotional wreck. I wish I could say this trip was a most needed vacation, but it is not at all. Tati is telling me that Mamka might need to head back to Anansi in order get well. This is most unfortunate. I really wish I could join her but they both insist I go back to school. Besides, I would really miss you so. And, boy, do I miss you! Again, I am awfully sorry for not writing. --
Cricket slapped the magazine down on her bed and ambled over to November, "Hey, I'm going to grab something to eat, want to come with?" November's eyes were glued to the penned words, "No thanks." Cricket shrugged and strolled off, "Oof!" November glanced over at Cricket, standing and smiling awkwardly by the open door, "Uh, see ya!" She bounced away in a frenzy of giggles.
'Pad, how is everything? How are your studies prevailing? How was the dance? Any interesting new students? I'm sure you will have lots to tell me once I get back. And when that happens, I'm going to treat you to some of the most delicious Czech desserts I learned while home!
I can't wait to see you! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Forever yours,
Yulia
P.S: You're probably wondering how this letter got mailed without a stamp. In fact, if you take the moment to turn around, you'll learn the answer to this funny little mystery.
November squinted and scrunched up her nose before spinning around in her seat. The air before her shifted and swayed, colors appeared. Then line. Then form. Then Moth. She was looking down at her, her pearly whites exposed to the fullest. November jumped to her feet and swung her arms around Moth's neck, embracing her snuggly, "Yulia! Oh my God, when did you get here!" Moth, noticably taller, peered into November's malachite orbs, "I got here earlier today and dropped off the letter while you were all in class. Cricket was in your dormitory by the time I got here. I told her I was planning on surprsing you, she was a good sport about it!"
November beamed and gave her friend another squeeze. Caught off guard by her unusual tenderness, Moth's eyes went wide for a second before easing into the nuzzle. She closed her eyes and held onto November's slender anatomy. She felt a murmured rumble emanating from the girl's chest and before she could stop to ask she was violently shoved back.
November's arms were bent straight out before her, her face gnarled. Moth eyed her cautiously, "Pad, what's...what's wrong?" November's shoulders convulsed in a wild chortle, "You fucking bitch. You God damned fucking bitch. You think, you honestly think, you can come out of nowhere and everything is going to be alright? You fucking tell me at the last minute that you have to head home, you don't even bother to call and then you write me ONCE, and you have the gall to show up in my room? And the dance! You blew me off, you did it on purpose didn't you? You," November broke into tears, "...you didn't even stop to think about what others would say? I looked like an idiot that night, thanks to you, Yulia. Putain! Je ne peux pas croire ceci! Sortez de ma pièce, putain..." She swung her arms down and repetitively shook her head sniveling, "You bitch...you fucking bitch..."
Moth, dumfounded, tried to gather up the right words. Hushed, she tried to sound comforting and sincere, "Pad, please. I am sorry, my mother is deathly ill. It was short notice for me as well, I couldn't just let Tati suffer with that burden alone. I didn't even know you wanted to attend the ball with me, Pad, I wish I knew. I really wish--" November howled, slamming Moth out the door and into the hallway; Moth crashed into the wooden banister outside the girls' room, "SORTEZ!"
Kali came into view through the doorway. She was clutching a stack of textbooks securely to her chest when she stopped at her tracks before the commotion going on in her room and now out in the hallway. She looked at Moth, who was laboring to her feet, and then she darted her panic-stricken eyes over to November. She dropped her books and sprinted down the staircase and out the door leading to the outside of the building.
"Dearest Yulia, I suggest you stay the hell out of my way from now on." She strolled past Moth, who sat with a look of utter bewilderment on her face, and descended the stairs before disappearing through the doorway that led to the school's courtyard.
Moth gathered to her feet finally and rubbed the small of her back as through a window she watched November's form march across the field.
