A friend who fell from the sky (Tags Charlie M)

[Emilia Minks]

It was mid morning and Emi had just finished getting ready after a lazy lie in on the Saturday morning. Looking out the window of her dorm she could see that the sky was clear and bright, only some of the leaves on the trees had started to turn to autumn shades. She knew it must feel great outside, and that it couldn’t last. Before long she’d need layer after layer of clothes just to walk outside let alone enjoy some fresh air. She decided she should take what might be her last chance at enjoying some outdoor time before winter hit. Even if she wasn't a huge fan of being outside she knew she'd miss it over the winter.

Emilia threw a light sweater on over her shirt and skirt and grabbed the new book Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier from beside her bed, where it had landed after she fell asleep reading it the night before. She threw a small blanket and a water bottle in her purse before heading out of her room.

She headed towards the pond; it was always pretty there with the koi fish and the plants that edged the water. When she got there she picked a tree to sit beside with the perfect light, not too much shade and no sun glaring in her eyes. She spread out her blanket and sat down to read, she had barely read a page before she heard something from up above her. Looking up she laughed and smiled “Oh hey, sorry, I didn’t see you there! Am I in your way?” She asked as she nervously made a move to grab her things.

[Charlie Mander]

Charlie had been hanging out this morning in one of the trees by the pond just sitting there relaxing and enjoying the fresh air. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue windbreaker jacket that was zipped up all the way with a pair of high top sneakers.

She shifted her weight on the branch and heard someone below her. Charlie smiled. “Oh it’s okay. It’s hard to see me up here” she said with a chuckle. Charlie slipped off the branch and landed perfectly on her feet on the ground next to the girl. “It’s okay you’re not in my way at all.” Charlie said.

“It’s not like you knew I would be in the tree. It’s just such a nice day and I wanted to be up closer to the sky. Last time I got yelled at for climbing on the roof of the dorms so even though the tree isn’t as high it would have to do since I don’t want to get in trouble again so soon, you know? Besides it’s too nice of a day to be stuck inside.” Charlie said. Charlie noticed the book among the girl’s things. “What are you reading?” she asked as she plopped down on the ground next to her.

[Emilia Minks]

“Wow! Nice jump.” Emilia said as she moved over to make space on the blanket for the other girl. “Here, take a seat. And sorry, I’ve seen you around, but I don’t think I know your name? I’m Emi by the way”

“It really is nice out! It looked like fun up there, and you went on top of the dorms? Wow, that must be awesome, bet you’d have a really good view of the stars up there at night…we should do it together sometime, just not get caught?” Emi wasn’t usually one for breaking the rules, but she missed feeling close to the sky at night, nothing here would compare to the northern lights back home, but it would still be fun especially with this new friend.

She moved her things to make more room for the other girl “Oh this, I just started it but it’s really good so far, it’s an adventure epic with this girl in pre-medieval Scotland with magic and love and…uh sorry…I really love books, I could go on forever.” Emi chuckled nervously, usually people thought it was weird when she went on and on about her books so she tried not to, but when you love something that much it’s hard.

[Charlie Mander]

Charlie just smiled like it was no big deal when the girl said ‘nice jump’. It really hadn’t been a big deal she had jumped from higher more dangerous place. “Yeah it’s peaceful up there and totally I’ll take you up there some time. It’s a bit of a climb but nothing I couldn’t handle I’m sure I could help ya get up there too if you’d like” Charlie said. “I’m Charlie. Or Char if you prefer since I know there are apparently quite a few Charlie’s around this school. I prefer my nickname to my real name to be honest” She said.

Charlie laughed at Emi’s enthusiasm over the book. “Oh don’t apologize it’s fine. It’s something your passionate about you should be excited to talk about it. I’m not much into reading about adventures I’m more about doing them myself. For me that thing I’m passionate about is sports and traveling. I really miss going somewhere new all the time with my dad but he still sends me postcards. Probably to make me jealous” she said with a smile. “So Emi, where you from?” she asked.

[Emilia Minks]

“Awesome, I can’t wait! And I’m sure I can get up there, I haven’t climbed anything in a while, but I’m betting I haven’t lost the ability.” Emi knew she probably didn’t look the type to have ever climbed much of anything, sitting there in a skirt reading, but the truth was that she had loved climbing trees and things she just hadn’t done much of it since leaving home.

“Nice to meet you, I think I will stick with Char, keep things simpler that way. And Emi is my nickname too, really I’m Emilia but only my family uses that very much”

Emi was nervous at first when the girl laughed, but relieved to find out that Char didn’t think she was weird for loving her books. “Yeah I see your point…but I guess for me it feels like I AM on the adventure when I read it…strange I know but all well.” Emi shrugged, she really did feel like she was in her books most of the time that she was reading, it was her little escape from reality. “Sports and traveling? Sounds exciting! Where did you travel to? And yeah postcards don’t sound nearly as good as being there, do you at least get to go with him on school breaks and things?”

Emi smiled, glad that Char seemed up for a chit chat, other than with her roommate she didn’t socialize all that much, it was nice to get to for once. “I’m from this really small town in Alaska, I grew up traveling between there and Boston a lot. What about you?”