Chapter 1
Friday
“Callum!” Ezran shouts, opening the door to his room. Callum removes his headphones and looks at Ezran.
“Dad has a lot of work today. He can’t come with me to the parent-teacher conference. I need you to come.”
Callum gives him an annoyed look and says, “But I’m not your parent. I’m your sibling.” He puts his headphones back on.
Ezran comes near Callum, takes off his headphones and says, “But someone has to come with me! I can’t go alone!”
“But-”
Ezran cuts him off. “No buts. You’re coming. Dad told you to. You have to hear the feedback my teachers give me and tell that to dad.”
“Fine!”
— — —
“Pull over here.”
Callum stops the car near Ezran’s school main gate. He parks it there and gets down.
“So how many teachers do I have to meet?” Callum asks.
“My english teacher, my biology teacher, maths, chemistry, physics-”
“Alright, alright. A lot. I get it.”
They enter one of the classrooms. He looks at the teacher who was human, seemingly in his 30’s.
“Which subject does he teach?” Callum asks.
“Science.”
Callum sits at the chair in front of the teacher’s desk and they have a chat about Ezran’s academics. The teacher told Callum that Ez is a bit talkative sometimes but other than that he’s fine. After 15 minutes of talking to the teacher, they make their way into the next classroom.
This time, he sees a moonshadow elf who surprisingly looked like she was his age. She was standing next to a shelf going through some files which looked like the students’ report cards. She was wearing a light pink cotton T-shirt and tight fit blue jeans. She had long purplish-blue horns, silver shiny hair tied into a messy bun and markings underneath each of her eyes.
“Damn, she’s hot,” he thought to himself.
“What did you just call my teacher?” Ezran asked, raising his eyebrow.
Did he read Callum’s thoughts? Or did Callum say it out loud?
“I- Uh… did I say that out loud?”
“You whispered it.” He pauses for a few moments and says, “She’s my English teacher and my most favorite teacher. She’s the youngest in the whole school. So don’t do anything weird.”
Callum rolls his eyes and takes the seat in front of her desk. She doesn’t seem to notice them so Ezran calls her.
“Ms. Ghealach!”
She turns around and her tensed face immediately forms into a smile.
“Hello, Ezran!” She says, in a thick accent. She faces Callum and says, “Hello.” a bit quieter.
She was breathtaking…
“Uh, hello.” Callum says, shyly.
“This is my brother, Callum.” Ezran says to her.
She looks at Callum again and smiles.
“So… about Ezran. He’s amazing. My favorite student actually. He’s disciplined, completes his assignments on time, comes to class in time, pays good attention in class and always scores high.” she says, smiling widely at Ezran.
“Wow… that’s a lot of compliments.” Callum says with wide eyes.
“Well, he deserves them. So far, I don’t even have one complaint on him.”
“That’s good. He also said you were his favorite teacher.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.” she says softly.
Callum couldn’t take his eyes off her. How was she so pretty? Are all moonshadow elves like that?
She catches Callum staring at her and raises an eyebrow. Ezran grimaces and nudges Callum with his shoulder which makes him snap out of whatever he was thinking.
“Um, sorry.”
“That’s… alright.” She pauses for a few moments and says, “Anyways, do you have anything you want to tell me or ask me regarding Ezran?”
“Um, no. That’s all.” He says with a nervous smile.
“Alright then.” She reaches for her bag and takes a chocolate out and gives it to Ezran. “Here you go.” she says, with a wide smile.
Ezran takes the chocolate, thanks her and starts eating it.
“Oh wow, did you bring that chocolate specially for Ez or…” Callum asks.
“Oh, no.” Chuckling, she says, “I brought one for every student. I like to see them happy whether my feedback on them was good or bad.”
Callum smiles at her.
“Do you want one too?” She asks, smiling.
“Um…” He hesitates. He’s not a child. Why was she offering one to him?
“There’s no shame in it. I munch on chocolates all day. Sometimes I wonder how I’m still alive.”
Callum lets out a small chuckle and takes the chocolate she offered.
No wonder Ez likes her so much. She’s not only really pretty, but super kind and funny.
“Although I shouldn’t be saying that in front of my student but Ez is good he won’t tell anybody.”
Ezran nods.
“The secret’s between us.” She says, winking.
“Yep.” Ezran replies.
“Alright then. We’re done.” She says, getting up.
They were done already? Callum wanted to spend more time talking to her. Although it’s weird to like her that much without even spending at least a day with her.
They get up and leave.
— — —
They return home and Callum goes back to his computer. He puts his headphones on to listen to music and continues working on his graphic design project. Although, Ms. Ghealach, whatever her first name was, flooded his thoughts. He takes off his headphones, gets up and approaches Ezran who was watching TV.
“Ez, I have a question.”
Ezran turns to him and nods.
“What’s your English teacher’s first name?”
“Why do you want to know?” He asks, raising his eyebrow.
“Just curious.”
“Really? Out of all the teachers we met, why do you want her first name?”
“Are you going to tell me or not?”
“Get me some cola from the fridge and I’ll tell you.”
“But why should I-”
“If you want me to tell you her first name, get me some cola.”
“Fine!” He says, annoyed.
He brings the cola and gives it to him.
“Now tell me.”
“Rayla. Rayla Ghealach.”
“Rayla.” He repeats to himself and leaves to his room.
So her name was Rayla.
He reaches for his phone, opens instagram and goes to Ezran’s profile. He clicks on who he’s following and to his surprise, finds Rayla’s profile. Her insta had only a few posts. Most of them were with two other male moonshadow elves who Callum assumed were somehow related to her. He didn’t press the follow button just yet because he thought it would be creepy. She already caught him staring at her awkwardly and following her without even knowing her for a day would have been weird. He locks his phone, tries to take her thoughts of his mind and continues with his project.