No sooner did Tanner help me into the cabin from the training grounds, I hear what I know is coming.

"Tallulah James, what did I tell you?" Grandma shouts.

"Not to push myself," I mumble looking at the ground.

"You're on your own," Tanner whispers in my ear before turning.

"Oh no you don't. You stay right there Tanner Orson. We need to figure what is going on. Bloody hell, Tallulah is going to cause herself to burn out completely if we don't figure this out."

"Yes, Grandma Miriam," Tanner says before we follow her to the living room, which is suspiciously empty.

We go to sit down, but I'm jolted by Grandma's next question.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?"

"Um... uh..." is all that will come out as I finish sitting down.

"Keep it up and that's exactly what you'll do to yourself. No need for the rebellion to kill you, you could make their job easier."

My eyebrows furrow.

"Okay. Let's go over this again. When learning to use magic, you have to learn to take and use energy from other sources. You can't use only the energy you have within your body. If you do that, you can eventually drain yourself so badly that you can die."

A lump gets stuck in my throat. I open my mouth but no sound comes out. My swallow doesn't relieve my drying throat.

Grandma sinks into the chair next to the couch, and she takes my hands in hers. "There is still so much for you to learn. I know you are excited, but you have to have patience."

"There's still too much to learn," I grumble. "We won't learn enough before we have to face the rebellion if we don't push."

She shakes her head. "We need to be focused and diligent but not impatient and angry. Uncontrolled emotions can lead to your downfall if you're not careful."

"But ... but ..." I start.

She pats my knee. "Earth to Tanner," she calls out.

I look over at the pinkened cheeks of Tanner.

"Sorry. I've got a lot on my mind also," he says.

"Hopeful about how to help your cousin. Everyone is needed and important on this team."

I scoff.

"That's enough!"

My mouth falls open at Grandma's tone.

"Tallulah James, we've had this conversation. You can't judge someone if you don't know their story."

"I can't know their story if they don't talk about it." I smart off.

A loud exhale is heard from her. "You have a lot to learn love. You don't have to know a person's story to sympathize with them."

"I know." I sigh in defeat. "He just makes it so hard."

"Tanner, can you try and find out what's going on with Hunter."

"Sure." I hear from my left before movement alerts me he's getting up.

"I'll talk to you both later," Tanner says before footsteps are heard.

Grandma places a hand on mine, and I look up at her.

"Go back to your room. Relax. Figure out what's bothering you before it's too late."

Silence follows after she leaves the room, and at this moment, I don't think I want several pairs of eyes on me. I take this chance to escape to my room.

Shadows are cast on the wall as the day moves into the late afternoon. We have the afternoon off, so I decide to write some since there hasn't been much time for that. Maybe I can get some of what's bothering me down on paper.

Hmm. A poem? A short story?

My journal falls to the floor when a loud bang from Mick's room startles me. I jump off the bed and rush to her door.

"Are you okay, Mick?" I yell through the door.

I'm concerned about Mick when she doesn't answer immediately. My hand reaches for the doorknob, but my action stops when Mick calls out, "I'll be fine. I'll see ya later."

She doesn't sound fine, but it wouldn't be good to push for an answer either.

I head back to my room to resume my writing. No sooner did I shut my door than the cabin shakes. When I open the door to investigate, Estel is coming over the top step.

I open my mouth to ask questions, but I'm interrupted before one word leaves my lips.

"I think I know what's causing this. Please go downstairs and assure everyone that there isn't an earthquake, and things should settle momentarily." Estel asks in a calm voice.

How is she so calm?

I nod, retrieve my journal and head down.

Ande is the first one to approach me, but before she gets to me, the cabin shakes again. She stops, and her eyes widen.

"Estel says it isn't an earthquake, and it should settle soon," I say loud enough for everyone in the room to hear me. Please let that be enough to stop the questions flying at me.

I walk into the living room and find a space looking out at the forest. I muse for a minute, then open my journal. My pen comes up when my forward momentum is stopped by an elephant rushing across the room.

"You will not believe what I have discovered," Tanner says.

I don't think this poem is going to get finished today.

My eyebrow arches. "There's life on Mars."

"Funny. No, I think Hunter is jealous of you and several others here he feels like had a better life than him."

"I will admit I had a good life compared to most, but was his life that much worse?" I ask, confused by the idea.

Tanner sighs. "I won't talk about the details, but basically, yes. He had a very difficult time starting about at the age of ten."

"Well, I want to feel bad for him, but he makes that hard."

"There is something I'm sure you haven't noticed." Tanner grins.

What could be that amusing about this situation?

When Tanner says nothing more, I say, "Oh, please enlighten me Mr. Brains."

"Hunter watches you wherever you go."

I frown. What's he talking about?

Tanner chuckles. "Don't overheat over there. When he thinks no one is watching, he follows you with his eyes, almost like he is observing you and seeing what you would do next."

"And why would he do that?"

"Cazzo! Those bullies really did a number on you. You have a lot of really good qualities a guy would like. No. No. Don't say a word about your experience in high school."

"But..."

"I will not hear any of that negative self talk from you. I think I need to make it my mission to help you build yourself up. You have things inside you've not even tapped into yet because those dumbasses made you believe you weren't good enough. You are good enough, and one day, you will prove that to yourself."

I pat his arm. "If you say so."

He just smiles and shakes his head.

After Tanner's big reveal, I go outside for some fresh air. Since we are able to use our cellphones here, I decide to try and call Danny again. The phone rings and rings until the familiar message starts.

"This is Danny's phone. I'm out on my next big adventure. Leave a message, and I might call you back when I'm free."

Beep. beep.

"Hey, it's just me trying to check in. I hope everything is okay with you. Mom says that you're just busy, but I still worry. Let me know you're alive."

I try and sound cheery and not desperate. I miss talking with him. Hell, I just miss him period. I didn't think being away from him would bother me this bad. I don't miss my brother and sister this much.

Taking a deep breath, I push the hurt aside and walk back to the cabin to get ready for Mick's party. I refuse to allow these events to spoil a good time with the people I'm already bonding with here.

Going back upstairs, I decide to change into a pair of cut off shorts and a dark green top. I pull my hair back and almost run into Mick as I'm coming out the door.

I look over cautiously, but Mick has a smile on her face.

"I see your feeling better," I say.

"Ya just had a few thin's I had ta work out. Estel helped and now she insists I come down for the party."

I chuckle. "Well, it is a party for you."

"Just another birthday. No big deal." She shrugs.

"Of course it is!" I say as I grab her hand and try to drag her down the stairs. She is being merciful on me and following without argument.

The kitchen is bustling, and we go over to help.

"Can I help?" I ask no one in particular, since Grandma and Mia have their backs turn to me.

"No, honigbienli Take the birthday girl outside."

I turn to where Mick was and now she is trying to sneak off.

"No you don't," I tell her and grab her hand to pull her outside to the deck.

EJ is standing at the grill when Grandma brings out the tray of burgers and then her and Mia bring out the rest of the food. I see Estel in the distance getting Tanner and Jonah to gather something. From here it looks like maybe sticks. I look down at the fire pit, but it seems to have enough woods.

I turn to EJ. "What is Estel doing with Tanner and Jonah in the woods? It looks like we have enough to keep a fire going for a week."

"Those two," he starts pointing the spatula in the direction of where Tanner and Jonah are. He brings the spatula down to flip some of the burgers. "Those two were causing problems already. I hadn't even started the grill and those two were playing pranks." He shakes his head looking out.

I walk closer to EJ. "Isn't that something that is needed? I mean, I did cause a little bit of drama today."

I hear giggling to my left, but before I could turn, a hearty laugh startles me.

After a few attempts, EJ finally manages to say, "You can say that again."

I huff. "I'd rather not."

However, when I look over at everyone else's faces, I can't help but join in.

At least there is something positive from what happened this morning.

The afternoon passes into evening with everyone finishing dinner and hanging out around the cabin.

We all hang out around the fire, and I'm halfway enjoying the banter between Tanner and Jonah about whose abilities are the coolest. My mind keeps drifting back to a certain someone in Applewine. I wish it didn't bother me so much that Danny isn't talking to me. I wish he was here training with me. Maybe that would help whatever this feeling is inside.

Someone's hand waving in front of my face pulls me out of wherever I was.

"You still on planet Earth?" Tanner smiles.

"No, I found life on Mars."

He pulls me to my feet and wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Can you introduce me to some interesting Martians?"

"Ya. Marvin will be first." I chuckle.

"He's my favorite anyway. Let's go see what the Elders have planned for Mick."

We get up to the deck just as Mick is being pushed out the door. A cookie cake sits on the table with a few presents. We sing "Happy Birthday" to a red-faced Mick and enjoy the rest of the evening.

I wish she had lived near me when we were growing up. I wish she didn't have to live on the streets all those years. I wish ... hell, a wish is wasted when it is a wish for something from the past to have happened differently. I better save my wishes for the present.

__________________________________

[A/N]

Cazzo! - F*ck! (Italian)

When you need a way to show any frustration you might be having with Italian buses, the length of your spaghetti, or finding the right direction back to your hotel in Venice, this might be the right one to use. Think about using some super expressive hand motions for the right effect. [