Checking the microwave clock, it reads 5:47. It would be a good while before either one of my parents would be home.

    Heading to my room, I can't help but feel worn out from the day- it has been an emotional roller coaster to say the least. From starting out good to cheering up Clifford to feeling nervous due to Mrs. Sherman's curiosity to the painfully stale discussion about yogurt with Ruthford. Not to mention that I ran after Clifford this morning and my body just never recovered.

   I mustn't be the only worn out soul. Xalale is already in the room and laid out on the mattress, just observing the ceiling (I don't know what's so interesting about my ceiling).

   Crawling on my bed, I rest my head on my pillow, letting out a blissful sigh.

  "Today feels like it has gone on for ages." I groan, closing my eyes.

   I'm not really talking to anyone in particular and I don't expect Xalale to reply. We just lie in silence for a while before I speak up again.

   Craning my neck to look down, I say, "We should really go outside and practice your powers before my parents get home."

   "Hm."

   Don't know how to take that, so I continue, pausing to let out a yawn.

   "We can do it after I rest a bit- I'm kinda tired. I'll wake up in like thirty minutes."

   "Fine."

   I watch him stretch out and turn to a new position, his back to me, before I myself shift and lie on my side facing the window.

   I don't even need a blanket on me to start drifting into a comfortable sleep. My body is tired and drained of energy- it needs to refuel. Especially if I'm going to be helping Xalale deal with his darkness- that in of itself is always a work-out (specifically for my patience).

   My eyelids become heavier and heavier. Sleep is finally waning over me and as I rest my head on my pillow, I stare out at the window. The blinds are down but not closed, so amble rays of light still shine in.

   Memorized by the light, I let each new thought drive me deeper into sleep. My eyes follow the light onto my nightstand, lazily. I keep it closer to the window so whenever my alarm goes off for school I have to actually get up and turn it off.

   "Thank God I have the weekend to myself," I smile at that pleasant thought. "I might just have to sleep in for a change. I mean, it is the summer."

   With my eyes seconds from closing- and not opening up for a long time- they roam the contents of the nightstand. It brings back pleasant childhood memories. The purple, plastic hairbrush I snapped in two but loved too much to throw away.

  "So...sentimental I am..." Thoughts begin fading like a flickering candle.

  My wind-up alarm clock.

  "So pesky now...used to love it when I was younger...younger when I- I found it...where?" My thoughts now slip like butter from my mind. "A thrift store, maybe...yeah."

  A small, transparent stone no bigger than my big toe. "At least when I was little...it's smaller now." Chipped but smooth. "...like that when I found it in the river..."

   Finally, my eyes flutter close in defeat of sleep and I rest my mind and body, ready to dream.

    "Smooth, chipped- flawed...clear stone..."

   Even though my mind is quickly shutting down, it's still functioning enough for my mind to catch up with my eyes.

   My eyes shoot open so fast I experience vertigo for a moment. The words unable to audibly leave my mouth, feel logged in my throat as I stare at the stone on my nightstand.

   Impossible. It has to be.

   Familiar words bounce into my head to shut down the impossible allegations.

   "...glistening in the sun on wood- white, peach colored wood...transparent...but smaller and- and I can't be sure, but it appeared flawed."

   It's a bizarre feeling to have a sinking yet excited sensation spreading through your chest to the rest of you like a ripple effect.

   Sitting up, I now stare in deep concentration at the stone just to verify what it is I'm actually seeing. The transparent, small, flawed stone that's chipped sparkling in the sun on my white wooden nightstand.

   Finally, the words that were once lost now spring out.

   "That's what she's been looking for!"

    Xalale apparently wasn't too deep into sleep yet and my sudden outburst immediately jolts him from his light sleep.

   "What are you doing?" He hisses, glaring up at me.

   Ignoring his apparent irritation, I practically tumble out of bed, scurrying over to the nightstand where I pick up the stone and stare at it with amazement.

   "Oh my gosh."

   Now Xalale sits up, still glaring at me.

   I turn and hold out the stone for him to see, but his darkened face doesn't change.

   "What are you going on about?"

   "Oh right, he wasn't there..."

   "This,"- I point to the stone- "Is what Aelita has been searching for- this is the missing, crucial piece that she needs."

   His irritated expression deepens at the mere mention of her. He's still not understanding the importance of this discovering.

   "Why is that exciting?"

   My mind is now a flurry of endless thoughts and questions. I sit on the edge of my bed wracking through my mind.

   "Why does she need this final piece? What's her endgame? What's so special about this stones? Do they have to be combined to make something? Why is it here on this world when the other pieces are back on Edalirwen?"

   Xalale has now moved from irritated to frustrated. He gets up and stands over me, clearly not understanding any of this- which is what frustrates him.

   "Mallory. What are you going on about?"

   Looking up at him, I take a quick breath.

   "Okay, just listen."

   He waits expectantly and I continue.

   "I told you when I was knocked out yesterday that I had this weird experience where I was back in Edalirwen in the throne room. While I was there, Aelita made Sephora search for something using her powers or some sort and she described where this stone was, but she didn't know the full place. Aelita needs this piece for something she's planning. She has all the other pieces which look like this one expect bigger. I think she needs all the pieces for whatever she wants to work."

   Now I wait for his response.

   His facial expressions never reveal much about what he's thinking until he actually speaks and his tone tells it all.

   "What would she possibly need that for?"

   "I don't know yet, but it doesn't give me a good feeling."

   He glances up at the ceiling before staring back at me.

   "Where did you find that?"

    I have to think on that for a moment.

   "I was really young- I don't remember how young. I found it in or near a stream and thought it looked pretty. My mom said it might give me good luck so I've kept it ever since."

    "Hm."

    I can't stop inspecting it. It's just too bizarre. The thing needed to complete Aelita's plan was right under my nose the entire time; it has been even before she formulated her plan.

    "May I?"

    Coming out of my thoughts, I glance up and hand him the stone. He analyzes it with the same unreadable expression.

   "You said she doesn't know its exact whereabouts?" He asks, still turning the stone over in his hand.

   "Not that I know of. I mean, I really don't see how she could get to it since it's here."

   "Anything she wants, she gets, no matter how impossible it may be."

   He hands me back the stone and I stare at it for another moment before setting it back on the nightstand.

   "We need to find out her plan," I say.

   "Agreed, but that's a difficult task considering our current position. What about your visions?"

   "I don't control when I have them- Sephora does. Besides, even she doesn't know Aelita's plans fully."

    There aren't very many options available to us at this point so it's hard coming up with a reasonable game plan.

   "I think our top priority is still getting you back to Edalirwen," I speak up again.

   "How do we do that without magic or a portal?"

    That stumps me for a second. "I mean, I can ask Sephora for suggestions the next time she summons me, but..."

   "What?"

    I perk up a little. "We have magic here."

   "What are you getting at?" He narrows his eyes at me.

   Sitting up straighter, the gears in my head begin to turn.

   "There's magic here on Earth. It's not like your kind of magic, but it's still magical. I mean, if my world was completely devoid of magic then you wouldn't have yours."

   "Debatable."

   I stand up now. "We need to go into town tomorrow."

   "Why? Explain yourself." He growls.

   "I think I know somebody who might be able to help us. He's a little strange," And the biggest prick next to Houser. "But he might have what we need."

    I'm excited now. Nervously excited. There's so much happening that it's hard to keep track, but I have to try all my options if we were to get anywhere. The two most important things were finding out Aelita's plan and getting Xalale home.

   Glancing at my alarm clock, I push my hair back and look at Xalale.

   "We should start practicing."

   "I'm not in the mood."

    I roll my eyes, already heading out the door.

   "Your enthusiasm is just too contagious," I call back. "Come on."

   I don't look back to see if he's following, but I know he will- begrudgingly. Still, there's work to be done and if there's at least one thing I want to do right is get this done and over with.

 Xalale's a little rusty to say the least. You can tell he's the kind of person that needs daily practice with this or else it's like starting over. Not like riding a bicycle at all.

   His attitude is consistent though- still the same shitty one he has every time we do this.

   Even when I coax gently, trying not to rock the boat, he becomes defensive. I let him do what he needs, when it doesn't work he becomes frustrated. When it does work, it's not how he would like it to be done and he gets bitter.

   I don't know how teachers do it- it's an uphill climb.

   But I'm patient and gentle throughout the entire ordeal, never getting flustered at him because I can kind of understand how frustrating it must be trying to control something so unpredictable.

   Today, though, is not turning out to be a successful practice. He's not limiting the amount of force he uses and it always spirals out of control.

   "I'm done."

   He finally throws in the towel and begins to storm off.

   "Xalale, come on, we weren't even out here for fifteen minutes and you're quitting."

   "This is impossible. I'm never going to conquer this. Leave it be."

    I don't get it, I really don't. He wants to control this darkness yet he won't try. It's not like he's not diligent in other things, it's just this. Then it hits me.

   "Xalale." I catch up to him and block his path. This is not received well on his part and he glares at me, wanting to get passed, but I'm not budging.

   "Stop pestering me, Mallory."

   "No," I'm firm yet still calm in tone. "I've finally figured it out. I'm finally understanding it."

   "Stop speaking in riddles." He snaps.

   "Every time we do this- every single time- you always have this sucky attitude like you don't wanna do this. And yet you tell me you want to control it- the darkness. You get angry when you don't control it right, you get angry if you do."

   He moves around me, fuming, but I stay close, not losing steam.

   "I think I've finally figured if out now. It doesn't matter if you can or can't control your ability, you hate what you can do. You're always going to be frustrated by what you can do. It doesn't matter if you had complete control over it, you're always going to be unhappy because you hate what you have."

   He's not answering me, but I already know I hit the nail on the head. The truth he told me regarding my mistakes, I'm serving back at him.

   We've reached the house and are at the door on the porch. I'm irritated myself now and before he can open the door, I pull it shut again, blocking the way off the porch.

   "I'm right aren't I?" I wait expectantly and when I receive no response I repeat myself. "I'm right about you aren't I?"

    He's pissed and not facing me, but I could care less. All I want is an admission.

   "Xalale."

    He sighs in frustration, still not face me.

   "What do you want me to say, Mallory? You're right? Fine, you're right, now leave it be."

   "No, I want you to be honest."

   He's stubborn, he really is. We stand on the porch for what feels like the longest time. His back to me and me waiting for him to say something.

   It's almost a test to see who's the biggest hardhead. But today, I'm fed up and I'm not budging. My parents could be pulling up and I don't care, I just want to hear the truth for once.

   I'm half afraid I might crack, but finally, he speaks out first.

   "What honest truth do you want hear?" He finally faces me, anger still rolling in his eyes.

   I don't say anything, just looking back at him. He already knows what I want- the truth.

   "You think you know everything, Mallory, but you don't understand it at all."

   "Then explain it. If I don't get it, explain it."

   Looking away, he fumes for a few moments then looks back at me.

   "You won't get it even if I do explain."

   A diversion tactic. "Okay, but even if I don't, doesn't it feel nice to get it off your chest?"

   He looks away again, his jaw set and knuckles ash white.

   "Fine," I begin, calmly. "We'll start simple. How do you feel about having your powers? Confused, upset-"

   "Angry." He snaps, still not meeting my eyes.

   "Why?"

   A long stretch of silence.

   "Why do you feel angry about having it?" I prod.

   "It's bitter."

   "More bitter than angry?"

   He shakes his head, but answers, "Yes. It makes me feel bitter."

   "Why?" I just desperately want to know the reason behind this.

   "Because it's part of me and people don't like that part of me."

   "Who?"

   "Everyone." He snaps again, a bit harsher.

   Staring at him for a moment, I take a breath and continue on gently.

   "Sorry if I sound ignorant to the subject, but I don't understand why having powers makes you ostracized. I mean, yeah, if you had them here you would, but in Edalirwen, don't most people have abilities and magic?"

   The hostility growing in his eyes and voice were startling, but I don't back down.

   "You do sound foolishly naïve. It might not have struck you while you were there, but in Edalirwen, most don't possess what I have and there's good reason for that. Darkness is a curse and a curse means you've done something that angered the Fates. If you possess light magic- the kind others admire- it means you've been blessed by the Fates. You've heard the truth, now leave me be."

   He attempts to get past me again, but I stand firm.

   "You don't actually believe it, right?"

   "Step aside."

   "I mean, then what do people count as light, good magic?"

   He lets out a frustrated sigh before glowering at me.

   "People like my mother. Any control of the elements is seen as good. Anything besides the darkness."

   "But that doesn't determine whether you're-"

   "It determines everything!" Surprisingly, Xalale's not one to yell, but he must be feeling quite defensive and upset. "That's the first thing you notice about someone is what kind of ability they possess. It determines-"

   "Nothing! It determines nothing." I don't think I've yelled in a while, but now, I felt, was an appropriate time.

    I don't know if it's because I took him by surprise or what I said, but he quiets down. He continues to fume and avoids eye contact.

    I wasn't angry or upset, I just wanted to get his attention.

   "Abilities only determine a small part of you," I say, more quietly. "The first time I met you, I didn't have the slightest clue about what you could do. I don't know about you, but the first time I meet someone, I judge them based on their character- not what they do or don't have."

     "Not that you had much seeing your character." Useless pessimistic voice.

   "Besides," I continue. "What's so wrong with a little darkness?"

   His knuckles aren't as white as before which means he's starting to cool down, but his jaw is set still and he hasn't looked at me again.

   "I mean, you need darkness to balance out the light and without the darkness, we wouldn't be able to see the stars at night."

    He's still not responding to me, but at this point, I'm all out of steam and ready to head inside.

   "Let's head in." I say, starting to reach past him for the doorknob.

   "Mallory."

    Just as I'm about to step foot into the trailer, I pause, looking back at him.

   A heartbeat of silence goes by before he continues.

   "It won't do us any good practicing in there."

    I can't really decipher his tone, but I close the front door and lean against it, arms crossed and curious to see what he does.

    He must feel me watching him and finally directs his attention to me, eyes making contact with mine.

    "What?" He asks. There's still a trace of hostility lingering in his voice and eyes.

   I shrug, leaning against the door. "I dunno if I want to do this anymore."

   "Do what?"

   "Helping someone who doesn't really want help. I don't like feeling as if I'm the only one working for something and it isn't even mine to begin with."

    Sighing, he looks away at the forest for a moment before look at me again.

   "I want your help, Mallory."

   I don't respond. Instead, I glance up at the sky. Looks like there'll be afternoon or nighttime thunderstorms judging by the ominous, thick, gray clouds gathering.

   He sighs again, lowering his voice.

   "I need your help. I'll get frustrated trying to do it on my own."

   I'm stuck between my usual, annoying, helpful self and my pessimistic, cynical self. I have to avoid eye contact by staring up at the sky as if in thought.

   "He's not even worth a second chance, or any chances you've given him," My pessimistic voice sounds tempting to cave into. "He'll just do the same thing again. Make a point this time, don't be a push-over."

    Even though I've looked away, I can still feel him staring at me.

   "I want your help, Mallory." Strangely enough, I can no longer hear the hostile edge in his voice as he speaks. "You gave me your word you would help me."

   Damn him and his perfect memory.

   I finally look at him. I can tell there's a genuine determination in his eyes. Plus, I did give him my word and if there's one thing I swear to uphold till the day I die, it's my promises.

  "Well," I uncross my arms and place my hands on my hips. "If we're going to finish, we better do so before it starts to pour."

    Even though a small part of me was protesting against this, I just couldn't turn my back on him, especially when I gave him my word that I wouldn't give up on him. Hopefully, this time around we'll be in a better place than before.

   Leading the way off the porch, I try to be positive and gather my patience. As we reach the backyard, he stops me again.

   "Thank you."

   Looking back at him, I don't immediately reply, but when I do find my voice again, I nod.

   "No problem."

   And for the first time since we've been doing this, he actually tries. There's an effort that wasn't there before and- surprisingly enough- makes me happy. We stay out there until I feel the first droplet of rain hit me, then we head inside.

   Overall, I have to say I was impressed with his improvement, but of course, I would never say that out loud.