Personal Message

[Aé.]

Finally reaching the top floor of the school, Hope flung herself down the corridor toward the headmistress' office. She had just come from the gym, and still wore her work out clothes - shorts, a tank top and bare feet. Not terribly appropriate clothing to wear anywhere outside of the gym, but Hope hadn't exactly been in the mood to get changed when she left.

Hurling herself down the corridor, arms swinging, bracelets jangling, Hope's face was determined. If she'd been a lightning or fire wielder, there might well have been sparks chasing their way across her skin or through her unbound dark brown hair.

Finally reaching her destination, Hope's fisted hand banged on the door three times. It wasn't a polite rap, but it was easily recognisable a knock. If the headmistress was in, she'd surely realise that someone wanted her attention.

Unable to keep still, Hope began to pace a few steps up and down the corridor, waiting for the door to open, or a call inviting her in. Her body language spoke of the frustration she felt, but her steps were now smaller than they had been before, speaking of tight control.

[BW211]

Today had been one of her off days. Since the sun rose this morning, the fiery red head had not been able to breathe. Every time she wanted to speak, her throat was clogged up and she would have to cough up some more mucus. The head mistress hadn’t even gotten to leave her bathroom in two hours. This was way more than she could bear. Feeling light headed, the woman stumbled on her bath room floor and finally just collapsed between the skin and the tub.

It wasn’t until she heard knocking at her front door that Isabella finally awoke. Blinking several times, the woman waited another moment before attempting to get off of her lying position. Struggling, putting al her wait on the side of the tub, the red head was finally able to get to her feet. Looking in the mirror, she could tell that her life was draining from her body and the more that time went by, the more she got weaker.

Running some water in the sink, she splashed her face with hot water. After a few more splashes, she turned off the water and dried it off with a towel. At least now her deathly pale expression had some color to it. Isabella could now just pretend that she had just woken up. Remembering that the knocks to her front door had woken her up, she wrapped the tie around her waist, keeping the baby blue cotton robe from revealing anything personal to the guest.

Walking to the front door Isabella took a look at her alarm clock by the bed to see how long she was out. The red digital number read that she had been out for at least an hour. Great, she thought, practically an entire morning wasted on this disease of hers, when she could be walking about and breathing in the fresh sea air. Another few hours that had been wasted, that she could have very easily enjoyed on earth.

Taking in a deep breath, the head mistresses walked the few steps needed in order to reach her front door. When she arrived, she grasped the golden door knob, turned it, and took a step back as she had opened it. Peering out, the first thing she saw was a young teenage girl pacing in her hallway.

“Hello Hope.” Isabella greeted in a soft whisper. The woman was afraid to get too loud because she didn’t want to start another session of coughing up mucus in her bathroom.

[Aé.]

Hope whirled around to face the headmistress, making her hair flick out with the sudden movement. Her blue eyes took in the older woman's dishevelled appearance, but for all Hope's reaction she might have been wearing a ball gown, or at least her regular attire. Perhaps the girl saw everything, and perhaps she would remember it later, and perhaps not. But for the moment, she didn't appear to care in the slightest.

Raising a strong arm to shoulder level to point down the corridor through which she had just come,, her finger quivering slightly, Hope announced, "That new PE teacher is a barbarian." Looking Isabella straight in the eye, she demanded, "You've got to do something about him!"

Hope's voice, authoritative and clear, didn't waver, but the girl looked as though she'd much rather be screaming. Her mouth was a tight line, her eyes huge as she gave the headmistress a meaningful look.