Page 59 of Gift from the Tree

A knock sounds at the door, breaking up our emotional moment, and I turn my back so whoever’s here won’t see me crying as I close my journal back on the desk.

“Excuse me, I’m looking for Master Cato. Counselor Lapis assigned me as an archivist aid,” a sweet, feminine voice calls from the doorway.

When I turn to look, my eyes widen, and warmth spreads across my heart that makes me feel so ecstatic I can barely contain it. A stunning girl, with bright lavender hair, stands there with a satchel slung across her chest and a book in her hand.

“Ah, yes, he mentioned you would be by this morning. You must be—” Gaster starts, but I can’t contain my excitement anymore. It bursts out of me in a ramble of words.

“Your hair is so beautiful and badass. Is it natural or do you dye it? How do you get it that color? Gosh, it’s so pretty.” I’m talking and walking toward her at the same time. When she looks up at me, her striking hazel eyes widen and then we fall into a flurry of compliments.

“Look at yours, so beautiful and curly.”

“But yours is purple.”

“Yours is past your waist and mine’s short.”

Back and forth we shoot off compliment after compliment before suddenly stopping and hugging each other, sighing as we hold on to one another like long-lost friends. After a few moments, we both seem to come out of the very weird haze we were in and pull apart from one another.

“What the fuck was that?” I ask her while laughing off the awkwardness.

“Fuck, I don’t know,” she replies just as dumbfounded.

“I’m Willow,” I tell her, stretching out my hand.

“Oakly. It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry about whatever that was and for interrupting. I just wanted to drop by and introduce myself to Master Cato and confirm this afternoon is good for my orientation,” she tells me.

Oakly, such a pretty name.

“It’s okay. I have morning class with Gaster… I mean, Master Cato, I guess,” I say, feeling extremely awkward calling him that. I look over at him to give him a funny face about his name, but his expression causes me to stop.

“Gaster, are you okay?” I ask concernedly, stepping toward him. His eyes are the size of saucers and his jaw’s hanging open.

“I’m fine, Willow. Just amazed,” he mumbles out.

“Amazed about what?” I ask, still looking over him, making sure he isn’t having a stroke.

“Well, girls, the two of you—”

“Little wanderer,” Draken calls, walking through the office door, cutting Gaster off.

“Hey, you. Is it already time for the next class?” I ask, looking between him and Gaster.

“Yep. Did you give Gaster too much trouble?” he asks, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

“No trouble at all. This is my new friend, Oakly.” I point over to her, still obsessing over her, although my mind isn’t as foggy as it had been.

“Nice to meet you, new friend Oakly. Draken,” he says, giving her one of those head bobs guys do instead of offering his hand or anything.

“You too.” She chuckles at his antics.

“Come on, grab your things, little wanderer. It’ll take us a few minutes to walk to your Enchantments room,” he orders, giving me a little push to get moving.

“I have Enchantments next class as well. Can I walk with you?” Oakly asks excitedly.

“Yeah, absolutely.” I shoot her a huge smile.

Fuck yeah, look at me making a new friend already.

“See ya, Gaster,” Draken calls, walking out the door.

---