I hated everything about this. First; I was standing in a line. Second; it was after the general school day and I was already tired. Third; Celica, despite having won our little bet, was still not happy with me.

Though it wasn't about the sign-ups for advanced placement tests.

"I can't believe you!" She was complaining. I wished Angelina was here, she would chill out then.

"I told you, it has nothing to do with you," I repeated. She'd tried this same argument with me at lunch. She could have taken the tests then, but instead she accompanied me.

"You've kept secrets from us. Us! Your fellow Dragons!"

"It wasn't keeping secrets, it was adjusting."

"Adjusting?! To what?!"

"To life here. I'm a very long way from home."

She groaned. "You're so lucky storming over to your house to demand answers is more trouble than it's worth."

"It's fine Celica. I made a promise and I'd like to think my history with those speaks for itself."

She grumbled. "Any other 'adjustments' we don't know about?"

There were but I was pretty sure saying them out loud would just make this worse. At least she wasn't yelling anymore. But that was enough of a win. "Look. Whatever Jarec told you-"

"Jarec told us everything."

"He told you whatever his perception of everything is."

"Semantics Stewart."

I sighed. Her emotions seemed to have run their course, so I decided it was time to soothe my angry Towermate. Or at least try to.

I took a deep breath before starting, "Look, sometimes my brain doesn't do things that make sense. Not even to me. I can't always explain it and I can't always do anything about it. Just…trust that whatever goes on, it's not a you thing or a problem I have with you."

"That makes no sense."

"I'm a Dragon, we do a lot of things that only make sense to us?" I meant it to come out more confident than that. I don't think she bought it.

"Being oblivious won't get you out of being Representative next year."

"Why do you still want that for me? You could pick anyone else."

"You opened it. You're responsible for it."

Why did every time I ask that question the response got worse? "You just don't want to deal with it."

"I don't. And you've yet to sell me on the idea."

"I'm terrible at this job," I told her.

"Are you terrible or is the job terrible?"

"Both!"

She was laughing. Gods my friends were awful. "I'm almost going to miss you in December."

Almost? Rude. "I have a mirror."

"You do? And it works without exploding on you?"

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"So far it's worked without injuring myself."

"Your curse is so weird."

"It's particular."

"That's not better."

I shrugged, "I think I've figured out what makes it explode and what's safe."

"You stabbed yourself with your Focus, I don't know if I trust your judgement on safety."

I gasped. "Rude!"

"Also right."

"What was I supposed to do?"

"Not stab yourself to cast a spell way out of your league."

I think I was starting to understand all of Mom's comments about Krakens being judgy. And Celica wasn't even really a Kraken! She was like…half a Kraken.

"I never said it was a good idea."

She sighed. Like I was the problem here.

"You're the one who thinks I should be on the council."

"No. The others voted for you too."

"You volunteered me then."

"Yeah because you weren't going to do it yourself."

"For a reason."

"You say that, but I've yet to see it. You're doing fine. When you're not being a secretive little shit."

"I don't do it on purpose! And I'm getting better!"

"Better at hiding it or better at keeping secrets?"

"Better at sharing things."

She didn't look convinced, she looked skeptical and a little annoyed. But then she sighed. Again.

"I'm trying here."

"You are," she acknowledged. "More practice though."

"I'll try."

"If you don't, we will continue to have this conversation."

"I would very much like to avoid that."

"Glad we've come to an understanding."

I was saved more grilling from Celica by the line around us finally moving. Test time.

(*********)

Finally, it was over. Both of the damned things were done with. I was very glad I missed out on these last time. The death spider attack was actually good for something. Unfortunately no amount of arachnids were going to save me from Celica.

"Are you still mad at me?" I asked cautiously as we made our way back to Dragon Tower.

"That depends."

"Celica please. I know you want something from me, but if you don't just tell me what you want I can't figure it out." I stopped walking as I tried to plead with her.

She stopped too. Several feet away and just in front of the round door of Dragon Tower.

"Look. I've tried to explain this, but I'm not good at," I gestured between us as words failed me, "this. People. Dealing with…"

Celica looked at me, she wasn't glaring so maybe I'd gotten through to her. But there was a look in her eyes I'd hadn't been expecting. It seemed almost…sad maybe disappointed?

"How real are you?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"How much of you is the Real Serafina?"

"I…I don't know."

"How do you not know?"

"Because I've never…I don't…I can't…" Where were words when I needed them? "I've never been able to be…"

Breathe. Breathe Serafina.

"I've always had to hide something. My entire life there has always been a lie. I don't know how to tell the whole truth now. But I'm trying to learn. I'm focusing my efforts on things I think have more impact on those around me." I finally explained as we both stood there in the hall outside the door.

There it was.

Celica leaned back on the door. An action that probably wasn't a smart idea and definitely not something she could get away with in any other Tower.

"I'm not annoyed at you," Celica finally said. "I don't know how I feel though. Father thinks it's why I get angry."

"I'm sorry?"

"Don't apologize after I just said I'm not upset at you. That doesn't help and I'm not entirely sure you aren't just trying to get out of this conversation."

Oof.

She reached up and pulled on one of her braids. It came undone and fell in tight curly waves for a moment before a small amount of purple light made it instantly straighten. Her right ear was now visible. In all its pointy elfish glory.

"Angelina thinks my ears are cute," Ceclia said. Like that was a sequitur.

"Okay….?"

She sighed. A third time. I might be trying her patience. "You've never reacted to them."

"They're just ears?"

"It's just an outfit," she countered. "But it tells everyone what they need to know. You, me, us, we're not like them. We're like us. And if we can't be ourselves around each other…then what's the point of having a Tower in the first place?"

"I never realized this meant so much to you."

"I never thought it would either. But then you went and opened the door."

"I still don't think I'm that special for that."

"Special or not, it's still the truth."

"You keep talking like it's special."

"Well it's derailed my entire social life, so yeah? Kind of a big deal Serafina."

"I meant…you all talk about it like it couldn't have just as easily been any of you."

"We'll never know."

She was right.

"Maybe. But…regardless of specifics….I'm glad I did."

She smiled. "Now you're getting it."

"Maybe? I just…I'm glad it's you guys I'm stuck with. I don't think I could have handled more time among humans. And I think any of the other Towers would have meant even more hiding."

"Even Pixie?"

"I was a terrible Pixie. They kept talking about making a real Pixie out of me. Shoving me into a mold I wouldn't have fit. I'd have been miserable. So I'm glad you all are here. And yes, you can share that in the group chat."

Celica rolled her eyes, "Tell them yourself." Then she pushed off the door and turned around. "Open Sesame."

And like always, the door to Dragon Tower swung open on its own.

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