Let's be friends (nano challenge #4) on Magical Arts Room and Sports

Abigail De La Garza and Chuck Fintoc

December 03, 2015 10:45 AM

Let's be friends (nano challenge #4) by Abigail De La Garza and Chuck Fintoc

In her first year at Sonora Academy, Abigail had thought it a good idea to join a healthy amount of the clubs on offer. Not only did a lot of them seem very fun but she’d also thought they would provide her with even more friend-making opportunities than she would otherwise find. Abby liked people and wanted as many friends as she could possibly have. However, going into her second year she wasn’t all that sure what clubs she’d attended would still be around. Some of the leaders would have graduated and she had no idea whether other students were already planning to step up and fill those empty leadership positions.

Although she had enjoyed all of her clubs last term, it was the Archery Club that she was surprisingly most concerned for. Keme Runningbear had graduated and she didn’t know anyone who was like him that could take over. Would the club disappear altogether? Abby hadn’t been certain about joining the club in the first place but once she had she’d discovered a passion for archery. She wouldn’t call herself a natural but it was still something that she really found enjoyment in, and she privately thought she’d been getting quite good for a total beginner by the end of the year. It was something she’d never before considered having a go at and it made her especially thankful for the opportunities she received from going to Sonora. Her parents knew all about the clubs she’d been a part of in her first year of school but she hadn’t told anyone just how much she loved her archery. It wasn’t that she thought they’d disapprove a great deal or that she was ashamed or anything of the sort, it just didn’t feel appropriate to share. It was her own special thing that no one had told her to do or made her think she had to do. Perhaps she was also a little worried, unfairly so, that her family would laugh at her newfound hobby or something and doubt she was any good at it. They never did think she was good at much. Her mother was a former professional dancer and whilst Abby had been dancing for years and had the perfect technique drilled into her, she’d always felt like a slight disappointment in that respect because she didn’t have the figure, the grace, the passion or the interest to be exactly the young dancing prodigy she thought Citali De La Garza wanted her to be. And then there was flying, which she enjoyed and was capable at, but she’d never cared all that much for it or taken an interest in the different models of brooms and never been a boy which was what her father had probably wanted. Even if her family did say she was good at singing, she knew she didn’t have the confidence to do much about it and even then she probably wouldn’t compare to Devonne. Abby wasn’t full of self-pity by any means but like many young girls she had her insecurities and didn’t seem to understand the quality of her attributes and how much others valued her.

Chuck had arranged to meet with his step-sister as they often did since they weren’t in the same houses and they were in different classes this year so had less chances of hanging out. She hadn’t showed which had surprised him because Emmy was normally keen to spend time with him and wasn’t in the habit of forgetting their arrangements. He wasn’t worried by her no-show, however, assuming with a knowing smile that she must have got consumed by something she was currently fixated on. Chuck decided to head to the MARS rooms first in his search for his little sister. There was an endless range of activities he could probably find her doing there.

He entered the Sports room since this seemed a likely place to find Emmy, only he found it occupied by another girl. She was Emmy’s year and he recognized her as Abigail De La Garza from the classes and clubs they’d shared last term, although he couldn’t remember ever speaking to her. Abigail was one of those people who always looked happy though and she was a Teppenpaw too so she was probably just the sort that he’d like to get to know better.

“Sorry,” he apologized for the disturbance, despite the fact that Abigail didn’t seem to notice him.

Abby whipped around in surprise at the voice of someone she hadn’t even noticed enter the room. Her focus had been so intently on the bullseye of her target which stood at a more challenging distance than she had ever tried before. It was difficult not having Keme to instruct and advise her but she thought if she kept up her practice until she felt confident and committed enough to ask her parents if they could find her a tutor for during the holidays, it would be worth it in the long run. The single word from Chuck Fintoc’s mouth had completely destroyed her concentration, however, as the arrow landed way off target.

“Sorry,” Chuck said again as he realized he’d broken the girl’s focus and caused her to miss the target completely. “Let me get that.”

Abby blushed, hating that she’d just shown herself to be a much poorer shot than she really was. “It’s fine, you don’t have to-” she began but the older boy was already pulling the arrow out of the wall and returning it to her. “Thanks,” she was embarrassed but she didn’t want that to come across as being ungrateful.

“Missing Archery Club?” smiled Chuck. He’d attended Keme Runningbear’s club last year and recalled seeing Abigail their a lot too.

Abby nodded. “I got really into it,” she admitted. “I doubt I’m all that good though.”

“I’m sure you’re doing great,” said Chuck encouragingly.

Abby pulled a face. “Didn’t you just see that?” She gestured to the point on the wall which she’d only just shot at.

Chuck gave a gentle laugh. “That was my fault. Now, you don’t happen to have another bow, do you?”

“You want to join me?” Abby raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“If you don’t mind?” Chuck didn’t want to seem like he was inviting himself, which he kind of was, but Abigail was a friendly girl so he didn’t think she would mind the company. “I rather enjoyed the club last year too. I don’t want to see all my skills go to waste.”

“Of course I don’t mind,” Abby smiled. She was actually rather glad to have company, even if she had been planning to keep her love affair with archery on the downlow. She handed him a spare bow out of the selection she thought must have been the ones Keme had used for the club. “You sound like a pro though, that’s kind of intimidating.”

“Thanks,” Chuck took the bow and picked out an arrow from the standing selection. “Don’t worry about me, I’m all talk and no action.” He set it up against the bow and drew back as he aimed for the target Abigail was using. When he released it the arrow went sailing toward the colourful rings, landing not too far from the bullseye considering how little practise he had had after only a year of learning. “Your turn.”

Abby was slightly nervous now that she had an audience, even if it was only an audience of one and Chuck was not here to judge but simply to have fun. She drew back her bowstring and took aim, her eyes flicking sideways at the tall redhead beside her briefly before focusing them back on the target. Then she let it go. At least this time she actually hit somewhere on the target but she wasn’t nearly as close to the black centre as Chuck had got. Abby bit her lip. “It’s my first time at this distance,” she told her companion, not wanting to sound as though she were making excuses but thinking that’s probably how she sounded anyway.

“You’re doing good,” Chuck reassured her. “I’m afraid I haven’t got any expert advice to give you like Keme. You want to make sure you’re properly focused though.”

Abby knew that but she thought Chuck had every reason to remind her of it. Maybe it helped because, as they continued to take it in turns to fire at the same target, Abby eventually hit the bullseye. She shared a high five with her new friend, the competitive edge he had brought out in her had filled her with more adrenaline and determination than she was used to having when she practised her sport. Having someone with her encouraged her to go the extra mile and push herself and even if he wasn’t an expert, his extra pair of eyes helped point out little things she could change to make her shots more accurate.

“Thanks Chuck,” Abby said once he eventually told her that he had to get going.

“My pleasure,” smiled Chuck easily, glad that he’d stopped by. He’d been conscious that he was supposed to have been looking for Emmy beforehand but seeing as she was the one who hadn’t turned up in the first place, he didn’t think she could really complain if she had ended up remembering. He turned to leave, hand of the doorknob.

“Hey Chuck,” Abby stopped him. He turned back to look at her and she continued, “would you like to do this again sometime? I found it really helpful having you with me...if you don’t mind?”

“Sure, I’d like that,” he replied truthfully. He’d enjoyed himself and was quite happy to do it on a regular basis if Abby found it helpful.

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