Reemegence of My old self?

CASSADREI'S POV

Beautiful, beautiful morning this is! The weather is wonderful, flowers are in full bloom and there's mirth in the air as Spring has arrived without much notice. I can feel the certain joy and the leap in my feet as the full force of my powers are returning to me gradually. The sessions with Michael are really helping. 

If you'd told me, a month ago, that I would have to be friends with Michael Dumas, it would certainly seem like an impossible idea. Now, I think it's probable….he may not be that unbearable after all. 

That afternoon, after I had saved them from Cookie's attack, Michael was nothing but extremely rude towards me. I didn't understand why, given I had just saved his life. He is just grumpy, I told myself then. Turns out, he doesn't approve of my decision of keeping Cookie...he isn't much of an animal enthusiast, I'd say, but this upright refusal to be kind towards Cookie made me very distraught. I mean, I know that Cookie is a Petrywinkler, and obviously they are terrible creatures, but all could be overcome with a touch of love and warmth, right?

I cringed at my very thought. Several years ago, I was the proponent of this "love can win all" theory, but life has taught me enough lessons to believe otherwise. I had not been born a skeptic, like Linda thinks, I have been made into one. It disarmed me as I realised that with the return of my powers, I might be returning back to my original self. Raw, vulnerable, emotional and an idiot. I couldn't let that happen. 

"Can we walk faster? I smell Chocolate chip muffins!" Cookie said excitedly. 

Ever since he had set foot in this Human World, Cookie has been overpowered by his desire to consume everything with chocolate in it. Linda feeding him his first Chocolate chip Cookie had marked his downfall. He's now a voracious little eater, getting fluffier by the day as he indulged in all sorts of Chocolate dishes specially procured by Linda from all sorts of exotic sources. Yet his hunger is insatiable. 

I paced up, reaching the dilapidated apartment that lodged Michael and Jacob. It was just round the corner from the University, hardly a mile away. By the look of it, it was an old building, modified to serve as a dormitory of sorts used as a rental for University folks. A lot of my classmates lived here, and I had frequented it almost daily in the last month, raising a lot of eyebrows. People talked about Michael and me, I know….even though Linda tried her best to contain the rumours. Everything can't be bought with money though, and people's quenchless desire for gossip is one such thing. 

I didn't mind though, as a Crown Princess I had been taught time and again, that there will always be rumours. You need to keep your calm in the face of everything that's being said and right now, my powers are important to me. I need Michael's assistance even though it would be fueling the foul mouths. 

Even from this far apart, I heard loud sounds coming from their apartment, apparently they were quarrelling. I was surprised, Jake and Michael almost never quarreled, and I can't imagine Jake ever wanting a dispute with anyone, least of all his best friend. I wondered if I should be here.

"I am telling you for the last time that it's none of your business!" Jake shouted. 

"Ohh! Suddenly we are playing business are we? How about you mind your own and don't go poking your nose into my business every chance you get! Now that I am asking you why you are behaving so strangely, you suddenly get defensive?? And I have to put up with you all the time and not get angry! You get on my nerves all the time, and I curse the very day I met you! Uggghhhh!" Michael screamed in frustration. 

Suddenly, there was slamming of a door and Jake emerged, enraged and flustered. I had never seen him like this before.

"Oh hello Cassie!" Jake started, "Sorry for all this. Tell Michael that he should learn a little more manners!" 

He departed abruptly without trying to explain further. For once, he didn't stop for much chitter-chatter. Something's definitely wrong with him. 

I entered the room and saw Michael pacing across the room furiously. His eyebrows were furrowed in frustration and as he saw me, they wrinkled further. 

"Oh you again!" He murmured.

I must admit, I felt a little hurt. I had thought that he enjoyed my company. Nevertheless, swallowing my pride, I said, "I need to practice levitation."

Beside me, Cookie jumped violently and chirped, "I can do levitation, see!"

Before I could stop him, he had made everything in the room float in mid-air including Michael who kicked his feet angrily. 

"Put me down you god-forsaken creature!!" He shouted. 

"Hey!" I started, "don't call him that! You might hurt his feelings!"

"As if he has one!" Michael retorted. 

Ignoring him, I turned to Cookie and said, "Put it all down. He's not enjoying it."

"But..but I thought people enjoyed flying!" Cookie protested. 

"Yes, but not Mortal people." I pointed out. 

With a grunt, Cookie allowed Michael and all his belongings to descend. Michael cleaned the sweat off his brows and looked at Cookie with a mixture of disgust and apprehension. 

"Why did you bring it here?" Michael spat. 

"He's my pet now. Don't fear it Michael, he won't hurt you." I assured him.

He didn't look too convinced. 

"I think you should improve your manners Michael, lest you want to find yourself lonely for the rest of your life." I pointed out. 

Michael was dumbfounded. "Why would you say so?" He replied. 

"I heard the shouting match you were having with Jake. You were pretty rude to him as always." I said. 

"Oh so did you only hear my side of it? Were your ears deaf to his screaming? He was rude too!" Michael protested. 

"I am saying in general. You are always way too rude with Jake. You always cross a line when he only means good. Jake really considers you as his good friend. You shouldn't go out of your way to make him feel terrible!" I replied crossly. 

"I can say the same about you and Linda." Michael replied. 

"Don't you compare yourself to me!" I shot back, " I am never rude to Linda. I don't like talking much so I keep quiet, but you are overly rude to your only friend! You should atleast be grateful for his presence in your life!"

My sudden anger seemed to have caught Michael by surprise. He blinked for a few moments, then grinned and said, "Guess you are right. I didn't mean to actually. Jake is behaving so strangely this week. Now that Easter breaks are coming, he is suddenly so touchy about everything. He got up early some days back, and went jogging! Can you believe that Jacob Brooks went jogging at 5:00 in the morning? He is suddenly so quiet, he's grumpy, he eats less and replies curtly. I guess moody Jake is worse than the boisterous one."

I smiled nervously. 

"Maybe Linda's not a good influence on him after all. Or, are we two getting on his nerves?"

We both burst out laughing at that.