Oranges

"I am going to deal with you blondie!" Maddie groaned.

"I am going to be ready for whenever it is you decide to strike," Ollie replied with a shrug.

Maddie no longer scared him, he was liberated from her intimidation. She used to intimidate him so strongly, and that was partly because he did not know her well. But now that he knew her, she was the sort of person whose bark was worst than her bite, and that was only to her friends.

To complete strangers and enemies, both her bark and her bite were terrible. However, now that he was considered a true friend, he would not allow himself be scared but, he would just prepare himself. Her violence meant that she truly cared about someone, as upside down as that sounded.

"Oh just shut up!" Maddie said. She hated that he no longer scared her. Before he would overthink severally before answering her, he would tiptoe around her as if he was walking on eggshells and suddenly all that caution seemed to be thrown into the wind and he started to be more casual than usual.

She hated it. She prided herself in being very intimidating, that way no one would dare try to walk over her.

Before Annie could intervene and tell Maddie to stop being so harsh, a knock rang on the door and they all turned except for Ollie. He snapped his fingers and the library returned to its usual state.

"Just set everything in the garden," Ollie replied.

"Alright your highness," The maid behind the door replied. She clapped her hands and instantly all the dishes, glasses and food was set on a picnic blanket in the small garden in the middle of the library.

"What is that?" Maddie asked.

"Food, because I know we are all hungry after reading and playing like children, which I do not mind," Ollie said. He walked to the garden, took off his shoes and sat on the picnic blanker.

"I agree, I am hungry," Annie said doing the same.

"I could eat," Matt said following after her.

Maddie shook her head, she did not like how they all changed the subject simply because of food.

"Maddie, come over, those apples that you love are here," Ollie waved.

As soon as Maddie heard the word apples, she came rushing over. She sat in between Annie and Matt, she pushed Matt away.

Matt looked up at her and frowned. "Why did you have to take my place?".

"You don't have a place, not until you make it known," Maddie replied with a scoff before stuffing her mouth with nicely cut apple pieces.

Matt frowned, Maddie was always mean. He was clearly sitting there before she even decided to come over, and now, she pushed him away and he would do nothing about it because he wished to be the bigger person.

Annie saw Matt frowning, she smiled and moved past Maddie and handed him a piece of orange.

"Here, I know you like your oranges peeled this way," She smiled.

Matt looked down at the orange and laughed. It was peeled and the skin was in the shape of a horse.

"That's so cool. Where did you learn how to do that?".

"Well, let's just say I've been practicing and peeling it was magic is even harder than peeling it normally," Annie said. Matt took the orange from her.

"Thank you Annie, I really like it a lot," He smiled.

"I knew you would, you're welcome," She smiled before returning to sit beside Maddie.

At least this was something nice. Maddie could sit in between them for as long as she wished if Annie was going to give him more cool peeled oranges.

"Mhmm, these apples are so delicious. I don't think I can ever go back to eating regular apples every again," Maddie groaned.

Ollie chuckled, "I know the feeling. If you like, I can send you fresh apples every week.".

"You would do that blondie?" Maddie looked at him.

"Of course I would," He smiled.

"What's the price?" Maddie narrowed her eyes.

"Being my friend," Ollie winked.

She scoffed at him, "Whatever, you better keep your promise, I want fresh apples delivered to the palace every week," Maddie insisted.

"But wait, that won't be possible, we might be going to Artrovan soon," Annie reminded.

Maddie groaned and scowled, why did Annie have to ruin the mood by reminding them all about Artrovan.

"That is true," Matt replied.

"*Ugh* Please, don't remind me. How are we even sure that we passed the test? After all, we were supposed to receive our results by now, but we haven't," Maddie rolled her eyes.

"That is true," Matt had to admit.

"I do find that strange, usually, their results come out before the time they say it will, and also it's only you three that wrote the test, usually thousands of people write the test from all the regions of the witch realm and the results are out faster," Ollie said.

"Now that you mention that... I am starting get worried," Annie frowned.

"You shouldn't worry, I am sure it is just a minor hiccup. If you wish for me to, I can ask some of the people in charge of admissions," Ollie offered.

"No, thank you Ollie. I don't think that is necessary. Aunt Stella is probably already on top of things," Annie said.

"Alright," Ollie smiled.

"But I do have to agree with Annie, how are you going to send Maddie apples every week if we end up going to Artrovan?" Matt asked.

"Oh that's easy. I can still send her apples, it's not a big deal. Artrovan allows their students to receive gifts, I won't be breaking any rules," Ollie smiled.

"Then in that case, make sure you remember to send me these apples for as long as you have them," Maddie said.

"Will do... you know guys, I going to miss you all so very much," Ollie frowned a sad expression preset on his face.

"Aww, Ollie, we are going to miss you too," Annie smiled.

"Hey, hey, it's not yet time to leave. Stop making us all depressed. We can start all this depressing talk later," Annie said drinking soem water.

"Maddie is right, there's no need for us to dim the mood," Ollie nodded.

"Glad we are on the same page, now moving on. If we do go to Artrovan, do we need to wear uniforms or something like that?" Maddie asked.

"Of course, the uniform is what the students are most proud about. There is a uniform for every day, every season and every event," Ollie said.

"Oh my gosh, that sounds so annoying. We are never going to get to wear ordinary clothes again!" Maddie exclaimed.

"That's not true, when you don't have classes as well as on the weekends, you don't have to wear uniforms, but there is a dress code though," Ollie said.

"Of course there is," Maddie scoffed. "The uniform better be stylish at least. There is no way I am going to wear a hideous uniform," She said.

"Stop exaggerating Maddie, I am sure the uniforms will not be hideous.".

"Of course they will be, uniforms are annoying.".

"Actually, uniforms are not annoying. They make you appear respectful and neat. I like uniforms," Ollie smiled.

"Of course you do blondie, you like anything that has to do with rules and being controlled, you are controlled all the time," Maddie rolled her eyes.

Ollie paused and seemed to ponder her words. Was he really being controlled all the time?

"Anyway, what I am not looking forward to is going back to my duties in the High Council," Ollie moved on.

"I can just imagine how difficult it is dude," Matt said.

"The work itself isn't difficult. It is sitting through hours and hours of meetings upon meetings," Ollie said.

"I thought you would like sitting one in place for hours and hours blondie," Maddie sneered.

"Hey, I like sitting down as much as the next guy, but those High Council meetings are something else. Besides, I'm still a child, I want to go out sometimes and skip my duties to go and do something fun like you guys do all the time. You don't know how lucky you all have it.".

"We had to leave school for two years, I wouldn't count that lucky," Annie pointed out.

"Speak for yourself Annie, I consider that something very lucky!" Maddie refuted.

Annie laughed and shook her head. Of course Maddie would think so. Well she did not blame her, getting a break from school was nice. It gave them time to do other things such as defeating the worst tyrant in all three realms, or finding a cure for witches brew. Now that she thought about it... they did do much more relevant things while out of school.

"I still miss school though, there is just something about learning that I cannot live without," Matt said.