Free The Skinwalker's Apprentice by Claribel Ortega

through Emerald’s hair, the blue strands pointing every which way. Emerald walked the few blocks towards Seneka’s house, darting through the tree-lined streets of her friend’s neighborhood, until she reached the five-story brick apartment building. Emerald kept her finger on the metal button next to the label reading ‘Apt #3B – Belling’ until she heard a fuzzy voice answer.
    “Yeah?”
    “It’s Emerald.”
    The door clicked open with a ‘zzzz’ sound, and Emerald pulled hard on the metal handle. The inside of Seneka’s apartment building smelled like three-day-old Chinese food. Seneka’s mother, Aurelia, was forever alternating between yelling at their building super, Ayala, for not “cleaning the freaking garbage chutes, you lazy ass,” one day and having him over for a home-cooked meal the next.
    Next to Jackson’s mom, Georgia, Aurelia was the best cook Emerald knew. She would never admit that to Nora, though; it would crush her.
    Emerald walked up the three flights of stairs, four steps at a time, and let herself into her friend’s apartment. The Bellings usually unlocked the door whenever Emerald buzzed, and she usually walked straight for the fridge. Emerald smelled the distinct aroma of fried cheese wafting from the kitchen as soon as she walked in, and her mouth began to water.
    Aurelia grabbed Emerald by the shoulders and smiled proudly, then pulled her into a warm embrace. She had always treated Emerald like another daughter.
    “Happy birthday, Emerald,” she said with tears in her eyes. She could be a bit on the dramatic side.
    “Thanks,” said Emerald before peeking over Aurelia at the food on the stove.
    “Yum,” she said out loud, smacking her lips. 
    “So you’ve come to eat me out of house and home again,” said Aurelia with a smile.
    “Hey, I haven’t eaten since breakfast,” said Emerald.
    “And by breakfast she probably means the six rolls and seven pieces of bacon she stuffed down her throat before running out the door,” said Seneka, who had heard her friend walking in and was now standing cross-armed in the kitchen doorway.
    “How did you know?” asked Emerald, sitting down at the kitchen table and smiling at Aurelia before asking, “What’s for dinner?”
    “Well, I’m making Seneka’s favorite,” said Aurelia as she turned the white cheese rectangle over. “We’re celebrating tonight.”
    “Celebrating what?” asked Emerald, looking at Seneka happily.
    “Uh.” Seneka rubbed the back of her neck nervously then shot her mom a dirty look.
    Seneka’s mom squirmed and stared down at the stove.
    “I was going to tell you soon. It’s already been a rough day, and it’s your birthday,” said Seneka abashedly.
    “Okay, you’re scaring me. Tell me what?”
    Seneka sighed and looked at Emerald, her cheeks red.
    “Emerald, I’m not sticking around this summer. My parents got me an early graduation present, and I’m traveling to Europe after graduation.”
    “After graduation, when?” Emerald raised one eyebrow as her heart began to race. She knew that Seneka wouldn’t be around come September of next year, but she had been counting on one last summer with her three best friends.
    “I’m leaving the night of graduation,” Seneka blurted out, looked down at the floor. She knew she was letting Emerald down, but she had never left the city, and it was too big of an opportunity to pass up.
    “THE NIGHT OF?” Emerald breathed out heavily with a frazzled look on her face. “Why do you have to leave so soon? I don’t get it.” As if today hadn’t been bad enough; now this.
    “Emerald, I’m sorry. Mom and Dad got me the ticket, and I can’t say no. I’m going to this art program out there for the summer, and you would really like it, I mean, it’s pretty cool. Please tell me you understand.”
    Emerald looked around bewildered before taking a deep breath. She was sure she’d been set up for Candid Camera. This couldn’t actually be happening.