Aria was mulling over Joseph's words when her attention was attracted elsewhere. "Hey White. How was your exam?" Joseph asked as Jacob slumped into an empty chair beside them.
Jacob shook his head as he wiped sweat off his brow. "It was awful! I had no idea that the lamp making exam was so difficult!!" he whined, "Plus it didn't help that even I felt like I was going to melt, let alone my lamp." That was right, Jacob was finally taking his fifth exam in water precision for the first time, the one where Aria had had to build and freeze a flower vase. Helen had already passed that exam on her second try and was now taking her sixth exam in water precision, the same as Aria.
"Don't worry about it Jacob. It's really an endurance test, you can practice now that you know what to expect." Aria reassured Jacob as she reached for a book someone had left at the table beside her.
"Yeah." Jacob replied, and whined the next instant upon seeing Aria pick up a book, "Oh come on now! We've just finished our exams, let's relax for a bit." Aria peeked from behind the book she had already opened and sighed, closing it. "I suppose you're right. I guess I can lay back a little for today." she said, slumping in her chair.
"So what do you wanna do?" Joseph asked, looking around. Jacob was the first to reply, "I'm fine with anything as long as we don't have to go outside. My skin will melt right off my bones."
Aria laughed as she said, "I agree, with the not going outside part. My skin is very nicely glued thank you." Both Jacob and Joseph laughed as she continued, "What do you say we get Helen and the four of us play checkers to pass the time."
Jacob replied with a, "But I'm so bad at checkers!" even as he got up to look for a board and Joseph asked his retreating back, "Where is Helen anyways?"
"She didn't have an exam today, so probably in her room." Jacob replied without even looking back.
Aria mumbled that she would get her and asked Joseph to set up the chairs and a table as she flew out of the common room.
A few hours later . . . . .
Aria turned the board over and slumped back in her chair crossing her arms and pouting. Joseph laughed aloud but shut his mouth the next instant upon receiving a glare from Aria. "What? What happened?" Helen asked, feeling around for the board that was now on the heavily carpeted floor.
"Aria lost again and she actually threw the board away this time." Joseph mumbled as he went down to retrieve the board. Helen turned in Aria's direction, a small smile on her lips. "I didn't know you were such a sore loser Aria." she said, doing a better job than the two boys at holding in her laughter.
Jacob wrapped an arm around Aria's shoulders as he said, "That's probably because we've never seen her lose at anything." "It must be a very new feeling right? How does it feel Aria?" he added, turning to look at Aria who threw away his arm and stood up.
"It's a stupid game." She muttered before walking away.