Tai snatched the bag of cookies without looking at Sylvia. A lack of eye contact was uncommon in most of these conversations anyways, but it's clear that Tai's thinking really hard on something that's bothering her, judging by the way she continues to shut her eyes and frown in thought. [i]"My break was-....hm."[/i] started Tai, interrupted by knocking. She peered at Cammy for a moment, arching a brow, and opening the door. Cammy took the seat beside her and asked the same question Sylvia did. For just a moment, Tai's mouth twitched upwards in a smirk; it was amusing to see her friends think the same way.

[i]"Summer was unpleasant."[/i] stated Tai briefly. [i]"I don't understand why everyone in my street seems obsessed with strutting around in swimming costumes, but it was...evident that they were trying to impress each other. We also had a break-in by a couple of drunken men, but Merlin and I handled that fairly well. And I finished my homework too quickly, which meant I was bored."[/i] finished Tai. Despite living in California, Tai was never fond of beaches and swimming pools and parties and lots of alcohol since she never found out what the point of it was.

[i]"I'm -not- finishing your homework in the carriage this time, by the way. I know I keep saying that, but I mean it now."[/i] warned Tai, peering at Sylvia. Her eyes flicked to the window, where she spotted her parents talking animatedly with a wizard couple, and she smiled a little. [i]"See those two over there? My parents came along to say goodbye to me this year."[/i] announced Tai; she sounded faintly pleased.

For a while, Tai sat in silence, eating one of the cookies Sylvia gave her and offering the bag to Cammy. Merlin grabbed one of the yellow birds and it disappeared in his mouth, along with the rest of the birds, as Tai dismissed the spell, staring at the other end of the carriage, face sinking into a mixture of thought and concern. [i]"Actually, give me your work, I'll do it. I need something to distract me."[/i]