CHAPTER 83 AN UNANTICIPATED SHOWDOWN.

Minerva "Meredith!" I cried out happily, running forward and throwing my hands around my best friend. She laughed as I lifted her slightly off the ground and whirled around once before dropping her. "Well, that's embarrassing," she joked as she tightened her arms around me, the laugh still in her voice. "What is?" I asked. "The way you just effortlessly lifted me off the floor," she answered, then pulled back to scan my face. I was sure my expression was identical to her amused one as I said, "It's no big deal. You are my little princess." "You are five feet on the dot, Minerva," she mocked in my direction. "You are the little princess," she said with a playful sneer. "Whichever you say, beautiful." We grinned before I clasped her hand and led her towards the house's entrance. "You look like you just ran a marathon," she commented. "I went for a run, thanks to Xavier," I said to the doorman. "I have to be in Maple Dome in about three hours, so I decided to go for a quick run a