The Sapphire Ring Of Destiny

Chapter 7: This-her-greed

Class 4B began voting while the members of Class 4A enjoyed their break. Sophie, sitting at a table in the cafeteria, in the triangle of her friends searched for Gwendolyn. Well, she didn't actually have to search. Gwen was now one of the most conspicuous students in their class.

Gwendolyn had made a lot of friends out of the class. They all flocked around her and even fought to sit with her. Even Shirley and Bobby now sat with her for lunch. Sophie was still wondering where their leader was when an angry Robin stormed to Gwen's table and demanded from her friend, Shirley and her boy-toy Bobby, what they were doing with Gwendolyn.
'Relax Rob. Why don't you join us?' Gwendolyn offered.

'First of all, it's Robin and though you may succeeded in stealing my followers it doesn't mean I too will sit with you.' Robin answered spitefully.

'Shirley! Bobby!! Let's go!!!' Robin commanded but they both sat on their seat, silent and unresponsive like they had both been hypnotized.

'I said let's go now!' Robin ordered again, now snapping her fingers impatiently and authoritatively.
'I'm afraid neither Bobby nor Shirley can hear you, they are now my sheep.' Gwen said whilst laughing mischievously.
'Well you better be afraid. What did you do to them, you wicked witch of the west?' Robin bellowed.

'I have nothing exciting to do to them,' Gwendolyn shrugged dismissively 'They are just pawns that will help lead me to you. I have great plans, no strike that, wonderful plans are what I have in store for you Robin. But sadly, your attitude so far proves you as a black sheep.' Gwen said in a strange, close whisper.

'Join us, Robin.' Bobby and Shirley said with an awkward smile effusing from their dull faces. Just then the bell rang and Robin returned to class for the election results along with all other students. The bell was a life saver for Robin in that situation because she didn't know how to respond to Robin.

'Sophie, you won! We still have a chance at winning this.' Constance said with a euphoric smile.
'Plus, you also won with seventy percent of the votes which means Robin won't have an advantage if there is a tie in the election finale. Wait, what then happens when both contestants have a share of the votes?' Frederick asked still unfamiliar with the whole process of the election.

'Sophie, you don't seem happy.' Constance said noticing her friend's absent-mindedness in such a delightful moment.
'Is there anything wrong?' Edward asked Sophie with a concerned tone.
'You guys do not see the ring on Gwendolyn's finger?' Sophie asked.

'What ring?' Frederick replied with another question of his own.
'What about the one on my middle finger, right now. Can you see it?' Sophie asked flickering her fingers in the air to allow them identify.
'Again what ring? So far our conversation has dwelled on unanswered questions but I'll very much still like to know what happens when there is a stalemate in the finale?' Frederick responded.

'Sophie, there is nothing on your finger. What's with this strange behaviour of interacting with the invisible and imaginary?' Constance replied shaking her head at Sophie's weird behaviour.
'I am wearing a blue ring. It fell on the floor during Mathematics class and I picked it up, do you remember, Constance? You couldn't see it and neither could Mr. Bearing.'

'So you have an invisible ring?' Frederick remarked. His question didn't come with doubt or incredulity but with unsettling curiosity.
'Yes, I do. It was what I was hiding behind my back away from the sight of Mr. Bearing in class. I do have this beautiful and superb ring which nobody else can see but, so does Gwendolyn. Hers is dark red. I think she is using it to control everyone's mind.' Sophie said.

'Well that explains her sudden rise to fame but how come she hasn't whammied any one of us?' Frederick replied taking Sophie's incredible tale easier than the rest of them did.
'Hypnosis! Can you also do this, Sophie? Are we also being controlled to be your friends by your ring?' Constance queried critically.
'No way! You guys are truly my friends. The blue invisible ring has nothing to do with our friendship. And besides, I don't know what kind of power my ring possesses.' Sophie responded with an assurance that they weren't her puppets.

'Okay... so what thoughts have kept your mind preoccupied that you wouldn't cheer up for your recent victory?' Constance asked.
'Two nights ago, I had this strange and horrifying nightmare where a strange woman and her daughter seized our school by controlling the mind of everyone. They even threatened to seize the town. I battled her in my dream but failed and was captured. She was on the verge of doing something dreadful to me when I woke up.' Sophie explained in a solemn tone. Her solemn words brought a solemn atmosphere with deafening silence and perplexed faces.

'Sophie, you are being over-dramatic.' Edward finally broke the silence.
'I agree with Edward. Although, frankly, I am surprised that he knows that word. But yes, it was just a scary dream.' Frederick inserted.
'No, it's all happening! She will come for me next. If only I knew what the blue ring does― wait― yes, it's the granny!'
'The granny!' Constance asked.

'Three years ago, I met a slightly old woman begging beside the streets. I felt bad for her and gave her some money. She gave me this ring to return the favour. I think if I can find her then maybe she could help me figure this out.' Sophie replied
'And more secrets! More filth hidden in your closet! I thought we were friends. Sophie?' Constance asked with a betrayed voice.
'Yes, we are.' Sophie replied somewhat uncomfortable with Constance reference to their friendship as a past tense.

'Then what happened to trust. We are friends and three years passed away without you mentioning the ring to me.' Constance said angrily.
'It isn't that easy telling someone about an invisible ring. I too would have hid it.' Edward interjected in Sophie's defence.
'Yes, it's hard, even when that person is your best friend.' Frederick inserted as Constance wondered if his statement was genuine or sarcastic― if he was on her side or defending Sophie as well.

'I know it is, and I understand she needed time but three years. She had three years! I do believe that is ample amount of time to sort things out and come clean to your best friend, at least; but she buried it to herself.'

'But this is not my fault; I just found out that the ring was invisible. I never knew it had mysterious powers.' Sophie replied in her own unaided defence.

'Just as I thought, exactly what I mean. If, to the best of your knowledge at that time, the ring wasn't supernatural then why didn't you just show me it?' Constance demanded.
Sophie was speechless at the moment. She tried to say something but stammered and stopped as she was overwhelmed by a guilty conscience.

'Alright, I'm sorry I just didn't think it was that big a deal.' Sophie said in a manoeuvre to cool off the intensity of their conversation.
'First you hide and now you lie. Why don't you just admit the real reason you never told me and, maybe, then I'll welcome your apology because what you said earlier wasn't one.'
'What are you talking about? I have already told you why.' Sophie replied.

'Girls let's not fight, that only assists the enemy.' Edward interjected and Frederick nodded in agreement.
'Of course, Edward, you'll support her since you have secret affections for her but she doesn't feel the same way about you. Just, when are you going to open your eyes to se―'

'Constance! What has gotten over you? Sophie interrupted.
'Nothing is wrong with me. It is you whom needs to start telling the truth. You didn't tell anyone about the ring because you think someone would snatch it away from you because you wanted it to yourself just like you want Edward and Frederick to yourself. Constance replied.

'That's not true and friendship doesn't oblige me to show you all the jewellery in my wardrobe just as I don't demand that you show me all your possessions.'

'No one is requiring that you to show me some damn, stupid ring but you ought to have told me about the encounter with the granny. Moments and memories like that are supposed to be shared by true friends to strengthen their friendship. Who knows what else you have hidden and don't want to share with me.' Constance finished as she departed from them.

A few minutes later, Ms. Prudence came to give the final class lesson of the day. Sophie and Constance ignored each other throughout the class and Gwendolyn took note of this.