Adventures of Beatrice the Basilisk

Chapter 11: A Reunion of Besties

On the third weekend since school had started, Beatrice woke up, yet again, to an empty dorm room. Usually the cackling pair fell asleep in random locations around the common room and of course, Onika was still avoiding her. The empty dorm made her feel even more lonely.

Whilst the first few days back had been great (even with homework), the past few weeks had been an absolute nightmare for Beatrice. First, Hogrus, her beloved caretaker had told her she was unwelcome in her own chamber and then shortly after, Onika, her best, first and only friend, no longer wanted anything to do with her! And to be honest, Beatrice didn't completely know why.

She had gotten plenty of time to think back on it and couldn't think of anything she had done to mess up either of those relationships that badly. She had concluded that Hogrus had just been completely in the wrong, and Onika had been completely insensitive to how Beatrice was feeling. Surely she didn't expect her to just smile the morning after she had been bawling her eyes out? Beatrice had never even gotten a chance to tell her what happened!

Tom was just as bad. Beatrice had thought he wouldn't have cared about this drama, seeing as he didn't seem to care about much. Instead, his uncaring behaviour had the opposite effect. He cared so little that he didn't even bother to talk to her, he just kept doing whatever Onika told him to. Beatrice had taken to desperate measures one dinner and braved sitting next to Armie Hammer in order to be in front of the baguette tray, hoping Tom or Onika would ask her to pass it to them. They hadn't even looked in her direction.

It seemed Orion was her only somewhat-friend. She had gotten three more allergy vials from him and by now, Beatrice was sure he knew she didn't actually have allergies.

This morning, she decided a change was in order. Beatrice couldn't stand another day like this, it was taking a toll on her work. In the common room she could barely concentrate on her homework, too nervous about what Onika and Tom might be saying from across the room. And that was only when she could muster up the courage to enter the common room.

No, Beatrice would take some control and fix this friendship. Onika was her best friend, if she wanted Beatrice to be supportive, then Beatrice would go all out.

She got out of bed and reached for her day bag on instinct. She had only had it for a week but had become so accustomed to picking it up off the floor from beside her bed every morning that it was a daily shock to find the space empty. (it was one week, get it together <3)

Beatrice took a deep, shaky, rattling, trembling, not over dramatic breath in, to steel herself. She really did love that day bag- but Hogrus had given it to her, and she didn't like Hogrus. With this mindset, she confidently stood up and stretched, getting dressed and for once, taking as much care in her hair and clothes as Onika would.

Without her day bag, she walked out of the dorm room empty handed but with a head full of many thoughts. Onika would have to forgive her! For the first time in a long while, she didn't even glance in Onika's direction as she walked out of the common room, though she could feel her eyes boring holes through the back of her head. She held her nose high and walked with determination to the great hall - she would need a big breakfast if she was going to win her bestie back.

Beatrice ate three servings of porridge, and was about to start a fourth when Armie Hammer walked into the hall, and sat down next to her. One dinner next to him was enough. She quickly got up and walked out of the hall, leaving a steaming bowl of porridge sitting on the table next to him.

Now that she was sufficiently fed, she traipsed around the school thinking of the best way to make up to Onika. She knew it would have to be over the top and magical, but since she had only been learning magic for 3 weeks, she wasn't really ready to do a big magical display.