Into The Orchard

XI

A really strange thing happened. It was so unexpected that the very fact that it happened is more disturbing than if nothing had happened. What is it? Namely, my recorded conversation with Desmont disappeared from the Internet as quickly as it appeared. Well, maybe not that fast, but still, it lasted about fifteen to twenty minutes. The video was deleted quickly enough that it didn't have time to spread to other students of the school. I should be happy, sure, but there was one problem. Why would Roxana and Alex delete the video right after they made it public? I was expecting another drama to erupt and more problems to follow, I already had my conversation with Alex and Roxana in the principal's office in mind. With my eyes I could see Elizabeth scratching Roxana's eyes out. I felt that I would have to get back at Alexs somehow even though I had no idea how to do it. Meanwhile, everything went silent before it had time to escalate. There are two logical explanations for this situation. One is that my classmates decided that this was a really mean play on their part and abandoned the idea. The other option is that they decided to use the video to humiliate me even more. Since I myself do not believe that Roxana and Alex have any empathy for me, the first option is impossible. As for the second, I had the darkest scenarios in my mind. What could they possibly do with this video? After all, nothing amazing was happening on it, if we exclude the fact of pulling family dirt on it. Stepping with your shoes into someone's private life the way they did was really pathetic and unsavory. Either way, I had no desire for anyone unauthorized to know more about me and my life than I would tell myself. Perhaps they planned to somehow craft the video to ridicule me even more. If that was their intention, I don't know what I will do. Only Elizabeth was able to respond to the video they sent. I don't think either Rayan or Randal saw it. I think if Rayan found out about it, he would talk to me right away even though we were currently at odds. Although I'm actually not so sure about that. Why would he write to me?

I was tempted to write to Roxana asking for an explanation of what this meant. However, I decided that it was probably safer to pretend that I hadn't managed to view the video. I don't know if I made the right decision. I'll probably find out in the coming hours, or at most within a few days.

It was Sunday evening at the Von Rostov home. As always at this hour everyone had gathered for the ritual dinner, which had been going on for a good few minutes. Aurelia had only just made the whole family aware that after dinner her two friends were coming for a sleepover. The reason, of course, was that Aurelia had invited them to her intimate birthday party, to which I had not received an invitation. Bobby was surprised by this fact, but decided not to comment too much on it. I had the impression for a moment that he wanted to stand in solidarity with me by not going to this "party," but the prospect of him drinking away his sorrows after losing his girlfriend took precedence. I did not expect this solidarity from him. Even if Aurelia invited me, I wouldn't go. I was not in the mood to drink, even less in the company of a teenage girl.

At the table the topic of the wedding returned after a long absence. Although the situation seemed to be already normalized, still some strange emotions could be felt among the household members. Everything seemed to indicate that the wedding would take place after all. There were less than two weeks left, so it would be unwise for Gregory and Catleyn to stand still with the preparations. Although my mother was silent along with Luna on the subject of her wedding dress, everything seemed to indicate that it would be beautiful. Surprisingly the guest list was not big either. I wondered if any of the newlyweds would offer to come with a companion. I hoped they wouldn't. That would mean that Kevin would also get the option and the fact that neither I nor he came to the ceremony with anyone could be suspicious.

- Have you thought about sending invitations to Russia grandmother? - Gregory suddenly asked Apolonia, who looked as if she was fighting with her own facial expressions not to show that the meal she was chewing tasted good to her.