Wicked Minds and Wicked Hearts

- Chapter 9 -

Unwanted Babysitters and Honorary Children

Nina

     The dining hall crowd had gradually lessened throughout the first week. Standing in line for food now only took about five minutes instead of fifteen. Nina didn't usually eat breakfast, but the smell of the cinnamon toast being served that morning was too hard to pass up. She scanned the crowd for Leo. He wasn't in their usual spot and it was unlike him to be late for breakfast. If anything, Nina was the one that was always late to their morning ritual. In her peripheral vision, she saw a hand wave out from the crowd. Leo was waving at her from the same table she had confronted Laurence at earlier that week. Speaking of the Devil. He was sitting across from Leo, pencil and paper out as he was drawing something new.

     Nina approached the table. She sat next to Leo and raised an eyebrow at him. He smiled, "Mal gave me a job. I'm supposed to be Laurence's friend for the next week until his disciplinary plan is up."

     Laurence rolled his eyes, "For the last time, you are not my friend, you are an unwanted babysitter."

     "So, Mal waved his magic wand and gave you the right to babysit problem children?" Nina grinned knowing that would get a rise out of Laurence.

     It worked, "I am not a problem child."

     Leo snickered, "I think Troy would disagree."

     Laurence grinned as he continued to shade his drawing. "He does look like shit, doesn't he?"

     "Speaking of shitty things, I have an inquiry." Nina steadied her breathing. She had already convinced herself that Eric needed to know about Rhienna and Troy, but hearing it from someone else would be nice.

     "Imagine that, Nina has a question," Laurence retorted.

     "Ha ha, very funny. Let's say, you were in a relationship. A romantic one. You are with this person for a little while and you do things for them that normal people wouldn't do in relationships."

     "Is this going somewhere?" Laurence was shaking his head.

     "Yes, it is--" she cleared her throat, "An acquaintance finds out that your significant other is sleeping with someone else. Would you want that acquaintance to tell you?" She waited as both of them pondered in silence. 

     Leo spoke first, "I would want to know." 

     Laurence set his pencil down, "I think it would be right to inform that person; however, I would be cautious about how you relay the news to them. Some people don't take things as well as others." 

     Leo nudged his elbow against hers, "Why? Are you the acquaintance in this scenario?"

     "Yes, I am." 

     Laurence picked his pencil back up and began to shade some more. The sound of the graphite on the paper was soothing. Focusing on it helped Nina tune out the rest of the dining hall chatter. "What is the person you are telling this like?"

     Nina thought about it. How could she describe Eric without revealing it's Eric? Leo knew who Eric was, but Laurence wouldn't. Hopefully, if Leo recognized the description, he would keep it to himself. "Quiet, very quiet. They seem to be one of those people that feel like they take up too much space. They don't stand up for themselves."

     Laurence nodded appreciatively, "I would tell the person in a private setting then. Maybe try to break it to them as gently as you can." He looked up at her. Their eyes met. She never had appreciated how lovely his eyes were until that moment. She had thought that they reminded her of the ocean, but she was wrong. They were exactly like the Valerian Sea. The hue was an intense bright blue, but it had a calmness to it. She could see it now: the crystal blue waters off the coast, the breeze blowing her hair back. She would give anything to live somewhere like that. He grinned causing her to snap out of her trance. She could already tell what he was thinking. She tried not to feel embarrassed. She would not turn red in front of him.