The bad-tempered muse

Chapter 3: Claire

Chapter 3: Claire

"Well, well...if it isn't the guy earlier..."

Martin came face-to-face with the blonde girl, and as expected she's the 'Claire' Taylor was talking about, no one else, what a coincidence.

"We meet again." Martin simply says and nods at her.

Claire shrugs her shoulders and went to sit next to Taylor, at her left side.

They're the only ones inside the office--Taylor, Claire, Martin, and Anthony; sitting across one another.

Both Anthony and Martin don't exactly know what to expected because Taylor finished roasting them, so there might be things unsaid since she's not letting them go.

In reality, even Claire doesn't know why she was called in the SSG office.

They all look at Taylor expectantly.

"I just want to introduce Claire to the two of you. In case something happens again, you'd know what to do."

Taylor says that immediately cause Anthony's brow to raise unintentionally.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I think there's something wrong with what you said."

Martin, too, thinks that there's something happening that he and Anthony don't know about.

Taylor touches her chest acting like she's surprised.

She says, "And why do I feel like everything I say sounds wrong to you?"

Because it does!-- Anthony answered in his mind.

"Why do I feel like you expect that the argument earlier to repeat, plus that you want us to 'take' Claire's side every time it happens? That's unfair."

Martin, on the side, feels like Anthony's observation doubles whenever he faces Taylor. Just how vigilant is he when facing Taylor?

Martin feels that everything that Taylor says will come out bad to Anthony.

"Isn't that your obligation to take your fellow officer's side?" Taylor raises her brows to tell Anthony that he's exactly right and he should have expected that.

I don't even know what my obligations are, to tell you the truth.-- Martin thought to himself.

He was elected but he wasn't aware when that election happened.

He thinks it's probably that one time, just before the school year ended last year when he visited his parents' house.

"Huh? Don't pull that on me, ma'am. When I take side of an argument, I don't choose with my emotion, I use my mind. You can't force me to take her side unless her side is worth taking."

Taylor immediately sprung out her seat and slapped the table. The sound reverberated in the inside of the office.

Anthony has always been too honest for his own good that Martin sometimes feels like he can't leave him for a second.

"Do you want to be expelled?! I can do you a favor--"

Taylor's eyes were like that of a wild cat forcing other animals to succumb to her will.

It didn't affect Martin though.

"Let's not go down that road, Taylor."

"It's not necessary."

Martin and Claire stated at the same time following Taylor's threat.

Martin couldn't believe how childish Taylor actually is until right now.

She's like some bratty girl back in the children's park forcing others to adore her doll because she thinks her doll is adorable and deserved the attention.

Even if she wants to protect her friends, she still shouldn't do that at the expense of other people.

"You might as well just go and threaten other people by the street because threats like that don't work on me, Taylor. Let's not act like some uneducated children here."

Martin calmly answered, which only irked Taylor more.

"It's not necessary, Taylor. If ever the argument earlier happens again, it's just an argument, nothing too serious."

Martin's eyes narrowed at Claire while the girl comforts Taylor.

He still couldn't figure who this girl was like she just popped out of nowhere.

"But, you don't know Nicole. She can be really petty sometimes; she might get back at you after the earlier incident."

"It's just an argument, what bad can happen?"

Anthony voiced out.

Why is she treating Claire like some fragile, cowardly, and helpless pet?

She's a grown girl for Pete's sakes!--Anthony asked to himself.

"You--"

"Yeah, really, Taylor, it's just an argument. It happened because Nicole didn't say sorry for bumping my shoulder, and it really hurt my shoulder."

Claire sweetly smiles at Taylor strengthening Taylor's disappointment for Nicole.

Somehow, despite his strong opposition to Taylor, Anthony can already feel like the next time an argument happens between Nicole and Claire, he'll take Claire's side to be fair.

Looking at Claire makes him feel protective of her, too.

It's Nicole's fault for not meaning her apology anyway.

How can she bump someone, hurt their shoulder, and not feel sorry at all, right?

Looking at Anthony, Martin could tell what's already in his mind.

"What you need to do is avoid the argument from repeating again. Everyone doesn't follow the same value as you are, you'll have a hard time changing their mind."

Martin commented that earns an understanding smile from Claire.

"I think so, too."

Then, Martin saw her eyes glaring at him then turned to Taylor and smiles again.

What is wrong with her?-- Martin doesn't understand how she agrees but glares at him at the same time.