A Soulmate's Love

Chapter 66 - Intimidation

Love how Althea is a material gurl :)

Time Jump - Week before Winter Break

Walking down to breakfast with Elise and George, I felt the grogginess of the early morning hit me with full force. My head ached with the type of pain I knew would linger for the day, and could not be resolved with my usual amount of coffee. 

"Do you want me to go to the infirmary, love, to get you some pills or medicine?" George asked me worriedly, having somehow learned my micro-expressions when plagued with an incoming migraine. 

Elise and I both looked at him quickly, eyes wide with momentary shock before we retrieved our unaffected demeanour. George didn't know about that phase of my life. "No, no. I'm alright, thank you though." I reassured him, sharing a side glance with Elise who kept her features neutral. 

"Are you sure? I'm sure Madame Pomfrey will gladly offer-" He continued, only to be abruptly interrupted.

"-It's ok, George, she's fine. Leave it." Elise replied, quite sternly actually. Slightly taken aback by her forwardness, George now looked at me in question, "I think Althea just needs an extra shot of espresso this morning, right?" 

"Of course. It happens, you know." I encouraged her, and seeing that George was watching Elise with an unintelligible expression, which I knew to be his way of remaining diplomatic with my protective best friend, I quickly changed the subject. He knew that she was off-limits, and although he would never cross her, I could tell her sudden harshness and dismissal of my migraine made his jaw tick in anger. He thought she was gaslighting me and, as I am known to not share my emotions, that she would 'shut me down' was profoundly irritating to him. 

"Oh look! Everyone is already sitting down! We should go join them, don't want that pot to go cold!" I pulled George along but didn't miss how his sharp gaze remained on Elise, and hers on him. I tapped his wrist twice to sever this tie of tension and bring his attention back to me which worked, and in a not-so-subtle fashion, George put his hand on my lower back and pushed through the crowds of students rather quickly to leave Elise. Those two shared common interests and appreciated each other immensely, but I would be lying if I said they didn't have their bouts here and there. 

Sitting down with everyone, I pulled them both into a discussion with the rest of the amiable group, and successfully managed to ease the tension. This sort of thing would happen when George would reassure me by saying it was ok if I got below a 93 on anything, only for Elise to say I was right to keep the stressful average. He was looking out for my mental health and academically-induced anxiety. She was keeping the fact that my mother and Don could see my marks, and how anything below a 93 would severely disappoint them and have other consequences. Being gifted, there were some areas I excelled in more than others and using this as a buffer, I would spend less time stressing in the library for those classes to ease George's worries, yet continue for Elise. This was the case for many events.

"Althea, your owl is heading your way!" Lee announced the rare occasion, and out of possible cowardice, I looked down at my coffee and let George take it - once again, I did not miss how he used his height advantage to grab it from midair before Elise could have a chance. She responded with a badly hidden middle finger that was meant for him as she took a sip of her tea, as well as a rolled her eyes. 

Guess they still weren't over it.

"George, if it's red and gold burn it," I spoke calmly, knowing that it was too close to my annual paycheck on Don't behalf, and any other message sent by his people was not deserving of my attention.

"Blue and Silver." He said slowly, reading the details on the front f the intricate card.

"My mother." 
"Your mother."
"Your mother."