Verena __.t.pendragon

People Change

I sat on my bed, knees hugged to my chest as I went over the day in my head. Normally I would have vented about it to Rin, who was an exceptional listener, but I had no idea where he was. He liked to have his own little adventures while I was in school and he seemed happy, so I never complained. But right now when my mind was going a mile a minute, I could really use his company.

"Agatha?" I asked absent-mindedly, my voice soft and groggy after being quiet for so long.

My roommate, who was by her desk finishing up some Good Deeds homework, hummed in acknowledgement.

"Remember that riddle you told me a while back?"

The short haired brunette perked up at that, but didn't move. "Yeah, um, I think it's better if you leave it alone. We have more important things to worry about."

"Oh... alright." I mumbled. "It's just that Sader said something that... sort of reminded me of it. I- I think the answer is love.

The girl finally turned around.

"Love?" She repeated.

"Yeah, love." I said. " 'What evil can't have and what good can't do without. Makes sense, no?"

Her eyes were absent as they fluttered about the room as if a puzzle was coming together in front of her. "Yes. Yes it does!"

She shot her book and marched towards the exit. "I've gotta go."

I frowned "Wh-" I attempted to ask, but was interrupted by her slamming the door on her way out.

Now the room was empty as well as quiet. I sighed as I held my head in my hands. I didn't have space in my head to worry about whatever Agatha was doing. In hindsight, maybe I should have made space.

---

Somehow, the rumors that Sophie and Agatha had seen the schoolmaster had reached everyone in both schools. It had spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the ears of, not only the students, but also the teachers. A meeting was called to address the issue and that went south quicker still. Both Agatha and Sophie were punished, Agatha with confinement in our room and Sophie with a trip to the Doom Room.

That was last night. Today, while waiting for Professor Yuba to show up in Surviving Fairytales, I finally spotted a blonde head of hair clad in black clothes sitting under a tree in the far back. Except there was something different about that head of hair. It lacked a noticeable amount of, well, hair on it.

Sophie's golden hair was uncharacteristically messy, chopped unevenly and sticking out in every direction. My heart broke a bit as I watched her hugging her knees tightly with a haunted look on her tear stained face.

Hesitantly I approached her and slowly kneeled next to her. "Sophie, are you ok?"

She snapped, keeping her eyes ahead. "Do I look ok?"

She didn't look at me. I knew she wasn't my biggest fan but she looked like she needed a friend. And since Agatha was still grounded, well, I was prepared to take on the challenge.

With the gentlest tone I could muster, as if I were soothing a snapping crocodile, I said, "You know, it's not that bad, really. Sure it looks... messy, right now, but with a bit of styling I think you could really pull it off."

Her shoulders relaxed. She looked at me with watery eyes. In a small voice she said "You think so?"

"Absolutely." A triumphant warmth spread through me and I smiled brightly at her, tucking a stray curl behind my ear.

Her green eyes followed the movement and they changed from soft and vulnerable, to angry and insulted. Before I even realized why her demeanor had changed so suddenly, she shot up from her seat in the grass and started to walk away.