Beyond the Veil

Chapter 3

Sera was very close to being out of clean laundry. She had worn the same gray shirt twice this week and hoped that if she changed the shawl that no one would notice.

She hadn't been taking enough time to get on top of her domestic routine, Sera felt that her mind had been so consumed by her assignments and filling out the club paperwork for this trip. She considered just putting off the funding appeals and paperwork that had to be done, but she knew Quinn was not going to do it.

Looking at her calendar as she walked out the door, she noticed that the information meeting for the trip was today. She would have to find the room number before class, because she wasn't sure where that was located.

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The day went by smoothly and Sera found herself waiting for other students to show up for the meeting. The room only had two tables, one window, and lots of dust. It felt old, and Sera had the feeling no one had been in here for at least a few months. It saddened her to think that there weren't more student organizations at the university.

She heard steps and sounds of light chatter making their way down the hallway, and Quinn opened the door with at least 15 other students following behind her.

This was more people than Sera had expected.

Sera felt a tinge of glacial ambience that embraced her coolly, and immediately looked to see if the window had opened suddenly. It was shut. She looked around until her eyes fell on Saul standing towards the back of the group, looking at her.

Sera wondered what he was doing here, she could not possibly understand how he was here after she specifically told him he did not have his paperwork together and he had left with no answer.

Quinn smiled at Sera, happy to see she was in there waiting. "What's up, Sera! Okay everyone take a seat and let's get this thing started."

Everyone shuffled into their seats, the empty room now felt cramped and full with all the people inside. Sera leaned into Quinn and whispered, "The guy in the back does not have any identification to this school, he can't come on this trip without the proper paperwork." Quinn looked at Saul, while he seemed to be staring blankly at the wall, "I talked to him, he's good."

Sera blinked confusedly, why was she making excuses for a stranger? "No... he isn't. Do you have his information? " She replied, in a doubtful and enquiring tone.

Quinn was flipping through her bag, "I'm sure it's in there somewhere" indicating to a small stack of unorganized papers she had just pulled out of her bag. Sera was doubtful that they had the waivers for him and worried about the liability.

"Shit, Sera, I didn't bring my notes for this presentation." Quinn said in exasperation.

Sera decided to brush it off, hoping that nothing bad will happen anyway to where they would need to legally provide liability forms. Despite her concerns, she knew they had to move forward with the meeting and presentation. She just hoped that everything would go smoothly and without any issues. "I brought an extra copy." Sera replied, handing the papers to Quinn.

"You're the best!"

Quinn stood up in front of the group, ready to present without once having looked down at Sera's notes before she spoke. Sera smiled to herself at the oddity of the situation, she knew that she could never make up something that magnetic to other people on the spot.

Sera watched Saul almost the whole time, she hoped desperately that he wouldn't notice, but there was something about him that was such a mystery to her. He is so quiet, he just listens silently, sitting far away from the rest of the group. He doesn't seem to have an interest in mingling with the other students, so why does he even want to go?