SONGS AND TRAILS (Book 1)

CHAPTER 4

Daya banged the door close, angrily. "I cannot believe he just did that?"

She walked together with Mia who also complained. "What is wrong with him?"

Classes were done for the day and they had just arrived in their dorm room after a long day.

Marietta was already in the room, undressing to go get a shower. "I do not understand how a person that good-looking can be that bitter."

Daya folded her hands, leaning her back at her dresser. "Darn right, he is."

Mia looked at them. "What?"

Marie and Daya looked back at her but only Daya asked in confusion. "What?"

Mia asked again, "He's what...good-looking or bitter?"

Marietta narrowed her eyes. "I just said he was both."

Daya gave a snarl. "I said he was bitter."

All the while, Arabella was quiet, sitting on the edge of her bed, barely looking at them. Mia went to her and snapped her fingers in front of her face.

Bella didn't flinch. "I'm fine. I'm here." Her voice was a little cold.

Mia understood why, given the situation she was now in. "Oh, I was just... making sure."

Daya walked to them while Marietta spoke. "Oh, don't mind him."

Daya closed in on them. "Yeah, he's just a big jerk." She sat next to Bella. "May I? I know people who don't like being overcrowded."

Mia looked at Daya, "You're already sitting anyway." She also sat on her other side.

Marietta walks up to them in her undergarments and squatted in front of Bella. "Look, honey, if you want, you can go pledge your case with him."

Daya snickered, "Oh, come on."

Marietta looked at Daya but said to Bella. "The one that has the problem in here is you and if you pretend to be stubborn, you won't be able to finish training. Or even finish your first year."

Marietta looked at Arabella who now looked back at her, holding her gaze.

"Master Clint was angry at the time, of course, he was going to kick you out of class. Why don't you follow him some other time when he's... not angry?"

Mia blurted, "Well, he looks like he's always angry. I just wonder how he still doesn't have wrinkles."

Daya said, "Because he's not old, idiot."

Marietta dismissed the two, "But if you go and apologize sincerely..."

Daya cut in, "Why should she be the one to apologize?"

Marietta looked at her. "Because Caldor is a master and masters never admit they are wrong. He's finished Greyenvir with a ten out of ten."

Mia shook her head wryly, "Makes sense."

Marietta turned her gaze to Bella. "Look, if you do not want to, It's okay. But at least try. At the end of the day, we'll know..."

Suddenly they were interrupted by a sweet singing voice.

Daya exclaimed in annoyance, "What is that?"

Mia said, "That's a really lovely voice."

Daya said, "That's an annoying song."

Marietta added, "I think it's lovely."

Daya spat, "Am I surprised?"

Marietta frowned and then rolled her eyes. She turned her attention back to Arabella, dismissing the little conversation.