SONGS AND TRAILS (Book 1)

CHAPTER 39

Arabella walked towards her at the door. "Minerva, hi! We didn't think you'd come back after what had happened."

Daya said, flatly, her legs on her desk. "Yeah, we didn't."

Minerva just smiled widely at Bella, ignoring Daya. "Well, it was traumatizing and I needed to see a therapist for a while for a little counseling but I guess it paid off. I'm fine."

Daya gave a knowing frown. "No shit."

Bella said to Minerva. "I'm still truly sorry for what happened that night in the library."

Minerva held her hand. "There's nothing to be sorry for. I'm fine."

Daya again said, "Yeah, I don't understand why you need to apologize for it, Bella."

Bella cut Daya a glare before the Master also appeared at the door.

"Oh, Minerva, it's good you're back." They all walked in class. "Your fellow trainees just arrived yesterday. You didn't miss anything at all. Hope you're okay."

Minerva took her seat. "Never better."

Bella also took a seat, turning to Daya, and whispered. "What is your problem?"

Daya glanced at Minerva. "Her."

They went on with readying for class.

The master said, "Okay, trainees, let us settle and begin."

*

"I'm telling you, I need to make a move on him quickly." Daya argued with Mia.

"He's mine."

Arabella rolled her eyes at the topic.

Cade.

She made her bed and gathered her stuff to put away. It was another morning and this one involved the girls fighting and marveling over Cade. One of those morning.

Arabella looked at Marietta who looked distant and tired. Of course, the quarter papers were on their way and everyone was doing their best to catch up on anything and everything they had studied. But she looked off, more anxious.

She would wake up early with Arabella or even when Arabella decided to sleep in, but this time she slept into Mia and Daya's time.

Mia and Daya started their way out of the room, still marveling over Cade on their tongues and Bella turned to Marietta. "Are you okay?"

Marietta looked at her. "I'm fine. I'm fine, I'm just tired, today."

Arabella kept her gaze on her and Marietta ran her hand on her face, groaning.

She sat on her made bed. "I'm frustrated. I'm anxious. I don't know why. It happens sometimes when I'm burnt out."

Bella went to sit next to her. "Why don't you just take a break for a while... a day?"

She looked at her. "I can't. The spring papers are coming up and everyone says they're the hardest."

"But Marie, we haven't even done our winter quarters. Spring is far off. Why worry about it now?" Bella told her.

"It doesn't matter. Winter quarters are doable but the spring papers are not."

"Maybe that's what's making you anxious... other people's words." Bella went to her. "...and the fact that you're worrying about spring when winter has barely started."

"But it's true, Bella. They press us on the spring papers rather than the finals. Everyone knows that."

"I know. but maybe..."