MAEVE

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

My cheeks felt quite hot whenever I recalled that particular moment, and it was getting ridiculous. Why were his eyes getting prettier lately? It was almost as if I was suddenly seeing all the things about him that I could not see before. His eyes for example, eyes that I once thought of as an emotionless expressionless black, eyes that were now recently my favorite thing to obsess over, eyes that were now my favorite shade of black.

I tugged at my short skirt once more, still shocked about the fact that Mr Rhazia knew about my true identity all along.

"Hey Paris, where you going?" A blur of red hair asked as it tangled itself around me. I laughed, extricating myself from her grip.

"Hi Minha, gotta go though, I am late for history," I smiled, patting down my waist length hair self consciously. Her eyes followed the movement of my hands.

"Oh shoot you are right! I can't be late again," She paused and shuddered, as if remembering something dreadful, I laughed.

"What's up with you?" I asked, intertwining our arms. It was a first for me, locking arms and prancing with a female friend to class in our short skirts. "I think Mr Barnes is a delight, don't you?" I teased with a smile, and she nodded.

"Of course he is, when he is not looking at you, or speaking to you, and is not in the same room with you or country," She grumbled, and I laughed out loud at this. "So yes if so, then he is quite the delight." She ended, looking quite pleased at the howling laugh I let out.

"Can I ask you a question?" She asked, when my laughter finally died down. I nodded. "Why did you lie and pretend to be who you are not?" She asked me seriously and I gulped, knowing very well she deserved an explanation.

"I have been in disguise all my life," I told her seriously. "But recently, I had a conversation with my mother that made me realize I don't need to hide anymore," She listened quietly, head inclined, no judgment in her eyes and no malice in her smile. I breathed out my relief.

"Well for what it's worth, I am happy you fessed up," She grinned swinging our arms, and I found myself smiling back. We slipped through the crowds of students crowding the hall way. Everything was brighter, and the students had a spring in their steps that they lacked two days before.

"Everything is getting better, isn't it?" I asked her, and she nodded as we squeezed our way to class.

"Everyone is trying to beat the fear and depression. The moon makes us stronger," She replied, glancing at me from the corner of her eyes. I nodded, understanding the reference a little more now.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry for not being able to help Ryan, or any of you for that matter," I told her softly. And she simply shook her head with a sad smile on her face.

"Hey angels," A cheery voice greeted, and we turned to face Kai. He walked up to us with the usual swagger in his steps. Hands tucked into the pockets of his long coat, and blood red hair falling into his eyes.

"Hey Charlie," We greeted simultaneously, and turned to each other with a smile. Movies seemed to be something else we had in common. Heavy arms wrapped around our shoulders.

"Ooou finally, the perfect team," He cooed and we laughed, as he ushered us into the classroom.

                             ~

Mr Barnes was being even more unpleasant than usual. He made us stand in front of the class while he threw embarrassing comments our way. We were finally allowed to go sit when Elijah breezed past us to his seat with barely a glance at the teacher.  He was forced to grant us the same reprieve, and I could barely swallow my giggle when his chin wobbled, and wobbled again, voicing his displeasure.