❝ Why do I feel like I'm just a chapter in your book while you're my entire story? ❞
❝ Well, you're obviously wrong, because you're my entire novel, cover to cover. ❞
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A blank canvas. That's how my life was. Until she took my hand...
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I felt warmth fill me up as soon as I entered the common room.
The air outside had been damp. Despite working out, I felt rather chilled on the way back.
I sighed and was about to take my hood off when I spotted a commotion near the stairwell. I sauntered between people and managed to blend in with the crowd. What I saw there made my heart clench in my chest. I took a few paces forward, but someone stopped me by the shoulder.
"They'll deal with it," I heard Misty say. I tried to squirm away from her, but she caught my arm instead. "Don't blow your own cover!"
I sighed in defeat and turned away as a chorus of voices blended in the background.
"Let's take her to Nurse Joy!"
"Hang in there, girl!"
"Just a little bit!"
I slumped into one of the couches nearby and waited till the commotion died before reprimanding Misty. However, we only began cutting each other off. "Why wouldn't you let—"
"You said you hate—"
"I don't—"
"Her, and she heard—"
"Misty," I tried firmly, but the girl didn't stop.
"That. You don't wish to suddenly be caring for her, do you? You don't wish to hurt her after she's healed up from the injury, do you?"
"Misty, you know I don't hate her," I sighed tiredly. The girl shook her head and remained silent for me to continue. "And I actually came here to try, trying, attempting to, um, make a move and, er, reunite with her—" I stammered horribly and facepalmed. Panic rose through me with every word I uttered. "Forget it. What happened? I enter the common room and see her sprawled on the floor in a dead faint! Is she okay?!"
"I hope. I was working on the French assignment when I heard a thud. Turns out she collapsed before she got to the end of the stairs," Misty croaked. Her answer did not sit well, and I bolted to my feet. She blinked twice, as if in warning. "Ash, whatever you do, don't hurt her!" she hissed. "The leaders are all going through immense stress because of the upcoming events. I suspect her fall is related to the same."
"All the more reason to visit her," I replied, then waved her goodbye and broke into a jog to the hostel's hospital wing. Students were crowded around a screen, and I spotted all of her friends minus Lisia there.
"Shauna," I called out to the brown-haired girl, deciding she was the best person to ask in the crowd gathered. The girl had worry lines on her forehead but nevertheless attended to my call. "What happened? Is she okay?" I found myself asking her in an agitated voice.
"I don't know yet, but she fainted mid-stair because she hasn't had anything since yesterday's lunch! She was too worried to have dinner yesterday, and then she woke up late today, and the leaders were called during lunch for a meeting! Oh, I should have taken better care of her!" The girl looked close to tears, and I had to gather all my courage to console her, while internally cursing myself for the fiasco.
