Dainty and Dauntless

School:

You see, I'm this and you are that. You are there and I'm here. You know strength and I've known vulnerability my whole life. We aren't the same and you know it, I need you to act like it.

                                         💫💫💫

"I guess I'm earlier this time round," Elise beamed as she helped Natalie with getting her stuff to the dormitory.

Natalie smiled and followed behind Elise as they headed for the dorms. "Is the bed still in there?"

"Mm-hmm, I guess it's ours now".

"Don't be so sure". Elise shrugged, "in that case, they will have to go through the four of us".
Four? Natalie took a deep breath.

Sera and Riley were almost finished with settling in when they arrived. Their faces lit up when they saw Natalie.

"She's here," Riley announced.

"Finally!, exclaimed Sera. "I was starting to think you had changed schools".

"What! I wouldn't do that. Elise still wants me here, right?" Elise laughed, "you'd have to take me with you".

"It seems we're all back," Riley sighed. "I saw Ramh a while ago". Natalie got busy with unpacking. She wasn't angry with Ramh, she just didn't know how to move on with her after last term.

"Natalie, have you ever been to the countryside?" Riley asked. "I was there this holiday," Sera admitted and went on, "I loved it, definitely going back next holiday. My grandfather's farm is so huge that I couldn't explore it all".

"I've never been to that side but I know I would still prefer the city to the countryside," Riley said and Sera chuckled, "You wouldn't get any work done on the farm any way".

"Not true, I have two chickens at home."

Sera rolled her eyes, "and what's that supposed to mean?" Riley clapped her hands, "I take care of their pens, I feed them and stuff like that".

"Atta girl," Natalie gave her a thumbs up.

"That's nothing compared to farm work".

"It's something," Riley added almost immediately and Sera huffed.

"Guys," Elise called to the two girls, "that's enough. To each their own okay". Natalie laughed and Riley chuckled.

"I'll go outside," Sera said and left the room.

"Anyways, other than that, I joined my mom at church and guess who I bumped into".
"Who?" Natalie and Elise asked.

"Illai Watts"
"ohhhhhh, and?" "Tell us more"
They both inched closer.

"Oh my God, nothing! We just talked". The girls giggled, "nothing more?"

"And he has sent me this cake for my birthday," she revealed the box and Natalie squealed. Elise attempted to peek inside and Riley let her open the box.

"Awww... this is so sweet of him. What did he say?", Natalie asked. "He said that it's his gift to me, something like that". Natalie jumped excitedly.
"Are you guys dating," Elise winked at Riley.

Riley's brows furrowed, "Illai? No, no, no. I can't date him. We're just friends."
"Come on, Riley. There's gotta be more. He wouldn't have done this". Riley brushed off Elise's comment and permitted her to share the cake.

"I'm not in the mood for cake," she said and walked away.
•••

The next morning in class, Garf talked to Natalie about the latest action movies and Natalie showed him more drawings.