Breaking the story

He knew me

I was sitting in the cafeteria, staring out the window. Probably doing a good impression of Jenny outside of scenes. But...when would this book end? And if it did, would I forget everything again? I didn't want to forget. 

"I don't want to forget," I whispered. 

"Did you say something?" 

Lucas sat down at my lonely table, between classes or skipping one. His fangirls were nowhere in sight for once. He looked less moody than usual, a half smile on his too good-looking face. 

"Nothing that matters," I replied. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"So you and Nathan are a thing now? Is that real or not?" I glanced up, startled. How did he know?! We'd only held hands and kissed at that café, and he hadn't been there. 

"It's real," I said, wrapping my arms around myself as if I was cold. "I'm not pulling a honey trap." 

"I saw you through the café window. Hmm, I thought you didn't trust him.  I don't know if I do," he said. I suddenly remembered Lucas coughing in my flashbacks. It didn't matter if he trusted Nathan or not. It wasn't as if we could leave. Not when it would kill him. 

"I found out some things," I said. 

"What things?" 

A lone fangirl walked past the table, but one glare from Lucas had her scuttling away. 

"You've really learned how to scare them off," I murmured. "And I've learned that we're under some sort of curse caused by angry magicians because Bloom pissed them off. That's about all." 

Lucas stared at me. 

"I'm waiting for the punchline," he snapped. 

"There isn't one," I said, annoyed. "That's all I know." 

"And why would Bloom annoy magicians? She doesn't go looking for trouble." I begged to differ. I was still finding it hard to not dislike Bloom, even though it was becoming obvious she had actual emotions in my memories. And wasn't an evil Queen Bee. 

"Apparently she does," I replied. "She wanted something, and then this happened." I couldn't tell him the truth. How do you tell someone they're terminal? And their hell was stories like this? 

Lucas slapped his hand onto the table, and I jumped. 

"I'm guessing Nathan told you that, did he? All that stuff about Bloom?" he sneered. "You seemed like you had half a brain cell when we were on that trip and you didn't trust him...but now he's got you wrapped around his little finger. I thought you were smarter than that, Beatrice." 

"Nathan didn't tell me any of that, actually," I hissed. "I remembered it. I remember Bloom saying she was going to the magicians. So it seems like I have more than half a brain cell. At least I actually figured something out and did something about it. What have you been doing but hanging around Bloom? You didn't do much when I was supposed to be getting poisoned!" 

I pushed my chair back, more angry than I'd been in a long time. I was living in this hell to keep him safe, even though I was desperate to break free.

"I...but why would she? And I was thinking about the apple-" 

"Yeah, I'm sure you were," I said, sarcasm dripping from my tone. "I would rather be anywhere else but here right now. Bye, Lucas." 

I whirled around and stormed away, hoping a pride of fangirls would massacre him. 

The warm musky smell of the library filled my nose. It soothed a bit of my anger, and made me realise I'd been a bit ridiculous. Yes, Lucas had been out of line. But I'd overreacted a bit. I sat down at a table, and flipped open a book. Pride and Prejudice. That was a bit high brow for this school. I read some of the words on a random page: