Bad News

Chapter 10 - Newsflash(es)

From: Lucy

Can we talk? Please?

I stare at my phone and reread the text for the fifteenth time in the last twenty-two minutes. My break is about an hour from now. I mean, what can go wrong with my fifteen minutes break?

To: Lucy

1pm, 15mins tops.

"Miss Somerset?" I quickly look up to Professor Hudson. "Can you tell us your opinion about Mr. Geoffrey's opinion?"

Oh, no. I didn't pay attention to what James had said earlier. I was too busy staring at Lucy's text. "I– uh," my answer came out as a stutter, there is a big chance I'm gonna fail this class if I tell the truth. I feel Niall nudged me from my right and the next second, there is a paper on my desk.

He said Mr. Darcy is a misjudged character

Well, that was kind of easy. I cleared my throat before answering. "I'm agree with his opinion but uh– he's not really misjudged. I mean, he did act like he was above everyone else, which was true. But, you know, he didn't need to do that. He didn't to be an arrogant person. He could be nicer, or more sociable like Mr. Bingley, his very own bestfriend." I looked over to James who has a pen in his mouth. "So, I wouldn't exactly say he's a misjudged character."

The professor has a triumphant grin on his face. "Interesting thoughts you have there," he winked at me, making the whole class laughed. "Okay, let's continue with another characters, shall we?"

That was close. "Thank you," I whispered to Niall.

"Anytime," he replied, giving me one of his crooked smile.

I smiled at him before finally pay attention to what the professor is saying for the next hour.

From: Lucy

I'm outside of ur class

She is really serious. I mean, it would be great to talk things through but I didn't think it would be this soon.

To: Lucy

Be there soon

"Hey, Grace?" I stopped at my track and looked at Niall who just called my name. "I hope you two can work it out. It'd be a real loss if you don't."

Of course Niall knew. He is her cousin after all. "Yeah, I hope so too. I'll see you next time?" he nodded and flew out of the class.

Okay, here we go. I step out of the class slowly just to find Lucy is indeed standing outside of the Music room. She waved at me, probably making sure I can see her in the mass of students getting out of the room.

As I make my way to her, I try to think about what I'm gonna say to her. Maybe even let out a few swearing words? Wait a second, I don't remember having thoughts about swearing on people when I first came to Manchester. I must have been subconsciously affected by Lucy's habit of swearing.

She smiled a little when we finally standing face to face after– what, five days or so. "I was thinking about getting food for lunch and maybe we can find somewhere comfortable to talk?"

"You only have fifteen minutes," I remind her with a smile.

"Oh, you were serious." I nod without erasing a smile from my face. "Um, okay, let's just go to the cafeteria, shall we?"

The cafeteria or as Niall would say, the social area, is located about fifty meters from Sociology class. I never actually bothered myself to come to this place. It's not because I'm an introvert or anything, although I quite enjoy my lonesome-time. I just tend to spend the break on the yard, sitting down under the oak tree, or just reading a book in the library.