Voiceless Bird

Chapter 10

I Would Rather Fight You

"Is this what you usually do in your spare time?"

Robin picked up one of my books and flipped through it. "Don't you have a life?"

I glared at him from the top of the book I was reading, watching as he continued to rifle through my things. I sighed and glanced out the window, the cloudless, sunny blue sky stretching out for miles. Robin had been following me around everyday since his punishment was announced a few weeks ago and I was starting to get exasperated by his presence. He seemed to purposely antagonize me whenever we were together for his sadistic pleasure but I was determined to not let him get to me.

"What are you reading?" Robin's deep voice reverberated right next to my ear, making my heart thud loudly and cheeks flush. When I turned my gaze to meet his, Robin's eyebrow was raised, a smile playing on his lips. A smile full of smugness. I huffed back at him, my temper inching higher as he started to laugh out loud.

"You're so fun to annoy." Robin said as he snatched the book out of my hands and started to walk out the door. "Why didn't I do it earlier?"

He pushed the heavy door of my room open and turned back with a grin on his face.

"You coming?" He asked, throwing my book up and then catching it back in his hand. "I can't guarantee the safety of your book if you don't."

I internally face palmed and forced myself up for the sake of my poor book. Following him out of the door, I saw Meraella waiting nervously outside my room. She looked up, her eyes widening as she noticed that Robin was also with me.

"Uhm... Night can I talk to you?" Meraella looked uncomfortably at Robin, who had an 'innocent' expression on his face.

"Go ahead, then." Robin smiled sweetly at Meraella, crossing his arms, my book still in his hand. I restrained what I could feel was another glare rising and beckoned Meraella back into my room for privacy.

When Robin tried to follow, I shut the door in his face. I could almost picture his affronted look as the door closed firmly shut with a satisfying snick.

"What happened to 'you have to spend every free moment together'?" His voice resounded through the door.

"Yes," Meraella replied. "Every free moment. And right now she's not."

I laughed softly at Meraella's words. It had been awhile since I had last laughed, I realised. I turned to Meraella and smiled encouragingly at her, wondering what she had to say. Her eyes darted around the room, finally settling at my feet, avoiding my eyes. "I was just concerned about you Nightingale... Robin seems a bit too friendly. You know what I mean?"

I frowned slightly, it was true that Robin had been less hateful and more annoying lately. But that didn't mean he had an ulterior motive... right? Maybe he was finally seeing reason.

"He might be up to something," Meraella pressed on, "I don't think you should spend so much time with him."

It was strange that Meraella was suddenly so concerned. She had avoided contact with me whenever I was with Robin. It wasn't like I had a choice to whether or not I spent my time with Robin.

"What about going to the garden with me?" Meraella clapped her hands together, eyes bright with excitement. "Instead of-"

She was abruptly cut short by the door slamming open. I whipped my head around to the disturbance and was confronted by an impatient-looking Robin.

"I've been waiting out there for a year!" He waved my book around angrily, "Can you both please wrap up?"

I grinded my teeth together. The first time I had seen Robin, I would never have guessed how immature he could be. It was now Meraella's turn to glare at Robin, "Can't you just wait for a bit?!" Her voice was rising higher, "You've been in the way for the past three weeks!"