Reverie

Chapter Eight

God damn it.

I climb wearily out of bed, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I have fifteen minutes to get ready and get downstairs.

I dig around in my suitcase, which I probably should have unpacked but haven't yet, and pull out a t-shirt and jeans. Just casual today. I don't take the time to brush my hair. It's messy, but it was messy before and Seth liked it.

Okay.

No.

Nononono.

Focus on making a good impression.

You are not here to find a mate.

What?

Shut up.

I wear my casual shoes, same ones as yesterday. As I pull out a backpack and packed it, I wonder what the hell I'm supposed to eat from breakfast. It's not like I can just go into the fridge and pull out some ready-made pancakes.

Right?

How much had overprotective Elizabeth prepared for me?

Someone knocks at the door. It turns out to be Cate, not Maple.

"Maple wanted me to bring this for you, since she was busy doing something," she says, holding out a thermos. "Oatmeal. So you don't starve to death in your boyfriend's arms."

"Oh. Thanks, Cate," I say, taking the thermos.

"But you're not denying it," she says with a sly smile.

"But I'm not not denying it," I counter. Am I blushing? Please don't let me be blushing.

"You're blushing," she says.

Fuck.

"Dammit, Cate," I say.

She grins. "Better get going if you want to meet people before school."

"Dammit, Cate."

"Welp. Seeya," she says, backing out the door and closing it.

I flop onto the couch, using the coffee table as a footrest. The oatmeal is okay. I've never really been fond of oatmeal. When I finish, it's 7:12. Perfect.

As a last thought, I take the paperweight and put it into my pocket.

I arrive in the lobby at 7:15 exactly. Cate, Mira, June, and Maple are having an intense discussion about something. When they notice me, they stop.

Wh?

"Hi," Maple says.

"Hi," I reply.

Awkward silence.

"Let's go," June says quickly.

"If we don't want to be late", Cate adds sarcastically.

I look over at Mira, to see if she wants to add in some sort of sassy comment regarding my visit to Seth's place yesterday, but she's got her music in and is staring off into the distance. Fair enough.

Maple leads the way out the front door of the lobby and onto the street. Mira is completely into her music, making miniscule gestures like she's conducting an orchestra. She looks like a lunatic. June starts complaining to Maple and Cate about a... python treating her like a small child?

Since I have no idea what Cate, June and Maple are talking about, I watch Mira. She's completely lost in her own world, a feeling not unfamiliar to me. It's kind of really obvious she's listening to instrumental. I watch her, pointing back and forth and gesturing like there's an orchestra in front of her. I guess she doesn't look as insane in her own mind.