The Other Side Of Me [Sequel to Faen's Child]

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“Right, so lunch is frozen in the refridgerator. You just have to warm it up. Just turn the over up on high for-” Brother Noel nagged again for the millionth time, and I sighed, interrupting his speech with a thumb up that was shoved in his face.

“We got it. besides, I know how to make instant noodles work, so you don’t have to worry about us starving to death, Brother Noel.”

It turned out that Brother Zane also –like me –knew nothing about cooking besides boiling water for instant noodles, and even then, my too-cool-to-get-hands-on unofficial brother had been too unbothered to even put his kettle to boil. The man I knew who lived alone turned out to take meals after meals from the cafeteria, and the only home-cooked meals he had were the untasteful, slightly bland and sometimes overcooked meals that his sister insisted on making for him when she returned from the school of Cynus in Europe where his father, sister and brother-in-law were.

“I’m not afraid of Zane starving, Raun, but if you lose even a single gram of flesh you have there, Kenton is going to murder and drink my blood for his dinner.” Brother Noel repeated, as if he took that threat very seriously. I hid a grin as I watched him scuttle to his room, walking to stand and lean by the doorframe as I watched the flustered Mr. Cypher gather his notes, stuffing worksheets into a bag that should look rightfully feminine –but somehow having the opposite effect with Brother Noel instead.

“After the elemental studies, I have another class with History of Faens. After that, I’m taking a practical for Water-training, so I won’t be back until dinner.” He continued as he shoved paper after paper into his bag. I was pretty sure he was going to miss out a paper or two at the rate that he was randomly stuffing paper.

Back in the living area, Brother Zane made a condescending grunt from his throat, not bothering to look up from the book in his hands, sounding irritated and seemingly wanting Brother Noel to just get lost.

“Right. You better get going. No time for nagging.” I urged quickly as Brother Noel grabbed the last of his papers, then brushed by me as he ran out of the room, practically jumping to the door. He grabbed his wallet and phone from the low table by his coat hanger, free hand already gripping the doorknob.

“Brother Noel.” I called him just before he went scuttling out of the apartment. He hesitated, the rush spoken loud in his eyes. “You forgot shoes.”

He looked down, and gave a bark of laughter before he slipped his barefeet in a comfortable pair of sneakers laid out neatly by the door.

“Thanks, Raun. Gotta go. Remember your lunch, and if-” I sensed the nagging beginning again, and interrupted him rudely.

“Just go, man.”

“Right.” He nodded and wrenched the door open, trying to take a step out, then hesitating for a moment.

“Raisy? What are you doing here? Nevermind, I’m late for class. If you’re looking for Raun, he’s in. Don’t stay for too long –he’s supposed to be isolated from the student body. I have to go. I’ll see you around.” I heard Brother Noel rush through his words as he slid past her, then heard his running footsteps away from the door. He didn’t bother closing it, so I saw Raisy still standing at the door, watching as the Water Training Master bound down the corridor.

“This is the first time I see him late for classes, Raun. You’re being a bad influence on him.” Raisy shook her head with a barely-hid smile, almost as if she were judging how influential I was in passing Noel my bad habits.

“Hey, don’t you have any good things to say about me? Keep that up, and I’ll kick you out.” I replied nonchalantly, motioning for her to let herself in. Ever since I had moved here for confinement, my friends had taken turns dropping by when they were free to keep me, Brother Noel and Brother Zane company. But mostly me, since I was the one with nothing to do while the other two had tons of papers to mark –which I noticed that Brother Zane often neglected.