Lesbian Academy (Girlxgirl, Lesbian)

Chapter 43. Bargain

Chapter43. Bargain

After experiencing a blizzard with Lilith and Blue, trapped in a hole where no one could reach us, you'd think that I'd be sick of snow by now. On the contrary, I still adored it. My mouth puffed white fog as I breathed out. It was unbearably cold, yet my skin was somewhat familiar with the burn that the iciness brought and the strange smells of nature. They were fresh and cleansing. They made me feel alive, which was strange considering I knew what would happen next.

I knew that he'd be coming this time. His footsteps, though masked by the softness of the snow, was unmistakable. I needed only to turn to see that he was wearing a mask, and that he would drive a dagger through me, ending my life. I didn't do those things, informed as I was. It was better to look around one last time, ingraining the memory of nature in my head. The dagger went through me. I fell down. Dean J's face was the last thing I saw before I was swallowed by the darkness.

"Happy birthday to you. Have birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Mars. Happy birthday to you!" Bernadette's voice was a tune above the others as they crowded around me on the kitchen. A huge grin spread on my face. My parents always insisted on throwing me a huge party like this. They were too proud of their firstborn, the child they thought they'd never have.

Dad told this story to me once. "There was a time when your mother had trouble conceiving. We thought we were infertile." He ruffled my hair and gave me one of those smiles that lighted his handsome face. It was before thirteen. Before they hated me. "We're good folks," he said. "And people like us are rewarded by the heavens. We had you, Mars. Then there's Bernadette."

My sister, carrying the camera that would record my birthday party, pushed the guests who were on her way. She was a handful, that child, but no matter what they said I would love her for it. "Bwow your wandles," she said, her words nearly incomprehensible. She was still having trouble stitching a sentence together.

I followed her with my eyes after putting out the flame. She set the camera by the window and fled to the table where her slice was waiting for her. I left my friends to see why mom and dad has failed to return. Pressing my face on the window, I glanced out. They were talking to someone. I couldn't make out if it was a man or woman. As if I was watching a movie, the focus zoomed. "Dean J," I murmured. "Where are you?"

The person shaking me on the shoulder was insistent. She even slapped my face gently until I was blinking my eyes open. "I'm awake," I said. "Stop shaking me."

Jade's blurry figure removed herself from my bed. "You were having a nightmare." She looked worriedly at me. "Usually you'd wake earlier than everybody else, but when I found you still asleep after the alarm rang, I thought you needed more rest. I took the liberty of taking a shower first." So that was why her hair was still damp. "Then I heard you talking in your sleep."

I rolled off the bed. "What did I say?"

She laced her boots. "Something about fertility, snow, and the like." She straightened. "You mentioned Lilith too."

I dropped the pillow I was supposed to put in place. "You must have heard wrong. I won't say her name like that, and I was having a different dream."

"Trust me, I heard you call out to her," she said. Jade stomped her boots on the ground, testing if it was comfortable. The boots were new. She was going on and on about it sometime ago, saying she wanted to a pair that stood out from what we were using. I glanced down. Didn't look any different to me. "I'm hungry," she said. "Since I'm already dressed anyway, you won't hate me for going to the dining hall ahead, will you?"

"As long as you save me a slice."

"If they have cake," she promised. I headed to the shower after she was gone. There was something about the word cake that nagged at my mind. I couldn't remember what it was.