Fearless Beings

Chapter 23

Mia's POV:
~~~~~~~~~~

"He deserves better than this," Cassandra says quietly.

I glare at the floor, when who I really want to direct my glare at is Cassandra. Of course she's right. She's always right. She's friggin miss know-it-all.

"Say something," she pleads, her blond hair blocking my view of her face.

"Like what? Duh?" I snap.

"I haven't done anything wrong!" She complains.

"Doesn't mean you haven't tried to," I  shoot back, rolling my eyes at my idiotic excuse for a best friend.

"I wasn't trying to--"

"No, you see," I cut her off, my finger hovering inches away from her face. "You don't have to try. All you have to do is exist."

She looks down, toying with the necklace around her neck--a nervous habit of hers. "Sorry."

"Sorry is lame."

"What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to put yourself on mute as I think of a back up plan," I mutter, my happiness level decreasing gradually with every word she speaks.

"My tongue slipped, Mia," she implores. "Forgive and forget already."

I narrow my eyes at the blank sheet of paper before me, testing my laser  powers. Wanna make sure it works so that my next lab rat would be Cassandra if she doesn't shut up.

*flashback*

I spotted Madele in the distance and nudged Cassandra lightly. "Psst, look at her, she's there."

"Oh my," Cassie sighed, plastering on a friendly smile.

Madele stopped in her tracks once she took notice of us, "Hello, girls."

"Hi, ma'am," I greeted.

She chuckled lightly. "No, honey. Outside the office, you call me Madele."

"Hi, Madele. How are you?" Cassandra jumped into the conversation, ever the poster child of perfection.

"I'm fine, Cassandra. Hope you're doing well?"

Something told me she wasn't talking normal-convos anymore. She's talking about our assigned missions.

"Oh, excellent actually. Almost done," Cassie caught on.

"Oh, really?" Madele tilts her head to the side, smiling in satisfaction. "How many are left?"

"Two," Cassie replied.

"That's good," Madele praised, a proud smile stretching her lips. Then she turned her haunting smile to me, "What about you, Mia?"

My smile enlarged, proud that at least, I'm better than Cassandra in this department, "One."

"Terrific!" She exclaims, "I'm really glad it was easy on you, girls. And as much as I'd love to spend more time with you, Mia... " then she looked at Cassandra. "... I really do have some papers at home waiting for me." She raises her coffee cup. "But we'll talk soon."

I grin, waving at her. "Bye, Madele."

"Tom's the only one left in your list?" Cassandra asked, shocked. "I thought there'd be--"

"Tom?" Madele, who was about to walk away, stopped in her tracks. "Tom who?" She was asking me.

"Thomas Cantor," I answered.