Crossover II Evalius

Chapter 12 Everything Changes

Chapter 12

Everything Changes

    Feeling concerned, Aria walked across the street to her best friend’s house Monday morning, ringing the doorbell. Usually when Vanessa was running late she would at least send Aria a text. Aria peered through the side window by the door to observe Mrs. Cooper standing by the stairs and tried to listen to what they were saying.

    “Vanessa! Aria’s here.” Mrs. Cooper called as she came to open the door.

    “I told you Mom. I’m not feeling well,” Vanessa called down from upstairs, faking a cough.

    Mrs. Cooper sighed. “That’s not going to work this time, sweetie. Hurry up and get down here or else the two of you will be late.”

    “Fine,” Vanessa grumbled in frustration. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

    Mrs. Cooper offered Aria a shrug and a half smile, saying, “You don’t have to wait for her if you don’t want to, Aria.”

    “It’s fine,” Aria replied quickly. “I’m sure we’ll still make it on time.”

    Mrs. Cooper just shrugged and left Aria alone in the front hallway, waiting. A few minutes later, Vanessa trudged downstairs in a light blue halter top, her soft curly red hair lay neatly just past her shoulders, and she wore slightly more make-up than normal.

    “You look nice,” Aria commented as Vanessa grabbed her nearly empty backpack and the two exited her house. “Is there’s something going on in school that I don’t know about?”

    Vanessa shrugged, not looking at her friend. “No, I just went shopping this weekend.”

    Aria felt the temptation to ask Vanessa if she dressed up nicer for Walter because their date went really well, but she resisted, especially since Vanessa did not appear too happy for some reason.

    Aria decided just to go with, “So how was the dance?”

    Vanessa continued to gaze downward as she answered quietly, “It was fine.”

    “You and Walter didn’t get into a fight, did you?” Aria asked, glancing at her friend in concern.

    “We had a good time,” Vanessa mumbled but then hastily changed the subject. “How was the ball? Did you meet any charming princes?”

    Now, it became Aria’s turn to act secretive as she moved her gaze to straight ahead. “It was alright. Most of the princes just danced with me once and that was it.”

    Vanessa briefly glanced over to Aria and asked, “None of them seemed interested in you?”

    Only Prince Rupert, Aria thought but only shook her head since she really did not want to go into that.

    They girls continued the rest of the walk in silence, neither of them desiring to discuss last weekend’s events. As they arrived at their school, Aria noticed Vanessa’s face went pale and her breath grew rapid.

    “Are you alright?” Aria asked, as she observed her friend’s odd behavior.

    Vanessa only nodded peering cautiously into the building past the empty front steps usually occupied by the popular kids.

    “That’s weird,” Aria commented pointing at the front steps of Sheerwood. “I wonder where everyone is.”

    Vanessa barely offered a shrug as the two entered the building. It became clear to Aria that something has massively changed, but at this moment, she could not tell what it was. So far, Aria saw no sign of Ian or Kendal or even Derek. Most of the other football players and cheerleaders stood around chatting out in the hall by their lockers. Several members of the football team seemed to be checking Vanessa out as the two girls past them. Vanessa, however, did not seem to notice as she continued to glumly trudge forward.