Girl of Steel and Stone

Chapter 17

Chapter seventeen

The alarm clock woke me at six in the morning, an unfriendly reminder classes had started again. I had gotten quite used to sleeping 'til nine.

Still, I quickly put on my clothes – showering wasn't of any use with stamina building just after breakfast – and made my way down to the Dining Hall.

It was weird to be at the other side of the building and to look out on the square. The corridors and stairs were full with First, Second and Third Years all trying to make their way down as quickly as they could.

Man did it feel weird not to be the youngest and least experienced anymore.

Once in the hall I shouldered my way towards the buffet to take my food.

The First Years were... divided. The villagers were sitting huddled and alone, while the descendants formed groups and made way too much noise.

I found my friend group and saw Roan sitting next to Kenneth, saying something that made him laugh. Huh?

'Seems like you're a part of the group now,' I said while I sat down with my loaded tray.

'I got angry with the others. Their opinion has changed, but they don't want to admit that they were wrong. It just doesn't sit well with me.'

'Strength of character,' Selene said. 'If you're strong enough to admit you were wrong you have a strong character. I read something like that in a magazine.'

Roan shrugged. 'I don't care what it means. When I see all those idiots now... I'm seriously surprised you didn't strangle me after even a day.'

'I wanted to,' I said, pointing my fork at him. 'More than once. But it was more fun to irritate you.'

'Still...'

'Doesn't matter,' I said, waving it away. 'If Nico likes you, I'll like you too. If he doesn't like you, I won't like you either.'

'You trust him a whole lot,' he said, sounding a bit baffled.

'That guy can read emotions better than anyone I have ever seen or heard of.'

'Who's Nico?' Jared asked, lifting a questioning eyebrow. 'You talk about him all the time.'

'Her boyfriend from Jarran,' Roan said. I could see the mirth in his eyes while my eyebrows shot up.

'Seriously?' I asked. 'I don't have a boyfriend.' Seeing Jared's angry expression I quickly added, 'Dominic is my little brother. He's going to stay with me, I hope. Depends on if the Director likes him or not.'

'She'll like him,' Roan said. 'Everyone likes that boy. He's to sweet not to like.'

'Except for Mara,' I snorted.

'Except for that bitch,' he said reluctantly.

'And Mara is...' Jared continued.

'My mother,' I answered.

'And you don't like her?' Selene asked, sounding just as baffled as Roan moments before.

'She hates us. So basically she acts as if we don't exist. Unless we irritate her. Then she turns into bitch mode.'

'But... how?'

I hadn't met Selene's parents yet. But it was about to happen. This Sunday. We were going to have lunch together. Urgh. But I knew her parents were really nice people. And apparently she couldn't fathom a mother not liking her child.