Smiling in the rain

Chapter 6: Faye

Songs for this chapter:

Give Me Love~ Ed Sheeran

Afire Love~ Ed Sheerna

Shirtsleeves~ Ed Sheeran

She Was The One~ The Vamps

***

The room is deserted, except for a chair and desk, a piece of paper and a pen.

My breathing begins to be become harsh and laboured. I grasp the desk for some support.

"Please take a seat, Faye, and we will begin the testing," a robotic voice says and I sit, almost tripping over the leg of the chair in the process.

Suddenly, a glass door at the side of the room is pushed open by a gaunt woman with short black hair who struts to the other side of the desk and sits down. She presses down her dress and gives me a sickly sweet smile.

"Hello Faye," she says. "I'm Dr Tehran. I'm going to be conducting your Animus Assessment today. Do you have any questions about this procedure?"

'U-Uh, yes. I do actually. With all due respect, Dr Tehran, is there not any syllabus or study material provided by the school before an examination such as this?' I say, exasperated.

She cackles with laughter, which makes me shiver slightly in my seat. 'Oh sweetheart, this is simply an assessment of your personality to see which of the house groups you would most be suitable for. I don't think you should need study material or a syllabus to know your own personality. I'm sure you would know yourself better than anyone,' she smirks.

I swallow the lump in my throat and reply, 'Ok, so, may I start? Oh, and also, is there a time limit? How long do the answers have to be? Are they extended response type questions or short answer or a mixture of both? There can not possibly be a ranking system for an assessment like this can there?' I finish firing my endless question, out of breath.

'Actually, Miss Summers,' Dr Tehran pauses thoughtfully, 'I really see no need for you to complete this examination. I think I know exactly which house to allocate you into. I've got you all figured out,' she smirks, again.

My chest become constricted and I'm finding it difficult to complete a simple exhaling and inhaling breathing pattern. I've got you all figured out. I've got you all figured out. The words echo repeatedly through my mind, threatening to shatter my skull.

'W-What? I don't understand. Why not?' I manage, my voice almost cracking.

'It seems to me, Faye, that you are quite,' she pauses, searching for the right word, 'dedicated to your academic studies. That is all I need to know. But, I'd rather you keep this on low profile. I wouldn't want other students considering this an unfair system,' she begins to reach for the assessment, which is waiting for it to be completed. By me.

I snatch it away from her grasp, 'It is unfair, Doctor! I want to complete this test and you're hindering me from doing so!' I cry shrilly in protest.

'Miss Summers,' she says firmly, her lips pressed in a thin line, 'This issue is non-negotiable. Please exit the examination room. Now.'

A thin stream of tears begin to flow freely down my cheeks, against my will. I wipe at them harshly with the back of my hand and with some sudden outburst of courage, I spit, 'You'll be sorry, Dr Tehran.'

She raises her eyebrows at me, clearly surprised by my outburst as much as I am, 'I do hope that is not a threat, Faye?'

I finally fully comprehend what I have just said to Dr Tehran. My bottom lip begins to quiver before I launch into an extensively apology, 'I'm so sorry Dr Tehran. Of course not. I-I just want to do well. All I want it to be ranked well. Please, Doctor. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

Her cheeks are flushed by the exchange. She resumes her composure and says with a hint of annoyance evident in her tone, 'It's alright, Miss Summers. Now, would you please exit the room? I have many examinations I have to conduct by the end of the day. It would make both of our lives easier if I registered you as having completed the assessment,' she pauses for a moment before she says softly, 'on my terms.'

I swallow the raising lump in my throat and mutter, 'Yes, of course.' I then turn on my heel and close the door behind me with a small click. No, Dr Tehran. The examination will not be completed on your terms- it will be completed on mine.

***

'How'd it go?' says Harry. He refuses to let me go to the dorms on my own, until he hears an answer out of me.

'Fine,' I snap.

'Ooh, someone's hormonal. Is it that time of the month, princess?' he smirks.

'No, not even close,' I bit my lip to prevent myself from shouting out any obscenities I will come to regret. My dignity will not be wasted upon this imbecile.

'So, Faye, right?' he confirms, amused by something as simple as my name.

'Look, Harry,' I whirl around to face him, 'I really would appreciate it if you would stop annoying me. I don't have any interest in you whatsoever, so please, just leave me be,' I beg and bore my eyes into his, waiting for a reasonable answer.

All apparent emotion in his features are drained and the lustrous green in his eyes have vanished. All that remains are pools of darkness. He grits his teeth before seething, 'You think I ever did, Fayanna?' I gasp at his use of my original name. How could he have possibly known? He continues, 'You think I ever had an interest in you? You're simply a toy for me to play with. Just like you said. You mean nothing to me. Nothing.' Giving me one last glare, he turns on his heel and strides away from me.

What I don't understand is why this obnoxious boy's comments, reduce me to a tear-stained mess.

A/N: Hiii everyone! It's Manasa again! HAPPY SUPER FABULOUS ULTIMATE FRIDAY! The next few chapters are written by me (including this one) because I wrote an extra long chapter (like 9 pages) but we decided to break it up, because we are evil like that. Lol. How are you all? WE HAVE ALMOST REACHED 100 READS!! 99 actually. Georgia and I are going out for hot chocolate once we get 100!! It couldn't have been possible without you guys!! Thank youuu all sooooo much! Please Vote, Like and Comment!! :)

Manasa loves youuuu! xxx