Inqueda

chapter 12

Hi guys, so I finally gathered enough moral to write another chapter. I know I promised another one long before this and I'm sorry I'm just delivering now. I had a good enough excuse I promise. I'll try to be slightly more consistent now in my uploads. I'm not making any promises though, because with school and everything else going on, my schedule is crazy, but I promise to try and find time to write something.
Alright enough of that, hope you enjoy the chapter and please vote ( the tiny star on the left) if you like the chapter, and drop a comment, I'm always happy to ready them.

The drive to school was mostly uneventful. I was really excited to be seeing all the things I had read about, though I tried to tone it down so as not to increase his annoyance with me, but I still somehow found myself with my nose pressed to the window. He has mostly been ignoring me since the exchange at my door and really I don't know what to do to rectify that as the mere fact that I'm breathing seems to be annoying him so I left him to it for now.

He parked in front of the school, it has a large open space that seems to be just for parking. The building looks like three big dull grey structures connected by walkways and they all look like they had seen better days, except the small one that seems to be slightly separated from the others and has all glass in front making me wonder if it's really that open or it's just illusionary.

He still didn't speak to me but began walking towards the glass outbuilding, I wasn't sure what i was supposed to do next, but he paused for a moment and threw one annoying glance at me and I assumed I was supposed to follow. We were closer to the building when I saw that it had 'Administrative block' on it.

A kindly elder woman gave us a smile and a " how may I help you?" Since Cornal didn't say anything, I couldn't help but smile back at her " I'm new, I don't really know what I'm supposed to do". Her eyes sparkled with her curiosity, but she just opened a drawer and retrieved an envelope, she gave me another little smile and said " yours is quite a peculiar case, our only mid section transfer. In here is your locker number, list of your required books and a timetable of your classes and where they'll hold. Go down two doors and get your books there before your first class." Her smile got slightly wider before she added " I hope you enjoy your stay."

I muttered a thanks and took the envelope.
I turned to leave and saw Cornal leaning on the wall still studiously ignoring me. I couldn't help the sigh that escaped me then, I am getting really fed up with his childish attitude. I waited till we got outside the office then I faced him
" I get that you blame me for everything that has gone wrong in your life and I get it, but you're being really unreasonable right now. Maybe you should just go do whatever it is that you usually do. You don't have to babysit me remember? I'll go it alone, afterall your father isn't here to monitor what you did or didn't do."

He held my gaze for a few seconds then said " you know what, you're right. I'm outta here. Figure out whatever it is you're supposed to do. I'm going to go find my friends. When we're in school, I don't know you. Don't try to associate with me or you'll regret it."

I looked away from him to hide the hurt that I'm sure is reflected in my eyes. I don't know why his words are capable of hurting me like this. I don't really know him, no matter how familiar he seems. In a false attempt of bravado I tilted my chin " run along then, you weren't much use to me anyway."
He just narrowed his eyes at me and stalked off without another word. I felt a dull ache in my chest and somehow it seemed like he took a tiny piece of me with him.

I had gotten the required books and was desperately trying to decipher the map of the school that was helpfully attached in the envelope, though I don't know how much help it's being, it's only succeeded in confusing me. I was waking past one of corridors that branch off from the main one I was on when I heard the voices and being an innately curious person I stopped.

I was trying to investigate if I should just mind my business when I heard a muffled " leave me alone" and some mocking laughter. I was rooted to the spot for almost a full minute then I saw myself moving towards the voices. A small voice inside was telling me how much of a bad idea this was, but when I heard a grunt of pain, I was moving faster without even having fully made a conscious decision to do so.

One thing I could absolutely not stand is anyone picking on someone less than them. What I was thought is that the strong protect the weak, not intimidate them with their strength. Ut just makes me see red. I rounded the corner and saw two burly guys crowding on one who looked about 5'9 with a slimmer build and his back against the wall.

I sighed, you don't back yourself into a corner with two bigger opponents after you. You give yourself chance to run incase you can't take them at once and you always have to assume you can't, because he who fights and runs lives to fight another day. I can still here my brother's voice the first time he taught me to fight. I remember asking why he would need to run, he is so big and he just smiled and said " I wasn't always so big".

I shook the memories off and focused on the here and now. This guy whoever his is needs me, and with the incident of the past week in mind, it feels good to be needed.

I tuned back into the conversation and heard one of the big guys telling the small one how he would deal with him, I couldn't help the scoff that came out of my mouth " yeah that's why you brought a friend. What happened? Afraid to take him on all by yourself?" I shook my head at him " not so confident in your skills are you?"

He looked at me for almost a full minute then frowned " who the f**k are you?"

I sighed " didn't your mother ever teach you how to talk in the presence of a lady?"

He was still looking confused but continued " I don't know what you think you're doing here, but in this school you mind your business or we're gonna have some serious problem."

I looked him dead in the eye " oh I think we're already having problems, now unhand him".

He looked at me with a sneer on his face " oh yeah? Or what? What are you gonna do if I don't?"
Still looking him in the eye, I calmly stated " or I'll have to make you".

He just laughed " you and which army?"
My eyes narrowed. I know I don't really look like much, what with being so short and all, but sometimes I love to see the look of surprise on their faces when they realise that they have immensely underestimated me. But then I remembered I have a class to attend and I sighed again. " you're going  to release him to me, or I'm going back to Administrative office to report what I saw. I remember reading somewhere how prohibited bullying is."

Both their eyes narrowed  " you wouldn't dare snitch." But I just smiled " incase it isn't obvious, I'm new here and I don't really care how things are done. I recognize no rules except it's set by management. So...wanna bet?"
They seemed to be calculating whether or not it was worth it and must have decided it isn't worth it afterall because they left muttering about finding me in deserted places outside school and what they would do to me.

I kept my eyes on them to make sure that they did go, then I turned back to their victim and got my eyes on him properly for the first time and my mouth dropped open.

Okay guys so I have two questions:

(1) why do you think that cornal is so determined not to like Orla?

(2) what do you think shocked her so much that caused her jaw to drop?

Leave your answers in the comment, I'll really love to know what you guys think, you know, see if it aligns with mine. And feel free to ask questions, I'll love to answer them.
😘😘
Don't forget to vote.