I.D.E.A. (International Diadem Elite Academy) [RECENTLY UPDATED!]

Chapter 20

Mavis looked around. Everything else seemed familiar. The living room and all of Jasmine's outrageous collection of fashion magazines. That simple yet cozy kitchen area right across it. The stairs leading to the second floor where all the real mess are hidden. Everything...

...almost.

"Hi."

Her senses that seemed to have left her for a moment came back like a struck of lightning. She looked around--right, left, turned her head for over a 180 degrees to check if she really was just imagining things. But she figured she wasn't.

"Mavvy." Jasmine might have just whispered lightly to her ears but to her, it sounded more like huge cymbals being stroked by a giant. "Mavvy...Let's do the basic here okay? What do you say to someone who is greeting you?"

Mavis was used to it. She's used to Jasmine's prying and interrogation for all the little things that might interest her. She learned to cope with that. What she is not used to is being obliged to accommodate random strangers at her doorstep.

For the past couple of weeks this scenario seemed rather frequent. First was the strange note slipped under the door from Raleigh. Next was Jeremy's out-of-the-blue visit. Then comes Knight who probably has the least reason to be there.

"Yeah. I hear you fine. But what I don't understand is why exactly is he here again?" Before she knows it, those words just came flying out of her mouth. She could see in her peripheral Jasmine's jaw dropped and crashed.

"HA! HA! HA! This girl is obviously still hang up from partying. Excuse her."

Classic Jasmine. Mavis thought. And she knew exactly what will happen next so before Jasmine can execute her evil plans yet again, Mavis made her move.

"Mavvy...Mr. Knight...I'll just step out and giv--", Just like what she had predicted, Jasmine was already at it.

But Mavis immediately took charge. "You know what? I just got this really good idea!" Jasmine was dumb founded. "Mr. Knight, my friend Jasmine here is actually a really talented fashion designer. I'm sure she has a looooot of ideas for you."

She looked at Jasmine who still seemed rather confused at how things worked out. Khight still has his composure although Mavis noticed how he'd been avoiding her eyes. She tapped Jasmine by the shoulder, smiled to the both of them and walked her way towards the stairs.

That was unexpectedly easy. Mavis thought. As she tried stretching her arms in front of her, she was then reminded by the still burning sensation left by her wound.

She went straight to her room and as soon as she got to her bed, she realized just how tired and worn out she was. Her body might still be recovering from the events of last night. She lied down, press her strawberry throw pillow on her face and her thoughts just drifted away...

(Past)

Last three months before the end of junior year. Mavis was trying her best to stay up as she tried to finish browsing thru what seemed like gazillion pages of review materials for the exams the following week. She knew she was running out of time.

She looked at her bedside clock. It was 15 minutes before 4 in the morning. She was literally up all night and her eyelids already felt like heavy boulders that she's trying desperately to lift.

"Who am I kidding?", said Mavis as a cold and wet feeling suddenly streamed down her cheeks. She wiped it off...but it kept on coming. Then she just gave up and let herself have it for one more night.

"Mavis, you're so stupid!" She repeatedly told herself. She was...miserable.

Some had passed since that painful confrontation she had with Raleigh and Jasmine. She tried acting normal but it was indeed easier said than done. A few weeks after was still fine. But then months later, Raleigh started to cut class and even miss an entire day of school. And Mavis would always notice.