Green Hearts

Chapter 29

I stare at them and silently pity for the poor child that unsuspectingly walked into a living trap also known as Munachi

They are stationed at Muna's desk with loads of make-up bags open as Muna sets out to experiment and discover new ways to turn faces into canvases

Does her neck hurt? Should I get her a pillow or ice?

I shake my head slightly to myself as I go back to trying to catch up on whatever I had missed in classes the last week

"I'm so glad that you showed up when you did" Muna says to her and I see her pretty eyes light up at Muna's words

"You've been saying that, what do you mean?" Paris asks her, parting her lips for Muna to dab on more lipstick

"Oh you should have seen her this last week" Muna pauses in her action to groan dramatically "It was awful. Like I was living with a spirit"

Muna goes to wipe her fingers on the apron she has on her and stands back to admire her work

"Your pretty face makes my work even easier" Muna grins at her then moves to grab her camera to take pictures just like the past five looks

"Ohh, so now she's not a girl's scout spy anymore?" I ask with a smirk from my bed and Muna just flips me off

"Well, I don't see how my presence made much of a difference" Paris comments while she gets her picture taken

Muna moves close to her again and ruffles her hair to the side before stepping back to keep snapping

"Oh but baby, it did. For one, once you told her you'd be coming today, she put her corner and life back to piece, that's why that area looks falsely neat" Muna winks at me for added effect

Paris laughs

"True and I won't deny it. I didn't want you to get lost in all the trash around my corner as Jane has pointedly stated" I say

I look back at my notes and silently relish in the feeling of not having any assignments for the week

Thank you seven seas

"What happened?" I hear Paris ask and I stare up at her. She's standing at my bedside now while wiping the layers of make-up on her face

"Hmm? Where?" I look around, confused by her question

Muna rolls her eyes at me "She's asking why you were half dead last week, dumb dumb"

I stick out my tongue at her

"Very mature" she grabs a scissors and waves it in the air "Do that again and I'll add your tongue to my art collection"

"You psycho" I comment but shuffle backwards in my bed when she makes a move towards me

I grab Paris and set her between us for extra measure but Muna just laughs and backs off

"And I'm the younger one" Paris rolls her eyes at me when I let her go and I flash her a sheepish smile as she settles on my bed next to me

"So what happened?" She asks

"Well, I was kind of involved with someone and it ended in all different shade of bad" I shrug

"Dating never brings anything good to the table" she shakes her head slightly as she makes an attempt to pull off the falsies from her lashes

"No, we didn't date" I explain "Technically he wasn't an ex-boyfriend. But he was an ex-something, an ex-maybe. An ex-almost"

I'm staring off into space when I finish and look back at her but she's staring at me strangely. Muna also

"Okayy. Too much exposé" Muna says and goes back to packing up her stuff

I shrug

Paris smiles sympathetically at me and gives me a warm side hug. I smile to myself because I'd resisted hugging her just incase I'd come off as too much, but it's even better now that she's the one that initiated it herself

She lets go after a moment and moves to shove her feet into her shoes

"Well, I should be heading home guys. Won't want my mom to make her way over here and make friends with half the population before getting to me" she jokes and we laugh at her

I make a move off my bed too "Are you sure you don't want us to drop you off? It's no problem at all" I offer

"Easy for you to say" Muna mumbles but I catch it clearly

"Have anything to say?" I give her a pointed look

"You're offering to drop her off yet you aren't even the one driving" she points an accusing make-up brush at me

I roll my eyes "Do you want to get paid? You need salary?"

She nods her head eagerly

"Thief" I comment and look back at Paris who treading her hand through her hair so as to pack it

I'm about to look away when I notice something at her side. A bruise. Big, blue and purple, ugly.

"Paris!" I jump to my feet and move to her. She looks shocked by my sudden outburst "What happened?" I yank her top up to revel the bruise

Muna is beside me in a second and peering at the bruise like she can tell it's origin

Paris moves away from us and replaces her shirt over her body

"What happened?" I ask her again, concern laced in my voice

"Nothing, forget about it" she plays it off and grabs for her bag but Muna moves to block off her access to the door

"No one is leaving this room till we find out what's up with that bruise? Are you an underground boxer?" Muna asks and facepalm

"Did your mum hit you?" I ask her gently and she shakes her head immediately, her eyes shocked at the accusation

"She would never. She doesn't even know about it" she sighs and leans back on my bedside table

We move towards her

"Tell us. Maybe we can help" Muna says, sitting beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders

"It's school. There's this girl..." Her voice breaks off and I hug her as she sobs on my chest. Muna joins the hug

"This is cute but won't solve anything" I hear Muna say "Which school do you go to?"

"Westside High" Paris clears her throat and I step away from her, handing her a tissue from my desk

"Oh that's just 7 minutes at most from here. I thought you live an hour away" Muna asks

"Yeah, but my mum works around her so it's not a problem" Paris explains and we nod in understanding

"What's the girl's name?" Muna asks after a moment and I step between her and Paris

"Don't answer that" I tell her

I can feel Muna's glare from behind but it doesn't faze me. I know what she's planning; unlike other people, Muna has no problem with hurting kids

Paris sniffles quietly

"Are you sure you don't want your mum to know about it?" I ask and she nods her head vigorously

Okay, strong denial

"Well, I figure you can take care of things on your own so I won't impose on you but if you ever need my help, just call. I'll come rushing over" I give her a small smile which she mirrors

"I should go now" she says and makes her way out the door. I stand at the doorway and watch her go down the hall till she disappears from my sight

I turn back to an eager looking Muna as I close the door

"So when are we going to break the bully's bones?" She's grinning and I just roll my eyes at her

Idiot