Stars Above {A Zodiac Story}

✨Chapter Three✨

Gemma's POV

"Okay, now can we discuss what your reasoning is?" I question Santiago as the twelve of us walk back to our mansion after school ends. "Because to me, it still makes no sense."

"Well, isn't it clear? Her name starts with 'Oph', just like 'Ophiuchus' does," he replies. I stare at him for a second, then burst out laughing.

"That's your 'super secret reasoning' that you made us wait a whole school day to hear?" My good friend Vinaya sidles up to us and, hearing this, perks up.

"Ooh! What's the 'super secret reasoning'? Tell me!" she urges.

"It's nothing, just that the names sound alike," I tell her, and she raises an eyebrow.

"Seriously, Santiago?"

He shakes his head, "There's more. First of all, she was rude to me even though I've never seen her before. She also indicated that she would see me more often from now on and pointed out my Marking. Also, although I don't know if this counts as proper reasoning, I just have an uneasy feeling around her. I'm not sure why, though."

I think about his reasoning carefully. If what he said was true...then we actually do have a good reason to suspect Ophelia. Of course, we don't know for sure that she's the one we're looking for, but there's still a chance.

Vinaya seems to reach the same conclusion I do, because she replies, "Okay fine, I'll admit that's actually some pretty good analysis. You might be wrong, but I guess we should still suspect her."

"That's what I was thinking!" I exclaim.

"Well, great minds think alike," Vinaya points out, the corners of her mouth tugging upwards.

I grin, "Yep!"

"Hey you guys, hurry up!" Qadir calls from ahead, and the three of us run to catch up to everyone else, feeling satisfied to have more information.

Later in the day, I'm strolling through the massive school courtyard, admiring the flowers and humming to myself. Ah, what a beautiful da-

"Eek!" I yelp, my train of thought interrupted by something slimy sliding down the back of my neck. Slowly reaching my hand back, I realize that the slimy stuff is actually mulch.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, darling!" a familiar voice snickers from above me. I look up to see Ophelia perched on a branch of the tree next to me, sneering.

"Isn't that against the rules? Climbing up the courtyard trees?" I ask her while trying to wipe the mulch out of my hair.

"Huh?" she asks. "I throw- I mean, drop mulch all over you and you're concerned about that?"

I shrug, "Well, things happen." Ha. As if I'll give you the satisfaction of knowing you ruined my hair that took so long to blow-dry and straighten, you witch.

"Oh. Well, whatever," the blonde says, jumping down from the tree and dusting off her miniskirt. "Anyways, I'm Ophelia," she says, smiling in a sinister way and holding out her hand.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Gemma," I smile back, making sure to shake her hand with my right hand, which I used to take the mulch out of my hair.

Sure enough, she yelps, "Ew! Mulch!" when she withdraws and realizes that her hand is not covered in the gooey brown stuff as well.

I hold back a snicker, sweetly exclaiming, "Oh, I'm so sorry about that!" Not.

"It's alright," she grimaces. "Anyway, I have a question for you. Are you friends with Santiago? I saw you sitting at his table earlier."