Chapter 89: Who is Michaela
Andria’s POV
"We refuse to join you in that protest; besides, Tracy has never been a good candidate for us. I wonder what I’m doing here," an albino spoke out from amongst them in the middle of the ruckus.
It wasn’t so loud that I couldn’t hear it from a distance, thanks to my sharpened vampire hearing senses.
"Great! Let them fight amongst themselves. It shows my plan worked," I whispered back to Liara, and she gave me a sly smile, and we shook hands.
Although most students didn’t fully grasp the concept, the few who did made a difference.
Now, we can hope for the other plan to work. Liara gave me a wink and left.
Liara was also just like me, full of surprises. She moved stealthily to the midst of the commotion.
"Liara," I called, trying to stop her from getting too close to them, but she had already gone far.
Liara wasn’t one to enjoy gossip, but Arlo would be better suited for this kind of attitude she just displayed.
She tapped one of the standby supporters, and then they started talking.
Through the body gesture, I could tell that she was explaining what was going on to Liara.
I remember the student talking to me being one of the students who had earlier sworn her allegiance to me until Tracy’s spell got hold of her.
I checked my wrist watch and noticed that time had flown while chatting on the lawn due to the fume incident.
I was beginning to worry that some students might decide to retreat to their dorms after this instead of going to the cafeteria to eat during lunch.
Time for the day’s classes was almost over.
The microphone suddenly came to life again, and the headmistress’s voice came through, "The issue has been rectified, and we therefore ask that you all are careful when doing your practicals in order not to harm other students.
Since classes won’t be held any longer as time is already far spent, I suggest you go and eat and head to your respective dorms."
I can see that almost every student was happy to hear that the remaining classes for the day were cancelled. The day had already taken a toll on all of us, so as expected, everyone, including the teachers, was tired.
I watched all the students march towards the cafeteria. Looks like everyone is hungry; the long wait outside must have taken its toll on every student.
"Aria," Arlo called out to me, taking me out of my hazy study of how many students are going to the cafeteria to eat, "I lost my appetite. I wouldn’t be joining you and Liara for lunch; I need to head to the sick bay."
"Since you weren’t let in before, how sure are you that they will let you in to see her this time?" I asked him with concern.
"I don’t know what has changed this time, except my will to stay no matter what and make sure she is fine," Arlo replied with a gloomy tone.
"I’ll join you after lunch. I know both you and Becca must be hungry. I would get something from the cafeteria for...," he didn’t wait for me to finish before he left.
Shortly after, I was joined by Liara and the student who had earlier sworn her devotion before Tracy’s spell compelled her.
"Aria, meet Michaela," Liara said, and then turned towards the other student. "Michaela, meet Aria, the first friend I had in school."
She extended her hands cheerfully to me in a handshake. Her over-forward aura made me hesitant before extending my hands back to her in a handshake.
"Since you are back from your adventure, it’s high time we joined the other students in the cafeteria. I’m famished," I announced, dragging Liara by her arm.
I was a jealous friend, and I hated to admit it, but I had already seen the girl she was trying to bring into our little friend circle as a threat.
You wouldn’t condemn me outright, because I had lost friends in the past, and now I have these that have been so supportive of me, I can’t risk losing any of them.
If they go, it wouldn’t harm me; I’m already used to the cold.
"The idea that we are going to the cafeteria to eat..." Liara began, but I cut her off.
Liara was a composed young lady, but sometimes she tripped when she was trying to make a new friend. She’s pretty friendly, unlike me, and I can notice that she is giving Michaela almost the same energy she gave me when she first asked to be my reading partner.
"Shh.." Then I leaned into her ear, " What are you doing? Are you trying to spill our plan to your new friend?" I whispered in a calm tone, but I’m sure that she could sense the anger within my voice.
She is too trusting, possibly because she has no experience of betrayal. How do I expect her to have any experience when she has been in the castle, isolated from the others, all her life?
We got to the cafeteria and we ate in silence. Liara kept watching me with those puppy eyes Becca had taught her, knowing that it was impossible not to fall for it.
"What is it? Why do you keep staring at me in that manner?" I shot at her.
"You seem very upset. Why?" Liara asked in a low tone, adjusting herself on her seat.
A wave of emotion overtook me. I was actually stressed.
Becca was in the sick bay, which put Arlo in a bad mood. Now, Liara has returned with Michaela, whom my instinct tells me Liara plans to add to the group.
"Becca is in the sick bay. It’s enough reason to be upset. Why aren’t you?" I retorted with a slightly harsher tone than I had intended.
She flinched a little, and I knew that maybe I had taken my jealousy too far.