Chapter 100: Sleep over night 2
Andria’s POV
"Let’s head back to the dorms, it’s already getting late, and the principal had announced a curfew due to the recent happenings, and it’s almost time," I said, attempting to change the topic.
"Yeah, we don’t want to meet the patrol wardens," Michaela muttered, wrapping her cardigan tightly around her shoulders.
Her eyes darted down the hallway as though shadows were stretching farther than they should. She is such a scared cat, but she was cute.
Liara slipped her arm into mine with a smirk and then turned to Michaela, "Don’t tell me you’re scared. You have two strong she-wolves with you."
"Strong she-wolves who laugh in the middle of sickrooms," Michaela shot back, rolling her eyes, though her lips curved.
"Ouch, that really hurt. I didn’t know you had such fire in you," I replied sarcastically, clutching my chest, and we burst out laughing.
"I’m glad you know now how it feels when you say hurtful words," Liara said, directing her gaze to me.
"She wasn’t just referring to me, she was referring to us, so the joke’s on you," I replied to her, batting my lashes dramatically at her.
"Well, I’m already used to harsh words, thanks to having a friend like you," Liara came back hard, and I just had to give it to her; she won this round of banter.
We stepped out of the school bay, the evening breeze blowing us differently, more peaceful than it had been for the past few weeks.
"Aria, you’re quiet again," Liara nudged me. "Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about her."
"I’m thinking about a lot of things," I muttered, trying to mask the heaviness in my chest.
"Like what?" Michaela asked, tilting her head. She had that curious gleam again, like she wanted to peel me open.
"Like how you suddenly became brave enough to insert yourself into every conversation today, even though you hardly were our friend," I teased.
Her cheeks flushed, and she opened her mouth to protest, but Liara cut her off with a laugh. "Ari’s right, and I’m happy she’s also learning to loosen up around you, too. We can all be friends,"
"Yeah, and don’t forget Becca and Arlo also have to loosen up around her for this friendship to work, so don’t get carried away in your little magical bubble," I added, with a smirk.
Michaela huffed, folding her arms. "But they were nice to me earlier; they don’t seem to have much problem with me like you do, Ari."
"Now you are stepping overboard, calling me by my pet name," I said, pouting and then a cheeky smile appeared on my face.
I love her already. "Ignore Ari, she’s like this at first, but when you get to know her, you find out that she is such a sweet soul," Liara defended as I asked for that brief introduction.
The banter helped, though my chest remained tight. My smile was a mask, the same one I had learned to wear since I came to the acceptance that I wasn’t going to be accepted as a Falcon, no matter how hard I tried.
We pushed open the door leading into Aria’s apartment. The walk to her dorm seemed shorter than before, maybe because there weren’t any awkward silences; we bantered all the way.
"Quick, get in, before the wardens show up," Liara whispered, tugging me along.
Once inside her apartment, I breathed a sigh of relief. "You finally managed to convince me to stay the night at your place, princess," I teased her.
Looking towards Michaela, who had been silent since we got into Liara’s apartment. Her mouth was wide open in astonishment.
Her face lit up like she had just been brought into a castle. "Hold up a second, so an apartment like this exists as a dorm for students? I only heard of that, never knew I would be inside one. It’s so good to be friends with royalty..."
She bickered nonstop, rushing towards Liara’s kitchen and rooms.
"Oh, I forgot to lock those," she said, pointing towards her room as Michaela entered one of her rooms.
"You live alone here?, That must be so lonely for you, Lia," Michaela said, every hint of excitement expressed on her face.
"Lonely almost all the time, that’s why I asked Ari to come stay with me, but since I proposed that, she has always acted disinterested," Liara blurted out.
"Then, I’ll come stay with you. This place is huge, the bathroom spaces too," Michaela squealed excitedly.
I noticed Liara’s face twist in disapproval, and I wanted to let out a laugh in that instance, but I held it back.
Michaela was very loud and forward, making it difficult for Liara to live with her.
They are better off as friends who meet at school or spend time with each other from time to time, rather than living together.
"We are just getting to know each other, Michaela. Maybe when we are more acquainted, I can ask you to come in, just have fun, enjoy my apartment for tonight," Liara said without looking at Michaela, who already wore a puppy eye.
"Ok, so now we are here, we should get into a comfy dress and start reading, that was our deal, remember," I made sure I reminded them in case they had forgotten.
"Alright, let’s go freshen up. You can take the bathrooms in each room." Liara said, heading towards her room.
We took one room just like Liara had proposed; it was soothing. Of course, I went to the room where I had my episodes; that room was beginning to become my personal refuge whenever I’m at Liara’s place.
I took my time to wash off everything that had happened in school today, the smell of fume and the sick bay.
After bathing, we gathered in the sitting room to read, as we had agreed. However, Liara soon grew bored with the reading process and found a way to start a conversation.