"Soap and chocolate? That's an...odd request," Odette looks at me with confusion after returning from my adventure to the Paramount Conservatory. She raises her brows and retorts, "You'll throw up if you eat the chocolate, and—"
"It's not for me," I glance away, standing in the middle of my bedroom. I know...I'll never be able to experience the curiosity of mortal food, however, that doesn't mean I can't try and apologize for whatever I did to offend that man. I know mortals give chocolate to one another to make each other feel better, so that's my first thought.
Odette raises her brows, "The soap?"
"Yeah...that's not for me either," maybe if he showers with nice soap it might make his mood better.
It's quiet between the two of us before she sighs, "Alright, I'm heading out any way to the 24-hour store at the other end of town, and I'll grab what you need. Try not to get into too much trouble tonight, alright?"
I nod my head quickly, watching as she heads toward my bedroom door.
She rests her hand on the knob, glancing back at me to ask, "Did you have a good time though?"
"It was...different," it's all I can really conclude from it, also adding in, "I got to see so many books I could sit in there for a century and not cover them all."
Odette's features shift as she smiles at me, nodding and saying, "Have a good night."
I really am tired though, staying up during the day prior didn't help. Pulling and locking my drapes into place, I pause a moment as I take one last look at the college before allowing the room to darken. Sleep finds me relatively quickly, even managing to sleep through the following day as I didn't realize how sleep-deprived, I'd made myself.
When I do wake, I get ready for the night, wondering if Odette was able to get the things, I asked of her. As I wander the hallway, I don't find her, though as I pass my mother's office door, it's open. She calls for me, "Wren, dear," I pause, glancing at her as she sits behind her desk, closing a book she was reading, "did you get good sleep?"
"Yeah, I feel refreshed," I smile at her, though all she does is wave me inside.
Once I cross the threshold, she tells me, "Close the door." I follow her instruction, walking forward while she then tells me, "I think we should get started on picking your new dress out." My heart falls into the pit of my stomach when she mentions this. She reminds me, "The Dance of the Lilies will be here before we know it."
Great, just what I wanted to spend my night doing...
...I really wanted to find a way to get back and apologize to that man.
It's still a few weeks away, so I don't understand why she's being so adamant I'm prepared to not be selected.
Mother has me pull up a chair beside her, pulling the laptop she had pushed away while reading her book closer to the two of us. She starts it up, showing me so many dresses I'm not sure exactly what she's expecting me to pick at this point.
"I think you'd look stunning in the red or black one," mother adds her input as she finally settled on a dress style for me. It's a strapless dress that hugs tightly until it reaches the hips, flowing out until it reaches the floor.
I shrug my shoulders and reply, "Okie, whatever one you like better."
"Wren, make a choice," mother commands this and I internally grimace. I don't like doing this, I hate having to make choices.
Uhh...
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe...
"The black one," I finally point at.
Mother releases a breath of air as she sighs, "The red one will command presence."
Why bother asking me to make a choice if it doesn't matter?
This is why I hate making them.
I nod silently, mother smiling and asking, "See? Wasn't this a fun time?"
Swell.
"Uh-huh," I quietly mutter beneath my breath, nodding as I'm finally allowed to leave. I can't exit that office quick enough, darting down a separate hallway across from my father's office.
Thankfully, I'm home free as I skip down the stairs, turn an—
"Ouch!" I slam right into Eli.
He catches my forearms, keeping me on balance as a chuckle leaves his lips. He asks once I have my balance, "You alright there?"
"Y-Yeah," I reply.
"What are you in a hurry for?" Eli arches a brow and I just shake my head, keeping my lips in a thin line. After a few minutes, Eli sighs, "Just be careful you don't run into a statue."
Yes, I'm sure I'll be grounded for the rest of my immortal life if that happened. The history is worth more than I.
Eli leaves me be, walking around to the parlor before I spot Odette in it. Looking around quickly, I slip inside, hearing her say, "There you are."
Closing the doors behind me, I tell her, "Did you get the things?"
"Yes," Odette withdraws them from her jacket pocket and extends her arm. Just before I can take the items, she pulls back her arm and questions, "What are they for?"
My heart stops in my chest, swallowing hard before I quietly respond, "I don't know how or why but a man I met is mad at me. I just don't know why, and I want to apologize."
"You? You did something wrong?" Odette laughs as she knows I don't intentionally do things like that. It's horrible and I try my best to be me without compromising others.
"I don't know?" I shrug my shoulders as it comes out more of a question, needing to know the answer for myself.
Odette looks me over briefly before she reaches her arm back out. After I take the items, she questions, "I suppose you'll need coverage in order to perform this apology?"
"Ideally...yes," I'm ashamed, though I keep my gaze even with her.
Odette nods and replies, "When did you want to go?"
"I was hoping to get a chance tonight," I'm eager to let this flow under the bridge, like water.
"Alright," Odette agrees and it's only moments later we meet up in my room, dodging my parents as I tell them that I'm wanting to work on my makeup for the Dance of the Lilies. They were all too excited for me to put forth more effort into this once in a millennium selection.
After packing the items in a bag, I head out, making my way to the library over at Paramount Conservatory. I'm lucky once again, as this time, someone is leaving as I approach, and they hold the door open for me. I am extremely grateful for my luck and if it continues, I'll be able to mend whatever I did wrong.
It's a while but nothing, he's not here.
I wait a while and it's the girl from before who walks up behind me as I sit in a chair in the study area. She asks me, "Are you looking for Ulric?"
"Ulric?" I ask, confusion lingering in my voice.
"Yeah," she tilts her head to the side, "Ulric, the med student who's finishing up his doctorate whom you spoke with yesterday."
Oh...
...Ulric. That's his name.
I nod my head slowly, not wanting to sound stupid. At least, not any more than I already feel.
She smiles softly and says, "He only has classes twice a week. He'll be back on Friday."
Fr-Friday?
He only goes to school on Monday and Friday...he must seriously be cramming all those classes into two days. That's incredible! He's studying to finish being a doctor. Wow!
I think that's incredible to have that profession.
"Thank you," I'm sincere as I smile back, the two of us bidding each other goodbye before I head out and home. Now at least I can plan with Odette for the next few days.
It's a struggle to Friday, though when it comes it feels like wings are tickling my stomach, flutters rising. I'm ready to clear whatever this is up. A grin is on my face as Odette takes to my room once more. I'm across the way very quickly, the items in my backpack secure. While I grasp the straps and hit the ground, I'm able to reach the library though I'm stuck for an hour.
My luck is absolutely horrible...because when I'm actually able to get inside, it's only because Ulric is leaving the building...
I turn as the door opens, excited before I knock into him. The air leaves my lungs as I ricochet off his chest. Unlike run-ins with Eli, I'm not caught, and I hit the ground hard, wincing at the unexpected impact. It doesn't hurt, I was just taken off guard completely.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean...it's just that—"
"Do you even go to school here?" Ulric's voice causes a shiver to run down my spine.
He stands with a hand in his pant pocket while the other grasps the handle of his laptop case. My heart skips a beat, trying to stand as I tell him when he turns away, "Ulric, I—"
I'm cut off in a split second, gasping as my back hits the wall next to the ID panel. He glares down at me, anger raging behind his eyes when he growls, "My name does not come from your lips, do you understand?"
I can hardly breathe. I feel like everything is caving around me and I'm suffocating under his presence. I swallow hard, trying to steady my uneven voice as I shakily draw a breath, "I-I'm sorry."
Ulric's eyes remain locked with mine. All I can hear now is the hammer of my heartbeat, blood pounding in my ears.
"P-Please," I shakily ask, wanting to explain myself. When he doesn't lash out at me again, I keep the tears back as the bridge of my nose stings. My voice is quiet, "I-I don't know what I-I've done to offend you. I-I know I-I must have as I-I'm terribly sorry, i-it wasn't i-intentional. I-I'd like to apologize wi-with..." as I reach for the backpack, he backs one step away from looming over me.
I shakily unzip the backpack and withdraw the chocolate, reaching my arm out. My voice is a little louder this time when I say, "I-I'm sorry. You just seem so...I-I don't know, I-I liked how much you were i-into the things you are studying. Your i-interests."
When he doesn't take the chocolate, I also withdraw the soap and say, reaching my other arm out, "I-I don't know i-if you're upset because...well..."
"Are you really taking a jab at my scent?" Ulric snarks and I swallow the fear that rises. He shakes his head and looks me over, "You are the one offending my senses."
My lower lip trembles before I finally cry out, dropping the soap and chocolate on the ground. Tears are trickling down my cheeks as I retort, "This is the last time I ever try and understand a human!"
Ulric's eyes widen, his muscles tensing. I turn to run though he catches my upper arm, my head snapping in his direction. He looks at me with confusion, as if I'm joking and I just realized how stupid that sounded to yell at a human and call them that.
"J-Just pretend we never met, I-I'm sorry!" I jerk my arm from his grip, seeing him still stunned with the same amount of confusion I have.
"Human?" Ulric asks me, his voice a much different tone, calm, welcoming, and gentle.
I brush the tears away from my cheeks as I reply, my voice steadier, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I really was simply curious. I'm sorry, I really am."
He tilts his head to the side, slowly releasing my upper arm while he crouches down and picks up my apology. Ulric glances at me and asks, "Soap and chocolate?"
"Soap and chocolate," I nod my head gently with sincerity.
It's a few minutes before he nods his head and says, "Come on, let's go inside together."