Nia, for a moment, was stunned– the expression on her face said it all and so was Iris. They were glad at least someone believed them but then, among all the students~ Emery?
It definitely raises eyebrows– given the fact that they barely see eye to eye with each other. And she was yet to even figure out why.
Thinking on it, the nagging feeling couldn't help Nia not questioning herself.
Is he genuinely concerned or does he have something under his sleeves? Should she take his help or decline?
Just when she was about to say something, their teacher's voice invaded– making everyone's gaze travel to the door.
"What's going on here?" he inquired as he walked over to the board– the students moving to their desks in the process.
"Nothing Sir," Emery answered as he took his seat. But then the expression on the other's face said otherwise– not to talk of the somber atmosphere.
"Are you sure it's nothing?" Mr. Bank's eyes traveled among the students; not so sure what the issue was.
"Well, it's just...," Cassie pitched in~ ready to make Nia unpopular with their teacher but when Emery cast a furtive glance at her, she knew she needed to zip up.
Intuitively, she bit her lip– swallowing whatever words she had on mind to say. It was clear Emery was getting in her way and thinking of it, it irked her.
"It's really nothing Sir," Emery said with a good degree of finality. Mr. Bank who was a bit skeptical, for some seconds remained quiet as he scanned the faces of the students.
Nina, looking all puzzled and confused about the situation– could hear the sound of her heart in her head as it beat hard against her chest.
She sat in expectance~ waiting for the Judas among them to expose her but then everybody seemed unexpectedly quiet– even Cassie who was a trendsetter.
"Okay then, the lesson goes on." Mr. Bank announced– jumping into the actual business of why he was in the class.
The discussion on the topic did end, but a seed of resentment against Nia had already been sown in the perspective of most of the students– that's not until the suspect had been justified as innocent.
As lessons went on, Nia couldn't help stealing glances at Emery.
"What do you think he is up to?" she whispered loud enough for Iris hearing. Just at those words, they both cast him a gaze.
"I'm confused myself," Iris replied as she sent her concentration back to the lessons going on while Nia's gaze remained fixed on Emery.
As if on an impulse, she turned to Iris– about to say something as a thought cropped up but then she met Cassie's gaze. The latter gave her a sour look as she smoothed her hair– flipping it back while she returned her gaze to the board.
Nina scoffed, turning her attention to Iris. "Do you think they know something about it?" She asked, not too sure but then, watching them giggling in bits from their desk convinced her that they had a hand in the sabotage– not to talk of their earlier encounter and the look Cassie just gave her.
Iris deftly glanced at Cassie and her friends then back to Nia– before resuming the notes she was copying. " I think we should leave that for later." She whispered with a sheepish grin~ tilting her head towards the board.
Nia understood without being directly told what it meant. Instinctively, she nodded as they both sent their concentration to the notes but then, Nia just couldn't keep her focus.
She tried writing a word or two then paused– staring absent-mindedly at the former seated beside her, busily copying her notes. Iris didn't know how long Nia had been staring at her until she felt her look burning into her.
Intuitively, she cast a glance at her and was surprised to find her lost. As if something was on her mind.
"Hey," she flickered her fingers before her eyes– snapping her back to reality. "are you okay?" she asked.
"Well. I was thinking. How am I going to prove my innocence? Any ideas?" she uttered with a raised brow– totally lost on what to do.
At that moment, the sound of the bell traveled through the entire school block– announcing the end of classes for the day.
Mr. Bank swiftly ended his lesson with an assignment and staggered out of the class. Just as the teacher stepped out, the class broke into rumpus with everyone packing their things.
Nia was still in talks with Iris as she shove her book into her bag when she felt a hand take her by the elbow.
She swiftly glanced at the intruder only to see Emery. It looked as though he was waiting for the teacher to leave.
"You are coming with me," he said as she led her out without giving her room to utter a word. The latter instinctively snatched her bag in time the moment he pulled her off.
"Em... Emery!" Iris called but they were already out of the door. "Sh*t" she grumbled, quickly picking up her bag as she hurried after them.
The rest of the class looked on a bit surprised. "Since when did these two become close?" Lily inquired but no one had any idea. With a shrug, she darted off with her friend, Erica.
Staring at their already faded back, Cassie's countenance changed immediately.
"This miserable wretch!" she fumed as she attacked Nia mentally. She thought she had managed to get her out of her way but then, here she is trying her patience.
*********
Iris sauntered into the hallway which was beginning to fill up with students but then, didn't see any sign of Emery or Nia. She wasn't sure which way they went either but made a guess anyway– quickly going for the path that leads to the parking lot since it was closing and most of the students were already heading out.
In her mind, the two were like fire and petroleum– leaving them alone together was surely going to be fireworks.