I've gone to great lengths to wipe from memory every single moment that followed that conversation. All the gore and beheaded bodies didn't make good company for the next couple of days.
Thankfully, the semester began anew, and offered me the welcomed distraction of books, and boring economics lectures.
Everyone returned a day before the start of the semester, looking wiped and in desperate need of rest. Well, almost everyone returned, with a few exceptions. One of them is Titian, but I'm sure that Daddy's chequebook will take care of that little problem in no time.
" Lily," Laira squeals at the end of the corridor as I step off the ladder. She arrived late last night and probably slept off the holidays.
I greet her with equal enthusiasm, as we run towards each other with open arms. Needless to say, there is quite a crowd in the corridor and everyone is watching with mild interest.
When we crash in each other's arms, she squeezes me tightly and I do the same. Because, in the midst of all that crazy, I missed having someone to talk it out with, someone who doesn't have an ego the size of the academy, and is also very bullheaded.
" We have so much to talk about," I say as I pull away from the embrace finding her already frowning at me.
" What happened?" Her eyes search mine, but the middle of the corridor is not the best place to have that conversation.
" Can we meet up tonight? How is everyone?" I still can't believe that the holidays have come and gone. I needed more time. Not enough hours in a day to accomplish everything.
Laira nods solemnly, " My last class is at midday. Everyone is good. We have some growing pains going on, but Millie and my father are adults. I'm sure they can work it out. Ellie sends her best and asks when are you going to visit. And Cole wants to show you his new teeth" She pauses for a moment thinking about it and I can't help the smile spreading on my lips" We can meet up in my room. We should invite Riley. I missed that big mouth of hers. I bet she has the juiciest gossip," I can't bring Riley into this. Two is a company, and three is a crowd. Pretty sure, she'd climb onto the roof of the academy and shout it to everyone. She is efficient that way when it comes to gossiping. It's fun when she is telling us other people's dirty secrets. I'd rather not be one of them.
" Maybe not this time," I say quietly, and loop my arm through hers. We have classes in different buildings, and I know this conversation will be short.
Wide-eyed, she looks at me more curious than ever before trying to understand the secrecy of our little get-together.
She nods when it dawns on her that this is a conversation just between us, and there are things I cannot say in front of Riley.
Tyler will be in class, and I'm hoping that neither of them will push for a quick get-together to share holiday stories. Mine are an amalgam of good, bad and downright terrible. A burden Mason, Graham and I share. And now the ever so elegant Emmeline, but I'm pretty sure she wasn't a stranger to their practices before I came along. She remained calm, maybe a little too impassive to the sight of beheaded bodies, and later on to burning them to a crisp in the crematorium.
Fun times, that I'd rather not think in depth about.
We take the stairs in a single file, luckily everyone is leaving the dormitories, and we have a smooth descent, without having to hug the walls on our way down so others can pass on their way up. I'm starting to resent that narrow stairwell.
" I'll see you after lunch. My last class is at eleven and after that, I have the afternoon to myself," I say as we make our way to the Kasov wing. The academy is divided into four wings, and at a sublevel, there is a laboratory for all the quacky experiments that those from the science division devise.
I keep avoiding going there, but I won't be able to do it forever. David is not letting up and now that he is back, probably has acquired a new level of energy to badger me endlessly.
" I'll see you around one-ish," She lets go of my arm and smiles up at me.
If I didn't know any better, that smile looks a bit secretive, but Laira is not much of a sharer when it comes to her most intimate thoughts. I wonder what she is hiding. Because she is hiding something.
" I'll see you then. I'll have the snacks ready. The story better be good," Laira says as she heads towards the stairs that lead to the lecture hall.
The hallways are crowded with students laughing, and sharing holiday stories. In the corner, I spot Tyler who waves vigorously at me, from his seat at the back of the class. That's where the troublemakers sit, and the socially awkward ones are. Lucky me, I fit in both of those categories.
Riley sprints in front of me, trapping me in her arms," You're here. I missed you. I have so much to tell you. And Laira too. We can meet up tonight, right?" Oh, God, I forgot about her verbal diarrhoea.
" I met this cute boy over the holidays. He doesn't study here. He studies in Baranstein. He is sooo adorable. He has a lisp. Everything he says sounds so much better coming from his lips," She definitely has odd tastes in men. Each to their own, right?
Who am I to judge?
I'm secretly dating a prominent, engaged man. I'm not exactly a shining example.
She carries on to speak about her newest crush in great detail. Oh, the girl is absolutely smitten. I can understand where she is coming from, but we are standing in front of the class, while everyone has already taken a seat. Riley keeps yapping at me, about the boy wonder. Casey is his name.
" Good morning," I look over my shoulder and see Emmeline placing her cup of coffee on the desk. A cup decorated with doddles, and all kinds of shapes and letters chaotically drawn. The work of a child. And in all that chaos, clearly stands written, ' the best mommy in the world'. Crap.
" Riley," I whisper to the girl clinging to my neck who won't stop talking. She pays me zero attention and carries on yammering.
" Riley, " I say a bit louder, and tilt my head at our backs. Her eyes widen, and gasps so loudly that everyone starts giggling, and murmuring.
This isn't awkward at all.
" Miss Liber, take a seat. Miss Abernathy Dean Garouche would like to see you in his office," I look at Riley, eyes full of accusation, while Riley finally lets go of me and sheepishly trudges to her seat.
Oh, boy. I'm in trouble. I know I am.
Emmeline must've told Eric what she saw in Zareen and now I can kiss my education goodbye.
Don't panic. It happened during the holidays. Technically not on academy grounds, and out of sight. Does under the academy grounds count as an exemption? I guess I'm going to find out
Shit. So much trouble.
I don't curse often, but this occasion requires it.