"I just can't believe it! I can't! How did you do that?" Karen exclaimed. "In just a couple of days, Marchelo became so... so sweet, and the party was just amazing. Although he disappeared somewhere. I already miss him!"
"Lower your voice; they might hear you," Lisa hissed and started looking around. Today, the Mortis didn't come to school due to some family matters, so I was left alone. I was bored, but I managed to use the time for some necessary things.
"Lisa!" Weston called out, and the blonde turned to me. "If you have time, let's go over your lessons. I don't want to leave a bunch of unfinished business."
"Of course," Weston happily agreed and turned to her friend.
"What do we have here? A library rendezvous?" Josephine laughed and adjusted her blue headband, which she took to wearing as a fashion statement. She gave an innocent smile when the other girls laughed in response. Lisa hissed at her friends and, with an apologetic look in my direction, glanced at me. I rolled my eyes and shifted my gaze to the person who had been piercing me all this time. It was Charlie. He didn't look pleased and shook his head. I was getting bored. Why the hell did the Mortis have to grieve all day? I'd have to put some serious pressure on Grace next time. I left the classroom, and my absence was immediately noticed by Lisa's brother. I knew it as soon as I smelled the expensive, sophisticated cologne he used. The scent of tea... and some kind of plant. I needed to stop guessing; I wouldn't find out anyway. His hand rested on my shoulder, and I turned and raised an eyebrow.
"We need to talk," he said shortly, and I nodded. Ever since Marchelo's fangirls started noticing us in the library, it became a hotspot for gossip, so we retreated to the balcony.
"Can I assist you with something?" I inquired, breaking the silence. The blonde stood before me, eyeing me as if I were an adversary. I sensed the lingering influence of my other self, Miss Mort, reveling in his demeanor, reminding me of my long-standing desire to be perceived as dangerous. Swiftly, I cast off the dark aura she had enveloped me in and attempted to soften my countenance.
"Yes, Julian, stay away from my sister!" the young man blurted out, and I raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I haven't even done anything..."
"No, Carner!" he interjected.
"Call me by my name," a voice whispered in my head.
"I see how she looks at you, talks about you with her friends, and tries to get your attention. It annoys me because you treat her like a stone. Come on, admit it, you really couldn't care less about her, right?" Weston's frustration was palpable. "She's my sister! And her behavior disappoints me, but I can't do anything about it because, as they say in her favorite TV shows, you can't stop love!"
"So, what do you want me to do?" I asked in a cold tone. His behavior surprised me, and I didn't believe that his sister genuinely liked me. I had studied with them for a couple of years, and I knew this could just be a game that Lisa was eager to play.
"Don't give her any hope. I get angry when I see my sister suffer. You have to understand that because you also have a sister."
"Yes, but the reason I don't show any sympathy toward her is that I. Haven't. Done. Anything. Like that. Are you blind?" I started to get irritated. The next thing I did was take a menacing step toward Weston. "You perfectly understand that I'm not interested in your sister. She was and still is nobody to me."
"Then why did you invite her to the library?"
"Oh, come on. Seriously? You reacted like this because of that?" I sighed. "I want to finish what I started. I made a big mistake, and to make amends, I promised to help her with her studies."
For a couple of minutes, Charlie fell silent and just stared into my eyes.
"Who are you in love with?" he suddenly asked, and I stepped back in surprise.
"Where did you get the idea that I..." I swallowed the last word and couldn't say it.
"I, like you, buddy, can tell when someone's feeling attracted. So, someday, maybe. Plus, your reaction, it kind of gave you away."
"Attraction and love are different things. And where did you get the idea that I'd spill everything like this?"
"Then we'll talk another time. "- With that, the blond patted my shoulder and concluded the conversation, walking away.
I stood there with my mouth agape. What had just happened? What the heck was going on? I pulled out my phone from my pants and started texting Morty, but I deleted the message right away. Something didn't add up. Something was definitely off.
As I entered the classroom, the bell rang, and students from some familiar classes began to enter our room. I was sitting by the window, scanning the entrance. Maybe deep down, I still hoped to see Grace or even an annoyed Deimi among the noisy crowd. But instead, the school's king entered the room. The girls stood up, shouting enthusiastically. He laughed and waved at them, but I could see clearly that his gaze was absent, as if he had hoped to see someone else in their place. I knew who he was looking for.
A couple of chairs were brought into the classroom, and Vesper headed straight for me, sat down next to me, and put on a smile.
"Hey, bro," - he said, and I was bewildered. Karen was nearly collapsing with excitement. Her eyes devoured the king, and she looked like an insane fangirl.
"Why did you sit here of all places? "- I asked sharply. - "There are plenty of empty seats."
I can sit anywhere, and it doesn't matter if it's taken or not, - Marchelo sneered, looking at me disdainfully. And then, I understood what the Mortis were aiming for. They saw two sides of him and sensed danger, but his speech in the hall hadn't changed their opinion of him. Now I felt uncomfortable with this person. One thing was clear: he HADN'T CHANGED. It was all a charade.
"O-okay, great, so what?" - I scoffed and closed my eyes.
"Don't believe me? Look." - the brunette began. He dramatically stretched out on the chair and shouted, - "Darn, aren't these seats uncomfortable?"
Half of the class rushed to offer their seats to him. Vesper turned his head to me and grinned. He waved off the students and asked me.
"By the way, where are the Morts?"