"Lillian, if I ever have to go to the student council office again, make sure you or someone else comes with me," I said, gripping her shoulders with a desperate firmness that might have bordered on melodramatic.
She blinked at me, her expression soft and serene as always. In her hands was the signed paperwork, which she glanced at briefly before tilting her head at me in that adorable way that made it hard to stay annoyed at anything for long. "Hmm? Did something happen?" she asked, her voice laced with innocent curiosity.
I sighed, my grip loosening but my frustration still palpable. "You could say that," I muttered, recalling the ordeal with Diana. "Your angelic presence might have been the only thing keeping me sane if you'd been there."
Her soft laughter was like a balm to my frazzled nerves. "Diana can be a bit... intense," she said with a knowing smile.
"A bit?" I scoffed, throwing my hands up for emphasis. "She practically radiates 'intense.' She's cunning, manipulative, and so ridiculously charming that I don't even realize I'm falling into her traps until it's too late."
Lillian pressed a hand to her lips, stifling another laugh. "It sounds like she gave you quite the experience."
"Experience? Is that what we're calling it now?" I said, crossing my arms. "She had me tripping over my words and practically running for the door by the end of it. I wouldn't be surprised if she signed that paperwork just to get me out of her office before I imploded."
Lillian stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on my arm. Her touch was as soothing as her presence. "I'm sorry it was stressful for you, Sera. I didn't mean to send you into the lion's den alone."
I sighed, her sincerity melting my irritation like snow under the sun. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known Diana would... Diana me."
Her laughter bubbled out again, soft and melodic. "Well, from now on, I promise I won't send you there without backup. Consider it a royal decree," she said with a playful wink.
I found myself smiling despite my earlier frustration. Lillian had a way of making everything seem lighter, easier. "Thanks, Lillian. I'll hold you to that. And next time, you're definitely coming with me. I need a buffer between me and Diana's... whatever that was."
"Deal," she said, holding out her pinky finger with a grin.
I stared at her for a moment, then hooked my pinky around hers, sealing the promise. "You're too good for this world, you know that?"
She tilted her head again, her smile soft and radiant. "And yet, here I am, happily stuck in it with you."
My heart gave an odd little flutter at her words, but I quickly brushed it off, chalking it up to the lingering stress from the student council. Right. Stress. Definitely just stress. Nothing to do with Lillian's radiant smile or the way her words seemed to linger in the air. Nope. Stress.
"By the way," Lillian began, her tone casual as she twirled a strand of her pastel-pink hair, "have you visited Camille's club yet? I heard there's a huge line of people trying to get in."
"Oh... I haven't visited yet," I admitted, tapping my chin in thought. "Maybe I should go check it out. Though, honestly, I'm surprised we don't have a line of people clamoring to join our club—especially since you're here."
Lillian's laughter was soft and melodic, like a gentle breeze through the garden. "I'm not as popular as you think," she said with an amused smile. "Being the princess tends to intimidate people. Most are too scared of being put on some kind of watch list if they get too close." She gave me a playful wink before continuing, "And, well, not many people are keen on getting their hands dirty taking care of plants. I'm just glad you and the others decided to join."
"Watch list, huh?" I echoed, suddenly picturing shadowy figures lurking behind every corner, keeping tabs on anyone within ten feet of Lillian. That would explain a lot. "Well, if that's the case, could you, um... assign some of them to keep Diana Hayes in check? You know, just for everyone's safety. Definitely not for my own peace of mind."
Lillian burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're impossible," she said, shaking her head.
"I'm just being practical!" I protested, though I couldn't help but smile.
She tilted her head, her expression softening. "Well, for what it's worth, I'm honored you think I'm such a draw for the club. Maybe you really do see me as some kind of angel."
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Maybe I do. You certainly act the part, what with your saintly patience and celestial presence."
Lillian giggled, the sound warm and contagious. "Stop dreaming," she said, reaching out to flick my forehead gently.
I rubbed the spot where her finger had made contact, feigning an exaggerated wince. "So cruel for an angel."
Her laughter bubbled up again, and she gave me a playful shove. "Oh, hush. Anyway, about Camille's club..."
"Right, what club did she start?" I asked, curious despite myself.
"Apparently, it's a drama club," Lillian said with a shrug. "You know, plays, performances, all that."
I nodded, the information aligning perfectly with what I remembered from the novel. Camille had always had a flair for the dramatic, both on and off the stage. At least some things hadn't changed.
"Interesting," I murmured, crossing my arms thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll swing by and check it out."
"You should," Lillian said, though her tone carried a note of caution. "But be careful—there's quite a crowd over there. I heard it's already the most popular club on campus."
I sighed, already imagining the chaos of navigating through Camille's sea of admirers. "Of course it is," I muttered. "Because why wouldn't it be?"
Lillian smiled, her expression teasing. "Jealous, Sera?"
I scoffed, though my lips twitched upward despite myself. "Hardly. But if she starts recruiting people for some over-the-top theatrical rebellion, I'm staying far away."
Lillian laughed again, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I don't think you have to worry about that... but with Camille, who knows?"
"Fair point," I said, shaking my head. "Well, wish me luck. If I get trampled by her fan club, tell the Gardening Club it was nice while it lasted."
Lillian leaned closer, her smile warm and reassuring. "You'll be fine, Sera. But if you do get overwhelmed... just come back here. I'll be waiting."
Her words, so simple and sincere, sent another unexpected flutter through my chest. I swallowed hard, nodding quickly before the warmth in her gaze could unravel me any further.
"Right," I said, turning on my heel, trying to ignore the strange warmth creeping into my chest. "I'll keep that in mind."
As I made my way toward Camille's club, I mentally prepared myself for what I might find. I knew it would be crowded—Camille was Camille, after all—but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer madness that awaited me.
The hallway leading to the drama club was packed, a chaotic mess of students vying for a glimpse inside. The noise was overwhelming—excited chatter, laughter, and the occasional squeal of someone undoubtedly enamored by whatever Camille had going on in there. I could barely even see the door through the mass of people, let alone figure out how I was supposed to get in.
"This... is insane," I muttered under my breath, my eyes wide as I took in the spectacle.
A group of students nearby were holding up hand-painted signs with Camille's name scrawled across them in bold, glittering letters. Others were dressed in theatrical costumes, dramatically reciting lines from what sounded like famous plays. One particularly enthusiastic individual was even handing out flyers, proclaiming Camille to be the "savior of the arts" or something equally over the top.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Of course. This is exactly what I should have expected."
I tried to edge my way through the crowd, dodging overly excited fans and narrowly avoiding being smacked in the face by a stray prop sword. By the time I reached the door, I was already exhausted.
A cheerful-looking student stopped me before I could step inside. "Are you here to join the club?" they asked, holding out a clipboard.
"Uh, no," I said quickly. "I'm just here to check it out. I'm... a friend of Camille's."
The student's eyes lit up, and they gasped dramatically. "Oh, you're Sera! Camille mentioned you!"
I blinked, caught off guard. "She... did?"
"Yes! She said you'd probably show up, and we were supposed to let you through right away!" The student waved me inside enthusiastically. "Go ahead! She's been waiting for you!"
I hesitated for a moment before stepping through the door, unsure of what awaited me on the other side.
The room was a whirlwind of activity, with students rehearsing lines, sewing costumes, and constructing elaborate sets. It was like stepping into another world—one filled with chaos and creativity in equal measure. And at the center of it all, standing on a makeshift stage and directing the madness like a queen presiding over her court, was Camille.
She spotted me almost instantly, her ice-blue eyes lighting up with recognition. "Sera!" she called out, waving me over with a grin. "You finally made it!"
I sighed, weaving my way through the bustling room to reach her. "Camille," I said, crossing my arms. "What is all of this?"
She laughed, her platinum hair catching the light like spun silver. "This, my dear Sera, is the birth of something magnificent. Welcome to the Drama Club!"
I raised an eyebrow, glancing around at the organized chaos surrounding us. "It looks more like a circus."
"I don't think I want to see that," I replied dryly, crossing my arms.
Camille chuckled, an elegant, lilting sound that made her seem all the more dazzling. "Oh, come on, it'll be fun. I'm still in the process of recruiting the perfect cast for my productions, you know. Great things take time."
"I'm surprised you didn't try to rope me into it," I said, raising an eyebrow.
"Eh," Camille waved a hand dismissively, though her playful grin betrayed her true intent. "I was going to. But then I heard you joined the Gardening Club, so I thought, why not let her tend to the roses while I create masterpieces?" She leaned closer with a smirk. "Besides, I've already found my stars. I have actors, set designers, costume creators, lighting specialists—everything. My little empire is coming together perfectly."
I blinked, genuinely impressed despite myself. "Wow, you really thought this through. You've practically built an entire production team already."
Her grin softened into something more thoughtful. "Of course. When you have a vision, you do whatever it takes to make it real." Then, almost imperceptibly, her voice dropped to a softer tone. "But it's still a shame."
I tilted my head, confused. "What's a shame?"
Before I could process what was happening, Camille stepped closer, her arms slipping around my waist in one fluid motion. The world seemed to slow as she pulled me into her embrace. My face ended up resting against her collarbone—soft, warm, and dangerously close. She was taller than me, of course; all of the heroines were taller than me. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was that she was hugging me.
My brain short-circuited. Should I reciprocate? Should I pull away? Should I scream and run? My hands hovered awkwardly in the air, unsure of where they belonged.
Camille's voice was low, her breath brushing against my hair as she whispered, "It's a shame you're not in my club. That means I don't get to have you all to myself."
Her words sent a shockwave through me, and I froze, my face burning so hot I was sure I'd catch fire any second.
"W-what?" I stammered, my voice barely audible.
She chuckled softly, and I could feel the vibration of her laugh through her chest. "You heard me, Sera. You're special, and it's a little unfair that I have to share you with anyone else."
I couldn't tell if my heart was about to explode or if I'd melted into a puddle entirely. This was... this was not normal. This was not okay!
"Camille," I managed to squeak, my voice embarrassingly high-pitched. "You—this—uh—"
She pulled back slightly, just enough to look down at me, her ice-blue eyes locking onto mine. "What? Am I flustering you, Sera?" she teased, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"No!" I protested quickly, though the furious blush on my cheeks betrayed me entirely. "I—I just wasn't expecting—uh—"
Her smile widened, and she leaned in again, her voice a sultry whisper. "Good. That makes it more fun."
At this rate, I was going to die. My heart couldn't handle this. Camille was... Camille was too much.
"I-I need to go!" I blurted, squirming out of her grasp and practically fleeing toward the door.
Camille's laughter rang out behind me, light and carefree. "Don't be a stranger, Sera. My club's always open for you."
I didn't dare look back. I couldn't. If I did, I was sure she'd see the full extent of the mess she'd made of me. And I couldn't let her have that satisfaction.
Damn that heroine! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻