Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Yuzuki walked towards her shared bathroom, looking in at Deliah’s cracked doorway. She stopped and looked at the pastel and wild room, usually relaxed and comfortable. Deliah instead looked… different.
“Whoa, new clothes?” Yuzuki asked as she pushed the door open.
“You like them? What do you think?” Deliah asked, turning to look at herself in the mirror.
“I think you look like you’re trying to impress someone, and someone who doesn’t know you dressed you up. My brother is a designer, you could have just asked him to give you a makeover. Who did this to you?” she asked, looking her over.
“I did this to me, with some help from someone else. Someone who knows Seneca from the past and wants to help me impress him.” Deliah said with a twinkle in her eye and a smirk on her lips. She seemed fascinated with her own reflection.
“Whoa, whoa, you know that Seneca isn’t single. He’s taken. Majorly taken! This is a bad idea. Abort mission.” Yuzuki’s heart skipped a beat.
“How could this be a bad idea? I deserve to be happy, and if I have my dark prince I’ve always wanted I’ll finally be happy,” she pouted in the mirror, trying to look seductive.
“Only he’s already someone else’s dark prince who’s retired into polos, cardigans, and loafers. He’s not a dark prince anymore, hardly even a sexy librarian. Who is this person giving you pointers on Seneca anyway?”
“His old girlfriend. Apparently she wants to see him happy too, and she wants to play matchmaker.” Deliah said simply.
“Krista, the one who married a jeweler? The one who had the beautiful wedding last year?”
“No, her name is Velma,”
“Do you know nothing about Seneca? He was practically engaged to Krista for a long time before he got with his current girlfriend. Like, 3 years. Whoever his girlfriend was before that doesn’t know who this Seneca is anymore.”
Yuzuki took Deliah by the shoulders and sat her down on the bed. “Deliah, this isn’t you. You don’t bend and modify for boys. They are supposed to bend for you.”
She broke eye contact and bit her lip. “But I’m tired of standing straight and alone. I really like Seneca, and if I have to bend and mold a bit for him to like me then I’ll do it. I’ll be who he wants me to be. And you’re supposed to be my friend, why aren’t you on my side? You should be helping me!” she shouted, suddenly getting mad, and she rushed from the room.
“Silly girl, I am trying to help you,”
~*~
Saturday couldn’t come fast enough. Friday was lasting far too long, and Gloria just wanted to talk to Seneca. Take a long walk and tell him on the phone all about what had been happening. She hadn’t had animal rotation yet, but she figured she would soon enough. The schedule was posted every Saturday night with the assignments for the following week, so she’d know soon.
She’d already done most everything else. She’d worked on canning with Timothy and Miranda, she’d been assigned to the greenhouse twice, once with Alec, once with Ashton, and she’d been given cleaning house duty once as well. It had been a busy week, and there was always something to do. Until there wasn’t.
When Gloria got bored, she was bored. Aquila was a spellcaster, as was Alec, but she hadn’t had the chance to spar with them. She’d already worked on several personal projects: meditation, yoga, violin, plunking on the piano, shooting hoops, knitting, trying her hand at cross stitch under the instruction of Miranda.
But Gloria was used to noise. More noise. A radio playing, a car going past on the highway, a video playing on her phone. Here all she heard was the wind in the windchimes and when people were home she heard their voices.
She felt homesick.
She’d changed into her athleisure clothes and rolled out her yoga mat to loosen up after standing still at the stove all day while canning. Thankfully there was enough space in her room to spread out. She looked at her laptop on the desk longingly, but she’d video chat with Seneca tomorrow and watch all sorts of movies, play music, it would be relieving.
It was after dinner, and everyone was down stairs. Ashton was playing the piano, Aquila was painting, and Maria was in her room reading about spiritualism. When Gloria had made her way up stairs, Arhun was watching Aquilla paint. They’d been very close lately, and he followed her around like a puppy. It was sweet, actually, and it looked like Alec would be losing the bet they’d made. Timothy and Miranda took a walk, and had been gone for a while.
Gloria kicked off her shoes and centered her feet on the mat, closing her eyes and focusing on her breath, cracking open an eye when someone knocked on her door.
“Gloria, I hope you’re not sleeping,” Alec’s voice came from the other side of the door, the low grumble of his voice ticking her ears. “Because if you are, I’ll have to carry you out of there. We’re leaving, comeon, it’s tradition. I’m going to kidnap you if you don’t open the door,”
He paused, and Gloria relaxed her posture, smiling. “Gloria, I hope you sleep with clothes on, I’m coming in-”
Gloria opened the door and arched an eyebrow. Alec looked her over, “You can’t go to the bar looking like that.”
“We’re going to a bar? Isn’t that for old, sad people?” Gloria asked.
“As a young, hot bartender I’ll choose to not be offended by that claim, but yes. It’s a tradition that the first Friday night of the semester is spent at the local pub. You’re going to love it, I promise.” Alec nudged her. “While the crop top is cute, it’s a bit chilly out, so you may want to change.”
Gloria rolled her eyes, and she closed her door, pulling out something that would be appropriate for a bar. Nothing too cute, but enough to feel good.
“I remember when I first was dragged to the bar, I thought it was going to be some sort of sad bar, just like you’re thinking, but it actually inspired me to be a bartender- until I get my farming experience off the ground. Believe me, it’ll be a good time.”
Gloria yanked her top over her head and slipped on her shoes. She hadn’t changed out of her leggings, but that was ok. She looked casual and comfy.
“Much better,” Alec grinned, turning on his heel and walking down the steps to the foyer where everyone else was waiting. Ashton had collected Maria from her room, and she looked as ruffled as Gloria was but she’d managed to throw on some fun accessories.
“Ok, Miranda and Timothy know where we’re going, so no one worry that we’ve left without telling them. It’s a 20 minute walk to town and it’s getting dark, so everyone stay together!” Aquila projected, and the group shuffled out the door.
They formed a bit of a pack or pairs; Alec and Ashton walked ahead of everyone, chatting to themselves, and Aquila and Arhun followed a bit behind them. They looked so casual together, Gloria ached to join them. Instead, Maria followed behind, the last of the company.
Gloria felt that she should say something to break the ice between them. They weren’t particularly chummy, and Maria was rather prickly towards everyone, often rolling her eyes.
“What got you into Spiritualism?” Gloria asked her.
“You don’t have anything better to talk about?” Maria asked, arching an eyebrow.
“We could talk about which chipmunk from Alvin and the Chipmunks is best. Or we could talk about which home improvement tv network is superior-”
“You’re purposefully looking for dull topics to talk about,” Maria said, rolling her eyes.
“Personally, I love Theodore because he’s so stinkin’ cute-”
“Ok, fine!” Maria relented. “I got into spiritualism because my grandmother was a medium. She could talk to passed spirits who had connections or unfinished business here with the living. She helped them, and she earned a bunch of money contacting passed loved ones for clients. I want to know if I have the same talent.”
Gloria sucked on the inside of her cheek. “I know someone, a spellcaster, she talks to spirits who give her power to do her magic. Maybe she could give you some pointers,” After she stops laughing at you, Gloria thought.
“How long have you known this spellcaster?” Maria asked. “Is she the real deal?”
“I’ve known her all my life, and I can say she is very reputable. She saved my mother’s life before I was born. She does amazing things. Teleport far distances, destroy an evil sorceress, revive the dead, all the epic stuff you can think of,” Gloria smirked.
“Now I think you’re lying to me,” Maria said.
“Funny thing is, I’m not lying at all.”
They saw the lights of the town coming around the corner, and Gloria caught up with Aquilla. “How did you know about this? I thought you were a first year student like me.”
“I was here a week before you, remember? We didn’t stay shut in the house the whole time. It’s a fun bar, you just have to let yourself enjoy the time. Trust me,”
“I guess I have no choice but to,” Gloria said as they walked down the path. Arhun drifted to talk to the other guys, and Maria tried to be busy looking at the surroundings as they walked. Gloria felt for her and didn’t want her to be alone, but maybe tonight would bridge that.
Alec turned and started walking backwards. “Hey, Gloria, what’s your favorite drink?”
“Uh, I don’t drink much, so something that doesn’t taste like alcohol?” she answered.
“I thought as much. You don’t seem the drinking type. No beer for you,” he laughed, turning back on his heel.
“He’s in a good mood,” Gloria said under her breath for Aquila to hear.
“He’s looking to get everyone loosened up, build comradery. This’ll be us next year,” Aquilla mentioned. She tilted her head to be closer to Gloria’s ear. “Just be careful around him,”
“Why?” Gloria asked, pulling away and looking at her face, stopping on the path. Maria walked past them, giving them a stink eye.
Aquila watched her pass. “You know he’s got a crush on you, right? I know you’re taken, but he may not know that,”
“Alec likes me?” Gloria asked, puzzled. He was nice, attractive too, but she couldn’t see someone like him being interested in her. She was surprised that Seneca loved her, anyone else was a stretch.
“Yeah, but you should tell him you’re taken. I’m sure he’ll stop pursuing you if he knew.”
Gloria didn’t know what to say. She bit her lip and continued walking to the pub, Aquila following in tow.
Thrilling, I know! Sorry for my absence, The holidays can get very busy and my hands were very busy making lots of wonderful presents! Christmas went well, and now I have more time off of work, so there should be more chapters more regularly! Fingers crossed as always! At this point, they aught to be perma-crossed!
Just a few bloopers for your pleasure:
^ I can fly! No, you're facing the wrong way.
^Sorry, Alec, you're standing a bit close.
^I very nearly used this picture because his expression matched the playfulness of the situation, it's lit well enough, and I like the flirtation of the tie visible at the back of Gloria's top, but I didn't writ e the scene for Alec to be in her room, and I had better reaction pictures in the hallway instead, so this picture didn't get used. Almost, but no cigar.
^"So, tell me honestly, does Gloria look good or what?"
^During down time, I tried to get them to engage with each other, but all they wanted to do was read, buy a tv and dishwasher, or volunteer. Not very dramatic.
^Maria at least went outside to practice, but I don't know if she'd make it from that distance...
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