Sixth year-February 14th

2014. Friday

 

A month later, their dynamic changes.

As one could guess, it happens during the famous valentine day.

Like every other schools, or most likely in boarding school, the day hold some special place for the students. Or at least, for those who like events like that. And since they learn magic, why not use love potion or even create love spell.

Fortunately, none of Clare's circle got trap into any mess. Or, none that she knows.

Since it turns the whole school upside down, involving even the teachers and the staff, the journalism club is heavily employed to talk about it and she barely gets to see Côme nor Lara. Something they already warned them about, foreseeing the shambles it's gonna get as it happened every other years.

Emmanuel almost gets caught in between because as an athletic, there would be tons of students that got quite the fame and fan-club. Corinna is way too herself to be victim of any rigging and barely gives attention to her suitors. Meanwhile, Bri's as annoyed as the rest of foreign and lambda students. Cause they don't have that much attention and are just collateral damage of any uproar happening.

Ake is not part of that category.

It is a general agreement to say the boy's pretty, having the pale skin and blue eyes of the nothern residents of the planet. He's also really nice and well-behaved to anyone that he doesn't know and even more to his dear friends. No wonder he's so popular.

"Jealous?"

Clare glances at her friend before turning back to her reading. Her eyes just happen to catch the scene a few meters away. Ake merrily chatting with some giggling girls.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I just think they're quite loud."

"They're barely at the room sound."

"Which is loud enough to attract my attention."

"Or is it just because there's someone that got your attention?"

Clare makes a huge act of rolling her eyes and doesn't answer, trying really hard to return to her book.

Needless to say, it doesn't work.

Bri takes place next to her. "What do you think they're talking about? They're been there for awhile now."

"I wonder," she snorts not kindly.

"Not jealous, huh?"

"There no jealousy here."

She just realizes that she's not the only one who reacted, though her voice comes out more violent than Bri. She then starts because she didn't think that Bri would be that upset to see Ake with some random girl. But as she chances a look to Corinna, her smirk tells her there's a misunderstanding. Bri's looking at the class representative talking with a seven year Hogwarts student.

They're not as intimate as Ake and his fangirls but it does intrigues her now that she noticed.

"Maybe she's Breton?"

Her stepbrother stares at her strangely. She shrugs.

"It's a guess like another."

"Perhaps you should have quiet your inner voice."

"You could also give your input."

"I'm not a riddle lover like you."

"It has nothing to do with riddles."

Bri got quickly bored by their bickering and grab Côme's arm who's passing by.

"What are you-"

"You, sit down, we need to talk."

Firstly annoyed by the commanding tone, Côme seems to have seen a benefice as he obeys quietly. He turns to Corinna.

"So, what do you look for in your partner?"

"I do not look for anyone. Other find me."

"Then, what's the qualities you appreciate in your partner?"

"Worship."

Clare holds really hard on her laughter, sensing that Côme may breakdown with Corinna's answer. Instead, he spins to Bri.

"What about you?"

"Communication."

Clare's not even sure that answers the question. But when Côme finally turns to her, her reply laced with sputtering due to the insistant look is:

"Equality."

She kind of deserves the glare.

 

The twin Asen and Lyuben come to like her a lot since last month, probably touched by their comrade's confession.

"So, any thought about replying to Ake?"

Yeah, most likely just for that.

"He said he's not waiting for an answer right now."

"You're not gonna make him wait, are you?"

Uncomfortable at their stare, she shrugs.

"I can't really give an answer if I don't know it myself."

"Then, tell him so. That you don't know. Because he has options, but now you're making him wait for you without an outcome."

That's mean.

And maybe she is too.

 

She's standing in the student courtyard, reading the billboard and secretly laughing at the journalist's survey, when she's approached by other Dursmstrang student. Not the one she wants, mind you.

"So, Clare, any plan for this fancy day?"

She tries to smile politely at Moa, but the girl next to her watches her so closely that she doesn't even want to anymore.

"It's a day like another."

"It could have other meaning for some sentimental people." 

"I'm not part of them." 

"Because you have no one to spend with?"

Clare just stare at the girl. Moa feels the tension and tries to relieve it by doing the late introduction. 

"Denka, Clare. Clare, Denka, my roommate." 

"Well, I can't really introduce you to anyone as I'm by myself and you already know Corinna. Not that she's here, as you can see." 

She wants to slap herself. Denka's faster and verbally slaps her. 

"You could be in good company if you ask." 

Wanting to change the trajectory of the subject, she's taken aback when Denka keeps going. 

"I would be willing to be that person."

Both her audience look fazed at her. Clare opens her mouth, not really knowing what to say when Ake charges into the conversation. 

"But Clare already got previous engagement with me. And we should already be going, catch you later!" 

They spun off leaving the dursmstrang students behind. And although she doesn't know where they going, Clare follows Ake's steps, trusting him.

Eventually, they stop at the gym, sort of their spot.