*KIRA MYR *
Age: 21
Sex: Feminine
***
"Finally awake?" I teased the half-sleeping Eliya. She groaned, wiping the exhaustion from her eyes before letting her gaze fall on the two mugs in my hands.
"Coffee?" Her voice was hoarse with exhaustion and something else I couldn't name.
"One of them is," I raised the cup in my left hand, "I can't stand coffee, so this one's herbal tea."
She gave a half nod before reaching for the coffee. She took one sip before melting back into the couch. She parted her lips a few times as if to say something, but in the end no words came out.
I knew Eliya well enough to know exactly what she was about to say. I leaned closer, smiling as I asked:
"You want more sugar, don't you?"
She probably felt like she was being a burden and shouldn't ask for more. She tried to argue otherwise, but her beet-red face betrayed her.
"I really don't want to impose…" She barely managed.
"Relax, I want you here, you're not imposing or being a burden. Next time, just ask, okay?"
She nodded, though I knew she was lying. She would rather get run over by a truck than impose or stay longer than she was wanted.
"It's a surprise someone like you got suspended for gouging a guy's eye out." The grin on my face grew wider at her weak smile.
"I didn't do it on purpose!" She tried to protest, drawing a laugh from me as I threw myself on the couch next to her. With a sip from my own mug, I retorted.
"So if you were in that situation again, you wouldn't do what you did?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line, we both knew the answer.
I placed my mug on the coffee table.
"Enough talk about your suspension, what should we do about the situation with Haylen? We're basically in the dark when it comes to everything going on, that scares me." Eliya nodded in agreement.
"I-I'll try to find what I can about Mr. Kai Artofex since I don't have any classes with him."
"Mr. Kai?" What did Mr. Kai have to do with this?
Eliya seemed to have read my expression. "I didn't tell you?" She gave a quick recount of why she had run from the hospital, my expression fell with every word—this definitely complicated things.
I agreed that Eliya should start the investigation, only warning her to be careful.
"Urgh, I never thought college would be this frustrating! Also, Ms. Ho said we have an exam on Wednesday, you should be back by then?"
"Yeah."
I brought my mug to my lips and took a long sip, Eliya did the same. We sat in silence for a moment that seemed to draw on forever, both engrossed in thoughts. My gaze fell on the bathroom door. After coming back from the hospital, I had started working on something in case of emergencies.
"That's enough thinking for today, I have to move my body or I'll lose my mind. You can stay here as long as you need, I understand why you wouldn't feel safe returning to your dorm. If anything happens, check under the sink in the bathroom. Don't hesitate."
She nodded her head at my serious expression. I gave her a pleased smile before getting up, jumping in place a few times to elevate my heart rate. She couldn't see it, but I was still smiling at her.
"Eliya, I have a question?"
She turned to me, letting out a gasp as she looked at my face, inches away from hers.
"Do you know how to dance?"
Her breath caught in her throat. "T-That's random, why do you ask?"
My smile turned to an exaggerated grin. We were both too worried, I could almost see the negative vibes hovering around our bodies.
"Let's lighten the mood."
"EEIIHKK!" Eliya let out a scream as I lifted her into my arms. I grabbed my phone, blasting music before pulling Eliya into the halls.
I screectche—sung at the top of my lungs, dropping Eliya and pulling her into an exaggerated dance. No one was going to stop us, it was far from the first time I did something like this.
My voice echoed through the halls as I spun Eliya around, she barely followed my movements, half-embarrassed and half-nauseous. I could tell her heart was beating like crazy, she was petrified.
A voice at the edge of the corridor joined me in song, the last room to the left. I let the voice sing for a few seconds before continuing in my own song. Someone else joined, a male voice this time.
From the top floor, a sound of drums could be heard.
"Hey, people! What day is it?"
A cacophony of voices answered. "Saturday!"
"And what does that mean?"
"We're going to party like Louis!"
Fuck we were a bunch of huge nerds, party like King Louis? I couldn't stop a laugh from leaving my lips, I folded my body as my laughs filled the dorm. We deserved this after the criminal number of exams the teachers had given us this week.
One step, two steps, three. Eliya slowly began to keep up, we danced and danced till our legs were numb. The dorm trembled, doors slammed, drums shook and guitars played.
This was a weekend at V's College for the Scholars and Athletes and we prided ourselves on being stupidly over the top.
I felt my head grow light, but I couldn't stop dancing. A grin painted both my face and Eliya's. I pulled her close, unreasonably close. Our lips almost touched as I gazed into her eyes with intensity.
Yes, intensity was the right word. There was nothing between Eliya and I, we were both very straight. But Kira was passion and passion was Kira. And last I checked, my name was Kira.
"Don't worry," I whispered in her ear. "We'll get through all of this but right now I want you to do one thing for me."
Beads of sweat ran down Eliya's face as her flushed expression was replaced with one of joy.
"What is it?"
"Smile, and don't ever stop."
My legs ached and my lungs burned. My vision was blurry with sweat and exhaustion, yet I could feel the warmth of her grin.
Students burst out of their rooms, singing and dancing. Some had instruments, some didn't, they all had huge grins plastered on their faces.
We were ALL getting called into the dean's office.
I couldn't stand any longer, the same seemed to be the case for Eliya as we both fell towards the ground. Kiki caught Eliya and a strong pair of hands caught me. I didn't need to know who it was, there was only one man with the balls to grab me by the scruff of my neck.
I threw my head back, leaving a head-sized indent in Pandora's stomach.
"Don't touch me!" I let out, barely managing to stand on my own. Pandora laughed, giving me that oh-so charming smile.
I hated him.
"How's Kendall High School's Little Tigress? Only you could make this much noise."
"How would you know, you never come to these anyway."
He shrugged, blue eyes digging into mine as he adjusted his auburn locks. A scent wafted in the air, one I had known for years. The scent of oranges.
"You don't seem like you're in any state to keep partying, you should head to bed."
"You're not my dad."
"Yes, but we're close enough for me to care about you."
"Fuck you."
I turned and left, taking Eliya with me.
We'd dance until the night was gone, without any tangerine-smelling man. Then, we'd start our investigation.