Chapter 3-by riana

Chapter 3-by riana.4.skandarlous

Cordelia:

"Riana?" I turned quickly-thinking I had misheard Edmunds nervous stutter. When I saw that it was indeed her, the words just tumbled out.

"I'm so glad you're here! I thought you were coming tomorrow. Trust you to sneak up on me like that!" I smiled gleefully.

"You seriously cannot believe how happy I am to see you," I continued gushing, unaware of the bemused looks I was getting from people around me.

We walked through the pillared walls with elegant marble work, and I explained to the baffled Pevensies that Riana and I were related.

Edmund:

Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!

Cousins? And close ones at that. No wonder Riana was the only one that could match up to her—they had the same genes!

Now it would be impossible to…

Riana:

I sat down next to Delia, barely listening to her excited chatter. I couldn't handle being this near to Edmund. The memories still fresh from last semester. No hope there though. It was clear he was over it. Fully and completely. The way he looked at me gave it away. It was a kind of "scared to tell her "not a chance"/"get me out of here".

But I would have an ice-cool exterior. I couldn't afford a crack. Not a single one. Not even Cordelia would know this, and she was my closest friend.

Silence fell as our 'beloved' principal walked up to the podium. It was clear that her fashion sense (non-existent) had not changed in the holidays. She wore a short (way, WAY too short) multi-coloured/chequered netball skirt, along with a yellow turtleneck jumper and a grey puffy jacket. It was winter-but no need to go that far!

Words cannot describe the disgust I was feeling right now. How did she find clothes like that? I was sure she made them. Surely no shop would stock clothes as hideous as that. I mean-the patterns on that turtleneck!

I was just about to share my thoughts with Cords, when I heard Edmund laughing.

I stiffened slightly in my chair, fighting back my rising emotions. No. I couldn't fall back in love. Gosh I was hopeless. It was clear that he just didn't return the feelings.

Finally the pain and torture of the two hour "Welcome Back" assembly was over. As if they could find that much to talk about!

Cordelia:

God, that was painful. My leg had fallen asleep to the point of no return. I began to walk-well hobble actually out of the gym. That weird numb feeling had spread all the way up my thigh and was now making it incredibly hard for me to walk properly.

As soon as we got out of earshot I asked Riana

"What wrong hon? You looked really uncomfortable just then."

It was true. I had noticed the way she held her head high and looked only in one spot, as if she were trying to hold herself in.

"Nothing... I'm fine-really" she replied unconvincingly.

I was getting ready to crack this new barrier Riana had up, when Edmund and Lucy started frantically beckoning me.

"I'll just be a sec." I promised her as I ran over to Lucy.

The quad was now empty of students, as they had all left for their homerooms. Edmund, Lucy and I were soon the only ones left as Riana slouched dejectedly off into the office.

"I should really get going" I gasped, looking back at the space that Riana had just vacated, "I was meant to check into the office to get my timetable and…

I stopped speaking in shock.

Where there had been stone walls, now were trees and all of the most beautiful flora. It was as if the grey emptiness had been peeled away and in its place stood a forest.

"How?"

"Why?"

Dozens of incomplete sentences burbled out of my mouth, each fighting to be said.

"Impossible" I finally settled with.

"Nothing is impossible," Lucy grinned back at me.

"But what is this place? And how did it appear?"

My mind still questioned for answers.

"Welcome to Narnia." Edmund answered with a slow smile, "It's good to be back."