Chapter 4 – Avoiding Death & Gaining Friends

Raffina's POV

"*moan* It's morning already? I feel like I just went to bed. Damnit."

I barely got any sleep last night. Multiple images of that blonde girl from yesterday kept appearing in my dreams. With her eyes being so puffy you could mistake them for bee stings, you could easily mistake her for a monster. It kept me up for most of the night. Not to mention the countless information about her that I bet Ms. Accord is hiding.

It's weird. These thoughts…I can't get them out of my head. Normally, I wouldn't be caring so much about someone other than me. But this girl…this one girl. My curiosity has been peaked like never before. Something's definitely up with that girl. And I really want to know.

I got out of my bed at a slower pace than I normally do. I was still in pain from what Onion Pixy did to me, but not as much as yesterday. As I'm able to walk normally again.

I looked out the window of my double glass doors in my room facing the pool and saw that some of the trees surrounding the backyard were shaking a little. Which only meant one thing…

"Geez. It must be cold outside. I hope I can find some pants or something to wear today."

I went over and opened the door to reveal my ginormous walk-in closet. Inside is my entire collection of fabulous and expensive clothes, shoes, and jewelry alike. I'm very proud of it. Mainly because it's my parents buying me all this elegant beauty.

They're…currently not in the picture right now. But as long as they keep sending me stuff only an elegant and graceful lady like me could wear, I couldn't care less about what they're doing right now! Oh, La-Ti-Da!

I started going through my precious collection to look for something to keep me warm today. It actually took me a while, because I would occasionally stop and admire it for a couple of minutes. It's a habit of mine. A really good one that I don't ever plan on stopping…

Well, okay. Maybe I can spend less time doing this. I sometimes end up late for school because of it.

I eventually did pick out something to wear today. I found this really cute orange mini-dress to go with these white designer jeans that I haven't worn yet. And over the mini-dress was a black jacket with white stripes on the sleeves. I even had these cute white and orange shoes that matched the whole outfit. And this pretty white flower to go on my head. Once I got dressed, I looked at the mirror and couldn't stop giggling to myself. I looked so cute, I could just kiss myself.

"There! Not only am I super warm, but I look so damn cute, too! There's no way people can compete with me! Not even that girl from…

…yesterday."

I stopped talking and stared at myself in the mirror. The same thoughts from before were messing up my time of self-complimenting. And it actually made me grow a sad look on my face.

"It's that girl! That damn girl! I don't know what it is, but it has something to do with that girl! Just what the hell is it?!"

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"Hey, Raffina. Can you keep it down a little? It's too early for yelling."

"Uh…s-sorry, Amira."

That's just my older sister. I'll tell you about her later. Right now, I need to get to school I end up late again.

I can't afford any more detentions…


I was right about the weather being cold today. A cool breeze was hitting my face every 10 seconds or so. It was a good thing that I brought a light-turquoise scarf with me. The chances of me getting sick are lower now.

While I was walking to school, those same thoughts of that girl kept swarming in my mind. That same face was like a memory that I can't forget. I don't know why, but every time it shows up, I get the same effects as the others times before. Those teary green puffy eyes were just the most absolute SADDEST thing I've ever seen.

"Why…?"

"Raffina…"

"Why does that face absorbs me so deeply…?"

"Raffina…"

"WHY CAN'T I FORGET?!"

"RAFFINA!"

Without realizing, I ended up lying down on a patch of grass, dazed and confused. With the recent thoughts clearing away (for now), I opened my eyes slightly to see a green blur floating above me. I took me a while to figure out what that green blur was, but when I did, boy was I mad.

"Lidelle?! What are you doing?! Get off me!" I yelled as I shoved Lidelle off me and got up from on the grass, patting the dirt off my jeans in the process.

"You better have a good reason for pushing me into the dirty patch of grass, Lidelle! Or else you're really gonna get it!" I yelled, making a threating fist with my right hand. Naturally, Lidelle started tearing up, as she was always afraid of angry me, and well me in general.

"*shriek* I-I'm s-sorry, R-Raffina. I-It's…j-just…w-well…u-uh…"

"Just what?!" I yelled, growing impatient. She was also known for stuttering her sentences a lot, with her being such a shy girl.

"*shriek* I-It's just you were about to hit by a car and didn't know what else do! So I jumped in and pushed you out of the way! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!" Lidelle had said that really fast, then started crying out of fear.

The minute she did stop talking, I unclenched my fist and began to tear up myself.

Wha…What the…What the hell is wrong with me?! Lidelle just risked her life just to save mine, and I was about to beat her for it! Am I really THAT scary?! I never would've thought this would happen. I mean, I would always have dreams of me being rescued by a handsome prince of some sorts…but I never thought it would happen in real life! These thoughts have gone to a point to where I almost DIED because of them! That's it! I've had enough! No more of these damn thoughts messing with me! I'm going to face Ms. Accord and DEMAND that she tells me EVERYTHING about that girl! But first… I need to make this right.

I got down to Lidelle's kneeling height and pulled her in for a hug. I was extremely grateful for her risking her life to save mine. Even after how I've been so mean to her all this time.

"Lidelle…I should be the one who's sorry! I was about to hurt you for just because you saved my life! I'm such a horrible person! But after this near-death experience, I want to change! And I plan to change! No more mean, scary, wanting to beat people up me! I'm really going to turn over a new leaf! So do you have it in your heart to forgive me?!" I was bawling out tears at this point.

"S-S-Seriously, Raffina?! Y-Y-You're going to change?!"

"Yes! And I mean it, too! I just got a second chance at life, and I'm not going to waste it by being my current self!"

Lidelle sat there in shock for a bit. Then after a few seconds, she returned my hug and we continued like this for a good while. Afterward, we got up from the ground and continued our walk to school. It was then that I noticed what Lidelle was wearing. Which was a green sleeveless shirt and black warmers on both arms. She also wore a short green mini-skirt and black leg warmers over her green and white sneakers. And in between the shirt and skirt was a black belt that looked like it wasn't holding up anything.

It was…interesting. To say the least.

Man. Lidelle sure loves the color green, huh?

" H-Hey, Raffina. I-I've been wondering…s-seeing you cry was a rare sight for me. A-Are you okay?" Lidelle asked me.

"Well…I've been through a lot these past few hours."

"Really? What happened?"

"Well…"

I then told Lidelle everything that's happened the past couple of hours. From seeing the blonde girl with swollen eyes from the excessive crying and who could be our new classmate, to not being able to sleep last night due to these thoughts going on in my head.

I left out the injury part. I don't feel comfortable telling someone I got a bruise on my…you know.

But even without knowing that, Lidelle seemed to understand. Because she gave me another hug after I had finished explaining everything. She's so sweet and kind. I can't believe I was mean to such an innocent girl like her.

"Wow, Raffina. That sounds horrible." She said.

"Yeah, you don't have to tell me twice."

"Makes me want to ask Ms. Accord about that girl, too."

"Wait, you do? Why?"

"Well…It seems to be causing you a lot of stress. And I don't like it when my friends stress."

"F-Friend?!"

"Y-Yeah. Y-You're my friend, Raffina. A-Am I wrong?"

"W-Well…n-no. I-It's just…I-I've never really…h-had a…fr-fr…friend before."

Aw, geez. Now she has me stuttering.

"R-Really? N-Not even one?"

"Sadly, no."

"Whoa. W-Well it's okay now, Raffina. I-I'll be your friend."

"R-Really?! Y-You would?!"

"Sure. I like having friends. Having one makes me so happy. E-Especially nowadays." Lidelle had said that last part with a sad tone. Which I was able to pick up.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked.

"N-Nothing…i-it's just…T-Tarutaru's been ignoring me a lot recently. He doesn't talk to me, we don't eat lunch together, and we don't even walk home together anymore. I-It's like he doesn't want to be my friend anymore."

"Really? Tarutaru?"

"Y-Yeah. I-It's weird…and it also hurts."

Lidelle looked like she was about to cry. This problem of hers must really be hurting her right now. I had to make her feel better. I mean, she did it to me. And that's what friends do right?

I grabbed Lidelle and brought her closer to embrace in a hug once more, only this one was longer than the ones before. Since I always believed that I was so much better than everyone else, I didn't think I needed friends. But Lidelle still treats me like one, even after all the times I've walked all over her. And she even saved my life (I still can't get over that). I guess this is what friendship is like these days.

I could get used to this…

"Not to worry, Lidelle. I may not know what's going on in Tarutaru's big stupid head, but I'll be your friend. Your best friend. And I won't ignore you either." I said.

"R-Really, Raffina? Y-You mean it?"

"Yep. I truly mean it." I said with an added smile.

Lidelle looked very happy when I said that. She looks really cute when she smiles. Which was another thing that I never noticed until now.

"Now let us continue our walk to school. Don't want to be late now, do we? Oh, La-Ti-Da!"

But Lidelle didn't answer me. Instead, she just stared at me with a confused look on her face.

"What?" I asked.

"W-Well…it's just I've been wondering. What does it mean when you say "Oh La-Ti-Da!" like that?"

"You know, to be honest…I don't really know. I just like saying it. Call it a hobby, if you must."

"Huh. Okay then."

We both then continued making our way to school. During the walk, the thoughts of the blonde girl came back soon after. But at least now I've got someone to help me deal with them.

And besides, better Lidelle than Klug. Oh, La-Ti-Da!

*This chapter was edited. As some things were either added or removed from the original version.*