Chapter 14:
"Oh Jim, no. I already can't feel my hand." Zarabeth grabbed the boy's arm as he stood from the table.
Jim picked up the bag of water, which used to be ice, from off of the girl's right wrist. "Do you or do you not want to be piping cakes by next week's lab?"
The girl groaned as she let her head fall to the table, her hair spreading over the surface around her face. "Yes."
Jim couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Zarabeth. She looked like a little kid when she complained. He couldn't help but think about how cute and endearing it made her look. "Then we have to keep icing your hand. Now, be a good girl and sit there while I go back downstairs for more ice. I might even get you something hot to drink if you ask nicely."
Zara rolled her head to look up at Jim, her eyes wide and hopeful as she asked in a small voice. "Cocoa?"
Jim desperately tried to keep a straight face as he leaned his elbows on the surface next to her, tipping his head so that it was at the same angle as Zara's. "That what you want?"
"With little marshmallows."
The boy stood up to full height again as he laughed. "Alright. One bag of ice, two cups of cocoa, and one with little marshmallows coming right up."
Zara watched Jim leave until she was sitting alone at the table in the common room. The girl sat up, gently poking in irritation at her numb hand in front of her. It had been over a week since her fight with Damian, but her wrist was still a little sore, jolting in pain anytime she accidentally used it. Calypsa's bandage had helped her from using it most of the time, but she still forgot every once in a while.
A few minutes passed before Zarabeth heard footsteps coming up behind her. Without turning around, the girl smiled as she spoke up. "Well that was quick."
An unexpected voice, a girl's voice, replied, making Zara turn around in surprise. "Sorry, Hartfit. I don't think I'm who you were waiting for."
Camellia Dane, one of Felicia's roommates, came around the girl, leaning her hands against the table as she looked over Zara, a smirk on her lips as her amethyst eyes burned through the girl. "It's been a while."
The girl with short pink hair, Bella, stood in a similar fashion on Zarabeth's other side.
Zara casually looked from one girl to the other as she greeted them, not really in the mood to talk with them, but not wanting to be rude. "Girls, nice to see you again."
The skin changer's face lost its only hint of sweetness as she scrunched her nose at the girl beneath her. "Let's not play games. I've got somewhere to be, but I needed to get something straight with you first."
Completely at a loss of knowing what Camellia could have to say, Zara tried to seem confident and friendly as she smiled up at her. "I'm all ears."
Camellia leaned in closer to the girl, her purple eyes radiating obvious annoyance. "I heard about your little spat with Damian last week. I've got two words for you, honey. Back off."
Beyond confused, Zarabeth couldn't help but let her face show her astonishment. "Wait, what?"
"You heard me. Stay away from Damian. He's mine, not yours, so clear off."
"I-I think you're talking to the wrong person. I've done more than my best to avoid Damian. Any encounter with him has been pure accident, or his fault. Actually, you'd be doing me a huge favor by telling Damian to stay away from me, 'cause he just won't listen."
The skin changer chuckled softly, the smirk returning to her face as she backed away a bit. "You must think I'm pretty stupid if you think I'll believe that little story you just tried to pass off."
Her patience dwindling, Zara gave up her charade of friendliness as she pulled the hair away from her eyes. "Look, I can't stand Damian, I don't even want to be near him, so have at it girl. He's all yours, but you may want to explain that to him, not me."
Camellia's long silky black hair fell in front of her shoulders as she leaned down close to Zara's face, her tone becoming more and more irritated and full of venom. "You just don't get it, do you? Well, Hartfit, two can play at that game."
"What are you talking about..." Zarabeth shook her head, completely confused by this whole situation as she looked from Camellia to Bella, then back at Camellia.
The skin changer stood, flipping her hair behind her as she smirked in satisfaction. "Fair warning. Stay away from Damian, or I may just have to...meddle a bit. Come on, Bella." Camellia turned away without another word, walking across the room until she was out of sight, her roommate following close behind.
Alone once again, Zara sat in silence, stunned by the unexpected conversation she'd just had. None of it made much sense, but she knew that Camellia had definitely gotten the wrong idea about her and Damian.
A few more minutes passed before Zarabeth heard footsteps behind her. Turning around in her chair, the girl was relieved to see who it was. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten that I was still up here."
Jim's face wore an odd expression, as if something were nagging at his mind. "No, I didn't forget, but I did think you might be somewhere else." The boy put a new bag of ice beside the girl, a cup of steaming cocoa in each hand.
Carefully putting the ice over her wrist once more, Zara gave the boy a questioning glance. "What do you mean?"
Jim knit his brows as he sat down, sliding the mug of hot liquid over to the girl. "I was coming back up and I though I saw you walking down the hall. Obviously I didn't because you're still here, so... Ya, never mind."
Zara didn't push him for any further explanation, her mind still distracted with mulling over what Camellia said as she slowly sipped her drink. She enjoyed the creamy taste in her mouth, its warmth seeping through her.
Putting down her cup, Zarabeth reached over to the spot beside her where a messy stack of books and papers lay in an idle arrangement. Pulling one of the books toward her, Zara opened it to a page where a lined piece of paper had been placed as a bookmark. Clearing her throat, the girl tipped the book up toward her so as not to let Jim see. "Where were we... Oh, ok. How many categories are stealth attacks divided up into, and who developed this system?"
Jim leaned his elbow atop the table, running his hand through his hair as he thought. "The Proteun Armada and there are five categories."
"Good. What are they?"
Jim and Zara continued to sit in the common room for the rest of the evening, studying, poking fun at each other, and just enjoying being together.
Along with that next week marking the halfway point in the year, there were finals to study for, projects to complete, and packing to do for the week long holiday following the end of finals.
Jim and Zara were so excited to be going back to Montressor, even if it was for only a few days. They missed everyone so much, but it wouldn't be long now.
Joining them for the trip home was Cane. Since he didn't feel like going back to Brendor for his holiday, Jim had invited him to spend it with them on Montressor. The Dopplers were happy to have another guest in the house, considering that they had more than enough room.
That next week seemed to fly by. Halfway through it, Zara had been able to return to using her hand, happy to be back to work in the kitchen doing what she loved. Zarabeth tried to enjoy that last week, spending lots of time with her friends, knowing how much she'd miss them, but it wouldn't be for long.
The night before leaving, Zara's mind was abuzz with excitement and anticipation, finding it hard to wait for the next day. She missed Amelia so much. In the last four years that they'd spent together, she'd never been away from her for this long. Zara really did see Amelia as a sister, and she knew Amelia felt the same. She just couldn't wait to be home.