Chapter 37

For once the evening found everyone at Ray's house and not at Kai's house. It was the same group of friends but tonight there was an exception in the face of Luna who sat beside Ray looking miserable all the time casting a bleak shadow on the otherwise happy moment. Though Ray himself could match her looks because he looked as much if not more miserable than Luna, having had a massive fight with Mariah earlier in the day on the subject of none other than Luna herself.

The others had different receptions for Luna. While Hilary in staunch support of her friend and genuine dislike of Luna made her feelings obvious my dropping meaningful comments, Mariam and Diana (who had been informed of the Luna problem by now) were nothing but warm towards her. Max and Tyson were friendly as usual while Kai was silent unless the conversation involved Diana (as usual). I think I should just mention that Diana had reverted back to her original appearance much to the chagrin of Mariah as she had decided that being careful about her appearance was quite a pain. She had thought, as if anyone cared how she looked.

Everybody had great fun but the others left early. Mariah and Ray cleared up everything silently while Luna sat on the couch with a satisfied expression on her face. She started in a silky voice, "Really I am so sorry for this intrusion. I think I should go, Ray."

Ray, who was in the process of clearing the table, straightened and smiled, "Not at all. Right Mariah?"

Mariah muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "Go to hell," and went out from the living room closing the door with a bang.

Ray smiled feebly at Luna, "She's a bit tired. Busy day for us. So, tell me what were you doing in London."

Luna's face saddened, "I'd rather not talk about that, Ray." Her voice shook and she wiped eyes. "I don't know what to do. With my job gone, my house seized, no money, I could only seek help from someone I knew. You. Ray, I'm so so-"

"Hey, just stop apologising. You did right by coming to me and don't worry I won't mention your past again. Don't cry, ok?"

Luna sniffed, "Ok." She straightened up and was miraculously revived from her saddened state. "So, tell me about all of you. You have such nice friends unlike mine." Luna's face seemed to stiffen a little but it was only momentary and the look passed so suddenly that Ray didn't even notice. He was busy recounting his life with the Bladebreakers, meeting Hilary, Emily and Mariam and now Diana.

As Ray become lost in his accounts, Luna smiled her secretive smile.

Later that night after showing Luna her room, Ray entered his own room to find the light switched off.

"Mariah?" he whispered. "I'm sorry not because I think what I did was wrong but because that's the only thing that would stop you from being mad. I don't like fighting with you."

He waited for a reply and he vould have sworn he saw Mariah move but no reply came. Indeed she was awake but she found Ray's apology merely mocking and decided to act asleep.

Luna's light was still on though. Sitting on her bed she was busy writing all that Ray had told her about his friends. She felt quite happy. She had information to get her revenge and it was so fortunate that just her appearance had started the rift. She could see earlier that night that Mariah and Hilary were giving the cold shoulder to Mariam and Diana. She smiled evilly. Nothing better than the seeds of a fight.

After completing her notes she opened her newspaper report which she had to mail by tomorrow or her position as a reporter in the Daily News would become a little wobbly. She wrote under the name of Haley Pritchard, the renowned and much notorious fashion critic. With the same fixed smile, she typed out a report rubbishing the sneak peak of the new Wong collection.

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