Following Fiamma, Camille did not think she'd ever feel desire again. No one and nothing could ignite her passion as the strangely exotic girl once had. It broke something within her when Fiamma left. She'd never even gotten close to the girl, though no matter if she had, nothing would have been close enough for Camille's liking.
She performed her duties as she must, but lacking any of her usual luster and flair. She taught her girls their lessons and supervised her once treasured diving team, but her day to day always felt hollowed out; empty. She was positively devoid of feeling, and some days she wished only to scream. At least the rawness of her throat afterwards would be a feeling of some sort. Yet she resisted the urge.
It was torturous for Camille to not have something, or rather someone, to focus her thoughts. Someone to impress, charm, woo, that's what she needed. She could regale the girls with tale after tale, both real and made up, but she never wanted attention from the masses. No, Camille wants singular devotion, one person to be sucked in by her as she is by her desire for them. And that was what was missing.
One morning, after suffering a particularly dull and dreary week prior, Camille woke up to a shift in the air. She wasn't renewed with hope, but more of a cautious optimism. And it turns out she had a right to be optimistic. A new arrival was to brighten her day exponentially. It was at mealtime when she first crossed paths with the newest student at St. Mathilde's.
Aerla Grae came from Ireland. A recent incident that was not entirely divulged to Camille, had resulted in fifteen-year-old Aerla's transfer to the school. Camille was advised to keep a close eye on her. Following her colleague's gaze, Camille's own eyes first landed on Aerla, and she decided in that moment alone, that keeping watch of her was not going to be a problem.
Aerla sat alone at the end of one of the tables, keeping her distance from the other girls. Camille watched as she tucked her mass of red curls behind her ear in order to eat. Camille drew a deep, silent breath as she became transfixed by Aerla's every small movement.
It was apparent to her that she was nothing like Fiamma, not in looks, nor, Camille suspected, in personality, as Fiamma had been such a social creature, where it appeared Aerla had a much more individual nature. Aerla had also arrived here from another country, but that's where her similarity to Fiamma ended. Yet, all the same, Camille was utterly enchanted.
Spotting an open seat across the table from Aerla, Camille left her colleagues in favor of making the acquaintance of the newest member of their little school. As she slid into the vacancy, she caught the girl's attention. Aerla paused, fork halfway to her mouth, as the soft breeze from this stranger's arrival ghosted over her face. She sat down the bite of food and tilted her head, regarding the woman with curiosity.
"Miss Gribben," Camille introduced, offering her hand to Aerla from across the table. She briefly considered giving the girl her first name, but thought it best to stick to a more formal approach for now. Camille's heart leaped to her throat when Aerla took her hand to give it an awkward shake.
"Name's Aerla Grae, Miss," Aerla replied politely, though there was an edge to her voice that seemed to Camille as if the girl would rather have not been disturbed. At that, Camille should have left, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. Instead, she stayed, remaining quiet so as not to disturb her further. Some of the other girls at the table cast suspicious glances down their way, but one glare from Camille and they went about their own business once more.
They were isolated at their end of the table, just as Camille wanted it to be. There was a danger in numbers. It had been that way with Fiamma. She vowed then that it would be different with Aerla. She wouldn't let anyone come between them. Despite her efforts not to stare, Camille's eyes wandered back to Aerla time after time. She wanted to ask questions, get to know her, but the girl's standoffish tone gave her pause. She couldn't push, or she'd resist, just as Fiamma had.
Camille attempted to push the thoughts of Fiamma out of her head. That was the past. She only need think of her in order to not repeat her past mistakes. It would only serve to depress and anger her to think of the wretched girl now. Now she had Aerla to think of. Aerla deserved her at her best, not sullen and moody. And she would prove herself in time. She just had to figure Aerla out and be what she needed her to be.
A thought nagged at the back of Camille's mind. In spite of herself, she voiced it. "Tell me, what exactly was it that brought you to St. Mathilde's?"
Aerla seemed surprised by the question, as she froze, eyes widened. After she swallowed her bite of food, she answered with another question. "What have you been told?" She sounded accusatory, as if Camille already knew the truth of her situation and still wanted to hear the confession from her own lips.
"Only that there was an incident that resulted in you leaving your previous school for this one," Camille informed gently. Aerla seemed quick to anger, and that was the last thing Camille wanted to leave as a first impression.
"It was harmless," Aerla began in defense of herself, leaning in so as her story would reach Camille's ears only. "I kissed one of the girls at my last school." Camille's heart pounded in her chest at Aerla's admission. It began thudding so loudly in her ears that she feared she wouldn't be able to hear the rest of Aerla's story. "We got caught in the stairway and the stupid girl blamed me. Said I'd taken advantage of her, when she wanted me to do it, but was too ashamed to admit to it. So I was expelled and sent here. I'm surprised they didn't tell you. They had no problem telling everyone else as if I'm some sort of monster."
"You're not a monster," Camille was quick to reply. "You followed your heart, your desire, and that is the most important thing in life." This elicited a smile from Aerla, as Camille suspected she may have been the first one to stand up for her and take her side in this matter. Perhaps this would be her way into Aerla's heart.
