Yvette burst into the dormitories beaming. As she skipped towards the other girls, Westhagen trailed behind her, rolling her eyes at the éclatency of youth- though she herself wasn't one to talk. She thought back to the time in which she stood atop the bathtub in the shower room and gave a speech as if she were Frau Oberin. She was wholly surprised Fraulein von Bernberg had let her off with nothing more than a wave of her hand and a "don't just stand about". The woman was always kind, even to the most irritable of people. Seeing the teacher again brought back memories that made Ilse smile to herself. However, there was something different about Fraulein von Bernberg. Something missing- as if she'd lost something dear. Her embraces were warm, and her smiles genuine, but her eyes kept something hidden beneath their color. Despite that fact, Ilse was glad she was doing well, and more than anything, it appeared her blonde friend felt the same- for one reason or another.
"Where's Manuela?" Yvette asked excitedly, not expecting to be shot down by Mia's sudden response.
"Out with Alexandria." The fellow girls remained the same as they had that morning: littered all over the beds and tiled floor. Some playing card games, others reading or chatting. One girl lay sleeping soundly in the corner.
The sudden pang of jealousy that stabbed at Yvette came unexpectedly and her smile began to falter. Her gaze fell to the window where she spied the girl in question walking arm in arm with her former enemy.
"Guess who we saw?" Ilse playfully asked, completely unaware of the storm starting to brew.
"Who?" The ears of the other girls around them began perking in to listen.
"Fraulein von Bernberg!" Ilse proclaimed, confident in the fact that the other girls' attention rested solely on her own knowledge.
"Really?!" Mia gasped.
"Yes! Yvette and I ran into her at the gallery and turns out she's an artist there!"
With the mention of her name, Yvette's fixation was broken, just as Manuela herself appeared in the doorway alongside Treskov.
"Who's an artist? That boy you've been fixing on?" She jabbed
Laughter burst out amongst the girls as a grinning Manuela approached the group- a sudden confidence evident in her stride.
"No!" Ilse stuck out her tongue, "but to answer your question, we ran into none other tha-"
"Fraulein von Bernberg!" One girl burst, squealing.
Manuela felt her heart fall in her chest, and a hand lightly touching her's from behind. She turned her head to face Alexandria standing next to her, glancing at her for reassurance.
"That's wonderful. How's she doing?" Manuela asked, strangely casual- though her smile remained. Yvette watched this silently, and as Ilse began answering, she observed Manuela's reaction to each word. The rest of the conversation became a blur as the blonde girl began to feel nauseous. Then, suddenly, a shrill voice could be heard.
"Yvette, are you alright?"
Yvette slowly looked up from the floor and to the eyes of the speaker. Mia's eyes shined with innocence, completely unfazed by the sudden alliance between Manuela and Alexandria. Mia's eyes weren't the only ones on her though, as Yvette suddenly realized the unsettling silence in the room. All eyes were on her. Even Manuela's.
"I'm f-fine," she managed to utter, "Manuela, can I speak with you?"
The girl in question shifted in her stance, and out of the corner of her eye, Yvette could see Alexandria twitch.
"Yes, of course."
After the other girls had cleared away, and Manuela managed to convince Alexandria to give them some time, the two girls remained in the now empty dormitory.
"Let's walk in the garden, shall we? I'm sick of the smell of linoleum." Yvette spoke with venom in her teeth.
"S-sure…," a hint of panic evident in the girl's voice, "you're scaring me Yvette, are you sure you're okay?"
"Can we just talk?"
Yvette strode towards the door and Manuela followed almost timidly. She could practically feel the fiery aura emitting from the seemingly unfamiliar girl in front of her. When the girl threw open the doors, there stood Alexandria against the wall, waiting impatiently for Manuela. Yvette didn't even acknowledge the presence of the other blonde as Manuela threw Alexandria a reassuring glance.
They made their way down the spiraling staircase- where too many memories had once flourished- and out the double doors of the main building. The fresh, biting air of the outside felt nice on Yvette's hot skin and the distant smell of roses seemed to have a calming effect on her. She reminded herself that Manuela was her friend; but even facing that fact, she was intervening because she cared about her.
When they had finally reached the source of the lovely scent, Yvette stopped with her back facing Manuela. A light breeze blew through the rose bushes, sending a few pink petals aflutter.
"What is it Yvette?" Manuela started, stepping forward to meet the girl in question, however, the blonde didn't turn around. She didn't speak. She just stood there staring at the ground.
"Yvette?" Manuela took another step forward and placed a hand on the shoulder of her friend, however, when Yvette finally did turn around to face her counterpart, Manuela witnessed an image she never would have thought to have seen. There stood her closest friend, the only ray of sunshine she'd ever had in her life, with tears falling from her delicate eyes.
"Oh, Yvette!" She hugged the other girl, whose arms lay limply at her side throughout the embrace, "Whatever's the matter?!"
Yvette sniffled and lightly wiped her tears away, "Alexandria...you-" She glanced away from the pleading eyes of her friend, who she knew wouldn't understand.
"Yvette-Yvette, I would never-" Manuela took the girl's hands in her own as if proposing to her, "I would never choose her over you. You're my best friend, you know that!"
Yvette clenched her teeth and cringed. She shook her head at the thought that what she might say next could destroy her and Manuela's friendship, but took the risk.
"No, no...she's changed you…"
Manuela's face turned white and she took a step back, "W-what do you mean..?"
"What did she say to you? What did she say about Fraulein von Bernberg?!"
With the mention of the woman's name- that practically forbidden name- all at once the feelings came flooding back from the deep crevice of Manuela's heart and into her face. Her cheeks burned. She began to feel hot tears form in her eyes, but resisted the urge and looked Yvette directly in the eyes.
"S-she said nothing about h-her…"
"Oh really?" Yvette chided, "Sure seems like it."
Manuela's face frowned, "No. Nothing was said about her."
"Then what was said? Hm?" Yvette took a step closer toward the other girl, "Whatever was said changed you in some way, affected you enough to get you outside your own head...what did she say Manuela? I'm only asking because I care."
Yvette realized within seconds, the tenor of what she had said and how she had said it. She saw Manuela hiding in her head again...the fear in her eyes. Yvette had suddenly taken Alexandria's place as the manipulative, persistent, and inconsiderate person. She never wanted to feel that way again.
She took a step back, "I- never mind Manuela, I'm sorry I shouldn't have been like that."
Still overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of emotions, Manuela didn't flinch when Yvette took her hand and squeezed it lightly.
"It's fine." The girl spoke softly. She squeezed her friend's hand in return, "I think we'd best get back."
"Of course." Yvette murmured.
As she watched Manuela walk back towards the school, Yvette knew with such a deep pain that there was something different with Manuela- something that wasn't there before they left for the gallery. Something she knew had to do with Fraulein von Bernberg and Alexandria von Treskov- and something she wasn't going to let lie.
AN: Heyo! Man, has it been a while! I apologize for the seemingly eternal delay with this fanfiction, but so much has happened between the last update and now that I've had hardly any time to write! I actually finished this chapter about two months ago but was hoping to have written the follow-up chapter before publishing (which I still haven't done T-T). Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and my goal is to publish about every two weeks or so! Thank you for all your support uwu!