17 December
Every year, some of Luella's and Martin's friends would visit and keep them company in the week leading to Christmas. As such, when Luella made the announcement over dinner last night, Noll presumed that her 'friends' will consist of their usual yearly guests: Luella's childhood friend, her former protégée, and her and Martin's mutual friends from law school.
But Noll thinks that he must have missed some details regarding this year's Christmas arrangements. He recalls Luella's words last night and corrects himself: he was not informed of an additional guest because she neglected to tell him. So he stands outside his room, unprepared and frozen, watching Mai lug a duffel bag up the stairs.
That familiar feeling returns instantly, and he realizes that two weeks of reprieve caused him to let his guard down under a false sense of security. What a fool he is. Of course she would be here. Back when they worked together, she never did what he wanted her to do even if it was for her safety. What makes this time any different? No matter how many years pass, trust Mai to instinctively decide on a course of action the exact opposite of his. His grip on his folder tightens.
Mai takes a breath and looks up to find him at the first floor landing. She starts, losing her grip on her bag. She does not even try to catch it when it slides down a few steps. "L-Luella invited me," she says by way of greeting, tone defensive and ready for his retort. Noll instead descends to the ground floor without a glance or a word. Perhaps if he ignores her, she will ignore him, too, and the feeling roiling inside him will stop being a nuisance.
He steps out of the house with a frown. It seems like spending the day in the laboratory after submitting his documents for graduation will be the best option for now. As he makes his way to the college, Mai's warning during his lecture echoes in his mind: "It's dangerous for a renowned scientist such as you to presume things, sir." How right she is.
His frown deepens.
Author's Notes: In my defense, it's still the 17th in some parts of the world. XD Thanks for waiting/reading/faving/following/reviewing!
To Gally619 and CaitHawke4Ever: Thanks for your patience! :) Yes, he's very idiotic. I'm... I just wanna cry sometimes.
To MikazukiNika: OMG I'm so glad it had that effect! I was kind of aiming for it, but I wasn't sure if it would work. Yassss~ And thank you always for your support ;u;
To Glass Dragon's Rose: Indeed! A little more Shakespeare and a little less academic papers can go a long way for this guy.
To daughterXofXdarkness: Was Naru too OOC? I'm so sorry! TTnTT
Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt or any of its characters.