Rhia POV.
Zane and I had retreated from Jaden and Alexis' conversation and were on our way to Chancellor Shepherd's office. He told us that Zane could stay in his original dorm and I could stay with a student named Blair Flanagan- who stayed in the room beside Jaden's. Blaire was at the meeting too and we began a silent, but instant friendship.
Zane and I were packing as we were assigned to move in tomorrow as Zane's uncle was going to pick up the boat. The music and duel explosions were heard from the festival that began to finish and the sense of peace began to fill the air.
Zane was in the living room and I was still shoving lots of my clothes into my suitcase; from clothes to books and back-up decks. My wrists were aching but I stood still to observe what else I had to pack, silently, I crouched down to the pile of photos.
'Alright, now to pack my photos...'
I began to collect the picture frames but...
Thud!
'What was that?' I muttered to myself as I dropped the pictures onto my bed and quickly ran into the living room. Zane... I rush into the room and see Zane lying on the floor in a curled position, his dark blue hair in every which way. Worry surged through me until a faint snoring echoed from Zane's throat, he's only sleeping... I thought, relieved.
'Why do you always scare me like that, Zane?' I whispered as I carried him to the couch, sprawling a blanket onto him gently. I then glanced over all of the clothes that he had laid out on the floor that needed to be packed; I decided to help him and pack before tending to my own packing workshop.
It was boiling inside the boat and sweat bound my hair together in wet strands that stuck to my face, I began to get frustrated and tied it up. Usually, if Zane was awake, he'd joke about the way I resembled to an Olympic athlete with my hair up. Then insult me by stating that I couldn't become an athlete even if it killed me. Which is true...
It was almost midnight when I finished packing and decided to cook something before going to bed. A Hot Pot sounds good...I thought and packed a spare hot pot for Jaden who, coincidentally, appeared to say goodnight.
I could still hear Zane snoring quite loudly from the living room and I tossed and turned in order to be in the same position. One minute my soft, red blanket was on, because it was too cold. The next minute my blanket was off because it was too hot. The minute after that, I stuck my leg out because I couldn't take it anymore. and the cycle repeated...But the only thing that was on my mind were Jesse and Lina. So she and Jesse were related...
Oh boy.
'I don't want him to know...'
Jesse POV
'I'll catch up with you guys later!'
'Thanks Jess!'
I watched them and waved as they left, leaving Ruby and I by the river to enjoy the peace. My mind re-traced to what Rhia was about to tell me about Lina...What is she hiding? All through the day, that was the only thing I could think about. Ruby was getting tired so we both agreed on turning in for the night...
The lights from the slifer dorm glowed, highlighting small areas of the grass below. It was quite late and my eyes began to feel heavy, I entered the dorm room; a determined Jim and an annoyed Syrus practice dueled on the floorboards.
I laughed as Syrus gave a small speech on the game 'not being fair' and lay down in my bed. A few moments later, Jaden entered the room whilst holding a large, steaming pot. The aroma was delicious.
'Hey J, what's in the pot?' I asked, siting up as Syrus and Jim put a halt on their game. Jaden explained that Rhia had made extra food as Zane had already fallen asleep. And it wasn't long until we were all digging into the food...
'Wow, Jaden...This is delicious!'
'Yeah, Rhia's a great cook!' I stated, absentmindedly...To this, I unknowingly received glances from everyone who discreetly looked down when I looked up. What?
Two hours went by and I lay in my bed again, snoring filling every corner of the dorm room. Jaden and Syrus' snoring vibrated the bed frame both from the top and bottom bunk. Jim had left after the meal as Shirley was already napping on his back.
My stomach kept me awake in satisfaction but fullness, What did Rhia put in that hot pot? I swear it was a drug... And thinking of Rhia, I remembered Lina and the thoughts occurred again. I flashed back to the river where I constantly stared into Rhia's brown eyes, her calm expressions that soother the pains I felt. Her long, brown hair billowing past her shoulders from the gentle breeze and the beautiful smile that spread across her face...
'I want to know...'
The Next Day...
Jesse POV.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
A strange clicking sound woke me up the next morning, it sounded like it came from the stairs. I popped my head from the side of the bed frame to look above and beneath to check that Syrus and Jaden were still there. And as expected, they both lay in pretzel formation with loud snores on their mouths once again.
Click. Click. Click.
'What is that?' I muttered to myself as I moved the blanket from my body, I swung my legs round to get out of bed. My vision blurred slightly but resumed with a pain in my head. I looked into the mirror, seeing the tiredness in my eyes and the wild, craziness of my hair.
I walked tiredly to the door where the clicking sound grew louder, I opened the door and peaked out slightly. A female figure with beautiful brown hair and a slifer red uniform pulled two suitcases up the staircase at once, she turned-probably sensing my appearance- and smiled.
She gave a beautiful smile and her eyes were alluring, and familiar.Rhia.
'Good Morning, Rhia'
'Jesse...I'm sorry if I woke up'
'I was already awake' Liar.
'Oh well, Good Morning,' Rhia replied as she continued to pull the suitcase handle.
'Here, let me help' I assisted her by lifting her bags into her room next door where a note from Blair was taped to the door stating that she left early to do a job for Chancellor Shepherd. Rhia thanked me as she began to unpack, with this, I stayed to help her. She smiled...
'I'll be fine'
'I'll be here, It's a good deed of the day to help another friend'
'Thanks Jesse, You're always there for me when I need you...' She flashed another beautiful smile as she gestured to the small suitcase to my right. We spent quite a while recalling silly moments we both had with Jaden and laughed at each one. It's only been three days but Rhia and I have really bonded and it feels as if we were meant to become friends. That's cliché but it's true.
I looked back on our little talks and was caught off guard when a dark orange top flew straight at me, I slid it off of my face and threw it back the way it came. Only to be caught by Rhia. Rhia laughed as she rolled it up and placed it on a shelf for later.
'Red suits you, Rhia' I stated as she hung black turtlenecks in her wardrobe, an audible laugh at her lips...
'That's what Jaden said too,' she turned to before scanning the suitcase that was now empty. She offered a faint smile before closing the suitcase, 'Thank You, Jesse'
My chest grew hot when I heard her say my name so softly and delicately... It was a calm feeling I've never felt before. Rhia and I spent the rest of the day talking by the harbour and she began to open up to me...
'Lessons start tomorrow' I started
'Yeah, I've taster lessons all week so I might not see you for a couple of days,'
I have to admit I was quite disappointed to hear that but I know we'd run into each other throughout the week. I looked up to meet Rhia's eyes that were searching mine curiously. I smiled to reassure her, she shook her head in reply. I wonder...
Beep! Beep! Beep!
'Aren't you going to answer that?' Rhia remarked as she nodded her head towards my pocket. I quickly answered my GPA, it was a voicemail.
'Who was it?'
'Chancellor Shepherd, he said there was someone who wanted to see me'
'Well, what still you still doing here? Go,'
'Are you sure you'll be okay here by yourself?'
'Jesse, I'm not a kid'
'Right...Sorry, I'll see you around?'
'Sure'
I turned to wave to Rhia before closing the door that separated us, a gut feeling of excitement inside me knowing who wanted to see me...Lina.