“Dora, wait!”
Noami. She was the one speaking, and I wondered why.
Shouldn’t she be with her friends? I mused, turning around to glance at her, my hands still fitted in with a Diana whose lips haven’t yet gotten rid of the smile.
She had been so proud of my comeback to Duke. Yes, it had been an empty threat, but she believed it was a sign of growth on my part.
Diana thought I should keep up the act, perhaps become a bully to the bullies, since my identity to them was unknown.
I stayed silent, till Noami got to me. She was breathing deeply, and exhaling the same, like she had run a marathon, despite the fact that it hadn’t been up to three minutes since we had left the shade.
I waited for her to speak, pretending to be aloof to her ploys that we be friends. Partly because it would suit my new persona, and partly because I wasn’t sure if her loyalty had really laid with me when I was still the bullied Maya.
What if all her friendly gestures had all been part of a big plan? To destroy and end my life?
I looked skeptically into her eyes, and my thought on the matter turned more uncertain. She didn’t look like one that would do such a thing.
“I’m sorry for intruding,” She started, “I was wondering if I could join you on your tour. I think I would be a good addition, since I am from the pack. I don’t know how you had located the beautiful garden, but I assure you that there are other places you can check out without getting overwhelmed by my friends. Is that okay?”
For a minute, I was tempted to smile, not out of spite or happiness, but out of a sheer remembrance of the little memories I had of her; like the moment we had been trying and cleaning different shades of lipsticks on each others lips, the day that Adam had tried to touch me in a non-bully, sexual way.
For a minute, I was tempted to indulge in that freeness with my old friend. For a minute, I was tempted to be the Maya she knew. Diana’s hand squeezing mine, reminded me that I wasn’t.
“Sure, that will be okay. Although I have to remind you that I don’t have all the time in the world for a tour. Don’t you have anything better to do, than following two mages around, who likely know their way around by the help of magic?”
Harsh, I knew. But the persona, Remember? I had to keep up with it.
“Not really.” Her voice was small, and I regretted speaking that way. She was just being herself, ever helpful, and willing to smoothen the creases in a person’s life.
“Where next do you think we should go?” I asked, my voice lighter notes than before. We wouldn’t be staying long here after all. I might as well indulge the friendship for a little while.
“Well, there is our school…”
I scoffed then, but she laughed.
“Don’t worry, I know that building seems to be the most boring to teenages, but there are some amazing sights around it. Should I show you that?”
I opened my mouth to say no, remembering that had been the hub of my bullying, remembering that I had lost my virginity just behind the building in the hidden cave in the school’s garden, but Diana opened her pouty mouth, and concurred.
“Of course, I would be delighted.”
I glared at her, but the little fox was already tapping her foot, waiting for Naomi to start moving.
Noami looked at me, and I shrugged my shoulders. Hell would freeze over, if I should ever say no to Diana’s request.
“Good, let’s go then.”
**
The school blocks were the same as ever, since I had disappeared from its walls. It was still pristine and clean. I wondered if they had found a new person to bully, to taint the walls with.
I hoped not. I wouldn’t wish my experience on anyone in the pack, even though I hated them all, either for their wickedness, or their inactivity to aid my situation.
“Are their bullies in your school?”
Diana didn’t just ask that. Did she?
I looked down at her. She pretended to be oblivious to my stare. Pretended, because I was sure that she was sure that I was looking at her.
Yet, I was fast enough to catch the discomfort fleet through Noami’s eyes. The question troubled her. Yet, I waited for her answer. I was curious about the reply that she would give.
“No, there is no act of bullying here, the king wouldn’t condone that.” She answered, and I nodded, a little smile on my lips, wondering if she was talking about the past or the present.
“You mean now, or since inception?” Diana asked a troubling one again.
“Since inception.” Naomi answered, barking out a laugh which sounded more like a frog croaking than an actual lie.
Why would she lie though? Was that what the king had admonished them to do, so that they wouldn’t club my death to bullying? Did she forget that she had told me about her best friend being bullied and set up last night?
I looked away from her, and fixed it on my former class. I could see the windows from here.
“Do you want to walk inside?”
Never. I might convulse at the spot if I stepped into the cafeteria. The last incident there had never left my mind.
“No, I think we are done with your school.” Diana answered. She must have sensed that my answer would be the same. After all, we have seen all the sites; it’s been awhile since we have been patrolling here.
“Oh..” Naomi stuttered, having not bargained for the sharpness in Diana’s voice.
“I think we will prefer to eat. Any eatery around here? I am hungry.” Diana continued, already pulling me away from the school environment, toward the road. We had been in the school park all this while.