I didn’t really have one for her, only that she stays true to herself and to me, just as Naomi had done.
At least I had a new friend. Hopefully it will be enough to convince Laura to sleep tonight without scolding me. I was sure that the news of today had reached her eyes. Peter’s too.
"Thanks so much Levina. You are a lifesaver." I finally responded, piquing my eyebrows when she chuckled at my statement, when she loosened my hands from her waist, and turned aside to look at me.
"I think there is a misplacement of some sorts. You are the lifesaver, Dora. It is because of you that I will be able to have a better school and social life; my life actually as a whole. I should be the one showing the appreciation." She said with a beautiful laugh, her eyes sparkling under the board of moonlight, a sharp contrast to the first time I had actually noticed her.
In the cafeteria, her eyes had been empty, totally void of feelings. She had been totally lost. I felt happy again that I had at least played a role to some extent in bettering her life.
During our ride to the shop and then to the house, Levina filled me in about the Queen’s decision concerning the bullying matter.
Rachel had been suspended for a week.
Also, through her magic power, the Queen had discovered every single soul that had been aware of the evil matter, including some teachers and even a cleaner whom Levina had mentioned; she had not expected to be among the culprits. Well, all had been expected to do hard labor after their work in school.
Raul was included. Rachel too.
Levina stated that she wasn’t sure of the type of hard labor enforced, but that her father had seemed satisfied with the ruling, especially as he was allowed to retain his position as the principal of the school.
I had been glad, so glad for my new friend, that even the person who I had met in the shop, the shop keeper, a different one than the one I had met the first day, hadn’t been able to usurp it with his briskly attitude.
He had asked why I hadn’t shown up to work today, why I wasn’t serious. I had mentioned first that my name was now Dora, and that he should put that in the records if he didn’t want the Queen’s officials tasking him for negligence of the workers. I had ignored his brittle scoff and told him why I hadn’t been around. Still wasn’t sure if it had been a good idea.
’Peter had promised that you wouldn’t be trouble here at all. First day in school, and you already ate three hours in detention?’
’I just explained that it was an unresolved misunderstanding.’
’I hope for your sake that there won’t be plenty of unresolved misunderstandings here.’
I had snorted then, before collecting my pay, not feeling an ounce of guilt that I was collecting money that I hadn’t worked for. I didn’t know who the owner of the big shop was, but it had been obvious then that the person favored me. Who paid a non working staff member? If I should take a bet, it was what had angered the shopkeeper the most.
’That leniency is only for today. If there’s a repeat, you won’t be paid.’ He had shouted at me, behind my back, as I had sauntered out to meet Levina who was still waiting by her bike.
Watching her now, I wished I could invite her inside to have a taste of Laura’s food, but for the lateness of the hour. She had to go home. I would never be happy if something happened to her. I would never forgive myself. There will be another time. Another good time. Plenty of ’another good times’. Plenty of it.
"Okay then...have a beautiful night, Levina. I will see you tomorrow." I said with a smile, a bit stunned when she sharply hugged me before I could ever say Jack. I returned the hug, which seemed to last for a few seconds, before she finally released me.
There was a wet film around her eyes. She was about to cry. I shooed her to her bike then, recounting the time. Almost eight pm.
She kept saying that her house wasn’t that far from here, and that she could get there in less than ten minutes, but I wasn’t having that. Anything could happen. Her bike could break down. And then what happens next?
After much hesitation, she finally mounted the bike. "I will see you tomorrow, Dora. Have a pleasant sleep."
I nodded, standing at the gate, a soft smile on my face, as she started the bike and zoomed off.
"So, you got a new friend on your first day at school?" I jerked, hearing Diana’s tacky voice from behind me. When had she gotten here? Or had she been waiting here all this while? How come I hadn’t noticed her, or heard her coming?
I turned to face her. She was already in her night wear. She must have eaten dinner.
She held me by my hand, and we walked past the miniature gate, into the vicinity of our house.
"Tell me all about your first day." She said, just before we entered the sitting room. "What took you so long? We had been so worried, until Dad had called his friend, you know the principal of your school. He had told us of your heroic act, and had then mentioned that his daughter had mentioned that you ate detention today at the hands of professor Bulock."
Oh well, I saw this coming. Content orıginally comes from novel-fire.net
Diana snickered then, throwing a jab on my thigh with her free hand.
"Young woman, you have a lot of explaining to do."
She mimicked her mother’s voice before dropping a knock on the door.