“Shit… why isn’t this working?” Merissa began cursing under her breath as she repeatedly tried to call the school the next morning. Strangely enough it showed to her that there was no signal. She wanted to explain Alex about the situation and tell him to give the stone away to Merissa’s disciple. But with this, she can’t reach him at all.
…
Back at the school.
Since it was a Sunday, after breakfast Nina was heading to the library while taking a slight detour in the football field. At that time Nina noticed Blake walking around in the field too. Unknown to Alex, Blake had actually talked with Nina and the others a couple of times. He was doing it purposely to get information about Alex.
Although no one expected Blake’s approach to them, he came off as very polite so none of them thought much to it. Nina was reminded of that time when the game of lock and key had taken place.
*** (Flashback)
The news had spread like wildfire since Blake had become quite popular because of his looks. They were in the cafeteria discussing about it. At the time Alex had gone off to talk to Merissa and was not present with them.
"So, the new admission, I heard he is a football player and he and Alex had a showdown or something?" Nina asked.
Tom replied. "Yeah, it's all over the school, they say you are rivals now.”
"Oh, him and a rival to Alex, don't joke around Alex clearly won the match." Grey said proudly as if he was talking about himself.
"Come on Alex couldn't have done that, he must have lost didn't he." Maddy said finding it difficult.
“Well how could he, did you guys forget? I was also there.” Grey said while swiping his shoulders and acting cocky. The others now found it truly difficult to believe this.
“Well, he did indeed defeat me.” Everyone turned around to the source of the sudden voice and found Blake standing near them.
“See! Now you guys will believe me.” Grey scoffed.
“Yeah, yeah.” Maddy jabbered making faces at Grey.
“Sorry if I disturbed something, I was just passing by and couldn’t help but overhear. I’ll get going now.” Blake said as he turned around to leave.
Suddenly at that moment Maddy stopped him to converse a little.
Grey, “Hey, are you trying to bring the enemy into our ranks? I- ow!”
Grey suddenly got pinched on his arm by Nina. “He’s new here, is that how you’re supposed to welcome someone?” Nina scolded in a low whisper.
“B-But…” Grey wanted to retort but found himself being hushed by everyone’s glare.
“Fine, he can sit with us.” He replied like a child who had lost an argument.
*** (End of Flashback)
Blake suddenly heard someone calling to him and turned around to find Nina waving at him as she approached him.
"What are you doing here early morning? Aren’t you a bit behind on the syllabus. The exams are not much longer you know.” Nina asked as she walked along with him.
"I-I know, I am just taking a little break."
"Oh... I see."
"Anyways how's your preparations coming along?" Nina asked.
“What prep-preparation? I ha-have..."
"I mean your test preparations silly. What are you getting scared for?” For a second Blake thought Nina was enquiring about his plan with Azmiel.
'Stupid tests! for a second, I thought... I need to focus on the plan.’ Blake had been busy observing Alex’s moves all this time. He can’t afford a distraction now. Unknown to even Azmiel, the stakes were much higher for him than the Black Cloud.
"Ye-yeah I mean my preparations are going w-well." Blake said as he tried to lie. Nina just made a little sorry face for him.
“You know you're quite bad at lying right?" He looked away in embarrassment.
Blake, "Well, the academics is really hard here..."
Green Tales being a top school followed a different pattern of study for their students and any graduate from the school was a highly sought individual. This was a privilege of being graduated from one of the top schools in the state. As for Blake it was as good as Greek to him.
Nina remained silent for a few seconds before asking "Say, want to study together? I can help you."
Blake was slightly taken aback by this. He stopped walking. After a moment he asked "why are you so nice to me?"
Although Blake had approached Nina and the others several times, he always felt that Nina was a bit too kind. It wasn’t that people weren’t willing to help him. He couldn’t catch a break with the girls but he felt something different about her, about her reactions.
Nina stopped herself and turned around with a slight smile and said "what're you talking about I am nice to almost everyone."
But Blake gave her a one eyebrow raised look. Realizing that it's futile to brush it off she gave in. "I-I understand you a little, you seem …alone. I get this feeling that you are lost …you might feel like what gibberish am I talking about but that’s how it seems to me."
"I like my own company that's on me, I just don't want to hang out with others, there's noth—
"I am not merely talking about you trying to keep a low profile. Your eyes seem like that of a person who is lost. They seem to be crying for hel—
Before the words could leave her mouth Blake interrupted her.
"Don't go about making assumptions. You know nothing about me so stop throwing around your worthless pity on me. You're merely a huma- you're just the same as others!" Blake yelled.
Nina, “N-no I—
Before Nina could say anything further, he stormed off leaving her alone. It wasn't that he was angry at her, he was just angry at himself. He understood what she was referring to and that was because he himself felt that feeling whenever he observed her. He knew it wasn’t sympathy but empathy. The first person ever to show a little empathy towards him was the same he would be using as a bargaining chip today.
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