A Study Date? I Think Not

Lily moved closer to Emma.

"So. I'm still curious about this one thing. Are you going to try to find out who did this?" She asked, still not taking her eyes on the two people she suspected were the perpetrators of it.

Emma shrugged.

"For this matter, no. I don't have to investigate to know who did this. We don't need proof to know Courtney did this. She obviously has something against me. Though, it's a given we have to find out who poisoned you," Emma admitted.

Upon hearing what Emma said, Lily shook her head.

"Em, please. For my sake. I rather not know who. Please, can we just not look into it any further," she said, now looking into Emma's eyes.

Emma sighed, knowing that once again, there was no use arguing or debating with her best friend with this topic when the two both knew who'd be the victor.

James piped up.

"Well, moving on to less depressing topics, Emma, do you have any plans after classes?" He asked excitedly, only minutes from asking her to a study date.

Emma looked over at Lily, who she knew had previously asked her if they wanted to go to the pool for some rest and relaxation.

She pouted.

"I'm so sorry James. Lily asked me if I wanted to hang out with her at the ZALE pool. Maybe next time?" she asked, feeling guilty that she had to turn him down like this.

James narrowed his eyes but kept a calm poker face. His ego wouldn't let him be disappointed she already had plans in front of her, so he made it seem he already had other plans.

"I was just asking out of curiosity. I've already planned to dedicate all my free time to studying," he lied, actually quite jealous at how much Lily had been monopolizing Emma, even if she had just recovered from her recent poisoning.

Lily looked from Emma to James occasionally, knowing how James felt, but also deciding that she herself wanted to spend some time with Emma. Other than that, she also wanted to get to know Connor better, though it had to be noted that she still had no inkling Connor and James were half-brothers, or even related.

So, when she asked Connor, who wasn't really engaging in their current conversation what his plans were, he was unprepared and hadn't come with an answer.

"Well, looks like I'll be joining you on that study session, brother," he said as he watched the reaction of the two girls beside him and across him.

Lily's jaw dropped, and for Emma, she was speechless.

Emma was first to recover from her initial shock and speak.

"You're BROTHERS?!" She asked in disbelief.

James laughed before correcting the slight misconception.

"We're half-brothers," he said as Connor took over.

"He's the younger brother, I'm the oldest," he said, wanting to make sure everyone knew he was older than his half-brother, James.

Lily nodded, comprehending this new finding.

"Wow. I do see some facial similarities," she said, constantly looking at James and Connor's faces.

Emma tilted her head.

"Don't mind my obliviousness here, but how are you, half-brothers? Consorts, concubines, how?" She asked, fascinated at the topic.

"Well, it's quite different from your case. My mother was a consort of the King of Amaris, whilst James, is the biological son of the King and Queen of Amaris."

"Basically, same fathers, different mothers," he explained, before the four's conversation was rudely interrupted when the bell rang, signalling the end of one interesting break.

Their next class was arithmetic, and even if the assignment's due was not till the end of the week, being the desperate students they were, Emma and James decided to submit it early for extra credit.

It was a few minutes later that Emma, James and Lily were in arithmetic class, while Connor had a different set of classes since he was situated in a different class, the only two classes they shared being dance class, and etiquette class.

"So, I'm assuming I get a later deadline on this assignment since I was stuck in the clinic, unconscious while this was given and assigned?" Lily asked.

Emma nodded slowly. 

"Consider yourself lucky. You have an extended deadline," she said as she patted her best friend on the back.

"Oh, and you have to choose your own partner," Emma reminded Lily.

Lily pursed her lips.

"And where exactly am I going to find a partner?" Lily asked.

She looked at her best friend guiltily, even when she knew she was already paired up with James.

"You sure you can't just be partners with me?" She asked innocently, batting her eyelashes.

Emma shook her head, pouting.

"No can do, Lil. You already know I did this assignment with James yesterday," Emma said, as she watched James submit their assignment for them.

No one else in class other than them had, and everyone still found it absolutely necessary for the two smartest people in class to submit their assignments early for extra credit when it was a given that they'd get the best marks possible.

As the day went by, the trio found themselves exhausted after the many classes they sat through.

Emma, Lily and James went their separate ways, Emma and Lily going to their dorm for a quick change, while James returned to his dorm for his study session.