Chapter - 12

Lilly smiled a bit. "Stupid girl", she mumbled as she inched closer to Claire. She was about to hug her but Claire backed off a few steps "Girl, you are like...wet... Don't come near to me or else we both have to return to the dorm" Claire whinnied.

"So what? Let's go back, we'll watch some movies till the tuition class starts." Lilly added with excitement.

"No, I have got a project to submit later on. You know it's deadline today" Claire refused. She wasn't lying either. They have been given some project works a few days ago on different topics for each person, that is why Lilly had finished and submitted hers while Claire was stuck with a hard one.

Lilly knew the truth by herself so she didn't argue "Duh...I'm going to make some spicy noodles around the time when the classes end. Come back as soon as they end, we'll eat them together"

"Sure" Claire also smiled at her.

"Let's go now." Lilly urged to get out since it was already the time to ring the bell. If so happens, she might get caught and she was worried about that. Lilly rushed out of the washroom and Claire followed behind her. Since it was already the end of lunchtime so many of the students were already getting back to their classes.

Lilly Jones parted her ways in the hallway and moved back to her dorm while Claire proceed to her next class.

It was an Art class. Everyone who had yet to submit their project work was taking those out of their bags, Claire also had her painting with her.

"Grrrr"

"What stop! Don't make me embarrassed in front of everyone." Claire felt embarrassed but what else her tummy could do except growl? She had left the food on the table earlier to chase after Lilly.

"Just hold on for a few whiles okay? Just a few hours and we'll have something satisfying right after the classes end" Claire rubbed her belly as she talked to it.

"Good afternoon class" Ms. Avery came in with her usual smile on her lips. She was beautiful inside out which had made her the favorite teacher of the whole class.

"Claire bring me everyone's project files," The teacher asked as she settle down in her chair.

Claire nodded before she got up off her chair and went to her classmates to collect those files.

"Here you go..."

"This is mine..."

"Here..."

"Mine one..."

Everyone began to give those files to Claire one by one. Billy and Austin had extra time since they came late so she didn't reach them. When she was done collecting, she handed it over to the teacher.

Billy was sitting next to Claire while Austin was at the back. Since Austin knew that guy liked Claire so much, he didn't complain at all. Instead, he had a weird feeling in his heart when he saw the empty seat next to him. The class had started a few whiles but Lilly hadn't appeared there yet.

"Where is that wild cat? Isn't she a nerd? Shouldn't a nerd keep their name by being present in each and every class?" He mumbled to himself as he looked at that vacant chair lying lifelessly beside him. "Or that juice...?"

"But I didn't do that on purpose..." Austin shook his head "Besides she yelled at me, enough to make it even between us" But he somehow felt he was somehow responsible for Lilly's disappearance. "She'll be fine right? Or should I go check on her? Is she crying somewhere?" He was so confused thinking about what he should do...

As the teacher got the project files, she opened one of them intending to check them out. But as soon as she opened the first one, there was a call from the office "Ms. Avery, there is an emergency and you are expected in my office as soon as possible." It was the principal.

Ms. Avery's face changed as she heard her name. She closed the file and got off her chair "Well, I have to visit the office for a while. Be a good student while I'm gone. Okay?" She said as she walked out of the class.

As soon as she was gone, Austin immediately walked out of the class too.

"Ya, where are you going?" Billy asked as he saw Austin walking past him. Austin turned to him and show his little finger indicating that he was heading off for the washroom and walked away.

Billy was relieved and asked no more questions. He smiled awkwardly as he turned to Claire. He thought for a while and shoved his hands in his bag before fishing out a packet of chips. He looked at Claire's bag that was on the floor at the side of her chair and quickly put the chips on the bag in a flash.

"What is this?" Claire whispered.