Mia (2) A glass Barrier

"Tangerine?" Mia questioned trying her greatest to act surprised, yet a strong scent of excitement filled the air as she stepped into the black limousine. The interior of the limousine mirroring the affluence of the outside Mia pressed her delicate fingers on the cream-coloured front seat in order to pull herself into the car, the tips of her fingers being absorbed by the softness of the seats.

The pig-tailed brown-skinned woman sitting on the driver's seat sent a warm smile that increasingly brushed off on Mia, the colour of her hair synonymous with that of her name. "Good afternoon Miss Mia," Tangerine called cheerfully.

Mia's smile narrowly limped for a second as she adjusted herself in the passenger seat beside Tangerine, her gaze failing to drift away from the maid. "I told you; Tangerine you don't have to be so formal with me still."

"Well sorry, regardless of our personal relationship I do still work as your private maid and overseer," Tangerine replied apologetically as she began to start the car.

Despite the initial bump, Mia and Tangerine continued the ride in laughter and engaging deep talks with each other, nothing but happiness and tranquillity emanated from within the dark black limousine with what felt like hours of fun and happiness crammed into just a few minutes. However, suddenly that dark memory that had slowly faded away to the back of her mind, absorbed by the bright light of the car came flooding back. "Hahaha, I know right, anyway so Mia how'd you enjoy your break?"

Mia paused for a moment before her solemn reply, completely shattering the vibrant mood in the atmosphere "It was okay." evidently not wanting to persist further with this conversation topic.

"Not trying to pose you as a liar, but I'm not sure you really think it was that okay Miss Mia."

Why couldn't she just be allowed to bury those memories along with the emotions as she regularly did, why is Tangerine pushing her, Mia thought somewhat spitefully, and with a deep frustrated *𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩* Mia elaborated extracting her gaze from Tangerine to the window. "Okay is just a neutral term socially isn't it, despite it actually referring to something positive, that's why I used it, it's not like I'm allowed to like or not like something, I just follow. At 3 pm I go home to have lunch instead at the cafeteria that's it, just like the rest of my life."

Outside the car window, a band of female friends wearing the Unity high uniform waltzed outside a café shop all: laughing, joking, and playfully along with lovingly creating physical contact with one another. Even as the group of friends slowly fell out of view Mia's decrepit eyes remained fixed on them, then the direction of where they had been.

"I see, you still haven't made any friends yet have you? And with a non-existent social life, you're pretty lonely." Tangerine evaluated although accurately, carelessly.

"Hey!"

"Sorry-sorry haha didn't mean to offend you."

"I do have some friends…"

"Who?"

"You…"

"I told you this before, although I do consider you my friend, it's not ideal that you consider a worker for your family your only friend. You need to find someone your own age."

"You know that's impossible; no one will take the risk of being even somewhat close to me."

"Yes, it is impossible but the only reason for that is that barrier you build around you, that only comes down when you're around me. No one else but me sees how wonderful of a person and friend you can be. Eventually, you'll find good friends that love, respect, and cherish you, for you."

"But-"

"Besides it'll be really greedy of me to keep you all to myself wouldn't it? Look, how about this, try to make at least one friend, bring down that barrier for a day, and no matter the outcome how about I sneak in a little visit to the mall together after we complete that list." Tangerine lovingly interrupted.

Still considering the possibility of her making any friends in a day was completely impractical and hopeless, Mia gave a subtle "Okay, fine I'll try." Although dreading the disappointment that'd be on Tangerine's face by the time, she came to pick her up from school, she didn't want to disappoint her now either, and the mall was most likely to drown out that disappointment.

Not uttering another word between them, the limousine slowly parked in front of the school gates and Mia stepped out of the car. "Thank you, Tangerine." Muttered.

"Yeah, no problem, it is my job after all, ha-ha. Have a nice rest of your day." Tangerine replied still brimming with the exact same enthusiasm as she had earlier.

"You better hurry now, lunch is about to end in ten minutes, and you still have to catch up with your presidential work," Tangerine informed observing the watch on her wrist, drawn up to her face.

"Oh yeah," Mia stated just before she left for the school doors, with a final "thank you," towards Tangerine who restarted the car and drove till she was completely out of sight, till she was completely out of mind.

The first place Mia headed to once she entered the school was a room at the end of the corridor opposite the cafeteria. Without a moment to immerse herself in her environment, immediately as she creaked open the door an elderly Caucasian woman wearing a blue lanyard, with curly medium-length grey her, her body quite rounded in stature called "Oh young miss president, there are some issues going on in the cafeteria. You should go handle it." The woman said posing it as a statement however with the added mention of "Sure your father would think so and may also be pleased." The statement was quickly and intentionally modified into a command.

The rest of the room was invaded by a swarm of teachers either idle or dawdling around, drinking tea or some other drink nonchalantly, and irritatingly uninterested laughter. With a non-vocal *𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩* Mia stepped right back out of the room she had just recently entered.