Chapter fifteen

Shock.

Mortified.

Horror.

These were the only words I could use to express how I felt. Never in my seventeen years on this planet did I ever think I'd have a "friend" as a love rival.

"-ove, Clover, hey!"

Snapping out of it I looked up from my book and into the eyes of Erica, blinking away from my trance.

"Huh?"

"You're always off spacing out at the worst times huh."

Scratching at the back of my head I apologized to the annoying red hair.

"We got plans to hang out today at a nearby ice cream parlour. Wanna come?"

Somila so enthusiastically asked jumping in her seat. I was compelled to refuse the offer, it's not like we were really friends. And even if we were it wouldn't be a big deal if I didn't come along, right?

So why can't I say the words I so desperately wanted to say?!

"Uhm, I don't know. I'm kinda grounded after an...incident that occurred during dinner."

The girls gave me odd looks at the word "incident".

"It's a long story. Things were thrown, flowers were burnt and a new hairstyle was given to my little sister."

"Oh, you have a little sister?"

Somila cooed in adoration.

"Yeah, I do she's really adorable"

"Aww, I wish I had a sister. I'm stuck with annoying little brothers."

"Really? How old"

"Twelve, they're twins."

I cringed at that. I've never had a brother before but I can imagine how horrible it must be. Just seeing my dad's underwear hanging on the same laundry line as mine already gets me shivering in disgust.

"Okay, we get it you have little siblings. We were on a different topic bef-"

"Don't you have siblings Erica?"

"She does. And he's pretty hot."

Yusa answered leaning on her hand, smirking at Erica who in turn glared at her aggressive friend.

"Oh, so he's older?"

"Yeahp!"

"Stop talking about my brother!"

Slamming her palms on the table she stood up from her seat, face red in anger. As fast as she lost her cool she covered her mouth with her hand, eyes wide in panic. The others and I quickly picked up our books and buried our heads in them.

"Shhhhhh!"

Came the ironically loud shush of the school librarian. She glared daggers at our table, Erica being the target of her glare since she was the only one who was standing at our table.

Slowly with her head down in shame she once more took her seat and folded her hands on her lap.

"You guys could have at least covered for me."

She said with her voice low and teeth tightly clenched. Taking a chance I peeked over my book only to retreat behind it as soon as I saw the vein popping at her temple.

"Sorry, it's just that lady's really scary."

"I just didn't wanna help you"

Somila apologized while Yusa shrugged it off without a single care for the look she was receiving. I on the other hand took a different route and decided to be a coward pretending to have not heard a thing.

"Clover, don't you have something to say? What's your excuse?"

Erica asked with a no-nonsense tone. I gulped down a large bile down my throat and with a very fake and horrible Indian accent and said to her

"No, sorry no Clover here. Wrong person."

I know this was just gonna piss her off more but it was the only thing I could think of doing, okay?

"Clover Klein, are you trying to get killed right now?"

Ah crap, I really messed up there didn't I?

"Uh..."

"Stop hiding behind that book like a pussy cat and face me like a woman!"

She whispere-yelled.

Did she really call me a pussy cat? How dare that fake Ariel call me that? This is an act of travesty I say!

"You dare,"

Shutting my book closed I gently placed it on the table dusting off some imaginary dust.

"Call me a pussy cat you fake Ariel, fish breath, half fish, Greek peasant."

Her eyes widened at my words, Somila covered her mouth with her palm and Yusa attempted to choke down her laughter to avoid a glare from the librarian.

"Let me tell you one thing, sweetheart-"

Crossing my leg over the other I pat myself down and said to her with a sweet smile.

"If you're gonna call me names, at least make them interesting. Cause heavens know I don't hold back when giving people nicknames. And I'm not afraid to say them."

I finished off with a tilt of the head eyes closed with a content smile. It was then that Yusa could no longer hold in her laughter and she burst out into laughter.

The quarrel was forgotten as Erica grabbed a newspaper and laid it open in front of her face. Somila grabbed her pen and pretended to actually be doing schoolwork.

I on the other hand panicked for some reason and grabbed my earlier book, threw it at Yusa smacking her on the boob. Her glare could turn you to stone, so I took shelter between my arms silently laying on them.

"Shhhhhh, one more stunt and you girls get the boot"

We all shared a loud gasp as our eyes turned to the extensive footwear neatly placed on the shelf behind the mean librarian lady. Patches lined its exterior hiding behind them holes as though it had seen better days. We cringed at the scent it excused strong enough to invade our senses from where we sat.

"Understood?"

Her words were stern and serious with no ill intent but just enough threat behind them to get the message across.

Simultaneously nodding our heads at the lady we watched as she went back to typing on her old computer.

Does that thing even work, I don't think I've even seen it light up. Maybe the school just keeps her using it to make it seem like she's actually getting some work done.

"Huh, we'll have to be more careful then. You guys don't want...the boot"

Erica rolled her eyes at the overdramatic Yusa, while Somila shook in fright instead. Looking at her I couldn't help but not feel a single shred of sympathy for her.

Why would I feel such emotion for someone I hardly knew, even more, who was my rival?

I still can't believe it though. I knew Novel was a dark rose amongst flowers and it was only a matter of time until someone realized he was just as rare. But I didn't think someone like Somila would be one of the first to notice him.

I wouldn't mind if it were someone else but...Somila?

She, I was worried about. Because of one simple truth. She could actually be Novel's perfect match. Just hear me out

Both wear dark clothes and have this dark emo kind of aura. While Novel has a more don't bother me persona, Somila has this sweet charm that attracts people. She's the kind of girl Novel would go for. I know this because I've stal- I mean watched, I've closely watched him.

Yeah, that's right.

"So you coming after school?"

"I told you, my mom grounded me. I'm not allowed to go anywhere after school other than home."

Sighing in defeat I dropped my head onto the table.

"Well then just don't do it. Teenagers defy their parents all the time"

I gave Yusa a blank look.

"Do you think the woman who raised me the crazy-girl-who-does-crazy-stuff-all-the-time is any ordinary parent? You said it yourself, you'd have to be extraordinary to raise someone like me."

She looked at me with an expression that said she understood and Erica once again rolled her eyes.

"Dude, it's not like she's gonna murder you-"

"She might"

They gave me odd looks that said I was just exaggerating. But I wasn't, knowing that woman which I did she'd actually go through with murdering someone.

"Besides what is it that you actually did to anger her? No parent grounds you for no reason."

Sighing out and shaking my head at them I looked up and prepared myself to tell them the tale of 'Clover the conquerer of feasts'. This'll be fun.

"I guess I'll start from the beginning then. Okay, so my mom wanted a get-together of sorts with the rich neighbours. Everything was prepared and we were all dressed in our best clothes. The dinner should have gone fairly well but...none of that is what happened."

So I told them the gist of it, how the sister was a crazy chick with a brother complex, how the brother was stalking me already, and the cute angel that turned out to be a demon with scissors.

Again they were flabbergasted by another one of my stories. But now that I was telling it and listening to myself, my life sounded like a freaking comedy show! At the end of it, the entire table was quiet for a few seconds and then without warning, they were off like rockets.

"Holy shit, what the hell Clover! Do you live in a dimension of your own or something?!"

Yusa, amazed at my story was freaking right out and Erica was no better. She began bombarding me with all kinds of questions.

"Why the hell would you chuck something on fire outta the window?! Are you human? Do you have a brain? Just how bad is your luck?!"

"Uhm, guys-"

"Yeah, Erica's right. What the hell's wrong with you and your family? And can I be a part of it?!"

"Guys-"

"Shut up Yusa! You're already a train wreck of chaos and destruction on your own. Having Clover around is just gonna add more to the flame!"

"Gu-"

"Oh, what do you know, princess fish?! How to catch crabs with your bare hands?!"

"Guys-"

"No! And don't act like that's not impressive 'cause you and I know that it very much is!"

Slamming her palm on the table Erica stood up from her seat in anger. Yusa followed suit sporting her own glare. the two budded heads like oil and water but were very entertaining to watch.

"Oh yeah?!"

"Yeah!"

"Guys!"

"What?!"

The girls both yelled out in question, now glaring at poor Somila. Still don't care though.

"The librarian, she's coming this way"

We all turned to where she pointed and our eyes widened in horror at the sight of the weapon in the lady's hand. Without hesitation not missing a beat I grabbed my bag pack and yelled out to the others

"Scatter!"

It all happened so fast you might have missed it if you blinked. Yusa rolled over the table instead of going around it while Erica chose to crawl underneath it. Somila and I being the ones not seated between a table and a wall were already halfway out the door.

However, I was grabbed and pulled back by Yusa who used that momentum to boost herself forward. Not one to sacrifice themselves so easily I grabbed her back only to fall flat on the ground with her alongside me.

"Ow"

Looking behind me the charging crazy lady with a boot in hand scared me to such a degree that newfound strength boosted me forward.

"Outta my way!"

Pushing Yusa aside I jumped for the door but once again I was prevented from escaping. Tackled to the ground by Erica this time, all three of us wrestled on the floor.

"Get your fat ass off of me!"

I screamed as I pushed Erica off my face.

"It's not fat!"

"Yes, it is!"

Yusa argued back stuck between my elbow and Erica's boob.

"Hello, there ladies, enjoying yourselves?"

At the sound of the oddly gruff voice of the librarian lady, we ceased our useless banter. Slowly our heads turned to her in fright. I swear what I saw was not a being of a sweet old lady with good intentions and love in her heart. What I saw right there and then was a true demon.

Seriously what is up with the old ladies of this town?!

"Oh crap"

Within seconds all was forgotten and I swear we all flew off that floor like ninjas in old movies run on air. Running in the hallway past lockers and without a care for any bystanders, I felt a rush of air whip past my ear. My eyes widened in shock at the boot that crash-landed against a locker and then onto the floor.

What the what?! Did she really just throw a freaking giant man-sized boot at me? And where the hell's Somila gone?

Running to the senior grounds for safety I dove into a bush. Erica and Yusa were about to pass by my hiding spot, grabbing their hands I pulled them into the thick bush.

I mouthed to them to keep quiet and they did exactly that. Hearing the harsh footsteps of the angry librarian rushing past us we held our breaths only to release them when we could no longer hear the hard thud of her feet. After waiting a few minutes, we finally thought it safe enough to walk out of the bushes.

"Well that was an activity I could go on without"

Erica commented pulling leaves out of her hair.

"Hey, where's Somila?"

Just as I asked that the girl in question popped out of nowhere...but she wasn't alone.

My worst nightmare had come to pass.

Eyes wide and mouth agape an internal scream of mortified anger and anguish went through my head.