XIV · Tara [3]

Mass release: 8/15

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Tara Chione Crowther Abdelaal

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"I don't see a reason to speak to the likes of you about the end of my relationship with your rival," he snapped at me, but the usual angry fire wasn't there, probably because he must be drowning in sadness.

She's not really my rival, he is. Cleo's the rival of my character Chione, not of myself, but he is as he's the only one in the way of me becoming top 1, even if no one knows those grades are actually mine.

"I don't see a reason for us to be speaking at all. Now, leave," I exclaimed at him and then proceeded to ignore their lasting existences, focusing on my fruit salad and eating a spoonful of it, holding back not to moan with delight in front of them. That would be weird.

But to my horror, they sat down around me in my table, which has never happened. Micah in front of me, Kento at his right, Nicolas at his left, Violetta at my left, and Rheia at my right. But I kept ignoring them, which was genuinely bloody hard, then I ate a forkful of my special pancakes, and I felt them staring at me like a bunch of creeps. I don't mind his stare though.

"What are you eating?" Rheia asked me.

Stupid ass question, "Dinner," I mocked and side-glared her, "I'm eating dinner, nearly 8 in the morning, Cassavetou."

"No need to be rude," she groaned.

"No need to be stupid," I countered.

She clenched her jaw, as if trying not to snap, which is even weirder, since I'm used to make her snap with just one sentence and she held back, because she hates me. "I asked, because you always eats things in the morning that are not in the menu for anyone else, Chione."

"Yes," Violetta nodded, "who makes it for you?"

"Funny," I said under my breath, back to staring at my food, "we've known each other for twelve years, and this is the first time you speak with me like a civilian of modern society, and not a dog with anger issues who cannot be controlled. And it took you twelve years to have the balls to ask me such a simple question, how baffling. It would be surprising," I glared at Micah, "if it wasn't suspicious," then I sipped my drink from the straw.

"Not like you ever asked us anything either," Nicolas countered.

"I don't need to ask, I already know you, but you, darling," I switched my gaze to him, "doesn't know a fraction of who I am."

"You don't know us either," Micah snapped.

"Except, I do," I said, eyes back on his, meeting those hypnotizing amethysts. "I never messed with any of the five of you, spontaneously. It took me some calculated actions, which I managed to have by studying each of you, to be able to get on your nerves as well as I do. That gives me some genuine joy. As a wise person once said: knowledge on your enemies is a unparalleled kind of power."

My dad being the said wise person.

"As I was saying, I know you, you don't know me."

"What do you mean, you studied us?" Kento gasped.

I took another forkful of my pancakes and chewed while staring at him with a smug on, which clearly pissed him off. He's the easiest to piss off, probably because he's a full-blooded winter wolf shifter, and those little dogs are quite the hot-tempered ones, it's funny to mess with them, I've laughed many times while remembering how I pissed Kento off, because the dumbass goes ballistic. I can't even call him dumb because he's intelligent enough to claim the 3rd place in our year top 50.

"I did my homework, it helps knowing where to poke my enemies to make them show the worse in them," it was all I said, before turning to Violetta. "Quite annoying that you assumed that someone made my breakfast for me, but not like I expected much more from you, Bracamontes," she frowned at my words and I sipped my drink. "I make my own breakfast, and my dinner too when I have time."

Even Micah looked shocked by that, "You cook?" They all gasped. "You're the Mamba Court's Crowned Princess!" How did they sync that?

"To your surprise, I am a being with free will, original opinions, with hobbies, and habits of my own," I mocked them bitterly. "And one of my hobbies does happens to be cooking, baking better than that, but still. The food in here doesn't suits my tastes, so, I've become acquainted to the witch who controls the kitchen, and she gave me a free pass to use the kitchen, as long as I cleaned it all up and didn't do it while they were there," I took a spoonful of my fruit salad.

"Can I taste it?" Rheia pointed to my special pancake recipe.

My dad's special pancake recipe, "I don't share my food," I glared at her. "And why are you even talking to me? What the hell are you even sitting in my table with me for?" I switched my glare to Micah, "Is it to piss your now ex off? Because you should know she is never up for Sunday breakfasts, after you dated her for nearly three years. She won't see you in here."

But then he said the last thing I was expecting to hear, "The headmaster instructed us to come get you after you're done with your breakfast, and to keep our eyes on you."

I froze, and I'm sure I was unable to hide my wariness from my face. She was supposed to be focusing all of her time in finding the dragon, but she can't have... she can't have rubbed two negative brain cells and realized the dragon it's me. Not when everyone believes I am the Crowned Princess of the Mamba Court. No, there's no way. I can't be found less than a day after she began to hunt me in here, no fucking way. It can't be, it fucking can't.

Forcing myself to scowl, I avoided their eyes and stared at my breakfast again, "She's probably going to complain about my bad grades again," I tried to reassure myself. "Though sending all of you together was a bit overboard of her," I mocked. "Sure she hates me, but as much as I hate it, it's not like I'm strong enough to do shit about her summoning me in that hellhole excuse of an office."

"Oh, yeah, it's totally about your grades."