The Elusive Prince

Chapter 29: No One Does Comfort Than Friends Do

Merideth

Waiting in bed, chewing on the candy given to me by the kind nurse, Apple, I came to the conclusion that I should talk to them later tonight, specifically maybe in the middle of movie night. After some deliberation and more thinking in my part, I realized that what Cassian and Sir Hexford said was true. Why was I even worried about showing emotions when the people around don't expect anything from me? Nobody really did, except maybe for myself. I was so bent on proving myself when in reality I was already the best version of myself, with the flaws and all and so I figured out that there was no more use to pretending and confront them later tonight. Maybe this would change my life forever, whether it be for the better or for worst who knows, but one thing is for sure, my classmates and friends are people I'm going to keep forever in my life.

With a nod, I convince myself that tonight was the night the same time Hailey's head popped out of the door with a box of chocolate cake in hand and a change of clothes, smiling at me to get going. I stood up and took the clothes and changed in the bathroom. It was a simple white tee-shirt and slacks and a brown cardigan with tiny sheep on the hem. I gave one last smile to Apple and waved at her, thankful for taking care of me while I was in here, and finally went out the door. Giving Hailey one small smile before grabbing the cake and thanking her while finally heading to our dorm. Tonight was the night and I'm going to definitely do it, I'm certain.

Except maybe I chickened out when I saw the dorm come into view. My resolve slowly deteriorated the closer we got to the dorm and by the time we reached the door, all of my confidence was gone as I see everyone huddled in the living room, chatting while Spie and Amity fixed the projector up. As soon as they saw me alongside Hailey, I was instantly swarmed and the next thing I knew I was on the ground as Ava ran into me with a crushing (more like crashing) hug as we both landed on the ground with a thud.

Getting dizzy for a few moments, I let out a laugh which triggered the round of laughter to ring out around us. I can feel more than I can hear Ava laughing because of the vibrating body on top of me as she squeezed me more in the embrace. Tapping her on the back so she would let go of me, she giggled one last time before loosening her grip and standing up. She held out her hand and I teasingly grabbed it but not before dragging her back down on the ground again while I used the force to stand up. She pouted before Kairo helped her up and we just laughed as she grumbled. 

"I'm glad you're looking better Merideth!" Sumire said with a twinkle in her eyes. The others were wearing the same expression as her and I couldn't help but feel like opening up tonight would dampen the mood that they were trying to set and so I chose not to. I know you might think that I was being a coward, which I was, but I want us to enjoy this and just forget about everything for now, so I think I'll move that talk for later when things get a bit calmer. For now I'll try to enjoy this with them.

"Why? Wasn't I looking fine earlier Sumire? I'm hurt. I thought we were friends." I said while dramatically clutching my chest for effects. There was another round of laughter before they settled down when Amity called us, saying the projector was ready and so was the sleeping bags scattered around a couch in the middle of the room.

The next thing I knew, I was being dragged by Sumire and Ava by the arms to plop down on the couch they put in the middle, saying it was an honorary seat. Laughing, I just let them do what they want, and by that I mean them wrapping me up in a fluffy blanket and thrusting me with a bowl of popcorn while Kairo mocked fanning me. I threw him a piece of popcorn and he just laughed before settling down on the side as Luna picked the first movie. It was comedy because of course, and she says it was to "set the mood."

As the movie rolled out and the whole class lost their mind to giggling over the film, the resolve that I had earlier vanished completely. Looking around me, I just know that we need this and talking to them now will dampen the mood they were trying so hard to build, so with that I finally decided, with no hesitation, that I will talk to them when things are calmer and we already have the assurance that we deserved. Nodding, I focused on the film completely and laughed along with them, completely missing the stare someone was directing at me.

Midway through the night, which right now we were currently a movie picked by Spie, which was the new action film that recently showed on the theaters, someone took the now empty popcorn bowl out from my hands. Surprised, I glanced up to see Cassian looking at me innocently. Hiding my surprise I nodded at him and without saying anything he walked away to the kitchen while Kairo and Kellen imitate the sounds from the film which got them a slap on the head from Reagan saying that they were interrupting the film. They mocked him for a while before settling down which earned a few snickers by those around them.

I was laughing to their antics when I felt a sudden weight on my lap which was dropped gently. Looking down, I see the fresh bowl of popcorn on my lap, courtesy of Cassian, who was now sitting on the far left of the "honorary couch." Shrugging, I began eating the fresh popcorn feeling nothing about it but someone certainly did when I saw Ava glance at me with a strange glint in her eyes.

"Hey hey, Cassian...why are you sneakily giving Mori a fresh bowl of popcorn out nowhere?" she teased which earned those drama hungry classmates of mine (including Hailey) to glance at my direction. Hailey was giving Cassian a look of betrayal (probably because she thought he took her job so she was now offended) while Cassian looked like a deer caught in the headlights with the way his eyes were bulging. I just scoffed and threw a popcorn to Ava's direction.

"Hey stop making a drama out of it. He was just kind enough to do so okay? You're just jealous because nobody is giving you popcorn." I said and she instantly defended herself which earned a laugh around us. She just pouted before Kairo teased her and offered her his share of popcorn which she just glared at and harrumphed back before glueing her eyes to the screen. Kairo just laughed and shrugged before returning his eyes to the now c****x of the film as the rest did the same. I threw a glance at Cassian who was giving me a look of thanks for saving him and I just winked back at him and went back to watching the film while the others exclaim about how good the CGI was.

As I was absent-mindedly eating the popcorn I noticed a weird shape on the middle of the bowl, hidden by the popcorn. I eyed it curiously before setting aside the mountain of popcorn atop it, only to reveal a small package of cookies. I almost exclaimed when I saw the cookies again and shot Cassian a starry eyed glance. He must've felt the intensity of my glance even from far away because he glanced back at me with confusion. Seeing as everybody was focused on the now plot twist of the film, I raised the package and waved it around but not long enough that someone would notice. He just gave me a small smile and went back to watching. I pouted but nonetheless put the bag cookies back to the bowl and nonchalantly ate it. It still tasted delicious so it was the same cookie as that night.

I enjoyed my cookie in peace as the movie finished and I hastily hid it back to the bottom of the bowl as the others exclaimed how good the film was. I sighed as they discussed animatedly about the film and thankfully, there were still a lot of popcorn left and it concealed the bag well.

Amity clapped her hands and told us we should take a small break. Some took bathroom breaks, some stretched here and there, some were discussing about the film and what we should watch next, Hailey was giving me more snacks and drinks saying I should eat more. Helena, along with the assistance of Yuma, was carrying a tray full of cupcakes that she probably baked earlier. The others immediately swarmed it and Helena was beaming at the side, proud of her masterpiece. Hailey got one for me and it was delicious as always, but the aftertaste of the cookies Cassian gave me was still lingering on my tongue. I wanted to eat it but seeing as pulling out a pack of cookies from the popcorn bowl was suspicious and would definitely raise unwanted attention and questions, I didn't and just munched at the cupcakes begrudingly.

As soon as everybody was finished, and Helena promising that there was more, they settled down again. There wasn't  a film showing though seeing as they were still arguing on what to watch next. I didn't join them and laughed at them instead. That earned their attention and they all glanced at me.

"Hey why are you all looking at me?" not gonna lie, I was a little scared with the look on their faces, especially with the way they were leering.

"Hey how about you choose Mori? After all, you are in the honorary seat." Luna offered and I just raised an eyebrow at her. Oh were they really challenging me? Were they really provoking me? Did they not learn their lesson from last time?

Smirking as I stood up, I went to the laptop that they were connecting to the projector, typed a little and clicked one before burrowing myself in the warm blankets again. It was a horror film that I heard a lot about in some forums that I was in. They say it was good and unexpected so I chose it and besides, the poster for this doesn't look scary at all so they wouldn't suspect a thing.

"Hey Mori what did you choose?" Sumire gave me a curious glance when the movie started. I almost cackled because, if you must know, almost everyone in the class was scared to watch horror films especially Sumire, so I can't wait to see their reactions when it gets scary. For now, I contained my evil laugh and shrugged.

"You'll see." I said ominously and she glanced back at the screen, clearly not ready for the scare fest to come. Getting comfortable, I continued munching on my popcorn. Kairo was already whining about it being boring and I threw him some popcorn and told him to wait. He was about to reply but then a jump scare happened in the most unexpected of times and now everyone was screaming while I cackled. They all threw me dirty looks and my laugh just intensified.

They were protesting and wanted to change it but I told them they brought it upon themselves so they have to live with it. They all glared at me and was followed by another round of screams when the monster jumped on the screen again. The rest of the film was spent by them screaming and clutching each other trying hard to shield their eyes from the scenes but the same time still watching as the story progressed, clearly waiting for the mystery to be solved. Meanwhile, I was cackling in the background like a sadist and munching on the cookies peacefully.

When the credits finally rolled in, they were all frozen in their respective places and I chuckled and walked in front and exited the film. There were a few moments of silence before everyone aired out their protests.

"Mori you sick sadist! Why didn't you tell us it was horror film?!" Sumire trembled and shook me in the shoulders. I just laughed and poked my tongue out teasingly.

"Hey, you guys didn't tell me I couldn't choose a horror film. And it was a good one too." I defended which only made her shake me more vigorously.

I just laughed and she eventually stopped shaking me and demanded we watch a cheesy romance film, to wash out the unpleasant memory of that film. I just rolled my eyes at her while the others agreed. I poked fun at them and they just retaliated that I was just different and I couldn' help but roll my eyes at them again while they load a very cheesy romance film.

Half-way through the movie, some of us were already falling asleep. Sumire was the first one down who must've exhausted herself with all the screaming. The others were following too and I too was slipping out from consciousness as I feel myself droop a little.

By the end of the film, I can feel the popcorn bowl slip from my grasp and my eyelids feeling heavy. The last thing I felt before finally falling asleep was someone pulling the fluffy blanket over me and was whispering something I couldn't understand in my ear, before I finally fell asleep.