The Elusive Prince

Chapter 22: Trying to Go Back to Normal

Merideth

The next day I was awake earlier than usual. I sighed as I sat up and groaned while rubbing my face in frustration. I was awake before Hailey woke me up and I hate that this is becoming a pattern now. A pattern that needs to stop.

I sighed one last time before looking at the clock on my nightstand and saw that it was an hour before my forced wake up time. Deciding to be productive instead of cursing my sleeping schedule, I went to wash my face and got dressed in my uniform.

I sat at my vanity mirror and applied some light make-up to mask the lack of sleep that was starting to show on my face. I know everyone is worried over me enough as it is, there's no need to give them more reason to fuss over me.

After finishing my make-up I decided to whip out my journal and began writing. These past few days has been hectic and chaotic so I didn't have time to write but I have so much to write. I got immersed to writing again but this time I noticed Hailey come in and greeted her with a smile and a confused look when I saw that she wasn't dressed yet but was still in her sleep wear. She looked a little stunned to see me up by now but nonetheless returned the smile before heading to fix my bed and excusing herself so she could get ready. She said she wanted to check on me before getting ready herself so that explains her sleep wear. I just shooed her off and tell her to hurry up before finishing up on my journal.

As soon as I finished, Hailey bounded into the room and then we were out into the living room where Amity is already at. We greeted her and I sat down next to her as she put down her Ipad where she was looking at the news.

"Good morning Mori! I'm glad to see that you are feeling fine now. We missed you and Reagan while you were still in the hospital." she said which made me smile and joke with her to ease of the tension that she was trying so hard to hide but was quite obvious.

We talked for a few more minutes before the others arrived and greeted me with their worry and gladness that we were back now and complete. We stayed in that mood until breakfast. Hailey and some of my classmates were currently in the line to get our food. Hailey volunteered to get one for me and I just nodded because I was still stuck in a conversation with Ava and Sumire about some random stuff,  like what they did yesterday, trying to ignore the fleeting glances directed behind my back.

I just know from the random and sneaky looks they were passing around behind my back that they must've planned something behind mine and Reagan's back about being cautious about what they say around us, particularly around me. I know they did it out of fear of triggering a bad memory if they mention anything but it was still frustrating being treated like glass. It was weird being the one people are wary of, afraid I might break.

I tried to hide my frustration by going with their conversation, acting nonchalant. I couldn't help but see Amity and Hailey exchanging relieved glances that has confirmed my assumption even more that they planned this or were told to do so. Hailey must've messaged Amity beforehand about what happened at the hospital when I was making my statement or the school told them not to mention anything. 

I sighed because whichever the case, I couldn't really do anything about it so I guess I'll live with their fuss for a while now. I glanced around the table trying to take my mind off for a while from the conversation I was having with Luna and my eyes somehow landed to Cassian who unlike the others wasn't looking at me with worry or pity but instead the look of understanding as he nodded at me as if telling me everything was fine. I don't know but I couldn't help but feel a little comforted with that. Well I guess today would be a long day full of awkward encounters. 

Well when I said today was going to be a long day, I wasn't lying. As soon as we finished breakfast me and Reagan was requested to go to the headmaster's office to check in. I sighed and looked at Reagan who was silently walking beside me. I'm guessing everyone was called to the headmasters office but since we came later than the others, we get to have a one on one meet with the headmaster, yey.

As soon as we arrived, we saw the headmaster facing the large french windows stretching from the top to the bottom giving him an overview of the school. He didn't acknowledge us as we were sent in by his assistant. We just stood there waiting for him while he didn't move an inch. What was he trying to do here?? Look mysterious or intimidating? Wasn't he supposed to comfort us or give reassurance or something? This whole thing he's doing is ruining the mood and the purpose of this visit at all. Well it would've been nervewracking if only me and Reagan weren't cold ass royals.

"Hello Merideth and Reagan. Please take a seat." he finally said as he dramatically turned around and faced us. So I was right, he was just trying to be dramatic.

We sat down like the obedient children that we are on the leather chairs both facing each other on the side of the headmaster's desk. He still didn't talk immediately but continued to stare at us but me and Reagan but we just stared at him back.

He sighed before fixing the papers on his desk and began talking, finally.

"As the headmaster, I'm glad that you guys didn't get that hurt during this whole thing and I'm glad that you thought fast enough to send those signal Merideth. If they were a minute later it would cost more lives than necessary." he said seriously and I couldn't help but fidget internally at what he said but remained calm on the outside.

"Thank you Headmaster but it was thanks to the training and the device itself that I was able to send that distress signal. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one fast enough to press it." I said with no emotions at all. Reagan was also stone cold in front of me as the Headmaster sighed again.

"Well I couldn't deny that but I was just trying to give you praise, no need to be so cold about it. Anyway, I hope you both are okay now. If you need anything, just go here or at the infirmary or inform Eamon okay? That's all, you can go now." he said and we bowed our heads to show respect before standing up and started heading towards the door before he stopped us dead on our tracks again by speaking.

"Merideth can you please stay for a moment?" he said and made me look at him before throwing a glance at Reagan and nodded at him to go on. He gave me a small smile before heading to the door and closed it but not before bowing one last time. I went back to the seat and sat down again but this time showing a scowl.

"Talk." I said with a bite which made him laugh out loud and I just sent him a glare.

"Come on Mori, do you really have to be so rough to your cousin like that?" he laughed a bit and I just grumbled about nothing really.

Yeah the headmaster was my annoying cousin Reince. He was the son of my Father's younger sister otherwise known as my aunt. She was actually married to one of the prince's of a kingdom outside of Kaia so she doesn't stay here but Reince decided to take the role of the headmaster of Irini. A lot of people might think he was too young to be running a whole school, especially a school built for royals, but Reince was one the smartest people to ever exist in Kaia's history. He graduated faster than everyone and so he was given the golden opportunity of being Irini's headmaster when the former headmaster retired. He was also the one to come up with the watch tracker and designed it too. He was a great leader and strategist but he was the worst cousin one could have, in my opinion. He was always annoying me and was really loud too.

He stopped laughing for a moment before straightening up and looking at me with a very serious expression.

"I meant what I said earlier Mori. Thanks to your quick thinking skills, we were able to get the signal as fast as possible. Also it seems as if the signal from the watch was blocked at some point. I don't know if it was because they got closer to the device or it malfunctioned. Overall, I still need to make improvements on it to make it resist signal blockers in the future." he said seriously which made me sit up. So the signal blockers were strong enough to even counter the device he made huh? Interesting.

"Well as the headmaster and your cousin I can say you did a good job but at the same time, I'm also very worried about you Mori. After all, you had direct contact with the terrorists for a longer period of time than the others, so I'm worried if it will affect you in a way." he said while looking at me, concern lacing his eyes.

"After all, this isn't the first time." he added and sighed. I just rolled my eyes and glared at him, a little angry that he had to bring that up. I stayed silent and he must've noticed because he sighed before saying sorry.

"Well it seems you're fine for now. If you need anything or anyone to talk to, my office is always open for you." he added the last bit with a smile and I once again rolled my eyes at him but gave him a small smile. He might be annoying but he was still my caring cousin so I guess I'm thankful.

"Isn't that favoritism headmaster? It would be bad for your image if you're caught." I teased as I stood up from my seat, ready to head outside. He just gave me a small smile.

"Dear student, it is not favoritism if I'm doing my job." he teased back before waving me goodbye and I just rolled my eyes at him again one last time before finally heading outside of his office and back to our classroom where I have yet to face my classmates who's treating me like glass. Great, just what I needed to boost my self-esteem after that grim reminder from Reince's part.

Thankfully, when I reached the classroom, everyone was in the middle of Math so I went in fairly easy seeing as everyone was focused on the equations set before their eyes to solve. I went and sat on my chair quickly before whipping out the textbook under my desk and began answering too. I could feel the others gaze on me for a few seconds before looking away, as if afraid they'll get caught. I can't help but feel frustrated by the treatment. Like I wasn't glass and I won't break if they talk about this to me but it seems as if they were asked not to mention anything by I don't know, maybe Hailey, maybe Sir Hexford, maybe my cousin or the headmaster, maybe Yander and Ilana when she went to get their statements, or heck maybe they decided it themselves. It didn't matter however, who told them, because I was still angry but knowing clearly that anger won't solve anything, I decided to just ignore it for a while and focus on the task at hand.

'I'm sure they'll come around come lunch' were my last thoughts before fully focusing myself to answering the equations on the board.

Contrary to what I believed earlier, they didn't come around during lunch, in fact they were worse. I can tell by the forced smiles they threw or the awkward jokes they were telling on the way to the cafeteria that they weren't at least comfortable being around me yet. They seemed awkward as they try to lighten the mood but it did the opposite instead as a heavy cloud surrounded us instead. Thankfully, lunch was free to spend on your own and I couldn't agree more with Reince when he implemented this rule and said "Sometimes we need some time alone," because right now, I felt like being around them is suffocating me.

When we did reach the cafeteria, I felt even worse and my resolve to spend lunch alone intensifies. I feel like I'm being scrutinized by the hundreds of eyes looking at me with pity and all I want to do is lash out and tell them that I'm fine, I don't need your pity when I'm fine, but obviously I couldn't. Doing so would only aggravate the situation and I'm trying to subdue it not make it worse.

I sighed as I placed my order and waited for it to be handed to me. My friends were sticking close by as if to protect me and I couldn't help but roll my eyes internally. When I did get my order, I thanked the lunch lady who I noticed put way much more ingredients than usual on my cheeseburger and started heading the opposite way of the cafeteria. I didn't say anything and continued balancing my tray when I felt a pair of hands circle my arms. I turned around to see that it was Ava who was looking at me with confusion and worry.

"Where are you going Mori? Our table is this way." then as if I forgot, she pointed to our usual table where a few of them were already at. I just gave her a look and she hesitantly lowered her hands from my arm and looked down-trodden that I couldn't help but feel guilty that I was subjecting her to my anger. It wasn't her fault nor was it anyone's fault, it was just me and my feelings. I sighed before softening my look.

"I know Ava. I'm sorry I wouldn't be joining you for lunch today. I just...I just want to be alone for now that's all." I said gently and she stared at me, biting her lips hesitantly before nodding and I gave her a small smile before finally heading out of the mess hall, never looking back at them as I head to my safe place. Hopefully I can calm my nerves when I get there because I cannot continue my day with feelings as heavy as this.