DANCE IN THE MOONLIGHT

The Calm Before the Storm

"Did you see the new guys who arrived at school?!"

Valeria was trying to understand what was going on, watching people running around and grumbling. So what if new students had come to school? It was the most normal thing in the world. Although, she had to admit, coming to a boarding school in the middle of a semester wasn't exactly normal; they were somewhat right to be surprised.

She saw Irene and Elara looking around with curiosity just like her. Speeding up her steps, she forced her way through the crowd and reached them. "What is all this crowd for?"

Elara said excitedly, "New guys have arrived at the school."

Valeria rolled her eyes. "So? What about it?"

Suddenly, the crowd started moving toward them. Before they knew it, they found themselves in the middle of the throng. Everyone pulled back to form a circle, and in the center of that circle were the trio looking around in confusion and the newly transferred students.

When Irene locked eyes with the new students, her eyes widened, and she slowly poked her friends. Elara and Valeria were looking at them too.

"This is the guy I told you about—the one who rescued me and blocked our path in the forest," Irene whispered, lowering her voice significantly. "And the one who... kissed me."

Lucas, along with his friend, started walking toward them. He had a rogue smirk on his face. "We meet again."

Whispers were coming from the crowd. It wasn't hard to guess what they were talking about. Where did these guys know these women from? When had they met? What was between them? It wasn't pleasant at all for a woman's name to be slandered so easily.

Valeria stepped in front of Irene angrily. "Are you making fun of us? Get the hell out of here."

Lucas burst out laughing. "Irene, why is everyone around you so curious? Or do you pick them specifically?"

Elara grimaced. "Marble-faced snob."

Irene couldn't help but start laughing at what she heard. Valeria had heard it too, but she preferred to keep a look of anger.

Lucas’s friend was scanning Valeria from head to toe. He quickly left Lucas behind and approached the woman. "He's really full of himself, isn't he? He hasn't even introduced me to you yet. I'm Hanry."

Valeria smiled mockingly. "It seems you're not much different from him."

Valeria understood why the two of them drew so much attention. They were handsome, cool, and had massive egos.

"Rest assured, I'm a very different person from him," the man said with a wink.

There was another murmur and whisper in the crowd. Why did everyone have to be so nosy? He extended his hand to Valeria. "Nice to meet you..." The man paused because he didn't know the name of the person in front of him.

"Valeria!"

Valeria looked in surprise at Lucian, who had said her name instead of her and looked quite angry. The crowd immediately parted before him, making way. He was coming toward her with fast steps. The angry Fenrik, following behind, immediately went to Elara's side.

He grabbed Valeria by the wrist and pulled her behind him. He directed his angry gaze at Hanry and Lucas. Fenrik immediately stepped beside Lucian, taking the others behind them. Both were very angry. Valeria could tell by the hand that held her wrist as if it were going to break it.

"The scent of dogs has started to spread in the air. I don't want it to rub off on me. Let's go."

Lucian said mockingly and turned around to leave but suddenly changed his mind. He tried to see Irene from between Lucian and Fenrik. Seeing this, Irene stepped beside Fenrik with slow steps.

Fenrik directed his angry gaze at him. "Take your eyes off her," Lucas said sharply.

"What if I don't?" Fenrik spoke with anger.

"I'll tighten the collar on your neck a bit more," Lucas laughed.

As Fenrik and Lucian lunged forward, they were forced to stop by an interrupting voice. "What is going on here!" The school principal appeared, pushing through the crowd.

"Nothing, we were just meeting our new friends," Hanry spoke innocently and smiled.

"To your classrooms, immediately!" He directed his angry gaze at the three women. "And you, ladies, you cannot argue in the middle of the school like hawkers at a marketplace. Be in my office at the end of the day."

As everyone scrambled to get to their classes, there was a huge commotion. Valeria breathed out in frustration. She had guessed it would be like this. Trying to ignore it, she turned to Lucian.

"No one is going to class today. Or blood will be shed." Fenrik grabbed Elara by the wrist and started dragging her along. Lucian was also pulling Valeria, whose wrist he had never let go of.

Irene was still standing there, unmoving.

Fenrik noticed the woman who wasn't following them. When he turned back quickly, he saw Lucas approaching her.

"Since everyone is pulling away the woman they love to protect them, I'll take Irene."

"Leave Irene alone," Lucian lunged forward angrily.

"Irene, please come with us?" Elara pleaded with her friend with imploring eyes. Because she felt that something was happening and that big things were about to occur.

"I'm fine, girls. We'll catch up tonight," Irene spoke with a faint smile.

Lucas raised his hands to his sides. "As you can see, she chose her side herself."

"This isn't a side, Lucas. I just want to talk to you properly," Irene said firmly.

Lucas smiled. "As you wish, beautiful." Holding Irene gently by her shoulder, he led her toward the exit, toward his flashy car.

***

The others watched from behind until Irene got into the car and disappeared from sight. After they stopped looking, they came to the back of the school, toward the forest. Everyone was silent, leaning against a tree, while Lucian and Fenrik were both angry and surprised. Valeria and Elara were thinking about what had happened. Why did Irene want to go with that man?

"Why did you get so angry?" Elara broke the silence. "Why did you look at Irene with such anger?"

Lucian and Fenrik were looking at each other. It was as if they were talking through their gazes.

"I'm talking to you. Are you going to give an explanation?" Elara was starting to get angry.

Fenrik took a deep breath. "Elara, there's something we need to tell you."

Valeria knew where the subject was headed. She preferred to remain silent.

"What are you going to tell me?" Elara was looking at her close friend Valeria on one hand.

"I've hidden something very important from you until today. I don't know if you'll forgive me."

Elara was starting to get scared. "Fenrik, what are you saying?"

After locking eyes with Lucian one last time and gaining courage, Fenrik continued to speak. She had to learn everything now. There was no turning back after this point; a war was about to begin.

***

Irene was sitting silently in the car. They had come to the seaside, and she hadn't wanted to get out of the car. Lucas was not pleased with this situation.

"Aren't you going to speak?" Irene shook her head no. "I promise, I won't be angry at you for asking questions."

Even though Irene smiled, she continued to look out the window. "But you said you wanted to talk." Lucas wanted to make the woman talk like a child.

"Why am I with you right now instead of my friends?" Irene spoke without looking at Lucas.

"What kind of a question is that, Irene? You wanted to, didn't you?" Lucas complained.

When Irene turned to the man, Lucas realized how serious she was. "So why did I want to?" Instead of answering, Lucas just looked. "Tell me things so that I won't regret choosing you over my friends. And make sure what you tell me is convincing. Otherwise, throw whatever threat you want, do whatever you want, I truly wouldn't care about you."

Irene fixed her eyes on the man looking at her in shock. "Talk now while you have the chance, because when I want to talk, I won't listen to you."