CURSED BUT FOUND

Chapter 5 ~Deal!

{Violet POV}

We were staring at the Fibreglass door— Camila, Jane, and I, and I was sure we had the same name in our head.

Liam Cornaro.

That knock was harsh and its harshness only meant that the person that was behind the door had guts, and I only knew one person that had the guts to bang on a girl's dorm room door that way.

“Hey.” Camila called my attention. “Why are you staring at the door like you can see through it?” She scowled. “Go f*cking open it.”

Oh, right!

I stood up from my bed and slowly started making my way towards the door.

Turns out I was the only one thinking it was Liam Cornaro.

Crazy me! Why would he be the one? Why would he come knocking on my room door? Puff, I’m being expertly delusional.

But what if he’s actually the one?

I mean, that knock was strong and the guts—

I unlocked the door and slowly opened it to see…

Elsa?

What was she doing here?

I know she’s my best friend but she didn’t exactly fancy coming to my room because my roommates weren’t exactly friendly with their reception.

“Elsa? You.. you’re—”

“We have to talk.” She chimed in. “Is your cousin and the other rich lassie around?”

Yeah, we gossip a lot.

“Shhh. They’ll hear you.” I shhhed her.

“Who’s at the door?” Jane voiced.

I turned carefully to meet her prying gaze. “It’s Elsa.” I muttered in worry.

This wasn’t exactly my own room so the uneasiness was required.

“Let her come in. We’re heading out anyway.” Camila said and started strolling towards us.

I flung the door completely open to comfortably aid her exit.

She was putting on a red asymmetrical short gown that had a sheer material on the back and around the sides. She held a Versace clutch bag and had on some red pump heels to match. Jane matched the bling with a black thigh-length bodycon.

Dressed to kill.

Together, Elsa and I quietly watched them as they sauntered out of the room with chic elegance, something Elsa and I could never match.

There was definitely a party.

Soon, they were out of sight. Elsa and I were alone now. She immediately tugged me into my own room.

“Hey hey. Easy.” I mouthed and she pulled me towards my bed which we sat on.

“Tell me everything!” She said instantly with a serious and amused expression. I couldn’t describe it.

“About.. about Liam and my—” I wanted to say my foolishness.

“Yes! That.” She butted in.

“Haven’t you heard it already? It’s quite a popular gossip.” I said dryly.

“Of course I have.” She smacked my arm. “But they are rumors, everyone has their own version.”

She was right. Not everybody hadn’t been at the site at the time of the crime and now the whole school knew about it so it was only right to think that there would be diverse narratives.

I cherished how Elsa was willing to listen to my own side of the story before she drew conclusions. Maybe she’d believe the he-took-me-to-his-dorm room part.

“So I’ll summarize—”

“Girl, tell me every d*mn thing.” She smacked my arm again, showing her impatience.

***

So I told her everything, exactly how it happened and so far, she seemed like she believed me.

But I was about to get to ‘the part’.

“—so he led me away.” I continued.

“What do you mean, ‘led you away’? He told you to follow him?”

“Chill out, Elsa.” I said as I recalled the instance. It had felt unreal. “He took my hand in his and—”

“Wait!”

Can’t this girl just listen!

“First, you said he didn’t react harshly to the kiss. Then he delivered you from Ashley’s wrath and now he takes your hands in his?” Her unbelief was starting to kick in.

“The same Liam Cornaro?”

“I know how it sounds, Elsa.” It sounded like me narrating my wet fantasy dreams to her. “But I’m not making anything up.” I held both her arms. “You know me.” I shot her a look of hope, hoping that our mutual familiarity would pave the way for the truth to sink in.

She shot me a long look and I kept gazing at her until she sighed.

“I believe you.” She said.

Phew…

“Only if.” She interrupted my relief. I look back at her.

“I’ll believe you… only if—”

Oh, she had said ‘I’ll believe’ not ‘I believe’.

I rejoiced too soon!

“Only if you talk to him in my presence. I’m not talking about the “Hey, Liam” or the “I love you, Liam” people normally scream whenever he’s sliding by. I need you to really talk to him and make him mutually respond to you.” She resolved and I just stared at her.

To be honest, her request was a fair one. It was Liam Cornaro we were talking about here. Any girl could make up and sell stories, so she needed me to prove mine.

That couldn’t be hard, right? He had behaved friendly. We had talked. I sat on his chair. He had treated my face wounds for me. I had even torn my clothes in front of him allowing him to see my partly naked body.

Okay, I should never mention that last part to anyone!

“Okay. Deal!” I said and she seemed surprised. The weasel still wasn’t trying to believe me.

Anyway, I'm about to change that.

“Okay, then.” Elsa said. “Let’s head out. We have Mapping Classes now.”

***

We were dressed and already on our way to the Geology Hall for our Mapping classes. Mapping classes were tutored by a really short old Werewolf professor named Mr. Hubur, which always sounds like Mr. Humor to me, and the classes were important because they helped us Tutees understand the landscape and geographical extent of Canisburg.

Canisburg was a country for supernatural beings. e.g. Werewolves. We were part of the real world but we were hidden somewhere off the maps.

Sometimes, I wished the humans would find us and we could, maybe, relate?

I wonder what that would be like.

Anyway, I’m done boring you guys with expositions. It’s time for Mapping class after which I will be having Combat classes— where I’ll be meeting Liam.

Another Pressure!

Combat classes were habitually held on Mondays and Wednesdays in the Combat Arena during third Period, and it was a joint session, whereby both juniors and seniors would take the period together.

It was basically a period where Rankers tested their fighting skills by sparring with others. And the best part was that anybody could challenge anybody. Which meant that anybody could talk to anybody.

I could talk to Liam.

Liam practically steals the crowd’s concentration anytime he walks into the Combat Arena. Everyone would gape at him and want to talk to him but since they can’t do that as he has his standards, everyone would want to spar with him.

Now, since Liam obviously has fighting standards, as he’s won Best Combatant of the Year five times in a role, he only periodically stretches his muscles by sparring a skilled few which he obviously defeats.

I had always hoped that one day, I would be strong enough to spar with someone as strong as him but as time passes by with my doleful predicament, that dream is fading.

“Miss Hunter. What are the drawbacks the flanking Units are facing over at the Northern borders of Canisburg?” Mr. Hubur suddenly asked me, making me realize I had zoned out in his class.

“I.. uh. We- maybe.. units the.. Canisburg?”