17
1329 Words
SERAPHINA
The cafeteria hummed with its usual lunchtime chaos—trays clattering, someone laughing too loud three tables over, the smell of different food and industrial disinfectant mixing together. I stabbed my fork into a limp french fry and wished it was Azriel's face.
"He said what?" Maya's eyes went wide, her soda frozen halfway to her lips.
"'They'll probably just remember a reckless student who threw away her life,'" I mimicked, dropping my voice to something resembling his dark, condescending baritone. "As if I asked for his opinion. As if he has any right—"
"He's just worried about you," Maya interrupted, her voice going soft and dreamy in that way it always did ever since she saw Azriel. "It's kind of sweet, don't you think? The whole brooding protective stepbrother thing?"
I snorted. "Sweet? Maya, he looked at me like I was an i***t. Like I was some child playing at being an adult. I've been planning this thesis for eight months. He doesn't even know anything. Just an arrogant bastard."
"He's not worried." Priya chipped in, not looking up from her phone. "He's being territorial."
"Territorial?" Maya perked up. "Like, over Seraphina?"
"Yes." Priya nodded, finally putting her phone down. "It was obvious from how he looked at Derek the last time. It was as if he wanted to tear him apart."
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it. Because I knew she was right, even though I had no intention of admitting it.
"But isn't that weird?" Maya asked, looking confused. "Who gets territorial over their sister?"
I sighed sipping my coke. Maya can be slow sometimes.
Priya didn't answer either, instead she changed the topic. "Can we focus please? The write-up is due on Thursday. We still need to finalize the methodology section, and I'm not letting Derek's sloppy ethnography sink our grade."
"Speaking of Derek," Maya said, and I could see the mischief lighting up her face before she even finished the sentence. "Seraphina, we should have another get-together. At your place. We can invite Joe and Simon. It'll be a mini-party. It's going to be so much fun. We'll bring a lot of snacks, your house is literally built for entertaining—"
"No." Priya replied almost immediately, and I couldn't be more thankful. As a loner, there was a limit to how much company I could endure.
Maya blinked. "No?"
"Priya's right," Maya looked up at me. "Azriel... doesn't like having people over. That's why he was pissed at Derek. I don't want him picking on me for no reason again. Let's just meet at the library. Or Priya's apartment." That way, I could use curfew as an excuse to slip away when it got too much.
"But I didn't take enough pictures last time." Maya protested. "Priya took more than enough."
"That's why you shouldn't have spent your time ogling at her brother." Priya teased.
Maya ignored her and took my hand, swinging it as she begged. "Please." She batted her eyes at me. "Pretty please. It's probably the last time we'll be able to have fun before we get posted."
I sighed, feeling a headache already. "Alright. But it'll be a study session not a party. Just you and Priya. Don't bring anyone along. We can go over the final draft, make sure everything's polished before submission. I'll beg mom to make us cookies and lemonade."
Maya's lower lip jutted out in a pout, but she nodded. "Fine. At least I get to take nice pictures." Then her eyes lit up. "Will Azriel be around?"
"Probably." I replied trying to keep my voice neutral. "It's not like he announces his schedule to me."
***
The sweet aroma of vanilla and warm butter hit me the moment I opened the door.
"Mom?" I yelled, going into the kitchen. "I brought friends, can you help us make some cookies?" I reached out to taste the batter she was mixing. "Or maybe we could eat out of these. They smell nice." She slapped my hands away. "Hands off." Then she yelled out to the living room. "Come in here sweethearts, I'm a little preoccupied."
Maya and Priya strode into the kitchen. Mom beamed. "Oh, my goodness! You girls are so pretty." Then she glared at me. "You didn't tell me you'll be having friends over. What if I wasn't around?"
"It's actually not their first time here." I replied. "They came by few days ago."
Mom glared at me, and I knew I had a lecture coming up later.
She turned to the girls just as Maya moved closer bouncing on her toes. "It's so nice to meet you, Mrs. Zephyrion," Maya gushed. "Your house is gorgeous."
"Thank you, dear. And you're so lovely. The cookies should soon be done. You girls go play, I'll let you know when it's time."
Fifteen minutes later, we were munching on the first batch of cookies, laptops and notes spread across the floor of the living room. Maya didn't forget to take pictures—especially of mom's cookies—and I won't lie, it was fun. Maybe because I didn't have a certain brooding male breathing down my neck.
When the girls finally left, waving their goodbyes and screaming repeated thanks at mom, I was exhausted.
I cleaned up the mess in the kitchen with mom afterwards.
"Your friends are so nice," mom said finally. I knew she'd been holding it in. "I would have made better snacks or food if I knew they would be coming over.
"It wasn't planned." I replied, tying my hair into a bun. "They insisted on coming over. Apparently, our house is perfect spot for pictures. Besides, I thought it would be nice to get along. The project and stuff. Makes it easier. Though they can be too intense sometimes."
"That's true." Seraphina replied, handing a napkin over to me to clean the dishes. "But that's exactly what being young is all about right?"
I nodded. "Probably."
Mom didn't say anything more for a while and I looked up at her. "What's wrong mom?" I asked. "Something weighing on you?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. It's just..." She dropped the plate in her hand and turned to face me. "Things seem to be getting worse between you and Azriel. Why exactly are you on edge with him?"
"He's the one causing trouble, Mom. Not me." I defended. "For example, you heard what he said last night about me throwing my life away. He acts like I'm a kid who knows nothing. I'm an adult for crying out loud."
Mom turned back to the sink. "He's just worried about you, sweetheart."
"He's condescending."
"He's afraid." She rinsed off the last plate and wiped her hands. "Azriel... he's lost a lot of people, Seraphina. People dear to him." She paused, choosing her words. "He's not good at watching people he cares about walk into danger. It makes him... paranoid." She took my hand. "Him worrying about you isn't him being controlling. It shows he cares."
Her words made me feel guilty now.
"That doesn't mean he gets to be a jerk." I pouted.
"No," mom agreed gently. "It doesn't. But maybe... maybe you could meet him halfway? He is trying, in his way. He just doesn't know how to show it without sounding like a drill sergeant."
"I'll try." I promised, anger fading. "Thanks for tonight, Mom," I pressed a kiss to her cheeks. "The cookies were perfect."
"Anytime, sweetheart." She squeezed my hand. "Just happy you're finally making friends. Seems Seattle suits you."
I smiled, placing the plates in the cabinet when my phone pinged.
I wiped my hand on my clothes and opened it. It was an email from the school. My heart raced immediately.
ON-SITE PROJECT ASSIGNMENT
NAME: Seraphina Zephyrion
LOCATION: Norvale
TASK: Investigate the recent bombing in Millbrook.
I gasped.
"Mom!" I shrieked excitedly, my voice echoing through the mansion. "I'm going to Millbrook."
- Writer
