Colliding Rulers

Pageant (1)

Gevia's P.O.V

After the talk with Alex, I felt like I was lighter. There were fewer things that were bothering me. They were the same old s**t. Of course, I still have to assess what these feelings are. I don't want to jump to the conclusion that what this is is called 'love'. Love is scary. I know what love did to daddy.

When he lost mommy, I knew his world was shattered. He was unresponsive for days, and that alone is enough to scare me. I doubt I love Alex though. Of course, they made me feel all sorts of things, but that's because they were the only one doing it for me. If it was someone else, I think it would happen the same.

It would be the same result even if it was from a different person. There was also something that added to my curiosity. Joshua and the captain talked the other day, but Joshua was being secretive about it. And whenever we saw the captain from afar, or if the captain was our topic, he would blush and would take interest. It was so obvious. The way his eyes lighted up whenever it was the captain that was the subject.

Funny thing was, I felt some kind of tension between them. I can't really describe it, but it's like the tension between Alex and I. I tried pestering Joshua about it, but he would quickly dismiss the topic and shift to another one, quite smoothly too. He became adept at juggling topics.

"Oh? Your name is up there."

There was also something else. When I'm not looking, I feel Joshua staring at me. And sometimes, I would catch him looking so damn sultry. As if it was the end of the world already. He looked anxious.

"What name?"

Joshua stared blankly at a piece of bondpaper stapled on the bulletin. I slowly made my way towards him and looked at what he was implying. My eyes immediately dropped when I saw my name on the contestants. My name was up there. Me? Entering a pageant? Competing in one? How ridiculous!

I ripped the bondpaper from the bulletin and stared at it. If my stare could just erase my name, it would've been done. I chewed on the insides of my cheeks. My frustration was building up inside me. I've never competed in things like this? They weren't worthy of being my opponent! Only Alex is the person that can really go up against me! But Alex isn't really competing, now would they?

I heard Joshua chuckling. If my face was a painting, it would have been ruined. I disliked the point of competing in things like that. I marched my way to the Principal's Office to make a complaint when I saw Aeron there, talking to the principal with a big smile on her face and with her long legs crossed.

Aeron's charisma was leaking out and I think she bewitched the Principal, judging from the smile on the Principal's face. I shivered. Aeron took notice of my and Joshua's presence and stood up.

"It was a lovely talk, Ms. Principal. It seems that you have guests. I'll go first." Aeron waved at Joshua and Joshua smiled back. Aeron came to me and gave me a hug before leaving the office.

The principal looked at me and her smile was now replaced with a horrified expression. I forced a smile and angrily put the paper on her neat desk. She flinched after I slammed the paper. I took a seat and Joshua closed the door of the office.

"M-Miss Jones, to what do I owe this pleasure of meeting you?" she was stuttering. Her profession almost degraded. She shouldn't have been scared of me, since she was the Principal.

"What the actual f**k is this?" I basically roared at the principal. I pointed to my gorgeous name.

"Care to f*****g explain?" Joshua silently listened behind us.

The principal, with shaking hands, grabbed the paper. When she understood what I meant, her wrinkly upper lips turned into a small 'o'. She calmly took down the paper and gulped before facing me again.

"Miss Jones, this year's contestants were picked by the student body through voting." I squinted my eye, as if to see the point a little bit better.

"Shouldn't the system ask the students that were voted to decide if they were okay with it? f*****g hell with this. This isn't how it should be done. Permission is a necessity. This may be a free country, but the dignity of the students that are opposed to this is in shambles if you continue to be like this."

"Woah," I heard Joshua say softly behind me. I felt a soft tap on my shoulder, letting me know that Joshua was proud of my statement.

"I'm sorry, Miss Jones. I will immediately pass out a survey to the contestants."

"Good. Now erase my name off of this list." I stood up, feeling accomplished.

Now that that's out of the way, I feel like I can do every damn thing.

"I apologize for the mindless system of the school."

It was the last thing I heard the principal say before we exited the office. Once we were out of the office and on our way to the cafeteria to get some food to eat, Joshua applauded.

"Girl, that was badass!" I smirked.

"What do you expect? But really, that was an invasion of privacy, in the way that they were choosing and deciding things for us without our input. Douchebags."

In the corner of my eye, I saw Alex pass by. We had already talked, but they did ask for some time. I don't know how long Alex wants some time off, but I didn't want to disrespect Alex. I have already heard enough from Aeron, Alex's twin. I don't want to add to Alex's frustrations and problems in life.

We were back to being strangers. We weren't talking. We didn't talk, and we weren't close. Like, physically close. After the commotion of us being seen together, walking together and exiting the school together,everything died down. I sometimes still hear whispers about it, but it became less and less as time passed by.

"That is true. I was even surprised to see your name up there. I knew you weren't the type to do that."

"Do what?" I raised an eyebrow at Joshua.

"Enter competitions without your other significant co-competitor." I giggled.

"You're right. I thought you were going to say that I was not the type to enter pageants."

"b***h, I know you and how your life basically evolves around Alex." I almost choked at my own saliva when Joshua said that.

"Oh, please. Let's not."

We ordered immediately. We were always hungry. It was something about Joshua that made me want to eat and eat. Once we ordered and sat at our table, a third figure sat with us. Before I could take a bite of my food, I looked up to see who it was. Aeron was in between me and Joshua, smiling widely. She's making it look like she did something that she should be guilty about.

"Hi? How can we help you?" Joshua asked, putting down his fork and his food. We always dislike it when someone interrupts our meal.

"What were you beautiful people doing at the principal's office?" why was Aeron curious about that?

"Shouldn't we ask you the same thing? You were there before us. With a suspicious smile," I pointed out.

"Woah there. Chillax, I was there because I needed to do something about my paperwork."

"Paperwork? For what?" I asked.

Aeron attracted attention. Of course, the other students will think that this is Alex. Also, how come Aeron's presence isn't obvious when she's Alex's twin? The visuals? The build? Aeron's s*x appeal is also extravagant, so why? How come Alex has also realized this by now? There must be word of this that made its way to Alex's ears.

"I transferred here a long time ago, but it seems that my paperwork isn't done yet. I had to inquire about it for a followup."

Joshua took small bites of his food, not being able to hold off his hunger much longer. When I saw Joshua take a bite of his food, I did as well. I wasn't willing to let my stomach wait.

"I see," Joshua nodded his head.

"So, my question?" Aeron took turns to look at Joshua and then at me.

"Hmm, the pageant." was all I could manage to say with all the food that was in my mouth. It was very unladylike, but I was starving.

"What about it?"

"Didn't you see?" Joshua asked.

It was as if Joshua and I had this silent agreement that we were going to take turns when talking. And if one was talking, one would be eating. It was a good dynamic duo.

"I did see your name there. Quite surprising as well."