RED HAIR

A clash in the shadows

"Lovely, how do you do?" Hale greeted Mellisa as they leaned against the wall of the dimly lit library, the quiet of the night wrapping around them.

"Not great," Mellisa replied flatly.

"Something wrong?" Hale asked, concern flickering in his eyes.

"Don't you know? Or have you forgotten so soon?" Her voice was laced with a hint of bitterness.

"Wait, don't tell me... Is this about yesterday? It wasn't a big deal."

"Not a big deal?! You embarrassed me, Hale!"

"Did I? No, I didn't mean to," Hale protested, his tone softening. "I'm sorry."

"Apology not accepted," Mellisa shot back, crossing her arms.

"Are you seriously going to act like that?" Hale sighed. "Come on, forgive me just this once." His expression turned into that familiar, slightly exaggerated look that he always used to weasel his way out of trouble.

But Mellisa was unmoved. "Still no," she responded, firm in her stance.

Hale let go of her. "Alright, then I'm leaving," he said, stepping away.

"Leaving?"

"Yeah, what do you expect? You said you won't forgive me."

"Wait, come back. I'm joking," Mellisa relented, a small smile breaking through her irritation.

"Joking?" Hale paused, turning back to face her.

"Yeah, sorry."

"So, does that mean I'm forgiven?" He asked, hopeful.

"Yes, babe."

Hale grinned and pulled her into an emotional hug, but their moment was suddenly interrupted as Georgia walked in.

"Sorry if I'm intruding," Georgia said, awkwardly stepping into the tense atmosphere.

"What do you want?" Mellisa asked, clearly annoyed.

"I came here to read," Georgia replied calmly, holding her ground.

"To read? Or something else?" Mellisa pressed, her tone dripping with suspicion.

"I'm here to read, not to snoop around. I have every right to be here," Georgia retorted, rolling her eyes.

"Go back," Hale instructed, trying to keep things calm.

"Back to where?" Georgia shot back, unwilling to be pushed around.

"Back to where you came from, sweetie," Hale said, his voice tinged with condescension.

"I'm not going back," Georgia insisted. "I came here to read, and you can't make me leave."

"We can't?" Mellisa echoed, her irritation bubbling over.

"Shut up and leave immediately," Mellisa ordered, her fury barely contained.

Georgia turned on her heel, storming out angrily.

Mellisa and Hale exchanged a look, Mellisa still fuming. "I think you should go easy on her," Hale suggested, trying to diffuse the tension.

"You're asking me to be cool with someone so rude? Never," Mellisa snapped.

"Rude? I don't think so. She's just... straightforward," Hale reasoned.

"Straightforward without knowing her limits? That's called being uncivilized."

"Uncivilized?" Hale repeated, taken aback.

"Yes, and I won't tolerate that," Mellisa declared, her resolve unshaken. Hale could only nod, realizing he wouldn't win this argument.

Meanwhile, Georgia was furiously muttering to herself as she made her way back to the classroom. "What a spoiled brat, that Mellisa. And that lovesick fool Hale can't even see right from wrong!"

"What's wrong, pretty girl?" Horla's voice cut through Georgia's thoughts as she appeared beside her.

"That spoiled Mellisa! She's nothing but a disrespectful... ugh!" Georgia ranted.

"Mellisa, the head girl? What happened?" Horla asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I caught her and her boyfriend, that President Hale, in the library... together," Georgia revealed, her voice still seething with anger.

"You caught them? Together?" Horla's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, and they had the nerve to kick me out!" Georgia huffed.

"Kicked you out... of the library?" Horla repeated in disbelief.

"Yes, where I went to read, mind you!" Georgia fumed.

"Wow, that's... something," Horla said, shaking her head. "Let's get back to the hostel. Evening preps are almost over."

"Fine, but I'm really angry about this," Georgia grumbled as they headed back.

As they walked, Georgia's anger began to fade, especially when Horla burst into laughter. "What's so funny?" Georgia asked, trying to keep up her scowl.

"You know what I like about you?" Horla said with a soft smile.

"What?" Georgia asked, intrigued.

"You can't stay angry for long," Horla replied, making Georgia smile despite herself.

Georgia shook her head, still smiling as she took Horla's hand, and they continued walking back to the hostel.

Suddenly, someone called out from behind them. "Hey, greenhorns!" Hale called, making them both turn around.

"What do you want?" Georgia asked, her tone cautious.

"I just want to talk... to the red-haired girl," Hale said, pointing at Georgia.

"My name is Georgia, for your information," she corrected him.

"Okay, Georgia. Can we talk... alone?" Hale asked politely.

"No, you can say whatever you want here, in front of my friend," Georgia insisted.

"It's personal," Hale pressed.

"Horla, should I go?" Georgia whispered to her friend, who nodded.

"Fine, let's talk," Georgia agreed, walking over to a nearby bench with Hale.

"First of all, I'm sorry about Mellisa's behavior," Hale began. "And secondly, I want you to know that Mellisa is my girlfriend, and everyone knows that. Even the principal, who is my mom. So there's no need for you to report anything."

Georgia sat there, stunned. Was that really why he wanted to talk to her? Did he think she was going to blab about them?

"Don't look at me like that. I know you have questions, so ask away," Hale said, breaking her silence.

Georgia sighed. "Listen, Mr. Hale—"

"It's Karl. Hale is my last name."

"Fine, Mr. Karl. Why are you telling me all this? I don't get it," Georgia said, narrowing her eyes.

"I'm saying this so you don't embarrass yourself in front of my mom," Hale replied with a smug smile.

Georgia shook her head, rising to her feet. "I'm not a blabbermouth like your girlfriend," she said firmly.

"Are you leaving?" Hale asked, surprised.

"What do you think?" Georgia retorted. "Excuse me."

"Excuse me? I thought you were different," Hale muttered, trying to hide his frustration.

"I am different, which is why I'm leaving," Georgia shot back. "And next time, don't ever talk to me again."

As Georgia walked away, Hale stood there, stunned. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. He was used to people bowing to him, not challenging him.

"Did she really just say that to me?" Hale wondered aloud, still in shock as he bumped into Mellisa.

"Hey, careful! What's wrong?" Mellisa asked, noticing his dazed expression.

"Nothing, I'm just tired," Hale mumbled, brushing her concern aside.

Mellisa frowned but forced a smile. "Alright, get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

As she walked away, Mellisa couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Hale had never been this distant before. She resolved to talk to him in the morning, determined to find out what was really going on.

Back at the dorm, Horla was waiting for Georgia. As soon as she saw her friend, she ran over, nearly tripping in her excitement. "Tell me everything! What happened?" Horla demanded, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Okay, okay, calm down," Georgia laughed.

"Can you believe what he said to me?" Georgia began, recounting the entire conversation with Hale.

"No way! He really said that?" Horla gasped, incredulous.

"Yep. Now I understand why those two are so rude," Georgia said, shaking her head.

"But what does he think? Just because his mom is the principal, he can treat people however he likes?" Horla fumed.

"Exactly. And that so-called girlfriend of his? She's too rude to be head girl," Georgia added, still annoyed.

"Let's just forget about them. It's late, and we need to get some sleep," Horla suggested.

"Yeah, you're right," Georgia agreed, finally letting go of her anger.

"Goodnight, Horla," Georgia said as they settled into bed.

"Goodnight, Georgia," Horla replied, and soon, the room was filled with the quiet sounds of sleep.