I tamed the female lead

Chapter 13

The afternoon came and the accident where the female lead would hurt herself was getting closer by the second. But I wouldn't be able to see it because I was at the swimming pools with Orange and the others. I was really glad to be with them but I couldn't focus because of a tiny detail. If Alastair was supposed to save Astéria, then what was he doing here at the swimming pools too? Astéria told me that her plans changed and she didn't want to impress Alastair anymore (if she wasn't lying) but then who was going to save her when she would fall? Would she still fall? I had no idea but if she did and no one caught her, she could get severely hurt.

Seeing me all anxious, Orange rubbed my shoulder:

"Are you okay?

-Yes."

But I wasn't. I couldn't forget about Astéria and didn't even notice my leg had been shaking. Orange gently pressed down on it to make it stop which finally woke me from my torpor:

"Is Astéria participating in the height jumping competition?"

Orange as well as my friends seemed surprised by my sudden question:

"Why are you asking this?

-I am just curious."

Azore shrugged saying that she had no idea but Iris was more informed:

"One of my friends did height jumping too and she said Astéria was one of the first to pass.

-Oh, really? How did things go?

-Everything went fine. You know how terribly perfect she is."

I frowned and whispered:

"I thought she was scared of heights..."

I didn't intend anyone to hear and just talked to myself not even sure that what I said was true or not. But Iris heard what I said and laughed thinking this was really funny:

"What? She is scared of heights? The cold princess is scared of heights? That's so funny. I can't wait for the whole school to hear about this. She doesn't seem so scary anymore."

I frowned. I didn't like the way Iris talked about this. People had phobias and that was completely normal. Why would she use Astéria's phobia against her? This was bullying. And what was worse was that I was the origin of that all:

"You shouldn't tell people about this. I just said something. It's not even true I was just thinking aloud and even if it was, that would be bullying. Leave her alone."

Iris became really red as she said:

"Why can't you stop defending her?"

I tilted my head:

"What?

-You can't stop defending her and never say a bad word no matter what she does. You didn't even take my side when she told me to stop talking during class.

-I am sorry if you felt wronged but she was bothered by your talking and told you about it. I didn't see anything wrong about that.

-You didn't see anything wrong? You are blind. What is so wrong with a small revenge? She was mean to me and now I am fighting back.

-That's not fighting back. That's starting rumors and that's bullying.

-What are rumors to her anyway? She is on a high horse and looks down on everyone. A small rumor would do her good.

-How can you say that? Leave her alone.

-Don't tell me what to do! You are just as bad as her."

Iris wanted to say more but something behind me made her stop. I didn't know what it was because the only person behind me was Orange. Iris got up still angry:

"Forget it."

We watched her leave puzzled. Azore gently tapped my shoulders with a sign:

"Let her go. You were in the right. She will calm down and apologize."

I pinched my lips. I didn't think she would. But for now there were bigger matters to take care of. If Iris really did tell people about the rumor in her anger, Astéria would hear about it too. Apart from her feeling hurt or angry, I didn't want her to think I was the one who started the rumors. I wouldn't throw Iris under the bus but I couldn't just sit by. I stood up and decided to find her. But seeing me get up, Orange grabbed my hand:

"Are you okay?

-Yes. I need to find Astéria."

Orange didn't ask anymore. She always let me do whatever I wanted and she was certainly the person who knew me better in the whole country. She must have known what I was thinking about. Someone's feelings were more important than me winning a swimming competition. I knew I was good anyway. I didn't need a medal to confirm that.

I quickly got changed and ran to the height jumping stand. I knew Astéria already jumped but I didn't know where else to go. I looked around searching for black hair and a very tall figure but I couldn't find her anywhere. Someone I did find was Iris talking to some girls she was friends with. She seemed still quite angry and I knew we did some mistakes while angry so I quickly ran up to them:

"Iris. Could I talk to you for a second."

Her friends didn't seem happy to see me and Iris wasn't any different:

"I have nothing to say to you. Leave."

I never saw her so cold before but it didn't matter. I was the bigger person and I needed her to promise me not to say anything about the rumor:

"Just a second. About what happened before."

Iris thought about it a bit before following me. Once away from her friends she quickly lost her bravery and didn't dare look me in the eyes while playing with her fingers. Why didn't I see how pathetic she was? She seemed very nice before. No, she changed. She wasn't like this before and started feeling comfortable around me. That was when her true colors came out.

"What did you tell them?

-I didn't say anything.

-The least you could do is be honest."

She didn't like my comment but didn't dare say anything.

"Did you tell them about the rumor?

-I don't see what you are talking about."

I signed:

"Come on, Iris. At least don't play dumb. That's so annoying.

-Did you just say I was dumb?

-Almost. I said you were acting dumb but I could understand why a certain type of people could confuse the two."

She was starting to irritate me. I hated liars.

"Did you tell them?

-Why do I have to answer that? I don't owe you anything.

-You are right. You are no one to me. But if you told them about the lie then you are a bully. And I won't let anyone bully Astéria.

-What do you care? Who is she to you? Are you in love or what?"

I rolled my eyes.

"What are you? Five?

-You are in love with her! She has nothing apart from money. She is a disgusting wizard and if you hang out with her, you will be just as bad as her.

-I would rather hang out with Astéria than with a bully."

And this was a lot considering Astéria was Poehina's killer.

"You are disgusting."

I rolled my eyes again:

"And you thinking I can be hurt by your words is exasperating. Let's speed up shall we? Did you tell them yes or no?

-If you don't listen to me then why are you asking?

-For once, be honest and tell me the truth.

-I told them! There you go. Happy? I will go back there and tell my real friends how irritating you are. Because they would always have my side.

-Sweety, I would never have your back if you are in the wrong. Those friends of yours are just as bad as you if they do.

-Did you just insult my friends?

-If you were hurt that means you are in fact in the wrong.

-Stop playing with words here. You are not that smart.

-I beg to differ. Remind me of your rank on the latest exam."

Iris was smoking with rage and having nothing else to say, she of course decided to go with violence. However I was way too quick for her and caught her wrist before twisting it with a dry movement. I could hear her bones break and Iris cry:

"What is wrong with you?

-With me? You just raised your hand on the princess of the south. You better be grateful that I only broke your wrist because you would suffer way worse of a fate if people were to know about this. I suggest you never try this again because I won't be this reliant next time around."

Iris didn't have anything to say and ran away while holding her wrist. I was angry too. Really angry and breaking her bones didn't help at all. I needed more. But as soon as I turned around I saw Astéria looking at me in the distance.