Chapter 79 Upset?
SOMA
One week. I missed a full week’s worth of lectures. No one bats an eyelid as I weave through the throngs of students and enter my class. Jade insisted on staying back to study, but I suspect her decision was influenced by one prince.
The class falls silent as I walk through the aisles. On the first row are my cousins. Their gazes sharpen, but they remain quiet. Sienna perks up in her usual spot, waving me over to the empty seat on her left. Dianna is missing, which explains her need for my company. Too bad I’m not in the mood to play listener to her or anyone else.
As soon as I slide into the seat closest to the window, she leaves her position and settles down on my table.
What does she want?
“Hi, Soma,” Sienna says. “Good to have you back.”
She could have at least told a better, more believable lie. Opening my backpack, I remove some books and place them on the desk, hoping she takes the hint to leave. But she only moves closer to the edge to create more space. I’ve missed a week’s worth of classes, so I must work harder for the mid-semester tests. I don’t have time for insincere conversations like this.
The scholarship might cover my entire duration in the academy, but I don’t intend to fail. Besides, I have a promise to keep. I can’t disappoint Lilith.
Sienna sighs the first time, but I flip through the pages of my book like she’s not there. I’ll have to ask someone for their notes, but I’m not sure who to ask. Maybe I’ll need to contact the lecturers directly to find out what I missed.
Another sigh escapes Sienna. Dramatic much?
“You’re really going to ignore me, huh?” she asks. “Even after I helped your maid with my notes so you wouldn’t be left behind when you resumed.”
My fingers stop moving. I flip to a page in my book, and my brows crease as I take in the handwriting. It’s not mine. Jade is learning to write, but she doesn’t have the patience to carve words as neatly as this.
The only other option is Tristan.
But he won’t have been able to do that without her notes. The annoyance melts as fast as it comes, and I release a breath. She didn’t help when Kade took my maid, but it led to the beginning of Jade’s love story with Tristan. Maybe it’s time to let bygones be bygones.
“Thanks, Sienna. I didn’t know it was you.”
“You can call me Si,” she says. “All my friends call me that.”
A month ago, I would have been excited to know she wanted me as a friend. But the past few weeks have made me jaded and taught me never to trust anyone.
Helga was enough.
The reminder sends a pang straight to my heart. I’m not too eager to jump into another friendship.
“Thanks, but I’m not really looking for new friends right now,” I say. “If you don’t mind, Sienna is fine with me.”
Something flickers across her face, but it’s gone before I can identify it. She nods and returns to her seat. Our lecturer steps in, and the class resumes. We go half the day without speaking, but each time our eyes meet, I smile.
She might not make it into my nonexistent friendship list, but I can have her as an ally in case I need support against Brynne. When it’s time for lunch, she bounces back to my desk and perches on the edge.
Some of our classmates stare at us, while the others leave the class without a backward glance. When we are alone, she exhales.
“Okay. I know why you’re upset,” she begins.
“Upset? Why would I be?”
“Because I didn’t help when Jade was…”
At the reminder, a muscle ticks in my jaw. Maybe I’m not ready to let the past stay in the past. But if I can forgive Tristan so easily, why can’t I forgive her?
Because I expected more from her. I expected her to stick with me. Not only because we’re housemates, but as girls. A duo who share the pressure of a title.
“It’s fine,” I lie.
Sienna shakes her head. “It’s not.” When I remain quiet, she tells me, “But I really don’t like to meddle in any of my brother’s affairs. Kade wouldn’t have hurt Jade. That’s why I wasn’t so worried, alright?”
“Alright.”
Her slim hand stretches toward me. “Do over?” she requests. My eyes shut briefly, and I remind myself of the many benefits of having her on my side. So, I nod shakily. “Hi, I’m Sienna, but you can call me Si.”
Laughter rumbles in my chest, and I snort as my palm closes over hers. She’s one persistent wolf. The Rybak siblings all are.
“Hi. I’m Somadina, but you can call me Soma or…”
“Or?”
Her brow lifts. I open my mouth without closing it. If she’s willing to give us another chance, maybe I should, too. We can’t move forward if I hold grudges.
“Dee,” I mutter at least. “If you prefer that.”
“Soma. Dee. Somi,” she adds. My breath catches on the last word. Only Brynne calls me that, and I’m not sure I want it associated with anyone else. “I’ll stick with Soma. Once I’m sure you trust me enough, I’ll graduate to Dee.”
Our laughter cuts through the tension. She pulls me up to my feet, her arm sliding through mine as we walk out of the class. On our way to the cafeteria, she spends the whole time gushing about a Mask Ball. I have no intention of attending, so I barely pay attention.
Talking to her feels different from talking to Helga. With Helga, my title was always in the way, even if we both learned to ignore it. But there’s no subtle or lingering tension with Sienna. We’re almost equal. I’m not scared of her, and neither is she.
“Do you want to join us for a meal in the garden?” she asks.
And risk seeing Brynne? The answer is…
“No,” I offer, flashing her a tiny smile. “But I can go alone to the cafeteria. You don’t have to follow me.”
“Who says I’m following you?” she teases. I throw up my hands in fake surrender, playing into her joke. “I was headed there anyway. But you can follow me.”
A snort bursts out of me, and she winks. Together, we head to the cafeteria.