“So, I would like to congratulate everyone on a successful year, and also, I would like to make a special announcement. But, I shall let my dear brother speak for himself.”
Everyone looked around, all confused. Principal Douxora?
“Good afternoon, students. To those who do not know me, I am Principal Douxora and I run Pleamore Academy. After careful deliberations, my brother and I have decided that, from the following school year, we shall merge Ridgeview Academy and Pleamore Academy, into what was once so well and dearly known as The Holmerry, Institute of the Arcane.”
Eva could see that many students around her not only recognized the name, but welcomed this idea. Everyone had enough of the bridge that had existed between vampires
and werewolves, and they all just wanted to be friends again. Some, even more than friends.
“Oh my gosh!” they could hear Bella squeal to herself.
“Of course, the physical building of the Holmerry Institute has degraded significantly, since it hasn’t been used in such a long time, so we need the summer to get it back to the once shiny emblem of vampire and werewolf togetherness, that has always existed between us. It is a new beginning, one that brings us back to the old ways.”
Principal Douxora finished his monologue, and a roar of claps was heard immediately afterwards.
“We hope you are as happy about this as we are,” Principal Rannulf added, “and we wish you a wonderful rest of the day.”
“Oh my gosh!” Bella repeated again, for good measure.
“You seem excited,” Dorian poked fun.
“If you were in my shoes, wouldn’t you be?” she asked.
“Sure,” Dorian nodded. “But, luckily, I got everything I need right here.”
He smiled at Eva, and she blushed under his gaze. She couldn’t wait for the weekend, and for some time with the guys. She desperately needed it. But, before she could daydream some more, someone slammed their fist on their table loudly, making them all jump.
Eva lifted her gaze. It was Katrina. Her posse was right behind her, as backup, in case things got rough. This time, Eva was ready. She was furious, watching her mother’s chain dangle around Katrina’s neck. She felt a titillating desire to snap it like a little twig, but she knew that violence wouldn’t really solve anything. With the likes of Katrina, it would only bring forth more violence, and then, they would all be stuck in a vicious, never ending cycle. She didn’t want that. Not after everything they’d already been through. She had to put a stop to this, once and for all.
“Dorian,” Katrina started, without looking at him, and rather, staring down Eva, “why are you sitting with this bunch of losers, when you could be sitting with us over there?”
Her voice was whiny and nasally. She didn’t look one bit as intimidating as she did a few weeks ago, when she smacked Eva’s head against the bathroom sink, cracking her lip. There was no fear anymore. Only determination, to put Katrina in her place, and make her regret ever bullying anyone.
“I don’t know how many times I gotta tell ya…” Dorian started, but Eva lifted her hand and he knew that was a sign for him to stop talking. She was taking over.
“I think you have something that belongs to me,” Eva started, calmly.
She stood up, as she was talking, and now, she faced Katrina bravely. It was strange. She always thought Katrina was much taller than she was. But now, standing straight and unafraid, she realized that they were roughly the same height. The thought made her smile. It gave her even more courage to end this, once and for all.
“This,” Eva pressed her fingers gently against the sunflower pendant, “was my mother’s.”
“Ew, get away from me, you freak,” Katrina wanted to push her backwards, but Eva blocked her hands with hers.
Still, she made sure not to hurt her.
“Please, give me back what you stole from me,” Eva repeated, as kindly as she could.
“Or what?” Katrina sneered. “You’re gonna tell on me?”
“No,” Eva shook her head. “That wouldn’t solve anything.”
“Then what?”
“I’m going to take what is mine.”
“Oh really?” Katrina tried to make herself look bigger, like a chicken about to attack another chicken.
Eva thought she was so ridiculous, it wasn’t even worth mentioning it.