ADRIA’S POV.
Monica looked really uncomfortable and she scratched her neck. Was she searching for an excuse or she didn’t want to say? Since that day she sent the text, I had completely forgotten all about it. Of course, that had been why she had been going on and on about wolves drinking blood once a week for strength and that was why she had seemed so interested in Professor Lucien. It was because she knew what he was already. Maybe that was why she had started asking about wolves in general.
But then, I thought; She must have seen it just like me. Maybe when she went to his house to apologize for overstaying her welcome or maybe she went to give him something or greet him since he was a professor, she could have seen him, but then, Lucien didn’t tell me a thing about it.
“I… I stumbled in on him. I happened to see it.” She replied, holding her fingers together. I was right. She had also seen it. “I didn’t mean to. I had baked pancakes and they were just too much, then I thought I’d offer it to him as an apology and then while receiving it, he suddenly excused himself and then I heard him grunting and groaning so naturally I’d be worried, right? I know it’s wrong to just go places in someone else’s home but I was scared. I was scared something really bad was happening to him.” She explained as she rocked restlessly on her feet, biting her lower lip at intervals.
“I know. It was the same for me too.” I replied, sympathizing with her.
“And I saw him in his half-shift form.” She completed.
“It’s fine. It’s fine. I’m sorry if I sounded a little accusing at first, but really, wolves don’t drink blood, they…” My phone ringing broke off my sentence and I pulled it out of my pocket. It was my mum. “Uh, I got to go. See you later.” I said, looking at my phone and running off.
“Hello, Mum…”
~
It was actually nice to know that someone else apart from me knew about Lucien and the next morning while I stirred gumbo in the pot listening to Stacy complain about the professor who took one of her courses always gave excessive group works, someone knocked.
“Can you get the door for me?” I asked, tasting the stew.
“You should get it yourself. It’s your house.” She replied sweetly, laying down on the sofa.
“I’m here making sweet, delicious gumbo we’re going to have together and you’re complaining about getting the freaking door?” I asked unbelievably and she threw her book onto the sofa and got to her feet grudgingly which made me chuckle. “Don’t be such a lazy donkey, Stacy.”
“I’m not a lazy donkey! I’m getting the door already, okay?” She snapped, dragging her feet and I shook my head.
The door opened wide and when I didn’t hear any noise, I turned to see who had been knocking. I really couldn’t explain why my heart gave such a jolt but it was probably because I felt breakfast was going to be really awkward.
Stacy stood staring at Monica who looked unsure if she had made the right decision to come to my house and thinking of it, I had never asked Monica how she had known my house. I didn’t recall bringing her home.
“Hey…” I called out to Monica and they broke the awkward stare they had been given each other.
Stacy turned and trudged back to the sofa and Monica came in timidly.
“Uh, I came…”
“Gumbo’s done. I made some steamed rice too. Let’s have breakfast together.” I offered, and although I knew Stacy was staring at me with lasers in her eye, I didn’t mind.
“Oh… if you don’t mind.” Monica replied.
“Seat yourself. I’ll be right there.” I told her, as I spooned rice onto three dishes. “I think I’m kinda happy that Tommy and Daniel aren’t here. If they were, this large amount of rice wouldn’t make it onto your dishes.” I remarked with a smile as I served gumbo with the rice.
“That’s true. They’re gluttons. Daniel tries to hide it and pretend he’s a gentle man but really he’s not. He’s also a glutton on the inside.” Stacy replied, and I chuckled as I brought the food towards them on a tray.
We ate, talking and all the while Stacy shot glances at Monica who did little talking.
“Here. I couldn’t understand the assignment given to us so I felt you might be able to explain it to me instead.” Monica finally said, and I got up to my feet.
“Let me get a book first.”
“I’m leaving. I ate and I’m not about to listen to a lecture before going for my real lecture.” Stacy said, rolling her eyes as she walked towards the door.
“You only came because I said I was making gumbo, didn’t you?” I asked her and she turned, winking at me.
“You caught me.”
“God, Stacy, you’re every bit the same thing as Daniel and Tommy.” I told her and I heard her laugh as she stepped outside.
Stacy was such a funny person.
~
MONICA’S POV
I and Adria studied but I couldn’t concentrate. Well, it wasn’t like I did come for the studying. I was only sitting at her house and listening to boring explanations because I wanted to know if she believed me, and my sob story the previous day.
It seemed like she did because she wasn’t saying a thing about the previous day. My lies were getting thicker and if she happened to tell Lucien about it all, he would deny it and she would know that I had been lying all along so I cleared my throat, determined to fix things before they went beyond what I could handle.
“About what I told you the previous day, can you not tell Professor Lucien? He doesn’t know I know about him.” I pleaded, and she stopped highlighting a sentence she had been in the middle of highlighting.
“I don’t just tell everything I hear to everyone, you know.” She replied, and then looked back at her book as if she was trying to say something.
“Oh…”
“Are you lying to me?” She suddenly asked, and I froze.