That strange feeling consumes me again, eating at my inner conscience and soul. I glance over my shoulder, observing Zak and Flint making their way out of the lake with expressions of annoyance and relief.
I step away from Nina and turn to address the others. 'We should head back home before Mum sends the warriors out looking for us,' I suggest, addressing the group, effectively treating Nina as a ghost.
Everyone stares at Nina with sympathy, fixated on her. I don’t know why. No one ever looked at me that way when she had played her stupid pranks on me. I try to hide my frustration and annoyance from them. We make our way back to the Packhouse, Nina trailing behind us slowly.
Upon our arrival, I promptly change into dry clothes before joining my parents and the rest of the pack house members for dinner. Nina takes her customary seat, attempting to catch my eye on a few occasions, but I steadfastly ignore her, noticing the subtle sag of her shoulders from the corner of my eye.
My mother interjects as dinner unfolds, setting a curfew for the evening. 'Bed early tonight, kids. The weekend is over, and you have school tomorrow.'
The collective response is one of moans and complaints, though Nina remains conspicuously silent and appears miserable.
Concerned for her well-being, Leon directs a question her way. 'Is everything okay, sweetie?'
Nina responds with a nonchalant shrug, pushing the food around her plate with her fork.
Amelia, trying to lighten the atmosphere, inquires about her day. 'What did you get up to today?'
For a fleeting moment, Nina's gaze flits toward me, but I deliberately occupy myself with my dinner.
'I climbed trees and swam at the lake with the others, Mum,' Nina lies, replying with a melancholy undertone.
Amelia nods, interpreting Nina's response as a sign of enjoyment. 'Sounds like you had a fun time.'
'Yeah, fun,' Nina mutters, her tone laden with sadness.
As the months trickled by, the once-familiar routine in the packhouse underwent subtle yet undeniable changes. Nina, who had been my daily source of cheerful greetings, stopped extending her warm hellos my way after she had learned that I wouldn’t respond. Despite her decision to keep her distance verbally, Nina continued to shadow me and the rest of our friends. Her presence was like a ghost haunting us but from a small distance. Sometimes, she would disappear, completely vanishing from our view and leaving me to wonder where she ventured and what occupied her time during those strange absences.
Even May, once inseparable from Nina, gradually distanced herself from her. Instead, she directed all her attention towards me.
Now, over seven years later, in high school, Nina had acquired the reputation of being a loner. Always keeping to herself in class. At recess and lunch, as soon as she finished eating in the cafeteria, she would spend the rest of her time in the library, where she would study or read a book.
May would elbow and glare at me whenever she caught me staring at Nina, but May would always get jealous and cranky at any girl I glanced at.
‘Stop elbowing me, May,’ I growl.
'Stop staring at Nina then,' May countered with frustration. 'You haven't spoken to her in over seven years, yet you're always throwing glances her way. Besides, you should be focusing your attention on me. Everyone knows we will be mates.'
A smirk dances on my lips as I ruffle May's hair playfully. 'Not if I can help it,' I retort, fully aware of the effect my words would have on her.
'You're such an ass, Magnus,' May growls, slapping my hand away and hastily smoothing her messy hair.
'Yes, I'm told daily by many girls here that I have a nice ass,' I quip with a grin, fully expecting May's reaction.
May abruptly stands her gaze, a barrage of daggers aimed at every female in the classroom. 'Who is telling you that? I demand to know their names right now,' she declares, her voice sharp and possessive. I roll my eyes, exasperated. 'May, you need to get over it. We're not mates.'
'You don't know that!' May shot back with desperation. 'We could be, you know! And you need to get over Nina,' she adds, her voice pleading.
I glare at May, my frustration and confusion at the situation reaching a boiling point. My words make her shrink back in her seat, her arms crossed defiantly. 'I can't get over someone I was never into in the first place,' I snap.
May turns away from me, her anger and hurt evident in her demeanour.
The rest of the math class passes in a brooding silence.
As soon as the bell rings, May clings to my arm as if the argument had never happened, her smile radiant as we make our way to the cafeteria. Our friendship has always been complex, for sure.
I find myself seated at the designated table where the school's elite congregate, a status shared by me and my close-knit circle of friends—Zak, Josie, and Flint. As we settle in, our other school friends, Paul and Claire, join our lively gathering.
Lunch is served, but my focus is not entirely on the food. With discretion, I steal glances toward the far corner of the cafeteria, where Nina has quietly taken her seat.
Amidst the buzz of activity, the female population of the cafeteria seems determined to vie for my attention. Their subtle flirtations and overt attempts to capture my gaze hardly escape my notice.
Claire, however, boldly places her hand on my shoulder and settles into the empty chair beside me, much to May's silent dismay. 'Hey, Magnus,' she greets me, her voice sweet and inviting.
I offer a polite response. 'Hi, Claire,' I acknowledge, my attention divided between our conversation and my eyes on Nina, who nibbles on her sandwich in the distance.
Claire smiles, but I can tell she's nervous, and continues, 'So, I'm having a party on Saturday, and I wanted to invite you along.'
Zak seizes the moment to interject. 'Oh, a party!' I reply with feigned interest, my thoughts remaining on Nina. 'Oh, okay,' I mumble, my gaze still locked on Nina as she nibbles on her sandwich. I can’t help but notice she always looks uncomfortable at every lunch and never seems to finish her food. Instead of eating, she busies herself, extracting a book from her bag and flipping through its pages.