Two Red Strings

Chapter 4

Magnolia entered the classroom of her next lesson. Even though the bell had rung, everyone was still on their phones. "Teach ain't here." Her desk mate, Emilia, told her. "Hey, Mag, what house are you in?" Emilia asked. Magnolia finally realized it. "I... I didn't managed to find my name."

Emilia smiled. "Don't worry! You'll find out during lunch." She encouraged. Then, there was the pungent smell of markers. They turned to the whiteboard and saw Saul writing. In red, was Scarlet Fox; blue, Sapphire Owl; purple, Violet Wolf; and green, Green Serpent.

"Everyone, please raise your hand for those who don't know your houses?" He asked. Almost everyone raised their hands. "Good. I managed to take down everyone's houses, so here goes." Saul began to write down everyone's name in each of the houses.

In their class of nearly 30, all of the four houses seemed to be equally spread. Magnolia searched for her name. It was under Violet Wolf. Gangs and cliques cheered when they were in the same houses.

During lunch, Magnolia sat at the usual lunch table, waiting for Angelina, with Camellia. The former saw Gérard a few tables away. He looked depressed, maybe it was because of the fact that he wasn't in the same house as Angelina.

Saul and Benjamin joined him shortly afterwards, in high hopes to cheer him up. Myosotis sat at the table next to Gérard's table, with a few others. Magnolia couldn't help but to stare at him. Then, someone wrapped their arms around his shoulders.

'It's that little bitch again...' Lacrimosa growled. Magnolia glared at Clara, before she noticed this. Magnolia quickly turned away. Camellia let out a sigh. Then, Angelina arrived, with a stressed look on her face. "Busy, this week?" Camellia asked.

"Yes. A lot of school politics to deal and there's a transfer student coming this Wednesday. I'm in charge of giving him a tour around, so he'll be sticking with us for a while..." Angelina explained. "Him?" Camellia repeated. Angelina handed them a student profile.

"He's Feliciano Venezia Vargas." Angelina said as they opened the file. Feliciano was cute, as girls would say. He had auburn brown hair with a wild curl on the left side of his head. He closed his eyes, so they didn't know his eye colour until they read the profile. Amber. Suddenly, Camellia packed her books and hastily left without clearing her tray. "What's with her?" Angelina wondered. "Anyways, I plan to let him stick with the boys after a week or two with us." She added.

・・・

"Mag! Up ahead!" Kate cried as the volleyball was passed over. Magnolia leapt and slammed the ball over the net. The opposition didn't managed to attack the ball in time and a point was given to Magnolia's team.

Their coach Joanna blew her whistle. "Okay, girls, water break, then we'll do some more of the ball drills." She announced. Kate threw herself onto the floor to rest as she drank while Magnolia stood up. "Hey, Mag, nice slam at that last goal." Jean complimented her.

"T-thanks!" Magnolia smiled. During training, the strong pungent smell of sweat and perspiration filled Magnolia's nose. It didn't really bother her, since the wolves in her pack house smelled worse.

After training, in the girls' locker, Magnolia was showering when she noticed someone taking her towel. "Helen, my towel." She called out. After a short while, her towel was thrown over the door. It was shortly followed by giggling.

It was nearly half past six when Magnolia finished showering. She gave Hunter a text as she changed. When she got out to the entrance, she saw the White Odyssey. "Hunter, I want pasta!" She cried as she got in. He drove out of the school premises. "Levi made mac and cheese tonight." He said. Magnolia pouted. "I want pasta tomorrow then!" She said. Hunter grinned. "You never change."

Upon arriving home, the aroma of cheese filled Magnolia's nose. She sprinted into the kitchen. Levi was pulling out a hot tray of their dinner when the youngest sister ran straight into him. The first brother was quick to react by balancing himself for the impact as he held the tray above his head as Magnolia crashed into his body. "Welcome back, Magnolia." He chuckled.

During dinner, Magnolia was quietly eating her dinner at the end of the table as Levi sat opposite her. Diego sat on her right while Kyle and Hunter sat on her left. Diego was a brunette undergraduate. Unlike his brothers, his white streaks on the back of his head were only visible when he turned his head.

"Lev, could you pass me the water jug, please?" He asked. It made him look as though he was sleeping on white paint. "Where's Lily?" Magnolia couldn't help but to ask, noticing the missing brother as she glanced to Diego's pinkie. A faint red string; loose tail.

"He's out with the twins again... probably sharing a hotel room." Kyle commented, wolfing down his meal. Levi picked up the jug by its handle, sighing at the constant disappearance of his brother. "Anything interesting in school?" He asked. "That little bitch was with Myoy today.." she mumbled. The oldest nodded, passing the jug over the mac and cheese tray.

"Nolia has found her mate already?" Diego asked, ignoring the fact that Magnolia was using vulgarity. Kyle nodded. "We told you earlier on, but you weren't listening." He snapped. "At least much earlier than old man Levi..." The former slurred his words. "Diego Ellison Wolfsbane!" Levi hissed, throwing the water at Diego.

The young boy yelped in shock, falling off his seat. "No shouting at the table." Hunter took another bite. Levi clenched his fists as he bit his lower lip, letting off some steam as Magnolia giggled. "I'm going upstairs!" She smiled, getting up. "Oh, alright." Levi acknowledged, cooling down just as he sat down. Diego crawled back into his seat. Magnolia put her plate into the sink before she went upstairs.

After a warm shower, Magnolia was doing her homework. She was lucky that her room window was facing Angelina's room. Whenever she didn't know a question, she flew paper planes into the latter's room.

Angelina would then return the paper, with solution and explanation. It kept up for about another twenty more minutes before Angelina closed her window. Magnolia smelled the rain. She closed her window as well.