Light in Dawn

Chapter Seven - A Memorable Lesson

For the first time in as long as anyone could remember, Andriana and Josephina arrived at school at the same time.

That the two were sisters wasn't supposed to be common knowledge. Andriana had avoided the name Lucas and took Crystal instead; Josephina divulged the fact to as few as possible. Still wisps of rumour had, as rumors do, creeped into gossips every now and then, spreading like wild fire.

As soon as Josephina and Andriana appeared at the door of the common room, silence fell. Every eye was fixed on them.

Someone whistled.

The moment of suspense was broken by Josephina stepping through the door and slamming it. Behind her, in an exceptional display of reflexes, Andriana prevented the door from shutting in her face by wedging a foot next to the frame.

Josephina glowered. "Well, go on," she flung her bag on the ground - blocking the door - and rolled up her sleeves painstakingly. "Can you stop staring, or do I have to make you?"

The effect of Josephina's charm was immediate. At once, everyone scrambled to return to their own business. Some shuffled closer to the two girls' direction not-so-subtly, trying to eavesdrop on potential gossip material. Josephina sulkily dragged her bag towards her locker. Andriana slipped past clusters of students unceremoniously.

In was a general rule in Year 11 that no one in their right minds should approach the fiery Josephina or the icy Andriana, but right now? The suspense was too much for them. From one of the smaller circles of girls, a strawberry-blond left for a dare. After weighing her options carefully, she maneuvered towards Andriana.

"Hey there," she started cheerfully, a safe distance away from Andriana.

Andriana arranged her books without sparing her a glance.

"Hey, I'm talking to you," the blond rapped the metal locker door to get her attention. "You and Lucas are related, right?"

Related? The language was reserved for such a blatant question. Andriana tilted her head to face her.

The other girl seized the chance. "What's up with her today?"

Andriana did not miss the eager look in her eyes. Behind the girl, her friends did a fist pump in the air as encouragement. Just as she decided to turn away and ignore the question completely, her eyes caught sight of something - or rather someone, leaning against a row of lockers a few metres away.

Andriana returned to the inquisitive girl, making sure to secure her peripheral vision on him. "We saw Emmeline Kenrick on Saturday."

Just as she'd expected, Julyan shifted with a frown. He was listening. The girl seemed stunned, for a moment, and then excitement erupted in her eyes like fireworks. "Oh my God! For real? When? Where? How? What happened? Did you talk? Did you get an autograph? Pictures?"

"Uh-huh," Andriana confirmed, knowing fully that Julyan wouldn't be able to see her nod. She hadn't forgotten what he'd told her. "Don't let Emma see you," he said. "We talked for a few minutes."

"And then?"

"And then Josephina yelled at her and scared her away."

Sighs of disappointment rippled out in the common room. Andriana whirled back to organize her books before the girl could pursue with more questions. She didn't miss his look though - at that precise moment he raised his head and his storm blue gaze struck her directly.

There was exasperation, there was confusion, and there was curiosity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"- You didn't see how angry he was," Josephina hissed, eyes boring into the wall next to Raylene's head as if her father's face was imprinted on it. "I swear he could have killed me then. This morning he didn't even drive me to school! I woke up, and he just disappeared with a note saying he's off to work early."