Chapter 39: Chapter 39

The next morning, since neither of us could have our baths we just brushed our teeth and faces and dabbed some perfume to cover our stink. I can’t say that made it any better since I wasn’t too comfortable about not having my bath but it had to suffice. Once the assembly was done for the day, which was a thankfully short assembly since there was nothing to announce, we went to the laboratory where Mr. Holden was waiting for the both of us. He had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

“Good morning, Mr. Holden,” we greeted simultaneously.

“Good morning, I see you both haven’t torn each other apart yet. That’s a good sign but you both stink so let’s get this off shall we?” he reached into his pocket and brought out the key to the handcuff and unlocked it. As soon as the weight fell off my wrist I rubbed at the sore skin.

Mr. Holden was still looking at Andre and me strangely. “So how were you able to keep your claws retracted?”

I shrugged. “We came to an agreement,” I said remembering the conversation Andre and I had. I looked at Andre for collaboration, and he nodded. “We can keep any disagreements we have about each other aside and be friends from now on.”

“Friends eh?” Mr. Holden mused. “That’s a good start. Well, now that that’s over and I know I can have peace between you two in subsequent Science club meetings, you both can go. Let me write a note of permission for you both to be allowed to freshen up.” He went into his office and wrote the note which I collected. We would have to submit it to the hostel Matron or Concierge; those are the hostel caretakers.

“Thank you, Mr. Holden.”

We started to leave but I stopped for just a second to ask the most important question of all, “Why do you have cuffs, Mr. Holden?”

He chuckled. “For things such as this. I hope you both have learned your lessons. And no more trouble from you Bianca Davis, you should be a better role model, the same thing goes for you, Andre Rios. You may be new here but you are both seniors and should be leading by example.”

“Yes, sir.”

We left and went to the Concierge to submit the note and were granted permission to go freshen up. The seniors’ quarters was empty, which heightened the tension between Andre and me. There was still last night’s conversation to think about but neither one of us wanted to bring it up. We weren’t joined by the cuffs anymore but for some reason, we walked close and our hips bumped. I held my breath as we got close to my apartment.

Please, don’t let him bring it up. Please, don’t let him bring it up, I prayed silently.

Holding my breath and waiting, I got to my door and turned. I raised my brow.

“So, I’ll see you when I’m done,” he said simply. That took the breath out of me. Of course, what was I thinking? Was I expecting him to say? ‘You know about yesterday, I don’t think we can stay apart from each other. Let me come in let’s get down and dirty and keep pretending to our friends that there’s nothing between us?’

Of course, he would respect my decision so why was I disappointed?

“Bianca?” he called my name when I wasn’t moving or saying anything.

I blinked. “Of course, sure. I’ll be done in a few minutes and let you know…that is if you’re done by then.”

“Alright.”

I turned away and opened my door and went straight to the bathroom where I took off my uniform and got into the shower. I repeated over and over to myself, I am not disappointed. This is what I asked for.

But it’s disappointing though that the one time I would have preferred he disagreed with me, he is willing to agree with me for “Our friends’ sake.”

Well, I guess I should be happy. This way I can focus on what’s important; school, my duties, Aaron, and friends.

I got my spare uniform out of my closet and put it on. I was just lacing up my shoes when I heard an angry voice yell.

“That was not the fucking plan!” it was Carla’s voice.

There was a silent response. It was from Andre. I heard a door bang and someone stumble. Curiosity got the best of me and I rushed to my window to look out. I couldn’t see them but after a few seconds of debating with myself, I opened my door and looked out. There was Carla in Andre’s face speaking through her teeth, saying words that increasingly made Andre’s face contort in rage. I couldn’t hear her but when Andre shoved her roughly I cut in.

“Is everything alright you guys?”

They both started and turned to me at once. Surprised to see me there, their angry expressions were quickly replaced with smiles, although Andre’s looked kind of worried and cautious, Carla’s didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Yes, everything is fine,” Carla responded. “I just came to get something I forgot.”

“Yes and I was telling her I didn’t have it,” Andre said.

They were lying, I knew they were. Yet it was none of my business, they are siblings after all. So I shrugged it off. “Alright. Uhm Andre, I’m done so if you’re ready let’s go.”

He was already dressed but his necktie wasn’t on yet. “Sure, I’m almost done. Maybe you should come over and wait for me. Carla was just about to leave.” Maybe I was imagining it but it looked like Andre was trying to keep me from his sister. Carla didn’t look too happy about it but she didn’t show it.

“Yeah, I was just about to leave. I couldn’t find what I was looking for. See you guys later.” With one last look at Andre, she walked away.

I locked my door and made my way tentatively to Andre’s apartment. He was inside trying to jerk his tie into knots. His movements were fast and jerky and he wasn’t getting anywhere with making the perfect knot so I took it gently from him.

“Let me help you with that.”

He let me do it, looking away to hide the angry look in his eyes.

“I know it’s not my business but I’ve never seen you or Carla have a friendly conversation before. I know siblings are always at loggerheads but you both…you strike me as odd.”

“We’ve always been that way,” Andre answered. His reply was rushed and haughty as if he didn’t want to delve deep but once in and my curiosity wouldn’t let me overlook their rivalry.

“Was it after your sister’s death?”

Andre’s head whipped around and he stared at me with a frown. “Sister?”

“Carla told me about her. Your elder sister, Carlo, who died. She said you loved her very much.”

His face cleared and if I was looking any closer I would have seen the burn of anger and confusion in his eyes but I was too busy getting the knots in his tie perfect. “Sure, Carol. Of course, I miss her.”

I raised my brows at his dismissive response. “I know boys like to think they are macho and all that but if you ever…”

He snatched the tie from me. “I don’t need help. And no, you don’t know anything about me. Stay away from Carla.”

I frowned wondering why he was being so dismissive and defensive. I thought we had an understanding already, an understanding of friendship and putting personal feelings aside. Seeking to understand him better I reached out to touch him. “Andre…”

“Enough already, Bianca,” his voice was low but very firm. “ Don’t touch me, we’ve talked about this already so don’t push it. Just listen to me for once, Carla is not your friend. Now that that’s out of the way, I’m ready, let’s go to class.”