The Years of Blue [2]

Chapter 42: Queen of Gossip

I meant to post this yesterday. Sorry about that. -WG-

"Maybe it's for the best that you avoid Sam," Mila said gently. We were back at the carriage in the room I shared with Marie and Rosalie and we were all squeezed in together.  I had just told the girls what had happened but payed little attention to their expressions. Instead I focused on Oliver who remained on my lap as I rubbed his head thoughtfully. I had stopped crying but I didn't need a mirror to tell that my eyes were puffy and red.

"Definitely. It's obvious that she's hurt and is taking it out on you," Ana said. "Who needs her when you've got us."

"It's not like you'll see her again after this year," Rosalie let on empathetically. "I don't even think your brother will be talking to her after this."

"My brother?" I repeated, looking up. "What does Theo have to do with this?"

I saw Gisele exchange a look with Jacqueline who had been biting on her nails in an anxious habit. It was Marie who spoke.

"Do you remember how she gave us grief about supposedly being flirts just because we were with your brother?" I nodded. Marie went on. "Well she always seems to be with him too, you know. Maybe she's crushing on him."

"And that's why she was angry at us," Mila realized, looking dumbfounded. "Wow, that would make sense. But how cliché is that to crush on a friend's brother?"

"Don't be a hypocrite, Mila," Ana chided, as she nudged her friend in the shoulder. Mila went on to hide the blush blooming on her cheeks.

"Ugh, Merlin, why did things have to get this complicated?" I moaned, hanging my head into Oliver's fur. I felt him purr calmly, the vibration moving through his chest.

"Well let's uncomplicate it," Gisele offered. I sat up to see she had moved by my bed and now gently patted Oliver. "We've been able to help you avoid Malfoy for the most part..." ("Mostly," Jacqueline joked, recalling my story in the library), "maybe we can help you avoid Sam."

"Sam's not going to come up to her though," Marie explained thoughtfully. "She's managed to pester Ava just by walking by."

"I have a better idea," I said, gaining my friends attention. "Rather than worry about running into Sam, we should stop these petty rumors that seem to fuel her anger. Maybe then she'll calm down and be able to have a normal conversation with me again."

"Do you think that's possible?" Jacqueline asked from the window. I shrugged, truly unsure. I had never seen Sam react as strongly as she did to me, and could only imagine how much work it would be to remedy it.

"What did you have in mind for us?" Rosalie asked. There was a silence while I thought.

"Well, lets start with the obvious," I began, turning to Mila. "No flirting with my brother." Mila gawked my way before blushing again. I looked toward Jacqueline suspiciously but she gave nothing away. In fact, she seemed to agree with me.

"Anything else?"

"Well, she mentioned something about people listening in on our conversations. How do you think that started?" To my surprise, my friends looked to me fully aware.

"Well," Rosalie began tentatively, "people have been watching us. In particular, you, since we got here."

"I thought you were aware of it," Mila commented with a laugh. "It's not like people were sneaky about it."

I felt my stomach drop from under me as I turned to see everyone nodding in agreement. Only Marie stayed still, watching me.

"What, Marie?" She looked back to the late afternoon glare of sun coming through the window, thoughtfully.