Pride x Familiar (33 page)

“Cold hearted bitch.”

“I’d choose Éclair over Alistair any day.”

“We love watching Éclair swim backstroke.”

“She’s jealous because she has to pad her
swimsuit.”

Alistair clenched her hands and trembled in
anger. “Aggh—shut the Hell up!”

Her scream was so loud it echoed inside the
gym.

It silenced the Principal in mid-sentence.

It silenced the students muttering amongst
themselves.

Stunned quiet descended upon the assembled
students like a heavy shroud.

I was too scared to make any noise, let alone
breathe.

After a long agonizing moment, the Principal
straightened and asked in a cold voice, “Who said that?”

Alistair groaned under her breath.

I prayed in vain no one would rat her out.

Éclair announced loudly, “She did—Alistair Kell.
She’s the one you want.”

The girl bounced on her heels and forcefully
pointed at Alistair.

Alistair hissed, “You little cow. I swear I’ll
pop your tits when I get my hands on you.”

“You can’t pop them. These are real not like the
ones you put in your bra.”

Alistair made a go for the girl, but I reached
out and held her back. “Alistair—don’t. You’ll get into more
trouble. Please, you have to ignore her.”

She growled through clenched teeth. “I’m going
to squash that midget first chance I get.”

The Principal leaned forward over the lectern.
“Alistair Kell Avenir, step out of the assembly and join the
suspended students at the back of the gym. Now, young lady!”

Alistair stopped struggling, so I released her
arm. She wouldn’t look at me as she stepped out of the ranks of our
classmates. I lost sight of her as she walked to the back of the
gym.

But a few moments later I heard her declare
loudly, “I’m small and I’m proud of it!”

This triggered of a fresh round of
mutterings.

Then someone started clapping which quickly grew
into an avalanche of support for her.

Our esteemed Principal called for order and
quiet.

But Alistair didn’t quit. “And I’m declaring my
candidacy for Student Council President at the next elections.”

Siobhan gasped, “What? What did she say?”

Alistair yelled from the back of the gym. “You
hear me Simone Alucard. I’m going to beat you fair and square.
You’re Eff cups tits won’t save you from defeat.”

The Principal snapped angrily, “That will be
enough young lady. One week’s detention. You’ll serve your time
along with Desanto and Cardwell.”

Alistair managed one last show of defiance.

“When I’m President, I’ll declare today ‘Small
Bust Day’!”

The Principal couldn’t contain herself anymore.
“That does it. Get that young woman out of here. She’s suspended
for a week.”

And so, Alistair Kell Avenir made a stunning
declaration, earned the support of half the female student body,
and garnered the enmity of the other half.

What a day this turned out to be.

I turned my head and looked at Siobhan.
“What—what are we going to do?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, are you going to vote for her?”

Siobhan looked conflicted then peeked down at
her Dee cup chest.

“I—I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

#

(Caprice)

Once the general assembly concluded and the
students were dismissed, I sent Caelum a quick text message to his
palm-slate.

YOU IMBECILE.

Then I messaged the Countess.

I’LL BE THERE FOR TRAINING. JUST SEND ME THE
DETAILS.

I was so angry I almost threw my palm-slate into
the distance.

However, as per the promise I’d made myself two
years ago, I showed no outward indication that my feelings were
bubbling like molten lava.

I walked with a perfectly expressionless face
back to class.

However, if I’d caught one glimpse of Caelum I
might have lost control and throttled him.

#

(Caelum)

I was suspended and restricted to the dormitory
grounds during school hours.

After class I was expected to perform the school
a service by serving out my detention as a member of the janitorial
staff.

So that Wednesday afternoon, while the students
were busy making their way out of the school, I was busy walking to
the administration building’s courtyard where I was instructed to
join up with my fellow
inmates
.

I saw Alistair Kell. She had an amused look on
her face as she brushed away a lock of wispy auburn hair from her
eyes.

I was shocked to see her smile at sight of me
and give me a thumbs up.

I couldn’t help grinning at her weakly as I took
a spot on the line beside her.

“That was cool,” I muttered, “declaring your
candidacy.”

“I’m planning to represent the girls that have
been under-represented by that huge breasted Alucard.”

“Ah. So you’re going head-to-head with
Simone.”

Alistair nodded and chuckled evilly. “Don’t you
mean bust to bust?”

I bit my lower lip so as not to join her.

Alistair said, “I’m surprised, though. For you
to support the less endowed female community.”

I took a quick breath. “I…I got lost in the
moment.”

“What do you mean?”

“I get annoyed when I see a pretty girl cry. I
just couldn’t help myself.”

“Oh…so you fell for Melanie.”

I gave her a shocked look. “Huh—no, no I
haven’t.”

“But I thought you told Haruka you loved
her.”

I blanched and lost my train of thought for
several heartbeats. “She…she told you?”

“Yeah, and she told us that she loves you too.”
Alistair looked a tad sad. “But I think the two of you just got
carried away.”

I frowned. “No, my feelings for her are
real.”

Alistair gave me a thoughtful look. “But she’s
not the only one you have feelings for, right?”

“Ah—” I couldn’t reply to her, so I turned away
slowly.

Alistair was right. I loved Haruka, but I had
feelings for Caprice as well. Strong feelings.

Alistair sighed. “Well, it seems you’re the kind
that can’t ignore a damsel in distress. Here comes the damsel
now.”

I looked in the direction Alistair was
staring.

Melanie Cardwell walked toward the loosely
assembled bunch of
detainees
. She was dressed in her uniform
like the rest of us, but she carried herself along with a fluid
grace that captured my attention.

Wow. How could Duncan turn his back on a girl
like that?

She was really pretty, and graceful, and exuded
elegance with every step and breath she took.

She rivaled the Countess in every respect except
her chest.

I frowned. There was a hint of despondency in
her eyes. I saw it when her eyes met mine, just before she
nervously lowered her gaze.

My heart jumped.

No. No. This can’t be happening. This cannot be
happening. Why is my heart beginning to pound like mad?

Alistair’s words cut through my raging feelings
like a cold blade. “Duncan turned his back on her when she awoke as
a Familiar.”

I spun my head around and stared at Alistair in
complete shock.

Then a cold dislike for Duncan Armand settled
into my chest.

Melanie had slowed to a stop. She was nervously
running her gaze over the assembled students. I thought for a
moment she might turn and flee, but then she swallowed, threw back
her shoulders – puffed out her mediocre chest – and walked toward
me.

Her voice was low and a little husky, which I
hadn’t noticed when she confronted Twin Peaks Katrim in the
cafeteria.

“May I?” she asked, indicating a spot beside
me.

I shrugged lightly. “Ah…yeah sure.”

Melanie stood a couple of feet away from me.

I tried not to look at her directly. In the
corner of my eye I saw she was looking off into the distance with
the despondent look I’d noticed earlier.

I took a deep breath and held back a sigh as I
offered her my hand. “We haven’t met.”

“I know who you are,” she replied politely.
“Caelum Desanto afil Lanfear.”

Alistair quipped, “The one and only. Thank the
gods for that. Can you imagine the state of this academy if there
was more than one of him?”

I gave Alistair a surly look, while withdrawing
my hand. “You’re such good company to be with.”

Alistair shrugged. “Haruka doesn’t
complain.”

I sensed Melanie tense up beside me.

She spoke in an icy tone. “So you’re Haruka
Amiella’s friend. I’ve heard a little about you.”

Alistair and I turned to look at Melanie, but it
was Alistair who said, “Haruka’s my friend, but Caelum has known
her since they were children.”

Melanie gave me puzzled look. “Haruka Amiella is
your childhood friend?”

I nodded a little reluctantly. “Yeah. We go way
back.” I shot Alistair a quick look.

Don’t you dare blab! Don’t you dare tell her a
thing.

Melanie was staring at me with a penetrating
look. “Childhood friends….”

I gave the girl a wary look.

She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. “So
you’re just childhood friends?”

I hesitated and didn’t know how to reply.

Melanie didn’t miss anything as her eyes
searched my face. “Do you like her?”

I felt my chest tighten involuntarily. “She’s my
friend. What more do you want me to say?”

Melanie turned away but I saw sadness in her
eyes. “Yeah…what more is there to say….”

I frowned inwardly, wondering if Melanie was
much like I was – a Familiar in love with an Aventis.

Abruptly she straightened and looked up at the
sky. “Thank you….”

“Uh, sure.” I leaned toward her an inch. “But
what are you thanking me for?”

I watched her inhale raggedly. “For—for what you
said in the cafeteria. For making those girls shut up.”

I couldn’t stop myself. I suddenly broke out
into nervous laughter, and ran my left hand through my hair. “Ha
ha. Well, you don’t have to thank me. I do stupid stuff all the
time, and I just—it just pissed me off seeing a beautiful girl
cry.”

Melanie’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry, what did you
say?”

“Ah, I mean. I don’t like to see girls cry. It
really twists my heart when I see tears in a girl’s eyes.”

Gods, I was making this worse with every word I
said.

Alistair muttered, “Haruka told me you were
honest, but I didn’t think you were
this
honest.”

I grimaced and then lowered my gaze. “I guess
you’re right.” I quickly faced Melanie. “I’m sorry. I meant no
disrespect.”

The blonde beauty gently shook her head, though
she had a conflicted look on her face as though she wasn’t able to
get my measure.

Damn this girl was pretty.

Duncan was a real ass for turning his back on
her.

Ah, damn it. I think I’m falling in love just
looking at her.

Oddly, now that she was standing beside me, I
wasn’t bothered by her small chest at all.

She turned away quickly, her short blond hair
swishing a little as she did.

“Thank you….”

I blinked. That was twice I was thanked in the
span of a minute.

This was unprecedented.

Today was turning out to be first in a few
ways.

The teacher assigned to supervise us came by.
She walked in the company of the head of the academy grounds
staff.

I gave the students in line a quick look.

There were seven of us serving out detention by
performing a service to the school.

A couple of other girls, and two students from
either first or second year high-school.

I sighed inwardly, then focused on what the
teacher said.

After a few words of warning, telling us to
behave and follow instructions to the letter, we were directed to a
nearby change room where the lot of us had to dress in less than
flattering work coveralls. Then we lined up in the courtyard, and
received our instructions to head out with a supervising grounds
keeper.

Wearing the orange and white coverall, I really
felt like a criminal.

I stuck out like a sore thumb as I walked with
the other detainees to the storage room where the cleaning
equipment was kept. The few students that remained on academy
grounds gave us a wide berth while smiling at us pitifully.

If there was any consolation or small blessing,
it was that Alistair and Melanie where in my group of four students
being punished.

The fourth member of our
chain gang
was a
short first year male student.

During a moment of dull monotony as we cleaned
up and swept one of the four gardens, the kid walked up to Alistair
and boldly declared he would support her candidacy.

“I’m Klaus Kasper, and I’d like to be a part of
your election campaign.”

Alistair stopped working and stared at him
blankly. “Huh?”

“You are intending to run for president, aren’t
you, Lady Alistair?”

I stopped what I was doing.

Lady Alistair? Did I hear him right? Was this
guy serious?

Then I noticed the way his eyes shone as he
looked up at Alistair who happened to be a couple of inches taller
than him.

I didn’t miss the blush spreading across
Alistair’s cheeks. “Ah, well, I did say that…didn’t I.” She glanced
away shyly.

Ah, that girl can make that sort of face!

I think I felt my heart jump just a little.

Klaus nodded happily like a pet puppy wagging
its tail. “You certainly did, Lady Alistair. I was honored to
witness your bold declaration. Oh, and if I may be frank, my
preference are Aye cups.” He grinned happily. “I like them small
too.”

Whack!

Alistair smacked the top of his head. “For your
information I’m a Bee cup, and I don’t pad my bra to get
there.”

Klaus looked wounded as he rubbed his head.
“Lady Alistair, I like Bee cups too.”