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Post by Demeter on Mar 23, 2006 7:53:50 GMT -5
Flora blinked and then smiled at Karina. Her eyes drifted down and spotted it was a book of Elfin poetry. "The book? Is it any good?" Flora asked, mentally having switched gears.
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Post by Karina on Mar 23, 2006 7:59:57 GMT -5
Her eyes lighting up at Flora's question, Karina nodded emphatically, momentarily forgetting the suspicious look Layla was giving her. "Oh yes, it's absolutely wonderful! I mean, I think it's some of the best poetry I've ever read - and I've read a lot. It's just so lyrical and soothing . . ." Blushing, she added, "Laugh at me if you will, but I just think that to get the full effect of the words you have to be outdoors." Knowing that she was rambling, but unable to stop, she continued, "You see, much of their poetry is about nature - and since the lake is one of . . . well, our most natural places on campus, this seemed like it would be a good place to read." Hesitating, she finished lamely, "I'm really sorry for intruding."
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Post by Demeter on Mar 23, 2006 8:01:30 GMT -5
"May I borrow the book when you're done?" Flora asked politely. "I haven't read any Elfin poetry before. And since I'm the nature chick, well," she laughed. "It just doesn't look right, you know what I mean."
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Post by Karina on Mar 23, 2006 8:06:50 GMT -5
A sheepish smile formed on Karina's face as she handed Flora the book, "Here. You keep it." Quickly she added, "This particular volume is a favorite of mine - so I have about a million other copies lying around in my room."
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Post by Demeter on Mar 23, 2006 8:12:50 GMT -5
Flora awarded Karina a grateful smile. "Thank you," she said, smiling. She hugged the book close to her, feeling the happiest she felt in days. She finally felt home and felt like she belonged again.
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Post by Layla on Mar 23, 2006 8:15:07 GMT -5
Silently watching the friendly interaction between Flora and the other girl - Karina, she believed - Layla felt a twinge of jealousy as she wondered why she couldn't make friends easily like almost everyone else seemed to be able to do. True, she had gotten her Charmix just a little while ago for reaching out to Demeter in order to bring Flora back . . . but that didn't change the fact that she was still bad, very bad at making friends.
Still . . . it was worth a shot. Doing her best to put a warm smile on her face, Layla asked, feeling a bit awkward, "You're Karina, right? I've seen you in a few of my classes, but I've never really had the chance to talk to you. I'm Layla, by the way."
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Post by Karina on Mar 23, 2006 8:19:55 GMT -5
"I know. I mean, I know that you're Layla." Giving a nervous laugh, Karina added, "I think the whole school knows who you are." Realizing that her words could be interpreted in a negative way, she hastily added so as to not offend Layla, "I just mean that after you tried to rescue the pixies at the beginning of the year, word got around - not in a gossipy way, though - and well, it's kind of difficult to not know who you are."
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Post by Layla on Mar 23, 2006 8:25:05 GMT -5
Not sure how to respond, Layla rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet before casting a nervous glance behind her shoulder at the other girls. From the looks of it, Stella was impatiently tapping her foot and shouting something while Musa was trying to calm her down. Squinting her eyes to see if Bloom was still visible, Layla breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that she wasn't.
Still, she had to know for sure if Karina had seen anything. Casually, she asked, "So . . . how long have you been out here, Karina?"
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Post by Demeter on Mar 23, 2006 8:27:05 GMT -5
'Right down to the point,' Flora mentally noted. She'd chirp up something if needed but right now. Book. Nose. Now. She flipped open the book and started to read the first poem she came into contact with. Of course, she was still paying attention. Somewhat. Not fully.
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Post by Karina on Mar 23, 2006 8:31:08 GMT -5
Sensing the shift in Layla's tone, Karina felt herself grow cold with fear. She knew that without a doubt what Layla was really asking her was what she had seen - that is, whether she had seen Bloom. As a mermaid. The question she had though, was what Layla would do if she outright admitted that she had seen what she had seen. A braver person might have been able to do that, but she wasn't brave. Feeling herself cower under Layla's steady gaze, Karina stuttered, "I . . . I . . . I think I've been here for about . . . five minutes? P-probably less."
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Post by Demeter on Mar 23, 2006 17:20:57 GMT -5
Flora did a bit of math in her head - not as neatly done as Tecna would have done. Speak of, where *was* Tecna? Mhm. If what Karina said was true, then she probably didn't see them drop Mermaid!Bloom into the lake.
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Post by Layla on Mar 23, 2006 21:06:56 GMT -5
"Five minutes?" Layla asked skeptically. Shooting a quick glance at Flora, she then asked, trying to determine if there was a chance that Karina would return later and accidentally see Bloom, "So . . . do you come here often?"
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Post by Karina on Mar 23, 2006 21:26:23 GMT -5
Feeling certain that Layla knew that she had seen Bloom being dropped into the lake, Karina felt herself begin to crack under the pressure of what had begun to feel like a psychological battle of sorts. Not able to take it any longer, Karina blurted out, "All right! Okay. I-I admit it . . . I saw her."
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Post by Demeter on Mar 23, 2006 21:27:41 GMT -5
"Karina, could you at least promise not to tell anyone?" Flora asked, looking at the other girl. "Professor Faragonda wouldn't want anyone to get scared and overly worried..."
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Post by Karina on Mar 23, 2006 21:33:47 GMT -5
"So . . . what I saw . . . what I saw was real, right? It wasn't just some trick or optical illusion or something like that?" Shaking her head in wonder, she quickly added, "And of course I won't tell anyone. I mean, I don't want to worry anyone either." Biting her lip, Karina asked hesitantly after a long moment of awkward silence, "The only thing I don't get, if it's all right to ask, is why any of the other students need to worry. I mean, what happened to Bloom was just a freak accident - a one in a million kind of thing, right?"
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