Chapter 8

Selena’s POV

“Then we can paralyse her completely.” I heard Nia say as my eyes fluttered open. 

The sun was already out, peeping through the crevices of our shut window blind. I rubbed my eyes and temples as my eyes quickly scanned the room. Ava and Nia sat on Nia’s bed facing one another with Ava keenly listening to Nia. 

“I don’t think that will work. Jasmine has very good reflexes,” Ava objected, her face turned up as if visualising what Nia had told her. I don’t think they were going to get over the idea of fighting and defeating Jasmine any time soon.

“She would not see it coming at all. With our scents masked and careful steps…” Nia stopped halfway, beaming sheepishly, another idea must have crossed her mind. I rolled my eyes and rolled off the bed, causing their heads to turn towards me. 

“You guys should forget about it,” I stated, walking to the coffee maker to pour myself a cup of coffee. 

“Told ya,” Ava said, turning to Nia.

“I’m surprised you are not talking her out of this, you know she listens to you better,” Nia scoffed. 

“I’m right here,” I reminded them.

“We cannot win this fight. At least not like this,” Ava insisted. 

“Oh so we should just sit here idle and let her keep humiliating us?” Nia snapped, stomping her legs on the ground.. “Great! Just great! Remind me never to get on Jasmine's bad side because I don't have friends who are willing to support me to fight her,” she added before walking into the closet. 

“You don't have to make this about yourself,” Ava told her, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

I took my coffee to my reading table and brought out my pair of reading glasses.

“If you ask me, I'd say Jasmine has won already. Imagine getting two best friends to fight because of her this early morning,” I said with a smirk. 

“You're right, only that this is noon and you've been sleeping the whole morning,” Ava corrected me, her face blank.

“Guess I had a good sleep then so why the bickering?” I asked.

Ava slumped back on the bed. “She's such a pain in the ass,” she stated.

“Nia? Or Jas?” I asked. 

“Jasmine. What do you mean by Jas? We can never give her a nickname,” she hissed.

“Seconded by me,” Nia chorused from the closet. I usually forget that werewolves have a good sense of hearing.

“Remind me never to snitch when she's around,” I joked. 

“You'll soon possess the same qualities or better,” Ava said reassuringly. 

“Sure. What's for lunch?” I asked, changing the subject. 

Ava took the cue, “Pancakes and strawberries please. I have pottery class in the next two hours, can't whip up anything serious at the moment,” she answered.

“Same way you've not been able to whip up a smart way to take down our archenemy?” Nia hissed. 

“Nia!” This time I was the one who screamed at her. 

She came out of the closet with both hands in the air even though she was holding a pink gym set.

“I'm just joking around,” she said smiling. “Going to the gym,” she added. 

Ava and I looked at each other, unsure if it was a good idea to let Nia wander around school alone.

“Please don't do anything stupid. I promise we will find a way around this when we all get back from class,” I assured her. Ava nodded in agreement. 

Nia had a terribly short fuse. The last thing I wanted was for her to have a confrontation with Jasmine. I knew how much she hated her even before this saga.

“Will you be going for your art class?” Ava asked, turning towards me, concern written all over her face.

“I don't think so,” I answered honestly. I didn't think I was ready to see anybody other than my roommates and best friends. I just needed to process a lot of things. 

“I understand.” Ava nodded. I was quite surprised that she let it slide and did not push for me to go to class. 

Nia on the other hand looked taken back. “You won't go to class because of that fool?” She spat. 

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes this time. “Not because of anyone. I just need time to myself,” I answered her. 

“Better. That means I'm not going anywhere either. I can't leave you alone by yourself,” she responded. I smiled, she was a sweetheart after all.

“Thank you. I think I'll be alright though,” I tried to assure her but my assurance fell on dear ears.

“Nonsense.” She hissed, throwing back her gym wear into the closet and walking back towards her bed. 

“I better start whipping up something for us to eat since we're not going anywhere today,” Ava said, stretching on her bed. 

“Seriously? Not you too Ava.” I gave her a disapproving look. 

“You know Sir Carmel takes his attendance seriously plus this will be your third strike if you miss class,” Nia told her. 

“And this will be your what? Fifth strike? After your terrible attempt at seducing Sir Darrel to increase your test scores?” Ava responded.

I turned towards the window to hide the laughter that was about to erupt from my chest. 

“I wasn't putting on my red lipstick,” Nia said with a smirk. 

“Remember, the one that makes me look sexy?” She added, laughing hysterically. 

“I beg to differ. It just makes you look like a strict professor,” Ava retorted.

“Exactly the vibe I was going for. Professor and student role play,” she said between laughter.

“Only this time you were the student and he was the professor so you should have dressed your part,” Ava clapped back. 

“Too bad I took your advice,” Nia double clapped.

I nodded in agreement.

“I said you should try something new, not dress like you're about to whip his ass,” Ava defended herself. 

“Well, take my whipping lessons into the kitchen cause I'm sure as hell you're about to whip us a disaster.” I couldn't hold the laughter at this point and erupted into a full blown round of hard cackling. 

Nia was right. Ava’s cooking skill was way below par. This one was a hard point for Nia.

I couldn't bear to look Ava in the eye after I had just betrayed her by my laughter. I resorted to looking down at my books instead.

“Way to go,” Ava said clapping, I guess the clap was for both of us this time.

“I'll be expecting your comeback,” Nia said with a wink.

Just as soon as I was starting to enjoy the playful back and forth, Ava broke out the question “So, are you ready to tell us about the nightmare now?”