Chapter 9

Melanie's POV

"Good morning" I greeted as I sat down beside my friends. "Good morning" Steve and Janet answered. I was almost late for class today. Just as I sat down, the English teacher entered. The tall, slender and well-built man, standing in front of the class, who could easily pass for an athlete, surveyed the class with his eyes.

I pretty much guessed he's going to give us test and he did. He looked round, ensuring none of the students was missing before he issued out his questions.

Few minutes later, he asked us to submit the answers to his questions. As expected, some students started murmuring, some happily submitted while some did not even show any emotions. Their faces never betrayed their emotions during tests and examinations and I could say I'm one of the last group.

If the questions were tough, my facial expression won't portray anything likewise if it's the other way round, you still won't know what I'm thinking about. We submitted to the class president and he delivered it to the teacher. He collected his scripts and exited our class.

Immediately he left, chatterings began. Everyone started to talk about his or her difficulty with the questions. Janet turned to face me. "Melanie, you were almost late for class today. What delayed you." She inquired. "It's nothing" I smiled at her. I glanced at Steve and saw him staring at me but when I looked at him, he looked away. "Steve?" I called. "Yes" he looked at me. "I'm sorry"

"What did you do to him? Why are you pleading?" Janet asked, looking surprised. 

"It's nothing, actually".

"You are saying the same thing...it's nothing. Then if it's nothing, what is it? You two are definitely hiding something from me." Janet half yelled. 

"Tell us, Melanie. What are you hiding?" Steve smirked.

Wait! Is Steve actually asking me this question? I was the first to discover his changed attitude yesterday and suspected he was keeping something but now he has turned the tides against me.

"Tell us, Melanie." Janet whined repeatedly, though careful not to attract attention from the rest of the class members. 

"Okay...okay...I'll tell you guys over meal " I blurted out when Janet kept on pressurizing me. I sighed as I glared at Steve but he shrugged and continued to read his note. 

Teachers kept on coming in and going out, some gave lectures while others gave tests. The term break was drawing near. Finally, the bell for lunch was rung and students trooped out of their classes and headed to their various places of interest. As expected, we, I mean Steve, Janet and I, were preparing to go for lunch. I was busy packing my books when Janet appeared suddenly.

"Melanie, Steve gave the spoiler alert. He said the discussion is about a young girl who looks a lot like you." Janet said expectantly. She looked at me with a 'tell-me-everything-immediately' look"

"I already told you we'll talk over lunch." 

"Start by telling m-" she started but I interrupted her.

"Janet, I'll tell you all you need to know. Can you stop being a chatterbox for now?" She raised her hands in surrender-like manner.

We sat down at our usual spot with our ordered lunch. When we were halfway already, I decided to speak up. 

"Well, I was not planning to hide it from you guys but..." I started and saw the look Steve gave me. "Okay fine. I wanted to keep it from you guys cause I was surprised at first when it all happened suddenly. Though you guys are not my family members, I still consider you to be one. That's why I want to tell you how it started exactly." I admitted and narrated everything to them starting from the first day we met Daisy till the moment we had to go for test to prove the nuns wrong. I told them everything they need to know.

"So what you are saying is that you don't know this girl from anywhere, she looks like your mother and you, tested to be your sister and right now she's living with you guys?" Janet asked in disbelief. I nodded. "But Dad didn't mention anything to me about this." Steve said sadly. 

"It's the ethics of his job. Moreover, it doesn't in anyway concerns you. You only happen to be his son and my friend." I explained.

"She's living with you, right?" But I never saw her yesterday." Janet said.

"Yeah, she was in the garden when you guys were with me yesterday. Steve only happened to see her when he dropped me off at home." I answered.

"Okay, so what do you think....what the hell! She gave you that wristband, right?" Janet asked, looking at the luck band Daisy gave to me. 

"Yeah, right. What's wrong?" I asked

"Do you know that is a luck band?" She asked. "Yeah, so?"

"You knew and you are still with it?" She looked surprised.

"What's wrong with having a luck band?" Steve asked 

"It's a luck band, Melanie. How did she get it? She might definitely not be what you guys think she is. Luck bands work for people but come to think of it, don't you think it has to do with some supernatural stuffs? I mean why would something just happen the way you want it, in your favor just because you wish it happens?" Janet stopped and breathed heavily because she kinda rushed her words.

"Seems you've read a lot of supernatural-based stories." Steve said, earning an eye roll from Janet.

"Janet, listen to yourself. You said the luck band might be related to supernatural things. What do you know luck to be? Luck is when something happen by chance." I glared at her. 

"And have you forgotten it's the same dictionary that said "based on superstitious beliefs". Then what are superstitions? My dears, it is simply related to magic and supernaturals."she said as-a-matter-of- fact. 

"Anyway, I do not want to argue. She's my sister now and she's just five. She can't possibly cause any harm, can she?" I looked at them and just then the bell for lunchtime was rung again. "Break is over. Let's go to the class " I muttered as I hurriedly finished my meal. I picked up the milkshake and waited for Steve and Janet. They ate their meal as well and we exited the cafeteria for the class.

Throughout the school session, I kept on thinking about Janet's words. What is it, really about Daisy? I seems to have forgotten about my doubts about her since I discovered she's just as lovely as other kids of her age. But Janet's words arouse my suspicion...but Daisy can't cause any harm, can she?

TBC....

What do you think about this chapter? About their discussion?