Silence.
It was something Miren had too much trust in. As she walked toward the front of Rinzen's black gates, she showed the guard her new photo ID. He smiled, before motioning for her to move forward.
"Have a nice night," he said, resuming to his guardly duties. Miren nodded as she proceeded toward the dark campus. There were restrictions at Rinzen; students were allowed to leave campus at will until ten thirty during the weekend if they were traveling within the town. If they wanted to visit home or go to an event, they needed permission from the headmaster.
The campus was mostly empty, unlike her mind. The cool air and light wind were refreshing and unsettling, disrupting the soundless space. Now that the thrill of shopping with the enemies by association had lost its spark, the words Chara had said were beginning to burn on her mind.
"They're on to you!"
It seemed like everyone was. It was weird how the world was suddenly paying attention to her. She had no idea that Jemma could be so nice, or that Klondike could be so indifferent about an act that could have labeled her as a weirdo. Too late, she thought, no wonder everyone thinks I'm interesting.
Her whole situation was interesting. But it seemed more interesting that in a span of a week, the same people who wouldn't bat an eye in her direction were inviting her to things. Well not her, exactly, but still! She was more confused than ever! Part of her, larger than she cared to admit, was glad that everyone seemed to be receiving Miles so well. She rolled her eyes at that over-generalization.
Everyone except Jeno.
Her gaze hardened against the dark, empty outdoor space as she maintained her pace. How was it possible for twins to be such polar opposites? It was almost as if Jemma sucked up all of the charisma when they were in the womb. Jemma was privileged, yet she didn't truly act superior to anyone else. Instead, she had an "I'm rich, and I'm not complaining" type of temperament. And Miren had no problem with that.
But Jeno had a problem with her. What do his classmates see in him? He lacked personality, and even Levi found him to be dry and cold. But somehow he managed to commanded respect, probably through his academic and extracurricular achievements.
Bottom line, Miren was sick of petty people. With Penelope, it boiled down to the fact that the auburn-haired girl had a superiority complex that Jemma lacked. And Miren knew that the success of their former friendship came from Penelope feeling she was better than her. And she wasâin more ways than one. So why she felt the need to constantly bully her, Miren would never know. It had to be more than a trivial blame game years ago. She'd be disappointed if it wasn't.
But she wasn't going to think about that right now. Lost in her thoughts, she had wandered to the front of her dorm a little bit too quickly. She looked around campus, surprised that she was the only one in sight. The underclassman dorm adjacent to it had lights on, but they were the only two buildings that did.
Bringing forth her access card, she entered the Woodley Dormitory. She shuffled pass the resident director's office. The RD was also a graduate student whose face was too deep in his sociology book to actually care about the resident hall happenings. She didn't even know if they had a curfew.
The main lobby was beaming with lifeâthere was a college football game on, and apparently some of the boys were making a bit of a party of it. She noticed Chester and Henry among the crowd. But this wasn't her type of crowd. She hated sportsâor at least never had the chance to like them. So she carried on.
Three flights of stairs later, her quadriceps were burning, but her head was finally numb. She was tired. And sleep had a way of making everything make sense in the morning.
Bringing her key to the doorknob, she opened the door without hesitation. Her eyes immediately focused on Jeno at his deskâshe feared he'd be here.
But she wasn't in the mood to play the hostile roommate game. I'll just wave and go to bed. He can't hate me for that, can he?
"Hey," Miren said, shutting the door with her foot. Jeno turned to her, his eyes anything but passive.
"Don't 'hey' me," he said, enmity, like venom, seeping from his tone. Miren sighed. And the Hunger Games begin...
"Why the hell were you hanging out with my sister?"
Miren groaned. Rich kids sure can be possessive. "Jemma came by. And when she couldn't find you, she offered for me come with her and her friends. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is that I don't like your company." He crossed his arms.
Miren shrugged, trying her best to play coy. He hadn't exploded. And she wasn't going to be the first one to do so. "Like I said, Jemma invited me. And Klondike and Theodora didn't mind my presence."
At mention of the girl's name, Jeno's eyebrows rose. "Why can't you just leave me alone?" his voice was low, but firm. "Glaring at me across the lunch table, wanting to be homecoming decorator, buying shoes with my sister and girlfriendâ"
"I didn't buy shoes with anyone."
His eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry, I meant dressesâis that better?"
Miren pursed her lips. She didn't want to deal with this. Confrontations didn't end well. Especially not with one of the most popular guys in school.
Her eyes fell to the floor before meeting his, weakly. "What did I do wrong?"
She expected the boy to look a bit taken back. Instead his glare intensified, his ember eyes turning into fire. "Why don't you tell me?"
Her fists clenched as she shook her head. "Why? Are you mad at me because I'm your roommate?" she asked, fighting to restraining from yelling. "Is that it? Am I so fucking horrible just because I'm here?" She exhaled, hoping it would release the thunder of anger threatening to burst from her body. But it didn't help. "You have everything. Status. Friends. Family. A nice girlfriend who tried on a hundred dresses just for you. Respect."
She was heaving now. "So the least you could do is keep ignoring me. Why even waste your breath?"
Jeno simply rose an eyebrow at her tangent. "Is that all?"
She slapped her hands against her sides, her gaze animalistic and unflinching. "Yeah, I'm done."
Jeno's eyes narrowed. "Why don't you stop crying, you wimpy bastard."
Wimpy bastard? Her gaze hardened, and she refused to clear the tears she didn't realize were running down her face. "You're the bastard!"
He crossed his arms. "Is that the best you can do? Nice words for a scholarship student," he taunted.
Miren pursed her lips, seeing that this little showdown was going nowhere. "I don't want to fight!" she said, waving her arms. This whole situation became ridiculous a long time ago. "Just tell me your problem with me." There was a level of plead in her voice, a desperation that she didn't want to admit. But she needed this to end.
Jeno's eyes widened slightly, before his eyebrows furrowed, creating an agitated crease between his eyes. "Fine," he said, his eyes glowering. "My problem is that I don't need another gay roommate that's in love with me."
Miren's jaw fell. She didn't know what shocked her the most. The fact that he was somewhatâbut obviously not completelyâon to her, or his conclusion about her. Him.
Her response was an exasperated scoff. "Wow. You're so full of yourself."
"You didn't answer me," he pressed on, ignoring her comment.
"I don't have to tell you anything," she said. She narrowed her eyes at him. "But for the record, I'm not into you. How could anyone ever be attracted to your pompous, homophobic ass?"
Jeno clicked his jaw, a groan grumbling from his lips. "I'm not homophobic."
"Then you admit you're pompous?"
"No."
They stood their ground, staring at each other as if their glares would fight the battle for them. With a groan, Miren shot her hands in the air. "Forget this, I'm leaving." She marched to the door.
Jeno rolled his eyes. "Finally," he said. "Why don't you take your shit with you, Dick van Dyke?"
Something cut the rope that kept her sanity at bay. Dyke? That's what she called her. Miren turned toward him, fire raging inside her and rippling from her throat.
"WHY DON'T YOU STOPÂ ACTING LIKE PENELOPE?!"
"Penelope?" Jeno said, confused. His eyes narrowed. "How the hell do you know who she is?"
She clamped her mouth shut. Fuck. "Nothing," she said after a while, shaking her head. "Forget I said anything, asshole."
But she said it. And she couldn't take it back.
No amount of insulting on her behalf could bury the subject. Or make Jeno less mad. He charged up to her with a maniacal look on his face that told her she was in store for physical harmâa man to she-boy brawl. She closed her eyes, her face already settled in a wince. Please let him be weaker than he looks.
But a punch didn't come.
She winced again when his hand settled softly on her cheek. Her eyes flashed open, and she tried to move from his grip, but he held on, using his other hand to steady her face. Her eyes met his, before retreating to the window, anything for him not to see her.
"And you call me the queer," she said in an effort to distract him, forcing on a heavier guy voice. "Let go of me. I said I was leaving."
He tilted her head upwards, his eyes scanning her face. If he were wrong about his speculation, he would look very, very bad. But somehow it all clicked, even if the conclusion was beyond bizarre. He closed his eyes.
"Cut the crap. I know it's you," he said, releasing her swiftly. "Miren Eze."