Scene 11

"Hello Galatea…" says Flora with a calm smile, but I for one know that it's her evil calm smile, the one she gives to people who make fun of her name, say they have better skills than her or… rivals in love.

"Oh, hey." Miria is pretty casual, got to hand it to her, she knows how to keep calm in almost any situation.

I on the other hand, can barely manage my neutral tone, "Good morning"  

I'm a little more concerned to cover up the incriminating symbol on my shirt… well Miria's shirt. Well it's not like I had anything else to wear. My hair is long enough to cover it up, but I had to gather it into a tail. Still I'd have to stand sideways so it would stay there or play around with it with my fingers, as if doing a bad flirt. And I am known for my conservativeness when it comes to my hair, so I should start thinking of a believable explanation.

Dietrich does her greeting, sounding even a bit joyful, when addressing Miria. The first-years love her.

"So Galatea wanted to ask you something." said my stalker, while elbowing me in the side. She's seriously overstepping her boundaries…

"Nothing too important. Wouldn't want to interrupt you two." I say to Miria and Flora.

Dietrich gives me a I-knew-I-was-right look but I ignore her and continue my inquiry, "So Flora, what brings you to our future president?"

"Just saying hello." she said again in that passive-aggressive tone, even Miria noticed it this time.

Miria on the other hand just nods and mumbles something like a "Hi" and looks away. The awkward silence hangs on for a bit as we all wait it out, with Dietrich turning her head in anticipation.

"Oh that reminds me, I've got an important speech that I'm going to do today at the Student Council meeting, so Galatea, don't skip it out." said Miria.

"I'll consider it…" as much as I like seeing a fired-up Miria, I don't really think I can take a meeting with Dietrich and Audrey giving me weird looks for giving other kinds of looks to Miria.

"You should be there at all costs" said Dietrich, sure girl, I get it, "Especially after she gave you one of her shirts." said Dietrich with pretty vocal "Hm!" at the end.

"Y-yeah…" Miria closed her eyes and scratched her chin.

Yeah, thanks a lot, girl and now Flora was looking at my chest with such interest as never before. I may have even blushed, like in some stupid story. But otherwise I really had nothing to say. Maybe I got my shirt dirty in demon blood or something and Miria lend me hers. It could happen. Maybe a man in black gave it to me, no questions asked. Maybe I bought it at a Miria fan convention. Maybe we had sex and mine was ripped apart in a fit of… Yeah… I'm not getting an explanation for this, especially if I have trouble wrapping my mind around the idea itself. And my memory isn't helping… But back to the problem at hand.

"You don't have to stare at it like that" I say calmly.

"Why are… you… wearing… Miria's shirt?" said Flora accentuating every word. I hope she doesn't have a yandere side.

"This is one of Miria's shirts, not one I got off of her." yeah, that explained a lot, good one Gala.

"And why are you wearing it?" Flora continued.

"Take a guess… Why would I be wearing it?" yeah this isn't really buying time as much as it is getting Flora mad. She glared at me and was about to say something when Miria interrupted her.

"Oh just tell her…" What?

"Miria?" whose side are you on?

"I've got places to be." and with that she left in her feline graceful pace. Damnit Miria…

"You know I have not a single theory worth mentioning about why you should be wearing her uniform." Flora is persistent, but if I caught her wearing Miria's uniform… I guess I'll just have to seek refuge in audacity.

I roll my eyes, like I'm tired of being asked this and just have my imagination go to some dark corners of the unbelievable  "We were walking through the park at night, when Miria suddenly got really horny and pinned me against a tree, she ripped my shirt and after a really hard night of everything under the moon, I needed something to wear and Miria gave me her shirt, and it still smells of her sweat, so if you'll excuse me, I'll go change."

This avalanche of lies, well exaggerations actually, works and Flora's opened her mouth, but not a word escaped, Dietrich on the other hand was so dumbfounded, that it was even cute. But no time to enjoy the moment, so I casually push my stalker aside and get out of there.

I really need to change out of this shirt, and for the record, it's fresh out of cleaning, so thankfully that smell part was a lie. I like my clothes mine and only mine, so hell no would I wear Miria's used anything. But actually Flora might've liked something like that, I remember this one time she stole my… And out of friggin' nowhere Miria pops out!

"What the…" I backed off a bit, not hitting anyone

"Good job clearing that up …" why is she saying that in a sly tone? Oh and…

"Thanks for abandoning me back there." I say regaining my composure.

"I knew it would be easier for you to explain it on your own… Me getting horny and pinning you to a tree?" she says sarcastically, but for all I remember it could've happened.

"Don't worry, they won't believe it." besides our only so-called park is right under Teresa's window, so there'd too many witnesses.

"Who'd believe that right? " Yeah, you and me? Together? Making sex and having love? Unbelievable.

"Maybe I should've said something more unbelievable, like you having some weird fetishes so it would be more obviously a lie… Some foot-fetishism maybe?"

"Not funny Gala. Anyway, see you later." with she winked and walked off all serious as usual.

I need a break…

*   3   *   6   *

Seriously I can recall a time when my life was simple. I was just a child and my biggest problems were looking good and playing the piano, not that hard for someone of my beauty and talent, why thank you. Later it did get tedious, but nothing I couldn't handle. How did it get to this? Not that I don't like it when a complex plan comes together, but half of this I never planned. A good player knows to quit when she's ahead, right?

I think I seriously lost track of time with this whole thing. And worse off, I lost track of I was even doing and focused on getting out of the trouble I was already in. Real brilliant.

I began this for Flora actually. That sure worked out, right? Now she's making her moves on Miria and I'm viewed as her rival. And to be perfectly honest, I didn't really start it for Flora, rather than I felt I needed to prove I was better or something.  Yeah, I guess she just brushed my ego the wrong way. This was never about her, this was about me. This isn't something hard to admit for me and I did joke to myself that I'm a terrible person, but it's…

"Just stupid" I said out loud.

If I was back there right now, knowing that I'm doing this for myself. I'd probably reconsider the whole thing. I mean in the end I did drag Miria into this. Won't go as far to say I corrupted her or anything, rather I just woke the sleeping wildcat. But really…

How long has it been, Miria? How long did it take for everything to get so mixed up? You look confused, from your point of view I would be confused too. Hell… I barely understand where I'm going with this even now, but I don't show my confusion. I'm the glimmering queen, who can't be wavered by such petty things, and it's not a façade I have to keep up, it's just who I came to be, but you… I can see it on your face. You're smiling far too brightly.

"Um… can you run that by me again? I don't think I understand what you're asking." She said leaning on the wall and I think any of her smile are threats to my inner peace by now.

"A simple question… What is our relationship?" as I say those words as if by drama rules a gust of wind blows through the park. I don't mind looking dramatic but it gets my hair in my face.

"Um… I'd say it's more positive, than negative, right?"

"That doesn't answer my question and you damn well know that, Miri."

"Well…um…"

"Enough with the "um"s already, It's not like your some shy first-year on a confession. Just answer the question, it's not like you don't know the answer to that." Cause I don't and at least one of us should.

"We're… friends." I swear she made that sound like a question, "Is this about last night?"

"Ah… partially." I say that without blushing, I deserve a medal.

"Listen, that… How should I put it?" put it like it is, "That thorough service you made me do didn't make me think you're a complete pervert, OK?"

"Well of co… Wait what? Thorough service?" I hope I didn't.

"You know… That part where you went all crazy and spouted stuff about being a goddess and me needing to examine… and worship… every inch of your body."

"Every inch?"

"That's what you said." she said quite Captain Obvious-like.

"And so you did?" I admit I might've said something like that when in the heat of the moment and all, but… "Every inch? Even?"

"W-What are you getting at? I-it's not like I didn't enjoy it."

"Oh I believe you would." sneaky Mirikitty.

"And you seemed to be sparkling with joy too, miss Goddess…" she crossed her arms on her chest, giving me a sly smile.

"Well…" Now I guess I know what happened, still can't paint myself the mental image of Miria doing stuff like that… "But that's beside the point. Back to our relationship, I mean our deal."

"Oh, the one that you used as a cover to hook up with me? Actually pretty clever now that I think about it… Slipping through my defenses like that."

"What? No, it wasn't a cover for me trying to…" the words come out of my mouth, but I realize that she isn't really listening.

"Hey, no excuses, I approve. I don't think I'd properly react if you asked me out directly…"

"Stop right there! I didn't host all of this to… hook up with you!" at least, I think I didn't.

"Oh really? Then why did you do it?" she asked leaning forward

"I… ah…" got jealous over Flora liking you, played the bitch card and thought I'd…

Miria suddenly moved forward and kissed me, breaking my focus once more.

"OK… I get it. It's still a contract of the Mephistophelian Galatea to get me uncomfortable… So how many kisses are left?"

That was… pretty fast.

"If my resurfacing memory doesn't fail me, then I am far in your debt already." and I feel bittersweet about it.

"That… and kisses are slightly different things, wouldn't you say? Besides I think there was only 1 kiss I planted on your lips." I didn't even know her voice could sound so arrogant and alluring.

"And the rest in places I don't even want to mention."

"Like the back of your neck." said Miria

"Among other places…"

"Your underarms got you very ticklish"

"Stop…" I say, rolling my eyes.

"And honestly I was seriously considering kicking you out of my room when you told me to kiss your…"

I kiss her to shut her up, at least that still works.

"I was about to say feet." she says smirking yet again.

"Sure you were, just shut up." I gently push her away to at least get some distance between us.

"But it's not like I didn't kiss your…"

"Just shut up…" I pray to the heavens that I'm not blushing right now. "If you enjoy having that counter on you, fine by me. Just for the love of Heidegger stay quiet about this. For both our sakes…"

Miria gave me a smile which basically said "how come I'm enjoying this more than you?" and I seriously have no answer to that.

The queen needs to reconsider her little kingdom.

Pensive Primula

- - -
26 kisses left? Really?