Chapter 17: One Dangerous Plan

"Geez, how are we supposed to have a proper meeting if two of our members are not present?" Elizabeth asked and groaned while she sat down on the chair. In front of her, sitting by the left side of the desk was Naz, while on the right was Arthur. They were currently missing Avegaille and Nicole May, as the two of them still had to serve one more week of detention. All of them were inside the newspaper room, by the area where the long table was with the chairs.

"You can always just update them when you see them Lizzie. Besides, I don't think they'll miss anything," Naz remarked as she shrugged. "For now, we have to focus on what our first issue will be all about… it was bad enough that we didn't take pictures during the school fair."

"I'm pretty sure the student council would be willing to lend you guys the pictures… of course, that is, if you had a scanner," Arthur said, folding his arms across his chest.

"Scanner…? Ah, crap, we forgot we needed a scanner for stuff like drawings and pictures!" Naz exclaimed while she looked around frantically. Then, she directed her attention towards the printer and ran up to it. She noticed that it had a flap and wondered what it was for. She lifted up the flap and saw a clear glass covering a mechanism under it. "Is… this a scanner too?"

"I don't think Nicole May is that stupid to forget that a school newspaper needs a scanner aside from a printer," Elizabeth remarked and snorted. "Of course, we never asked her if we needed a scanner either… maybe she just bought a printer with a built-in scanner to make things easier…"

"Ah, well, that's good to know," Arthur said and nodded. "Oh yeah, it's not related to the school paper, but you guys already met Emily Hayward, right?"

"Yeah… we did… she was actually really, really weird…" Elizabeth muttered as she sweat-dropped. "Avegaille asked us to keep her preoccupied while she had to go serve her remaining days in school detention."

"Not only that, she's saying horrible things about Nicole May," Naz added while she went back to her seat and pounded the table with her fists. "I might not remember Nicole May much from when we were younger but the way she describes her makes me think she's lying. I'm quite relieved that she didn't even think of joining us either."

"I doubt she'd even want to join especially if she found out that Nicole May practically funded this place," Elizabeth remarked and sighed. "Anyway, why bring her up Arthur? I mean, like you said, it's not related to the school paper in any way."

"Well, not right now, but it'll affect the progress of our activity… Think about it. If you had someone like her who keeps freaking you out or pissing you off, you'd find a way to get rid of that person. By trying to get rid of that person, you'll be wasting time thinking of ways to do so instead of doing other things…" Arthur explained while he stood up from his seat. "You ladies get what I'm saying, right?"

"Yeah, you're right… especially if Emily keeps sticking around Avegaille. Plus, the fact that Avegaille doesn't want to be with her. Oh, Nicole May's probably pissed at her, so she'd be also trying to figure out what to do with her," Elizabeth muttered as she folded her arms across her chest. "There is one thing Avegaille can do to make Emily stay away from her…"

"Huh, what's that?" Naz asked and looked confused.

"Ah… it's quite dangerous, but we have to convince Avegaille to stop taking her medication for a week," Elizabeth replied, staring at both Naz and Arthur seriously. "I said it was dangerous because when Avegaille's having a mixed episode and someone pisses her off, there might be an instance where she'll use physical force against that person."

"Eh, isn't there another way? Won't she get suspended if she used physical force against Emily?" Naz asked as she sweat-dropped.

"I didn't say she would do it all the time, it only happens when it reaches… well, let's just call it boiling point of some sort," Elizabeth continued. "Anyway, I know when Avegaille's in that state, she's more serious. At least, that was years ago… I don't know if it still applies today."

"Well, I'm pretty sure she won't use physical force against anyone if she didn't take any meds for just a week," Arthur remarked and shrugged. "And yet, I wonder how this is going to get Emily to stay away from her."

"You'll find out soon…" Elizabeth said and looked at Arthur with determination.

.-.-.-.-.-

"What… why are you asking me to tell Avegaille to stop taking her medication for a week?" Nicole May asked, staring perplexedly at Elizabeth and Naz, who were standing in front of her. Nicole May was about to go home, and before she could get inside the car, Naz and Elizabeth quickly ran up to her. Plus, she was no longer sitting on a wheelchair. She realized she could walk properly as soon as she finished serving school detention with Avegaille.

"Well, I don't know, because you're the only person that Avegaille listens to?" Naz replied as she shrugged and turned to Elizabeth. "Hey, Lizzie, you better have a good explanation for this…"

"Ah, you know how Avegaille was very different the first time you met her in Midway Academy from today?" Elizabeth asked, in which confused Nicole May more but she nodded her head regardless. "Well, that's because of her mixed episode. She's been taking medication lately to get rid, or at least, to control that. Of course, she told me that just around last week. Now, let me ask you this Nicole May… how come you didn't get rid of Avegaille when she became your roommate?"

"Huh… where did you hear that from?" Nicole May asked surprisingly.

"Emily's been telling us things about you and how Avegaille was the only student to last long as your roommate," Elizabeth replied while Naz nodded to confirm.

"Well, when I was about to, that time… she said something really disturbing and yet… it was true," Nicole May muttered while she folded her arms across her chest. "She said I was lying… that the obnoxious and arrogant personality I'm putting up in front of everyone was just an act. I was surprised she knew that right away, and yet, I never told her she was right and ignored her after that. Eventually, I gave up on making her leave that room."

"Okay, I'm confused Elizabeth. What does all of this have to do with… you know, the medication?" Naz asked as she scratched her head.

"I think Nicole May already figured it out," Elizabeth replied. She turned back to Nicole May, who looked surprised. "Do you get it now? Avegaille can tell if a person is lying or putting up an act when she's in that state. It might sound crazy, but she could always tell what a person feels that way."

"Well, I'll go to her house and see if I can convince her…" Nicole May muttered and sighed. "This is quite dangerous, but I suppose if we knew why Emily's doing this… it'll benefit all of us… or at least for Avegaille's sake."

.-.-.-.-.-

"Nicole May, what's up?" Jane asked as she waved her hand. She noticed that there was a navy blue Lexus car parked in the driveway, which was in front of the garage. She also realized that Nicole May was standing up properly and didn't see any sight of a wheelchair next to her. "Did… Avegaille forget something again?"

"Ah… no, it's nothing like that, I wanted to talk to her about something," Nicole May replied as she folded her arms across her chest.

"You sound really serious… but yeah, she's at her room right now, doing her homework," Jane said as she stepped back from the doorway and led Nicole May inside. "I'm pretty sure you know where it is, yeah?"

"I can manage," Nicole May replied. She entered through the door and Jane closed the door behind them.

While Jane went to the living room, Nicole May slowly climbed up the stairs until she got to the hallway with a few sets of doors. She knew that the one closest to the stairs was Avegaille's room and quickly approached it. She knocked on the door and waited for Avegaille to respond. Even though she couldn’t hear Avegaille’s response from the other side, the door opened. Avegaille looked surprised upon seeing Nicole May standing in front of her.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Huh… Nicole May… what are you doing here?" Avegaille asked curiously.

"Oh, your sister let me in…" Nicole May replied as she shrugged while Avegaille pulled her inside the room and closed the door. She looked around and everything looked the same the last time she went inside the room, except for some the cluttered books and sheets of paper on Avegaille's study desk. "Anyway… I know this sounds crazy, but… you know how you were able to see through me the time I was about to… kick you out of that room back in Midway Academy?"

"Eh… hmm, I know that was mean, but I don't even remember what I said to you to change your mind," Avegaille replied and laughed nervously while she sweat-dropped. She sat down on her bed and Nicole May sat down next to her.

"Well… Elizabeth told me you get instances of mixed episodes if you're not taking your medication," Nicole May said while Avegaille scratched her head, staring at her blankly. "Of course, I don't think you noticed that… that you are able to tell what a person is feeling or thinking when you're in that state."

"I still don't get what you're trying to say or what you want…" Avegaille muttered as she closed her eyes and groaned.

"It was Elizabeth and Naz's idea, but the point is, why don't you try not taking any medication, just for this week?" Nicole May suggested, in which Avegaille quickly opened her eyes and looked really nervous. "Don't worry, if you do anything too extreme, we'll be there to stop you."

"I'm not too sure about this… my Mom would freak out the minute she finds out I'm skipping on my medication," Avegaille muttered as she folded her arms across her chest. "Anyway, why do you guys want me to stop taking my meds?"

"Elizabeth and Naz noticed something in Emily but they didn't know much about her, so they couldn't do anything. On the other hand, you're the only person that Emily is quite attached to at this point. If you can uncover what she's really thinking or up to, she might just stop annoying us in general," Nicole May explained. She stood up as she looked at Avegaille seriously. "Anyway, if Emily keeps being persistent around you, you might be able to get a grasp of what's really in her mind if you don't take your medication. Then, you can use that to attack her emotionally, the same way you did to me."

"There's just one problem Nicole May… I can't guarantee I can do this at a specific time, I could burst out at any time, even in front of teachers," Avegaille muttered nervously. She quickly grabbed Nicole May's arm and hugged it tightly.

"Don't worry, I don't think my opinion about you will change after whatever happens on those days," Nicole May said as she slowly stroked Avegaille's head with her other hand.

.-.-.-.-.-

The next day, Emily was frantically looking around the hallway while the other students were heading down to their classes. As she got to the doorway of the building where the students were coming in, she noticed Avegaille and quickly ran up to her. On the other hand, Avegaille was a bit surprised as Emily grabbed her and pulled her out from the crowd. Then, both of them walked together until they could get to their first class. Emily noticed that Avegaille was a bit quiet and decided to perk her up.

"Hey, Avegaille, you know if you're not busy later, we should eat lunch together," Emily said, in which she smiled and giggled afterwards.

"I suppose that's fine…" Avegaille muttered as she slowly turned away from Emily and focused on avoiding the incoming of students from the other side.

"Is there something wrong?" Emily asked. "You don't seem… to be in the mood today or something…"

"It's nothing, don't mind me," Avegaille replied apathetically while she turned to Emily and smiled weakly.

"Well, if you say so… come on, you have to introduce me to our math teacher!" Emily exclaimed happily as Avegaille sweat-dropped.

As the two of them got to the classroom where Mr. Collins was, they saw Nicole May entering the classroom. Nicole May noticed that Emily was with Avegaille and stopped to take a good look at them. Emily saw that Nicole May was walking properly as compared to yesterday where she was sitting on a wheelchair and thought something was wrong.

"Hey, Rustford… what happened to your wheelchair?" Emily asked and smirked. "I thought you've been completely paralyzed after that accident you talked about."

"I don't really think a hard collision on the floor could cause anyone to be completely paralyzed just like that," Nicole May retorted while she glared at Emily. "I'm going inside… I don't want to disturb you two after all…"

"Hmm…" Avegaille kept quiet while Nicole May went inside the classroom. Then, she turned to Emily, who looked quite irritated and thought of not saying anything else.

"She pisses me off right up to this day," Emily muttered while she turned to Avegaille. "You know how I feel right? I mean… someone like her who's good at everything and yet, she's so arrogant and obnoxious…"

"Yeah, she used to be that way…" Avegaille muttered apathetically as she placed her hands on the pockets of her jacket. "We should get inside… I've always been late to Mr. Collins’ class and I don't want to make that record worse."

.-.-.-.-.-

"It's going to take a while before Avegaille… as we say it… explodes…" Elizabeth muttered while she flipped through the pages of the book she was holding in her hands. "Hey, Nicole May, are you sure you're fine with Avegaille being with Emily all day?"

"What… are you talking about?" Nicole May asked nervously and sweat-dropped.

"Oh come on Nicole May, we already know, so stop hiding it from us," Naz remarked and giggled. Nicole May quickly took a pillow that was beside her and threw it in Naz's face.

The three of them were on the other side of the newspaper room, where the sofa was. It was after they finished eating their lunch, that they all decided to meet up in the newspaper room so they could talk about their plan in secret. While Elizabeth and Nicole May were sitting on the sofa, Naz preferred sitting on the carpet, surrounded by some extra pillows and leaning her back against the sturdy divider behind her.

"Hey… I told you… it's… nothing like that!" Nicole May protested while her face started turning red. Naz continued to giggle while Elizabeth smiled weakly, trying to pretend she didn't see anything.

"Well, if you don't act fast, Avegaille might be taken by someone else… the worse case scenario would be Emily… and her… together…" Naz teased and laughed loudly.

"Shut up, Naz!" Nicole May exclaimed and pouted while her face was still red. "Besides, I know Avegaille wouldn't want to be with someone… like her…"

"Hmm, yeah, of course…" Naz said and grinned mischievously. Then, she turned to Elizabeth, who was reading her science book. "So, Elizabeth, what are we supposed to do now?"

"Oh, we just have to keep an eye on Avegaille, as much as possible," Elizabeth replied while she closed the book that she was holding. "I told Phil and Arthur more about this and they already agreed in helping out too. In case Avegaille bursts in the wrong time or for a different reason, we'll be there so she doesn't get into too much trouble."

"I see…" Naz muttered and slowly nodded her head. "What do you think will happen once she finally finds out what Emily's true intentions are?"

"The only thing I can think of is that, Emily would be less spiteful to Nicole May and that she would be less clingy to Avegaille," Elizabeth said as she sighed and stood up from the sofa. "Anyway, where is Avegaille now? It's dangerous if not even one of us is watching over her while she's with Emily."

"Last time I saw her, Arthur was with her…" Nicole May muttered as she leaned her back against the sofa. "I don't know where she is now…"

"I'll look for her, I'm pretty sure she's not that hard to find!" Naz exclaimed while she quickly put on her shoes and stood up. After that, she quickly ran off out of the room.

"I'm more worried about Avegaille falling asleep… especially knowing that around this time, she's going to fall asleep…" Nicole May muttered and Elizabeth turned to her.

"Ah, don't worry about that, Avegaille is less prone to sleeping when she's on her mixed episode state," Elizabeth remarked and giggled a bit.

.-.-.-.-.-

Emily and Avegaille had been walking together since their first class, even though they had classes where they were not together. Now, the two of them were heading outside, where the school grounds were. Avegaille noticed that Phil and Arthur were sitting together by one of the picnic tables and approached them. Emily quickly followed her and recalled that one of the guys was the one she met yesterday.

"Hey, Avegaille, you know that guy?" Emily asked as she gestured over to Arthur, who in return, waved at her.

"Yeah, he's my classmate in science class… I guess we're not classmates there, are we?" Avegaille muttered and shrugged. Then, she turned to Phil.

"Why don't you two sit down for a while?" Phil suggested, in which Avegaille sat down next to him while Emily sat down next to Arthur. "Hey Avegaille, your Mom has been too hyper lately. I bumped into her earlier and she asked me something about thinking of a good activity she could plan out for the school. I told her a field trip would be nice, but she said it's been all sorted out for next month. So, what other activities do you think this school could do?"

"Hmm, Mom’s at it again…" Avegaille groaned while she bent down and placed her arms on the table and leaned her head on it. "I'm not really fond of school activities, so she should just ask Jane about those kinds of things instead."

"Eh? Am I missing something here?" Emily asked and became confused about who they were talking about.

"Ah, I don't think you're aware, but Mrs. Stewart is Avegaille's mother," Arthur replied while everyone else turned to Avegaille.

"Huh, I didn't think Avegaille and Mrs. Stewart would be related that way," Emily remarked while Avegaille sat up and folded her arms across her chest.

"My Mom’s really weird, but she's always like that, so I can't complain," Avegaille muttered and sighed. She turned to Phil and noticed that he seemed a bit nervous. "Hey, Phil, is there something wrong?"

"It's nothing Avegaille, don't worry about me," Phil replied quickly as he sweat-dropped.

"Phil's just nervous because you're sitting next to him, Avegaille," Arthur remarked and winked. Phil waved his hands frantically while his face started turning red, which made Arthur laugh. "Do you think they look cute together, Emily?"

"I don't know… to be honest, I don't know them too well, so I can't really tell," Emily replied and laughed nervously. She turned to Avegaille and noticed how quiet and apathetic she was over the topic. "Ah, Avegaille, we're not annoying you, are we?"

"Eh? Ah, don't worry about it…" Avegaille replied quickly and smiled weakly while she sweat-dropped. She quickly turned away from all of them and sighed.

Phil looked worried and Arthur quickly noticed his expression and slowly nodded at him to stop him from worrying further. Emily on the other hand, was a bit confused at what was going on, but then decided to just go with the flow.