September (Adelaide) 3rd. One year and two months later.
Valon, of course, had a backup plan.
Miza quietly walked through the empty halls of the school. The high school Donnie had enrolled her in had an alternate block schedule. Four courses per day, lunch, and a study hall. In their sophomore year, students were required to choose a primary discipline to train in. Donte had decided that enrolling her as a Freshman would bore her since she already had studied beyond what typical high school students knew, and Freshman year was more of a transition year. She needed to be distracted from the depressive state she was in.
Today was the first year of her Junior year. Yep. It had already been a whole school year. High school for Miza thus far was an enjoyable experience, with the exception that she had the weight of not knowing what was happening in Lestania. It had just been the four of them since that night. Nothing had gone right, but she didn’t know what had gone wrong.
Was everyone ok? She still didn’t know why Alex wasn’t there with everyone else that night. Was the coup successful, and everything just too unstable for her mates to reach out? Were her siblings, her twin, safe? Were they alive, or had they been murdered in her brother’s insane plot? Why was Valon still here?
Not that she didn’t want him around, but if something was still going on, wouldn’t it be necessary that the leader of the country's military be there? Didn’t their people need him? Need her?
But no. Donnie and Valon had her and Justin dutifully attending classes and blending in like normal American teenagers. Well, as normal as they could pull off. She would never lie about being their mate, but they didn’t flaunt it. From the first day, they came to the school for interviews, it was assumed that Donte and Valon were a gay couple, which wasn’t terribly untrue, and that Miza and Justin were their children. They just let the assumption ride.
She was late to her “Political History” class because, by the end of 3rd period, she had overthought herself to the point of near hysterics and hid away in the bathroom during lunch. She couldn’t take them hiding what was going on from her. It was so bad that last fall, less than a month into hiding in this realm, Valon put a bind on her. He effectively cut her off from the tether that bound the Nest together. Of course, he didn’t destroy the awareness; he just used a blood bind to prevent her from accessing the awareness or anyone using its tether to find her. Which also had the affects of blocking most of her powers. Of course, Liero Incarnate would have the ability to do that.
They had been idle for so long while their family was, was what? She didn’t know what was happening. She was the head of the family. The leader of the faction, and what did she do? She just ran away and cried like a baby. Valon was adamant that she did what she needed to do. She was the legitimate heir, and she needed to be safe and sequestered until they could fight back.
So here, Miza was living out her dream of being an average American teen of being free from princess duty. She had her life back instead of having everything dictated. So then, why did she hate herself so much when this was all she ever wanted?
She took a breath before knocking on the door, prepared to give the teacher her schedule and a great excuse.
~
The teacher's first-day-of-school announcements were interrupted by a knock on the door. He opened the door, and a petite girl with copper-toned skin and light brown curls down her back stood there. She handed him a folded piece of white paper.
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“Sara Harison. Well, little Miss it's nice for you to join us. Do you have your pass?”
“No, Sir,” Sara said quietly.
“Well, aren’t we off to a great start this year, Miss Harison?” He sighed out. “We have assigned seats. You may sit with Tyler in the back of the class.”
Tyler saw the irritation that briefly flashed across her face before she smiled, mumbling an apology with a slight bow of her head before hurrying to her seat. She looked over to him nodding as she sat, focusing intently on listening to the teacher. Tyler tried to listen to the teacher describe the class structure for this semester and the explanation of the six units they would cover. But he couldn’t focus. It was nearly impossible. Who the hell was Sara Harison, and why was she just on his radar?
~
“J, I know what I felt. I just- I-I can’t.” Justin looked at Miza while attempting to shield the pain he felt over their fractured family. This forced separation didn’t stop a bond that was predestined from forming. While someone may choose to be a chevalier in hopes of dedicating themselves in mind, body, and soul to one of the royals, when the Goddess divines it, there is little to be done but to accept it. He took a bite out of his veggie wrap as they sat alone in their booth in the back corner of the school cafeteria. He watched as she picked at her salad.
“Maybe I should just get my schedule changed, " she sighed. She dropped her fork and covered her face in her palms. Since she had seen the boy, her mind had been racing. She took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm her shaking hands.
“Baby,” He said softly so that no one else could hear since they were assumed to be adopted siblings. They were doing pretty ok so far. “ Didn’t you say that you wanted to take that course to get a feel for American politics as the citizens might see it and understand how they teach politics to the kids here? I don’t see the point in switching schedules in an attempt to run away from this Tyler guy when you had a purpose for taking this course. He isn’t Lestanian. The most that will happen is he thinks he has a persistent crush. If he is a decent guy, if you choose not to show interest, he should leave you alone. I can pretend to be the overprotective big brother again and try to make him leave you alone.” He smiled cutely at her in hopes of getting some reaction.
“I can’t lose anyone el-” He cut her off.
“They are not lost. Val said not to give you details, but we are doing what WE need to do to keep you safe. “ Justin frowned at the direction this conversation was taking. He made a mental note to talk to the guys about their persistence in keeping her in the dark in regards to their plans. The men had made an executive decision at the start of this journey, but maybe excluding her like this was not the way to continue.
“So look, babe, I know that trying not to think about this is going to be difficult, but I need you to trust Val and Donnie. Trust that we will do what you need us to do to fulfill your call.” Miza looked at him with love and adoration but quickly caught herself remembering to guard their interactions. “If Tyler is meant to join us, he will. You can’t stop that. Just focus on school. Enjoy the experience. You’ll be ready when it's time. “
The pair enjoyed a companionable silence for a few more minutes until their peace was disturbed.
“Shit.”
Miza noticed Justin's eyes snap up and focused as his body tensed. Already day one, and Prarieview Prep is at it. Miza peers behind her from her seat in the booth.
Yep.
Unnecessary violence, probably over insignificant drama. She turned her head to pack up her empty lunch container. Growing up, she was accustomed to fighting and practicing among the warriors, even the occasional brawl between faction crews. Still, honestly, she had yet to discover what high schoolers needed to settle with violence, much less violence with an audience.
~