“Won’t you at least read it?”

Annabeth paused her movements and briefly glanced at the door, to see her classmate enter their shared room. Read it? That nonsense book she was about to shred into pieces? Of course not. Without any hesitation, she pulled a handful of pages and kept on tearing them.

“That’s…” Leila was at loss. That book was Carole’s. Well, it was the main reason why Annabeth was destroying it but still… the girl kept annoying people with it and praising it so much, so evidently, Leila was interested in reading it. Thus, knowing the dispute between her classmates and how well her roommate held grudges and won’t be satisfied until she got her revenge, Leila had an inkling that the blonde girl will aim for Carole’s most favored possession, and for the moment, it was that particular harlequin. If she had to be honest too, Leila wanted to read it for weeks now. She wasn’t particularly close to Carole, so the book hadn’t been lent to her. Knowing the matter that occurred today, she rushed to her bedroom, hoping to finally fill her curiosity. What a big disappointment!

“The cover alone is disgusting enough” Annabeth replied, at last, getting up from the bed to throw the papers into the chimney’s flames.

“It is said to be the best romance’s book of the decade you know. Such a good story. You’re really heartless!”. Her friend voiced her complaint without holding back.

“Really? How about the heartless girl goes and exposes your favorite books to mother Theresa. You do remember what is forbidden and what is not, right?”

How could she forget? The reminder came every three days. It became tiring to listen which didn’t mean that the pensioners were well behaved and followed the rules. Most of the girls had romance books, makeups, pieces of jewelry and whatnots hidden inside their bedroom.

“Never mind! I just need two more weeks’ worth of saving and I will be able to buy my own copy.”

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“Why not buy some historical romance instead of those insidious modern histories.” That was her friend’s reply, but what Leila heard was “If you like being lied to, how about choosing the bigger lie?”

They had lived in the same bedroom for years now, so they understood each other a little better than the rest of people and obviously, Leila heard the mockery in Annabeth’s tone. That girl’s view of relationships was bad in general. Never mind love, even friendship with her was difficult. But Leila Smith was already accustomed to her. That was just how her roommate was.

“It might be a good idea”. She shrugged and came closer to her drawer, taking her purse out, to check the amount. If she forgets about that attractive ring that she wanted, she could certainly buy herself a good book to take along during that boring excursion to the temple they were told about this morning. If she went empty handed there, one week and a half from now, then she will definitely be bored and unlike Annabeth, she couldn’t sleep at will.

“It’s always about some CEO’s love in those novels anyway. And they are way too perfect, too rich and too surreal. The change will certainly be good. I’ll look for a knight or a king, maybe even an emperor…”

Annabeth just snorted but didn’t respond. She didn’t get the time anyway. A shrill voice resounded in the corridor. It was definitely Carole’s and by her behavior, it could only be concluded that she finally found out that her harlequin was missing.

“Let the show begin” Said Annabeth, smiling coldly while taking the direction where that sound came from.

Leila sighed. Carole wouldn’t be able to report her missing property since it was a forbidden thing anyway; clearly, Annabeth went to rub some salt to the wound. Will it stop there? Certainly not. Anyone who was daring enough to badmouth that person’s father should be prepared to bear the consequences. Annabeth may always be criticizing him herself but that didn't mean she would tolerate those who followed her lead.

She didn’t even spare the director of her last school, when he hinted how unreliable her father seemed to be. The man was genuinely sympathizing with her for being alone after her victory in a competition in which she was representing the school. Something in his tone annoyed her and she threw her trophy on his car, effectively smashing the conductor’s pane.

That was Annabeth Dalton for you.