Chapter 5 Rumors

Ignis POV

I can't believe it, but she's standing right there... Just on the other side of my door is the girl who caused me so much anguish as a child! I ran into her yesterday, but I thought since Viribus Academy was so big that maybe I'd be able to avoid her for the most part! Good to see that lasted about 18 hours...

I stumble back from the door monitor in distress... I have to do something... There's no way I can face her again so soon! Yesterday she nearly broke my back, threatened to kill some girls with her massive axe, basically threatened me when I stood in her way, and then essentially declared she was here to make my life hell! Yeah, no way I'm opening that door! I just have to pretend I'm not here right? If she thinks I'm gone she'll just leave won't she? But wait, she could just come back... She has to know this is my room right? I doubt she's looking for someone else and she just ended up here by coincidence... Am I just supposed to pretend I'm not home every time she drops by? Two parts of my mind are clashing with each other. Part of me wants to open the door and just try and find some excuse, some way to get her out of here. The other part is telling me no matter what you do, do not open that door! Ugh! What do I do!? As I sit on the floor frozen, she knocks again!

-Minerva: Ignis I know you're in there! I saw you walk in!

She what!? She watched me walk in here?? Does that mean that weird feeling I had before I came in was right? I was being watched! This witch! But hold on, how did she know to be here when I got back? Had she been stalking me? Also, I've been back for almost 15 minutes, and she just now knocked on the door! Does that mean she's been standing out there this entire time? This chick is psycho! She knocks again...

-Minerva: Ignis...please open up...

She sounds...sad... This has to be some clever ploy, it just has to! Despite my better judgement, I'll have to face her... If she knows I'm here she isn't just going to leave. I try and pump myself up before I answer the door. Come on Ignis! You got this! Don't let her get to you! I slowly open the door, hoping that what the camera had seen was just a glitch, and that maybe my ears had deceived me, but no, standing there at my door is the real thing... Princess Minerva, with her dark red eyes, and light brown hair. I can even see that green headband under her bangs. The look on her face though... That's what's interesting. I thought she sounded sad when she pleaded with me to open the door, but she really does look sad... That is, until she sees me. Almost instantly her expression changes into that of a predator eyeing its prey, with that devious, sadistic smile spread across her face...

-Ignis: Oh hey M-Minerva. Sorry, I was just in the bathroom!

Nailed it.

-Minerva: Oh! I'm sorry for knocking so many times! I thought you were avoiding me!

-Ignis: What?? Me! Avoid you?! Never!

Alright Ignis, stay strong, you got her right where you want her! Before I say anything else, Minerva let's out a giggle! Um, what?! This she-devil just giggled! What!? What was so funny to her?

-Minerva: Ignis you're so funny!

-Ignis: Funny? No I'm not! Come on M-Minerva.

She giggles again!!

-Minerva: Yes you are! The way you keep stuttering when you say my name!

This girl! She thinks I'm stuttering to try and be funny! I'm stuttering because I think I'm about to piss my pants!

-Minerva: So can I come in?

This is it! Strength in the face of adversity! Stand your ground Ignis! Turn her away and be done with this!

-Ignis: Of course M-Minerva, come on in!

Wait what?! Why did I say that?? Minerva strolls on past me and plops down on the couch! She pats the spot next to her calling for me to come sit there...

-Minerva: Come on Ignis! We have so much to catch up on! We haven't seen each other in years! And for us to meet back up again here is so exciting! I just know we're going to learn so much together!

Yeah I doubt that... And I seem to be the only one who's not torn up about us not having seen each other in several years! I go and sit on the opposite from her on the L-couch because I know if I sit next to her I'll be punished for it... Once I sit down I look across at Minerva and I'm terrified at what I see... She's looking at me with that same murderous expression she looked at those girls with yesterday! She really wants me to sit next to her...but I really don't want her to blast me across the room...but if I don't she's definitely gonna hit me anyway! Alright I'll just move over there and stay on my guard! Besides, I really don't want that huge axe to come flying through the wall... As I sit next to Minerva her expression changes from murderous psychopath back to her less evil, but still evil, sadistic grin.... Not a great change but at least she won't kill me...yet.

-Ignis: So M-Minerva, how did you know this is where my dorm was?

-Minerva: I'm sorry but I'm not going to answer you until you stop stuttering when you say my name.

What?! Just a minute ago she thought it was funny! Guess she's tired of the joke now... Alright Ignis, here goes nothing...

-Ignis: So Mmmminerva, how did you know this is where my dorm was?

-Minerva: That time you just held the M longer!

What is wrong with this girl? At least I got it all in one go that time! I'll give it everything I've got this time!

-Ignis: So MINERVA how did you know this is where my dorm was?

I definitely got it that time but I think I may have put a little too much into it... Minerva actually looks a little shocked that I basically just screamed in her face at the top of my lungs?! Then she cracks up laughing!

-Minerva: Oh that was too good! You know I really missed you Ignis!

She says this as she laughs hysterically in my face! Yeah, she missed torturing me...

-Ignis: You still didn't answer my question though!

-Minerva: Oh, Minori told me.

SHE DID WHAT?!?! WHAT WAS THAT WOMAN THINKING!?!? She must have gone insane if she thought that was a good idea! But now's not the time to worry about that, no there's another question I need to ask...

-Ignis: Umm, also you said you knew I was here because you saw me walk in... But I was in here for almost 15 minutes before you knocked...were you just standing out there that whole time?

Minerva then puts on that embarrassed, girly face I saw yesterday...

-Minerva: Um yeah, I was just, you know, nervous. I wasn't sure if I should knock or just leave...

Minerva buries her face in her hands as she says this! Just how many personalities does this girl have!? So far in the last two days I've seen her standard sadistic self, the murderous psychopath, and now this girly girl disguise she's put on! She used to do things like this when we were kids too! She'd act all embarrassed and cute to lure me in and then strike! I scoot back just a smidge so as not to lean into any oncoming attacks, but not far enough to piss her off again... Before either of us say anything else the door opens and Zareos walks in! Perfect timing! With a third party here I can find a way out of this! Maybe I can say that we're going to lunch together or something! Anything would work really...

-Ignis: Oh, Minerva this is my roommate Zareos, Zareos this is Minerva!

Zareos looks completely uninterested...

-Zareos: Cool.

Before I can say anything else he walks back to his bedroom and closes the door! I sit there, my mouth almost on the floor. I can't believe he just did that to me! He couldn't stick around for 30 seconds so I could come up with a lie! I look back at Minerva and notice she looks sad again...

-Minerva: So I'm just "Minerva"...?

What does she mean by that? Did she want me to mention she's a princess? Zareos didn't seem to care what her name was so I doubt he cared about that.

-Ignis: Um, I'm sorry...?

-Minerva: It's just, if I was to introduce you to someone, I would introduce you as my "childhood friend Ignis" or maybe...-

-Ignis: I'm really sorry Minerva, I totally didn't think about it!

Geez she is nuts!

-Minerva: Well I guess I can't stay mad at you!

Minerva then slugs me in the arm! It hurts SOOO bad. I actually think it might be broken!

-Ignis: Oh you! Ha...ha. So...its...about lunch time right...

I struggle to talk because my arm hurts so bad, but she doesn't even seem to care! I honestly think I might need a doctor!

-Minerva: Oh yeah! Why don't we go together!

Not exactly what I was wanting to hear, but maybe if I can survive through lunch, I can find a way to ditch her...

With that we leave the room and head out towards the nearby dining facility. Along the way we talk about our lives in the years since we've seen each other... You know, for just a split second I start to think that maybe if Minerva didn't have psychotic and abusive tendencies, that she might be girlfriend material... She's definitely pretty, despite the intense aura about her. She has more muscle that most girls, but who doesn't like strong women? This thought creeps into my head but then I remember that she's well, crazy...

During a pause in our conversation I start to hear people talking in hushed tones. I take a look around and notice people looking at us! Oh great are they still talking about how I was with Krista this morning?

Girl A: Hey isn't that the crazy girl from yesterday?

Uh-oh...

Girl B: Yeah I think that's her! I heard she was about to kill some other girls!

Girl C: And they let her stay?! If I was in charge she would've been gone!

This is not good! There's no way Minerva doesn't hear them!

Guy A: Hey I think that guy was there yesterday too!

Guy B: Oh yeah he was, I saw him there!

Girl A: They said she was gonna attack those girls over some guy! That must be him!

Girl B: Yeah I bet they're like totes bangin and stuff!

OOOOF! I just know Minerva has to be fuming right now, but I don't dare look at her...

Girl C: That girl must wear the pants in the relationship, right?! I mean that guy has to be a total puss right?

Okay that's just not fair! I finally muster up the courage to look at Minerva and...she doesn't look bothered by any of this...

-Ignis: Um Minerva, does what they're saying not get to you?

-Minerva: Why would it? There's no point trying to justify my actions to ignorant people. And they aren't entirely wrong. I did step in to defend you. Besides, I could take all of them, easily.

-Ignis: No one's arguing your strength Minerva. I guess, I just wonder if you're worried rumors like that might make people not like you. What if no one wants to work with you?

-Minerva: I'm not too worried about that. After all I've got you don't I?

Yikes! I don't think I have the heart; no I'll be honest, I don't have to balls to dispute her here... I just decide to take the easy way out...

-Ignis: Yeah...you've got me...

I feel terrible about that... I just lied to her... I just really hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass...

End CHAPTER 5