Chapter 6: Nicole May's Secret

It was almost after lunch when Elizabeth entered the principal's office. She was able to get the papers done so they could use the room near the library, and next to the stairs. As Elizabeth got inside the office and was about to talk to the secretary to meet with the principal, she saw the principal walking out of the room with Avegaille's mother, Amelia Stewart. The principal had quite some age, she had curly blonde hair and her attire was that like any ordinary office lady with the long sleeved collared shirt and a coat over and a tight skirt. The two of them seem to be talking about something. Then, Amelia noticed Elizabeth and waved at her.

"Oh, aren't you Elizabeth, one of Avegaille's elementary school friends?" Amelia asked while she approached Elizabeth. "How's it been going? You and Avegaille met already, right?"

"Ah, yeah, we just met earlier, and well to be fair, she was somewhat forced to join in the school newspaper with us thanks to Natalie," Elizabeth replied and laughed nervously. "So, did Avegaille get in trouble again from yesterday?"

"Oh, no, it's not about her, I'm here for another reason. Mrs. Cunningham and I were talking about something very important," Amelia said as she winked. The secretary, who was stationed at her desk, next to the door to the principal's room, looked at Amelia perplexedly. Amelia quickly noticed the secretary staring at her. "What? It's not what you think…"

The secretary was quite young, probably a few years younger than Amelia. She was recently hired by the principal a few years ago after Amelia resigned from her job as a teacher. She had short bob cut hair, and wore a white long sleeved collared shirt with the sleeves slightly folded up and some black pants. She was in charge of filing school records, scheduling appointments for the principal, among other things.

"Haha, what Amelia here is trying to say is that she'll be your new principal starting tomorrow," Mrs. Cunningham said and chuckled. "Ah, it seems that I'm getting too old for this and finally I can retire. Amelia's been one of the best teachers I had here when you youngsters were still in elementary. It must be in the family. I was almost ready to retire when I thought of who will be the next principal of this school… I couldn't find anyone who could do the job until I remembered Amelia. I decided to call her and asked her if she wants to be the principal of this school."

"Ah, you were a teacher here too?" Elizabeth asked surprisingly.

"Yep, mostly history and even some science, subjects Avegaille hates for some strange reason," Amelia replied and sighed while she folded her arms across her chest. "Anyway, what brings you here Elizabeth?"

"Oh yeah, well, since we were re-establishing the school newspaper, and then… I heard that the room used by the school newspaper has been turned into something else. So, we had no choice but to find a new room. Basically, we found one and I wanted to submit the papers so we could use that room," Elizabeth explained while she handed over the papers to Amelia.

"Hmm, let's see…" Amelia muttered and started to read the papers. "Ah, should I do this Mrs. Cunningham? I mean you're still the principal as of today…"

"Of course, after all, you'll be in charge of everything in this school starting tomorrow," Mrs. Cunningham said and nodded. "Anyway, we should take a tour around the faculty room after that and introduce you to some of the teachers that recently started working here. I'm pretty sure you'll also meet some of your old co-leagues there too."

"All right, let me see, Vivian, got a pen there?" Amelia asked while she turned to the secretary.

"Yeah, here it is," Vivian said as she stood up from her seat and handed over Amelia a pen. "Um, Mrs. Stewart, I really think you should take this 'being a principal' thing more seriously."

"Hmm, I have no complaints in how Amelia handles children, or even the students," Mrs. Cunningham interrupted. "But Vivian does have some point. I guess it just needs some balance of both. Vivian can already see in you if you can handle things well."

"Don't let my looks deceive you Vivian, I can be serious when needed," Amelia said while she placed the papers on the desk and started signing them. "Anyway, I think you know what to do with these, Mrs. Cunningham and I have some other things to settle."

"Yes, ma'm," Vivian said as she picked up the papers and properly arranged them while Amelia and Mrs. Cunningham left the office. Then, she noticed that Elizabeth was still around. "Oh yeah, Elizabeth, you guys can use the room starting tomorrow, so there's nothing else to worry about… although, I slightly read the papers you submitted, the room you guys will be using… I know it lacks quite a lot of things and the circuitry in that room needs quite a lot of fixing. While we can send an electrician to fix that, we don't have enough funds yet to provide you guys with basic stuff like tables and chairs."

"Ah, that's okay Miss Vivian, we'll figure out what to do on our own," Elizabeth said nervously. "Anyway, I'll be off now."

"All right, can't wait to see what will be your first issue for this year," Vivian said while Elizabeth left the room.

.-.-.-.-.-

When Elizabeth got to the area where the library was and where their new room was also located, she saw Nicole May. From where she was standing, she could hear her having a conversation over the phone. She quickly tried to go unnoticed and listened to what Nicole May was saying.

"Yeah, I'll also need some furniture for this room… I think it's best if you take a look at this room for yourself and decide for me what's best to buy," Nicole May said while she started tapping her feet on the ground. Then, she paused for a while. "Yeah, you can come to our school tomorrow. We'll just let the principal know… maybe you can have one of the engineers inspect the circuitry of the room also, the lights aren't working and I want that room to have an AC anyway."

'Just what is she trying to hide from us?' Elizabeth thought to herself while she tried to keep more distance from Nicole May before she could be spotted eavesdropping at her. 'I mean, just from that conversation alone, I can tell this girl is from a rich family… Anyway, I should get going and find Avegaille and Naz first.'

Elizabeth quickly took another route and tried avoiding being noticed by Nicole May. She quickly got to the other side and left the area.

"Haa, what are you talking about? I don't care if my Mom and Dad finds out about this, I just want it done. Anyway, I'll pay the rest on my next allowance, I'll use my credit card for the rest of the fees for the meantime… I can't believe I can't use all of my savings," Nicole May grumbled and she sighed while still talking over the phone. "Whatever, you think you guys can finish it within a day or so? Yeah, as expected… all right, I'll see you tomorrow."

Nicole May pressed a button on her phone after the conversation ended and sighed exasperatedly. Then, her phone began ringing and she looked at who it was. It was her father, as what was indicated on the screen. Nicole May sighed loudly and with exasperation while she answered the phone.

‘Young lady, what's going on? You're spending quite a lot of money today, that's not like you,' Mr. Rustford said worriedly over the phone.

"Dad, don't worry, this won't happen again, I was just buying some things for the school paper… I got somewhat involved and I'm now a member," Nicole May said and groaned. "Why do you guys make such a big deal out of it anyway? Other rich girls spend their money on shit they don't even need and their parents don't complain."

'Well, you should have at least told me first about what you're about to do before you start taking actions so that I wouldn't be so shocked about your spending spree,' Mr. Rustford said. 'Anyway, it's not like I'm not allowing you. To think you'd be actually doing extra-curricular activities, you really are growing up. Well anyway, have fun with the school paper, and I'll pay whatever amount that was charged on your credit card.'

"Thanks Dad," Nicole May said softly and smiled. "Oh yeah, you said you were coming home for the weekend, right?"

‘Yeah, don't worry, after I settle some things with my business partners here in New York, I'll come by there, but you know I really can't stay there all the time, my workplace is too far from our home,' Mr. Rustford said and started laughing. 'Well, your Dad has to go, talk to you some other time.'

"Bye Dad," Nicole May said and both of them hung up. Then, she quickly sat by one of the steps of the stairs and sighed with relief while she placed her phone inside her pocket. "Maybe I should talk to Mom later… I don't think she'd be upset with me for that long…"

.-.-.-.-.-

Elizabeth just got to the entrance of the cafeteria room. Meanwhile, Avegaille and Naz just got out and both of them saw Elizabeth standing in front of them. Elizabeth seemed a bit tired from all the searching. Avegaille handed over Elizabeth a sandwich, knowing she hadn't taken her lunch yet.

"Thanks Avegaille," Elizabeth said while she held the sandwich in her hands. "Anyway, I have something to tell you guys… apparently Nicole May's actually buying the things we need for the room."

"Huh, she sure has quite a lot of money to pull that off," Naz said as she placed her hands on her hips. "Is she perhaps, a daughter of a rich family?"

"I don't know why you guys are making it such a big deal, I don't really see it as a surprise… what surprises me is why she's studying in a public school," Avegaille muttered and groaned. "Sure, I got in Midway Academy, but that school's an all-girls boarding school. It's easy to get in but you'll need a lot of money to pay for that school… I only got a scholarship for that place even though my grades are horrible."

"What kind of a scholarship was that?" Elizabeth asked. "Does it even exist? Besides, you're exaggerating about your grades. I know you had decent grades when we were still in elementary up to fourth grade, you never got an 'F' but you don't get 'A's' either."

"It's probably because of my Mom’s outstanding achievements in terms of teaching, or that she has quite a lot of contacts in the teaching industry," Avegaille replied while she closed her eyes. "Anyway, I'm getting sleepy… I'll be in the library if anyone needs me…"

"Huh, well, I'll wait for Lizzie to finish her lunch and we'll follow you," Naz said and Avegaille left.

.-.-.-.-.-

As Avegaille continued walking to the library, she was getting sleepier. Then, she noticed that Nicole May was approaching her. Avegaille was too tired to greet her and tried to come closer to Nicole May. Then, Avegaille suddenly hugged Nicole May and she fell asleep. Nicole May was quite surprised that she couldn't keep her balance and both of them fell on the floor.

"Avegaille! Whaaat… what are you doing?!" Nicole May exclaimed surprisingly while she tried to sit up from the ground and her face started turning red. She noticed that Avegaille was already sleeping on her chest and she couldn't do a thing. She tried shaking Avegaille's shoulders but that didn't even wake her up. "I know she's a sleepyhead, but… to be able to not wake up easily from that is something else. But this… this is embarrassing… she should sleep somewhere else… I suppose the clinic is not too far from here."

Nicole May tried carrying Avegaille up and to at least get her to stop hugging her. Even though Avegaille was asleep, her body was flexible enough for some movement. Nicole May tried making Avegaille at least sit up on the floor with her but she was too heavy for her to carry. It would be better if she had some help carrying Avegaille to the clinic, but no one else was around. Then, she noticed from afar that Elizabeth and Naz were approaching them and seemed confused about the situation.

"Yo, what's going on here?" Naz asked while she sat down on the floor with Nicole May.

"Apparently, Avegaille fell asleep while walking and… right onto my chest even," Nicole May muttered exasperatedly and her face started becoming red again. "To make things worse… she… she won't wake up."

"Huh, you all right, your face is quite red…" Naz pointed out and chuckled.

"Sh-shut up!" Nicole May exclaimed as she quickly turned away from Naz. "It's none of your business… I'm… I'm fine…"

"Well, anyway, we should get Avegaille to the clinic at least so she can sleep there," Elizabeth said and sighed. "Happens quite a lot when we were still in elementary, so this isn't the first time it happened. Though, it doesn't happen everyday, at least it was a good thing. Avegaille did have difficulty catching up with her afternoon classes because of her condition."

"That probably explains why there are days where she's not present in her afternoon classes while we were still at Midway…" Nicole May said while she tried to remember the times Avegaille was absent from class. "I thought she was skipping classes on purpose. The teachers even asked me to give out the lessons Avegaille missed on those days she was absent…"

"Nah, I think your teachers there were informed about her condition, knowing Mrs. Stewart, but anyway… Naz, help me out, I think the three of us can carry Avegaille to the clinic," Elizabeth said while she crouched down and took one of Avegaille's arm and placed it over her shoulder. Then, Naz quickly stood up and tried to carry the rest of Avegaille's body.

"Don't worry, we can handle this, and I don't think we have classes, so you should go back and watch over the booth," Naz said to Nicole May and the two of them started carrying Avegaille to the clinic while Nicole May stood up and watched them leave.

.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Argh, what is wrong with me today?!" Nicole May asked herself and grunted while she banged her head on the desk. Some students passing by seemed to have noticed her strange behavior but tried ignoring it and just walked away. She tried recalling the things that happened earlier. "I don't even want to know anymore… this is just so annoying… I'm supposed to hate her, but it's… it's like it's going the other way around…"

Nicole May was watching over the booth at the function room of the school. The fair was a whole day activity, but no other student had been signing up for the school newspaper, it was still only the four of them so far. Now, Nicole May had some new concerns, particularly, herself. Then, as Nicole May lifted up her head, she saw that Elizabeth and Naz were both standing in front of her.

"How long have you guys been there?" Nicole May asked while she looked at them groggily.

"Not too long, anyway, you should tell us exactly what you were doing… in terms of getting the stuff we need for the room," Naz teased while she looked at Nicole May mischievously.

"Ha? Why should I tell you guys? If you really want to know, I bought them…" Nicole May replied and stared at Naz exasperatedly. "What, are you guys going to ask where I got the money? It's my allowance… and my credit card."

"Whoa, you have a credit card?!" Naz exclaimed surprising while she quickly grabbed Nicole May's shoulder and stared at her ecstatically. "So, Elizabeth was right about you being rich!"

"You… you don't have to make such a big deal out of it you know," Nicole May muttered and sighed exasperatedly. Then, she looked at Elizabeth curiously. "Besides, only Avegaille knows about… my financial status… how did you know about it Elizabeth?"

"Ahaha, well, I apologize, but I heard you talking over the phone earlier, and I somewhat eavesdropped…" Elizabeth replied nervously as she sweat-dropped. "Anyway, I don't think most students care about you being a rich kid as long as you don't attract too much attention."

"Whatever, the people in charge will be coming tomorrow, so we should get the principal's permission so they could inspect the room," Nicole May said as she stood up from her seat and went out of the booth area. "I'm exhausted, so I'll be somewhere in the library if you need anything else."

"Heeh?" Naz pondered while she watched Nicole May leave. Then, she turned to Elizabeth and grinned. "Yo, Lizzie, I have this feeling…"

"What is it now Naz?" Elizabeth asked exasperatedly.

"Miss Nicole May here is… well, apparently, she has a little crush on… Avegaille," Naz said slowly and started chucking.

"Geh, you can't be serious…" Elizabeth muttered as she sweat-dropped. Then, she stared at Naz exasperatedly. "Avegaille… well, I know they both have the same gender, and… yeah, you know what, screw this! I don't even know what Avegaille has that makes both genders attracted to her."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Naz asked as she looked at Elizabeth curiously.

"Well, you haven't met him yet, but Phil also went to the same school as we did in elementary. Considering that he is the son of the best friend of Avegaille's mother and how they always go to their house, the guy also likes her, and that hasn't changed even up to now," Elizabeth explained as she folded her arms across her chest. "What are you planning to do now?"

"I love same gender relationships, so I'll do whatever it takes to get those two together," Naz replied and chuckled. "Who knows how that will turn out, but you know what they say, opposite personalities attract very well…"

"Seriously Naz, we're only twelve, and also Avegaille's naïve when it comes to these things, especially same gender relationships," Elizabeth protested and sighed. "Whatever, do what you want, I don't care anymore. Just make sure you do your part for the school newspaper."

"Yes, madam," Naz said in a somewhat teasing tone. Then, she grinned and ran off.

"Hey, that's not funny!" Elizabeth called out but Naz already disappeared from her sight.

.-.-.-.-.-

"So… annoying… must… not…" Nicole May muttered to herself while she furiously flipped through the pages of the encyclopedia in front of her. She was at the library, sitting by the desks at a corner where people couldn't find her easily, and the bookshelves make good dividers for her to be kept hidden. Then, she took out a bottle of medicine from her pocket and thought of whether to take it or not. It was the medication to calm her down whenever she got stressed too much or couldn't think straight anymore. "Argh! I don't know what to do!"

Nicole May slammed the medicine bottle on the table. Then, she took the opened encyclopedia and placed it over her head while leaning her chin on the desk, as if trying to use the encyclopedia to hide her head. Then, she sighed as she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself with the silence of the library. As she took off the encyclopedia off her head and opened her eyes, she noticed that someone was sitting on the desk, right beside her.

"Yo, hey, should I call you Nikki from now on?" Naz said while she took the medicine bottle that was on the desk. "Oh yeah, what is this for? Some sort of drug to make you high?"

"Shut up, that's not what those things are for!" Nicole May protested as she sat up and quickly snatched the bottle from Naz's grip. "Anyway, what do you want from me and you even made such an effort in finding me here?"

"Well, Nikki, let's just say, I know something about you… that will even shock you," Naz started while she placed her hand on the desk and started tapping her index finger on it.

"Wha… what are you talking about?" Nicole May asked as she looked at Naz confusingly, but felt nervous at the same time.

"Let's just say I have some sort of radar for lesbians… and it led me to you," Naz replied and looked at Nicole May mischievously. "Think about it, have you had any interest with any boy when you were still a kid?"

"Huh, why would I? I mean, the school I went to is like… an all-girls school," Nicole May replied as she folded her arms across her chest. "Fine, just assume that I'm a lesbian… why don't you just get to the point of this, would you?"

"All right, all right," Naz said as she got off the desk and stood next to Nicole May. "Even if you deny it, it's obvious that you… have a crush on Avegaille!"

Nicole May felt stiff while she slowly turned her head to Naz and her face started turning red, in which she quickly turned away from her. Naz noticed Nicole May's reaction to her statement and was all excited.

"I'm right, aren't I?" Naz asked and she started giggling.