Academic Passings

"Stella I appreciate the offer but I would rather do this on my own. Do you understand?"

"Yes Mallory!" said Stella as she gave a small half bow.

With a sigh Mallory grabbed the rest of her things before motioning to the door. With a smile Stella gathered her personal effects before following Mallory's lead. As they made their way down into the parking lot Stella stopped Mallory before pointing out a black futuristic looking executive sedan.

"Mallory do you wanna drive or should I?"

Every inch of Mallory wanted to take this opportunity but that car was probably worth more than her.

"It's fine you should drive."

"If you insist but Mallory I'm just so tired. I much rather take a nap. Furthermore it would be safer for both if you drove."

"I mean it is safer. Plus the academy is only like a ten minute drive."

"Alright it is settled then!?

With that the pair got settled in for a rather quick but smooth ride. The regret was scribbled all over Stella's face as Mallory weaved her way through the empty streets to the academy. Luckily no police roamed the streets that morning because Stella swore Mallory probably would have gotten a speeding ticket.

"Hey Stella you okay?" said Mallory waving her hand in front of Stella's face.

"I am fine. I just needed to recover."

"Ah sorry! Got a little carried away. It handles really smoothly though if that helps."

"Thanks. Draseric Industries at it's finest. Anyways don't worry about it. So what is your first class?"

"I think I have bio stats."

"Okay to the science building?"

"Do you have a class there this morning?"

"Nope. I have Japanese."

"Wait! The language building is in the opposite direction."

"It's fine. It is still early and I thought it would be fun to walk you to class."

"I can walk you to your class instead if you want?"

"Is little Lory afraid I will meet some of her friends." replied Stella with a smirk.

"Wait hold on, what did you just call me?"

"Hmmm what did I just call you."

"At this rate I might start charging you more for my time."

"Lory, don't be like that. Plus if it means more quality time with you then that's fine by me." said Stella before breaking into a soft giggle fit.

"You did it again!"

"Did what?"

"Oh you know exactly what you are doing. How did you even know about that? Only one person calls me that."

"Exactly! That little conversation with my beloved little sister Valerie offered a lot of yummy tidbits."

"Wait huh! What are you two conspiring?"

"Nothing to worry your absolutely adorable mind with."

"Stella, our arrangement is between us. Leave my sister out of this."

"Sometimes you speak as if I am forcing something on you."

Mallory just squinted a tad bit harder at Stella in response. With arms crossed and a tapping foot Mallory waited for Stella to choose her next words carefully.

"Okay I promise to keep your sister out of the spotlight. Furthermore I will not force anything on her."

"That sounds fine but for some reason I have a sneaking feeling I shouldn't trust you Stella."

"Have I ever lied to you Lory?"

"No but that is what makes you even more untrustworthy. Either you have lied to me so well I haven't noticed or you are so amazing at weaving your words together to stimulate a certain perspective."

"Come on Mallory I am not that amazing."

"Yes you are."

Despite Mallory blurting out that response she was the one with the brighter spot of red creeping on her cheeks. As Stella looked away from Mallory she couldn't help but smile as she intertwined her fingers with Mallory's to hopefully buy a moment to recover.

Mallory just followed her companion's lead as they made their way over to the science building before taking a seat among the small garden in front of it. The pair had caught the glaces of a few strolling students but none would dare stare for too long.

The awkward silence hung in the air as Mallory counted the seconds until her class while Stella couldn't help but suppress her inner feelings. Stella's heart was beating like a schoolgirl after her senpai noticed her efforts.

Eventually Mallory's alarm went off and with a small exchange of nods she rushed off into the science building for her first class. With time Mallory eventually forgot the trauma of the morning and slowly returned to her normal routine.'

By the end of her classes it was about six in the afternoon. With a small yawn she walked out of the science building only to notice the waiting Stella in the same spot she was this morning. Part of Mallory wanted to keep her head down and sneak off before she was noticed but Stella never offered the chance.

With a defeated sigh Mallory headed over to the clutches of the waving Stella. However before she could take a seat Stella wrapped her arms around Mallory's. The sudden amount of physical contact and affection immediately overwhelmed Mallory as she froze awkwardly in the embrace.

"Hey Mallory I hope you haven't forgotten our plans for today?" whispered Stella.

"Right the cafe. Um I am a bit tired, maybe another day?"

"Now isn't the time for cold feet. Come on, I've been waiting for hours."

Stella's face immediately mustered the most endearing puppy dog eyes the world has ever seen which caused the ice around Mallory's heart to immediately melt. Like a puppet Mallory feel in line with Stella's plan as they strolled towards the parking lot of the academy.