Friends

Lisa came up to her with a forced serious face, maybe to show that she wasn't scared or to make an impression.

"Hello Leila"

She greeted curtly and made to sit beside her on the stone bench.

Leila didn't acknowledge her and focused on her meal, there was a tense silence between then before Lisa decided to break it.

"Are....you excited for the event? Everyone's talking about it, but I don't really see the big deal.

It's not like we'll be part of anything, it just means extra work for us..."

She said without turning to look at the person beside her, she secretly held her breath wondering if Leila would reply.

Then she heard a small voice as Leila replied

"Yeah, I don't really care".

Then Leila suddenly turned to look after Lisa.

"What are you doing here? And why are you suddenly speaking to me"

She asked with genuine curiosity because after all no one comes to speak with her Willingly.

Lisa let out a drawn out sigh while stretching her arms and legs out in an unladylike manner before slumping her back and shoulders and fidgeting with her hands.

"Well I wanted to apologise for being rude and starting trouble with you, you're right.....

I was just curious and thought you were different...

Well, obviously..."

She laughed nervously and then continued.

"So.... I just wanted to say I'm sorry and get to know you more, and maybe become your friend, I noticed you don't have any.

And I don't really like anyone here, they will switch on you at any moment to go to higher ranks and they're just so hypocritical "

She said the last sentence with a solemn and distant look in her eyes.

But then she turned and smiled at Leila who had just been watching her silently.

She raised a brow, a little amused by Lisa's words.

"I'm not a good friend either, I can tell you're a good person Lisa, but I think I'm too detached to be your friend or get to know you.

I just want to live peacefully, that's all".

She rejected her curtly with those words, but it seemed like Lisa was expecthing that because she burst out laughing.

Leila was a little startled and confused, she arched an eyebrow "what's so funny".

Lisa still cackling with one hand on her belly held up a finger signalling her to hold on.

After a minute she calm down and let out a breath..

"I'm sorry, it's just that I expected these exact words, and then I wondered for a second, what if I had the power to predict the future and then it was so so funny to me.

I know I'm weird but..."

She continued chattering animatedly while Leila looked at her with her perfectly shaped brows still arched and amusement dancing in her eyes....

"...then she ran away because I picked up the worm, it was hilarious...."

She trailed and then realised she had been talking non stop, she quickly slapped her two fair hands to her mouth and held it like that would keep her from spilling any more.

Leila suddenly let out a small chuckle, which surprised even herself, she was clearly amused... "You're quite funny"

She ended her words there and continued her meal.

Lisa slowly and shyly brought down her hands to her laps demurely like she wasn't just animatedly talking about her life adventures a minute ago.

"Well, I'm not giving up, you might be cold and ugly and weird but at least you're not fake so I'll see you later then".

With that she quickly stood up and dashed away, her dress fluttering with the mild wind.

Leila was picking at her food having most her appetite, she kept recounting her encounter with Lisa and her words.

Then she thought

'at least you're also real'

It wouldn't hurt to get one ally in this caml of enemies and frenemies.

Under the bright sunlight, Leila lifted her beautiful eyes to watch a man jogging towards her with a small smile playing at his lips.

He landed a little and relayed his message without delay.

"Hi, there you are.

Mister John is calling for you, he's at the back entrance to the stairs of the upper floors".

Leila looked at him and nodded.

"Okay, thank you Jared".

He replied with a smile

"You're welcome, well I have to go.

See ya"

He waved and left, she also picked up her plate and went to the kitchen to drop it off.

As soon as she entered, all the excited chatters and whispers mellowed down, and silence followed by stares and glares were directed at her.

Of course she didn't care, she cleared her plate and immediately she finished she left them to their spites .

***

Mister John waited with his hands folded and expression stern. His tall and slim statue exuded a grace honed from years of leadership, he commanded respect and imbued fear, but to only the servants.

His expression was one of impatience as he brought his pocket watch out and stared down at the intricate golden item.

Finally Leila appeared in measures steps with her brown dress made specially for the lower maids on her, her lithe statue one of grace even as she was called ugly.

He fixed his stern look at her and beckoned her to come quickly and she complied by increasing her steps to meet him.

"Go to the backroom and tell the seamstress to provide a green servant gown for you, you will serve at the upper floors today".

He said and left no room for argument.