Clara woke up with the worse hangover of her life and she hadn't even had a sip of alcohol. Her body ached and burned and nausae washed over her body like waves in the ocean. Daylight was still burning brightly but she felt like she had slept for at least 12 hours.
She took out her phone that was still in the pocket of her jean jacket. "Hm... 7:03. Well I didn't sleep long at all then… strange." On the lock screen the phone showed 14 new notifications, all from Emily. "Jesus Emily." She noticed the first one was from 14 hours ago asking if Clara was still on her date. "What... 14 hours ago? But it's only… oh shit it's not seven PM, it's seven in the morning! I DID sleep 12 hours!"
"Hey Em! Sorry I missed all of your calls and texts... and snaps, and dms... and basically every social messaging outlet imaginable!" she nervously chuckled, "I hope I didn't worry you." Clara peeled out of the boots that she slept in all night as she held the phone in place using her shoulder. "Well, I was a little", Emily answered "but I called Mike from the apartment below you, you know the hottie with the body that always flirts whenever I come by? He said he seen you come in. He is also taking me out this weekend. Anyway, where are you I need details about your date! Are you on your way to school yet?"
There was no way Clara was going to tell her about her grand theft larceny that she helped commit.
"It sucked, he left me at the musuem" was all she mustered up to say. "And I think I caught the flu; I woke up feeling awful."
Clara didn't like lying but telling her friend that her date stole an artifact that is now causing her upper extremities to buzz with an electrical current and making her feel like she's going to throw up if she so much as lifts her head up, was definitely out of the question. Feeling like death or not, Clara had to try to make it to Mr. Floz's class to see Cyra and confront him. If he even showed. He probably skipped town if he knows what's good for him.
"I'll try to shower and see if I can make it for my last class at least. Don't wait for me for aerobics though ok? That's way too much strain and too far away from any bathrooms should I need to puke my brains out!" she fake laughed but was all too serious.
"Aw poor Clair-bear, I'll miss you! Feel better! And screw that dumb boy too! Guys can be such jerks and you don't need someone like him. The important part is you put yourself out there and one day you will find your perfect soulmate! See you soon."
After showering and puking a few times, Clara felt much better. She skipped the jog and opted to walk to school as an alternative exercise. The university wasn't close but the fresh air made her feel refreshed.
She arrived at school 15 minutes before her coding class started and sat on top of the desk closest to the door and drummed her fingers on it anxiously, her foot tapping involuntarily.
When the class was almost full and the owner of the desk she was perched on akwardly asked for it back, Clara decided to make her way to her seat. As she hopped down she took one last glance at the door and seen his raven black hair.
She rushed to the door and before Cyra could even cross the threshold she pushed him outside, grabbing both his upper arms and swung him around so his back was pinned against the building and Clara was staring him straight in the eyes. He looked both suprised and amused.
"I can't believe you would show your face after last night! I have every right to go to the police and tell them what you did!"
Cyra looked around discretely and gently pulled Clara to the far side of the building where there was nothing but grass and shrubbery and it was out of sight of any onlookers.
"Love, showing my face here was entirely up to you. If you were going to go to the police, you would have done so by now. I was ready and prepared to skip town if you so chose to do that but it looks like you didn't want to see me go just yet" he smirked and gave Clara a wink.
"First of all, I might have been smitten by you when I first seen you but trust me when I say I have no interest in ever seeing you again and second, I can still turn you in!" Clara warned.
Cyra leaned closer and put a hand on Clara's cheek softly. "But what if I'm the one interested in you now." It wasn't a question… and he was no longer smiling.
"I don't believe you a single bit, you're just a charmer. You're just trying to butter me up so I keep your secret. You're using me like you used that museum employee. I'm not stupid and I am not falling for the act." Clara used her finger to push his forehead away and turned to walk away from him. She stopped for a second. "Give the moon gem back or I'm telling the police everything", she said without turning around.
Cyra pondered for a moment before speaking. "I'm getting rid of it tonight. I have a buyer meeting me in a few hours. It will never get back to you and if I get caught with it I will tell them that you had nothing to do with it."
"Why would they believe you? They will assume that you are just covering for me! That wouldn't work" Clara barked. She wasn't sure why she said that, she was not going to agree to pretend it never happened even if she would never get caught, it's the principle.
"You're asking the wrong question, Princess. It's not whether the police will believe me or not, it's the fact that you are a perfect student, no police record and no motive. Why wouldn't they believe YOU?"
Reality sunk in for Clara and her face went pale.
"You really thought this through didn't you." Clara said dryly. She couldn't believe what was happening. She could kick herself for falling for those dazzling onyx eyes, even if it was just a small, momentary lapse in character.
She started to feel nauseous. The stress of the conversation was making her hands start to buzz again and she remembered.
"Do you feel… weird?" She grimaced on the last syllable.
"I think you are referring to your conscience and no, I do not have one of those so I don't feel anything."
"Not that! The buzzing! Do you feel the buzzing!?" She fussed.
"The only buzzing I feel is the buzz of chemistry between us my sweet Princess" Crya lifted Clara's hand to kiss it but she snatched it away.
"Stop that! Ever since I touched the moon gem my hands feel tingly and don't even get me started with the nausea" she turned green just thinking about it. "I think I got some sort of mineral poisoning or something." She looked at the front and back of her seemingly ordinary hands.
"Like I said, that's your conscience. It sounds to me like you have anxiety over this whole experience, my poor little dove. You should go home and rest and not think of this further." He ushered her along the side of the building towards the parking lot.
"But I.." Clara started but was cut off.
"No no, I insist. Just leave everything to me. By tomorrow you will have all but forgotten everything and we can go back to our normal college life.
That sounded so perfect to Clara. She knew Cyra was trying to get rid of her but she longed for the mundane school work and yearned for when the only worry of hers was what to wear to school the following day. Being a fugitive was starting to wear her out and she felt like she would pass out at any second.
She didn't argue back, she allowed Cyra to lead her to the open corridor. He gently kissed her cheek and shoved her off into the open parking lot. She was too sick to slug him for the kiss but she decided to save that for another time. She managed a weak smile at the thought.
"Crap." She whined, staring at the rows of cars aligning the lanes. "I really wish I would have brought my car."