That day, the high school hosted an open house.
Clubs, activities, stands… and students from other establishments were present.
Miria's class participated in a workshop that you can imagine as a creative presentation stand: decoration, posters, activities.
While they were putting away equipment, three boys from another school walked by.
The first nudged his friend.
— Hey… isn't she the girl from the pool?
"Yes," replied the second. It's her.
The third said:
—Hey! The girl with purple eyes!
Miria stiffened. Damn…them again.
Marlie intervened immediately.
—What do you three want?
—Yeah, leave her alone! added a boy from the class.
"We're not talking to you, so mind your own business," retorted the first. It's between us...and her boyfriend.
At that moment, Ray stepped forward.
- I am here.
The three boys looked him up and down.
—And who are you? sneered one.
— Her boyfriend.
A silence… then a general burst of laughter.
— No, but really? launched the second.
We're talking about her real boyfriend.
"It's me," Ray insisted.
The third shook his head.
— No... I remember that her boyfriend had broader shoulders than yours... long, black, slicked back hair... and black eyes. The opposite of you, that is.
Ray was speechless. The others too.
- SO ? Where is he? asked the first.
Miria stepped forward, annoyed.
— He's not there.
But he gave me lessons to… teach you a few things. I can apply them right away, if you want.
She rolled up her sleeves.
The three boys gulped...
Then they ran like rabbits.
The class burst into laughter.
A little later, Ray came back to Miria and grabbed her arm.
— Who were they talking about?
This boy... who is he?
"That's none of your business," Miria replied, withdrawing her arm.
— Of course it is! We're together, Miria! We shouldn't have secrets from each other!
She stared at him for a long time.
- You ? Maybe you're not hiding anything from me?
Ray remained silent.
—That's exactly what I thought.
Don't expect me to be sincere when you're not.
She walked away without looking back.
At the end of the day, Miria and Alix returned together, without knowing that a little further on... Ray watched them leave, motionless, his fists clenched.
Later still, in a park, Ray found his group:
Axel, Gale, Diana, Marlie… Isabella.
Ray took a breath.
— Do you know the two girls Miria walks with?
Marlie shook her head.
- Not really.
Diana added:
— She just told me that they were the children of a friend of her mother. And that they now live with them.
Ray ran a hand over his face, agitated.
— And about… the guy the three high school students were talking about?
"Miria didn't tell me anything," Diana replied.
Axel put his hand on her shoulder.
"You should calm down, Ray. This is surely a misunderstanding.
- No.
I don't believe in coincidence.
Gale frowned.
—What do you mean?
Ray took a deep breath.
— Yesterday... I called Miria.
And while we were talking... I heard a male voice right next to her. When I asked who it was... she told me she had to leave. And she hung up.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
"And today," Ray continued, "people are saying they saw her with another boy. A boy who would be her boyfriend.
Marlie bit her lip.
Then suddenly:
— What if... we told him about the secret?
Everyone turned to look at her, shocked.
- What ? Why are you looking at me like that? Marlie said.
I don't want to lose Miria's friendship!
Isabella crossed her arms.
—And how do you know that... when she finds out you're a werewolf... she'll still look at you kindly?
"But…did she give us a single reason to believe she would betray us?" replied Marlie.
Isabella remained silent.
Gale huffed.
- It's true. But... despite that... it's risky.
—But—
Axel's hand rested on Marlie's shoulder.
He stared at her, silent, as if to calm her down.
Marlie swallowed the rest of her sentence, disappointed.