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“She’s corrupted you, you know?” Pollux says.
Clarissa’s head snaps around to look at the dog’s head balanced precariously upon the body of a goat. They sit on the teacher’s balcony eating lunch. Clarissa was previously watching the students below her.
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Pollux,” Clarissa replies, delicately taking a sip out of her teacup. There is a slight shake to her hand.
“You do,” the Princess Etiquette teacher fires back. “Number one rule of Princess Etiquette dear: princesses do not date other princesses.”
“Lady Lesso is not a princess.” Clarissa places her teacup down with more force than necessary. She is so tired of people poking their heads into her and Lesso’s business, especially as they never have anything nice to stay. Clarissa strongly believes that if you have nothing nice to say, you should say nothing at all.
“No, even worse, she’s a witch,” Pollux counters drily. “She is Evil and she has corrupted you.”
“Pollux, I do hope that I do not offend you in any way, but I care very little for your opinion on my relationship. I love her and she loves me, that’s all that matters.” Clarissa stands from her chair, having had enough of listening to this same talk she gets all the time. “Have a good afternoon.” She plasters a fake smile on her face and leaves the balcony.
She takes a stroll through the clearing and watches Evers and Nevers alike eat their lunches. The Nevers give her weird looks and some seem to almost respect her more now. She notices one Nevergirl that Lesso had mentioned before as being a promising witch that gives her a nod of respect. How odd.
The Evers are a different story all together.
“I heard that she put a love spell on her,” one Ever whispers.
“I heard that she killed a male suitor to get her,” another one says.
“Well, I heard that she is using her to try and get Evil to win for once.”
“Why would that work?”
“Because she is distracting her.”
“Ah.”
Clarissa Dovey stands by this circle of conspirators and waits for one to look up and notice her. They are crowded together in a highly suspicious way yet they are still loud enough for everyone to hear.
Eventually, a wide eyed girl looks up and blanches when she sees the Good Dean watching her. “Professor Dovey, I—” she stammers.
“Save it,” Clarissa says, putting her hand up to silence her. The others in the group are looking now. “And you call yourselves Good?” She shakes her head. “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
“Professor—” one boy starts but Clarissa has had enough of it and is already walking away.
The girl that previously nodded at Clarissa must have overheard what happened because, before the group knew it, she had made her way over there and put a knife to one of the boy’s throats. “Insult Lesso or her girlfriend again and I will cut it,” she hisses before pushing him over and storming back to the other side of the clearing.
Clarissa spots Lady Lesso on the other side of the clearing and makes a beeline for her, unaware of all the students watching her. The Dean of Evil is talking with Castor, who is shouting very loudly about something to do with someone in his class he clearly doesn’t like, and Lady Lesso looks as though she is in dire need of rescuing.
“Lesso,” Clarissa says as she gets near enough, “how are you?”
Lady Lesso smiles at her in thanks, clearly extremely tired of the conversation with the Henchmen Training teacher. Clarissa notes to herself that she knows the feeling as the only reason she is down here is to get away from Pollux - Castor’s other head.
“Forgive me, Castor,” Lady Lesso says, almost politely. “I said I would discuss with Clarissa this lunch.”
“YEAH WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOUR ‘DISCUSSING’ INVOLVES! YOU TWO HAVE FUN!” Castor hollers at them as they walk away.
“At least he seems supportive,” Clarissa comments with a light chuckle.
Lady Lesso lets out an undignified snort. “Something like that. His mind is just in the gutter. He’s like a puppy! He will try and hump anything!”
“Lesso!” Clarissa exclaims, lightly hitting her on the arm.
Two Ever students gawk at them as they walk past.
“Problem?” Lady Lesso snaps, causing them to immediately return to their conversation about new hairstyles.
Clarissa shakes her head. “You would think the Good would be more accepting.”
“The Good can barely deal with same-sex relationships,” Lady Lesso says gently, aware that Clarissa is struggling with the way people are reacting. “Not only is their own dean in a same-sex relationship but she is in one with a Never.”
Clarissa shakes her head again, disappointment welling in her eyes. “The Good should accept all love,” she protests, her voice cracking. “Isn’t that what we are supposed to believe in? True love?”
“You really think I’m your true love?” Lady Lesso asks, shocked by this revelation. She knows that she will never love another like Clarissa but she has always been unsure that the Ever could ever really love her the same. There are so many people out there that deserve Clarissa more than her.
“Of course I do, silly,” Clarissa reassures her. “I love you and I know I love you in the same way that I know I need to breathe.” She takes her hand in hers as they continue to walk. “You are everything to me, my love.”
“I love you so much,” Lady Lesso whispers back, afraid someone may hear. She has been taught that love is weakness and her worst fear would be someone using Clarissa to harm her. But she supposes that everyone does know now.
Before anything else can be said between the two, a muffin hits the side of Lady Lesso’s face.
“Leave our dean alone you witch!” an Everyboy shouts.
Clarissa doesn’t even bother to find out who. She now accepts that others will not accept her as easily and she understands that there are more important things in the world.
So, instead, she tenderly cleans the side of Lady Lesso’s face with her handkerchief. Lady Lesso smiles at her, violet eyes conveying the silent message that Clarissa should not worry.
And then, with everyone now watching, she leans in and takes Lady Lesso’s face in her hands. She looks into her eyes, looking for consent to make this bold move. Lady Lesso nods, a smile on her face, and their lips touch.