Corianne Meets the Whemblings 1.3

The next installment....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This morning had been particularly hectic and demotivating, as it was the morning of her graduation party. She had been up since dawn making preparations and slowly checking off tasks from the list her mother had left her. Now she finally had a moment to ready herself.

Her mother had forbidden any costumery, or other such outfits, so a simply tunic with leggings had to suffice. She heard the doorbell ringing, signifying that it was time for her to descend into the hall and welcome guests.

She swung open the door, drawing forth from her deep within all powers of cheesy smiles and silly greetings.

“Hey graduate!” It was Celeste.

“Thank goodness you’ve arrived! I hardly knew what to do without you Celeste,” Corianne replied.

Celeste bowed deeply,

“At your service milady. I am here to diffuse the awkward that continuously seems to surround you.”

For the next half hour the girls welcomed guests at the front door Not only had all the members of St. Athanasius been prevailed upon to attend, but also a fair amount of those from St. Dymphna’s, including the Herlton family.

Corianne remembered Mrs. Herlton’s last comment and gazed intently at the floor as Celeste welcomed them in.

“Something interesting down there Miss De Arc?”

Corianne looked up to see Keith standing in front of her. She responded only with a dirty look.

He continued,

“Well hostess, do take me to the festivities.”

Corianne would have protested and was about to inform him that he could make his own damn way to the festivities, but her mother suddenly appeared on the scene.

“Corianne would certainly be willing to show you to the backyard.”

She grimaced, looked to Keith, and merely responded,

“This way please.”

When they reached the backyard, she determined to blow him off.

She situated him at a table and she was about to take leave of him, until he so rudely pulled her down and onto the chair situated adjacent to his.

“Wait, I have something to give you, you know, for graduation.”

“The infamous Keith Herlton has something to bestow upon me? What would his mother say?” Corianne sarcastically put, trying to hide both her confusion and that she was blushing a crimson red at the moment.

“What ones mother doesn’t know..” he began, “Might not hurt her. Wouldn’t hurt her anyway, as I see it.”

He dug into his cargo pants pocket and retrieved a small square package.

“Here, it’s not much, but I thought it suited you.”

He handed her the gift, and sat back in his seat, attentive to her opening of it.

She observed the gift for a moment, even going as far to listen intently for a tick-tick to ascertain as to whether or not it was an explosive. Finally she undid the ribbon and opened it.

She was astounded. It was jewelry. Keith Herlton had bought her jewelry. Not just any jewelry, beautiful and strangely her style of jewelry.

“Well, put it on!” he demanded.

She undid the clasp, and slipped the bracelet onto her list. It was a very rustic looking piece, and inscribed on it, next to a very ornate picture of St. Joan De Arc, were the words “Ex terra”.

She was so very taken aback that the only words that escaped her lips were, “Thank you Keith.”

He looked up, “Don’t thank me yet, Miss Flanders. Promise me one thing?”

“Yes?” she asked, dreading some terrible catch.

“You will never take it off?”

“I suppose- Yes, I will never take it off.” She replied, confused more than anything else.

Then, to her utter bewilderment he left her side at the table, and went to join his usual comrades on the other side of the yard. Any ideas she had as to his manner or method were utterly crushed. “If this be madness, yet there is NO method to it,” Corianne said to herself.