"By the way, you seem to be doing a lot better in math." Beatrix suddenly said.
"It's all thanks to my hardworking teacher." River joked.
Despite herself, Beatrix laughed. Instantly, the atmosphere lightened and conversation flowed again. It was easy to get along with him; it felt harmless, like just a few moments of light conversation couldn't hurt.
It was a sudden feeling; to not care, for just a moment.
For just a moment, she let herself relax. Everything else fell to the back of her mind. She could worry about her task, what she had to do, later. Right now, this felt okay.
-
After they had finished studying, Beatrix left the room, unaware of a small smile on her lips.
Clara was leaning against the nearby wall, she had obviously been listening in.
"So… it looks like you two have been getting along." She had a sly look in her eyes.
"I don't know… I guess."
But after a moment, Beatrix paused. This was the moment she'd been waiting for. She needed Charlotte's parent to think River and her were on good terms. Then they'll stop forcing them to get along. She noticed a bit of resistance in her heart, but she pushed it away. She couldn't keep going like this.
"I mean, yeah, we have. It's been nice to spend some time together. I think we're friends now."
"Friends? Or more than friends?"
Oh, she thought… Beatrix froze.
"Friends. Just friends."
"Hmm, okay. Well, keep at it then!" Clara left with an impish smile.
Beatrix's heart sank. That backfired.
She didn't realize it, but the door had opened behind her. She turned around and was met with River, who had a small smirk on his face. He must've heard the whole conversation. And Clara just watched.
"Friends?" River said, joking. She wasn't sure if she imagined it, but he seemed a bit happy.
She decided it was best not to reply to that. She was aware she was in a bit too deep now to deny it, but that didn't change her situation.
Except it did. But she tried not to think about that.
-
She didn't exactly lie to Clara, River and her were developing a strange sort of friendship.
She chose not to admit it, however.
But Beatrix's actions betrayed her thoughts.
In the coming time, she and River spent a lot of time together, which Beatrix conveniently blamed on their upcoming finals.
It just so happened that they studied well together.
Every study period, she could feel herself loosening up. She was relaxing around him, laughing around him. Oftentimes, she forgot, or stopped caring, that he had bad intentions towards her. It was so simple to fall into his warmth, his friendship.
A sort of camaraderie was forming as they got along. There was a naturalness to their relationship that didn't exist before.
She felt no trace of fear or awkwardness. Any distance she held between them faded, and she could tell it made River happy.
And though she shouldn't, she kept talking to him. She didn't want to hate him or alienate him.
She knew her attitude would probably cause problems with her task. But right now, that was okay. She would figure it out.
She just didn't want to kill him.
"Are you coming?" River waved her on, smiling.
Beatrix hurried through the school hallways towards River and his friends.
"I'm here, I'm here. Did Lucy tell you what she packed?"
"Nah, it's always a fun surprise." River joked.
"Maybe she just doesn't like you. She always packs me good food."
"Maybe." River frowned. Lucy had packed him a lot of ham sandwiches lately.
"I'm joking." Beatrix said exasperatedly as she jabbed him with her elbow.
They both laughed and kept walking.
River's friends exchanged glances behind the pair, equal parts worried and happy for River. They were worried their friend would get hurt, but it was nice to see him enjoying himself so much.
"Do you have a lot of homework tonight?" River asked Beatrix, unaware of his friend's thoughts.
"Lots. Should be a long afternoon of studying."
"Yikes. Well, I'm more than happy to join you. I also have quite the pile of homework."
"Sounds good." Beatrix smiled at him, enjoying the simple moment.
It was willing ignorance that kept Beatrix going right now, but she couldn't escape the restless feeling in her chest.
-
She looked forward to their study periods now.
It was comfortable to get along with River once they had gotten to know each other.
It was as if this was how it was supposed to be.
River sat at his desk, absorbed in his study material. They were sitting much closer now, compared to when they first started studying. They weren't touching exactly, but there was a subtle comfortableness that meant they didn't care how close they were to each other.
She wasn't sure exactly when their attitude towards each other changed, but they had so many study periods with each other that it seemed like a natural process.
"Charlotte." River's voice broke her daze.
"Huh, what?" She shook off her thoughts.
"Did you hear me?" He had probably asked her a question about his homework.
"I'm sorry, I zoned out." Beatrix adopted an apologetic expression.
"Don't worry about it." He said warmly, briefly putting a hand on hers.
Beatrix forze, unsure of how to react. That took her by surprise. They may be closer now, but both of them have been very careful with physical boundaries.
He probably didn't mean anything by it.
Except he did, because his whole goal was to seduce her and steal her money. Beatrix didn't like to remember the book's plot. Every time she did, she was instantly disillusioned and remembered he was faking everything.
She just wanted to pretend everything was normal.
"By the way, Charlotte, I really like your dress today. It's a beautiful color on you." River said, as if in passing.
It was so easy to pretend like everything was normal with him.
"Thanks."
But things weren't, and Beatrix knew that.