The Equinox Princess

Present day:

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Birds chirped merrily among the trees, while squirrels chased each other,

pausing occasionally to collect fallen nuts. A neighbour's dog barked at strangers strolling down the street, adding to the lively atmosphere. It was a picturesque morning, full of joy and beauty.

But the serenity was short-lived. Lady Levine entered her daughter's room, expecting to see her up and about. Instead, she found her still fast asleep, oblivious to the world outside. Lady Levine's expression turned stern, her eyes narrowing in concern.

Her voice pierced the air, "Good heavens, Clover, wake up! It's nearly seven, and you'll be late for college!" She strode over to the windows, drawing back the curtains to let the morning sunlight flood in, and threw open the windows to admit the crisp breeze.

Clover feigned sleep, pulling the comforter tightly around her and holding her breath. She waited for what felt like an eternity, then peeked out from beneath the covers, hoping to find her mother left the room. But to her dismay, her mother stood by the window, watching her with an astute gaze.

Her eyebrows were raised up, and her head shook slightly in disapproval. Her right foot

tapped impatiently on the carpeted floor, and her arms were folded across her chest, a picture of irritation and annoyance.

Clover abandoned her pretence of sleep and sat up, attempting to reason with her mother. "Mom, I don't feel like going to college today. It's Friday, and most tudents won't attend classes anyway, since there's a football match."

Lady Levine's expression remained resolute. "No, dear, you're going. And don't think for a moment that I'll let you become a shenanigan like some of your friends. You'll get dressed and be ready for your brother to drive you to school. He's downstairs having breakfast, and you don't want to keep him

waiting."

Clover opened her mouth to protest, but her mother cut her off with a stern warning. "Clo?" Her mother voice dropped to a low, clam tone, a subtle yet unmistakable signal that the discussion was over.

Defeated and sensing her mother's rising anger, Clover relented, offering a contrite apology. She hastily retreated to the bathroom for a quick shower. Thirty minutes later, she rushed downstairs, her hair still damp and her cheeks flushed from the rush.

In the kitchen, she found her brother Brandon lounging by the table, his breakfast plate already cleared. He was sipping on a glass of juice, his eyes fixed on his phone as he scrolled through his messages.

"Morning, bro," Clover said, giving her brother a peck on the cheek before helping herself to a stack of pancakes and a glass of juice. She sat down beside him, and he turned to her, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Morning, sis," Brandon replied, his tone casual, but his gaze piercing. "So, what's going on? You pretended to go to school and then skipped it for two days. Mom and dad don't know about it yet, but I'm guessing the Dean's already sent them a letter. Don't even think about lying to me, Clover. I know

you weren't sick. What's really going on?"

Clover's eyes darted away as she fabricated a plausible excuse. "Come on, Brandon, I was just catching up on my maths and science projects. I was behind schedule,and I spoke to Sir Davidson about it. He's been helping me get back on track," she said, her tone light and casual, but her gaze evading her brother's piercing eyes.

Brandon's hawk-like gaze narrowed, his eyes searching for the slightest flicker of deception. He knew his sister's tells all too well, and he could sense that she was hiding something. But he said nothing, his expression neutral, as he waited for her to dig herself deeper into her web of lies.

Brandon's eyes sparkled with knowing amusement as he leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "I'm not a fool, dear sister. I know exactly what's going on. You've got a boyfriend problem, and I'm guessing it's none other than Nicholas Wilson, the star football player. Am I right?" He raised an

eyebrow, daring her to deny it.

Clover's eyes widened in shock, but she couldn't muster up any real surprise. She had tried to keep her relationship with Nicholas a secret, knowing their

parents wouldn't approve. But Brandon has always had a knack for sniffing out secrets. She felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she struggled to come up with a response.

Clover shrugged, attempting to appear nonchalant as she stuffed the last piece of pancake into her mouth. "Dad will kill any boy who tried to get close to me.

I don't want to be responsible for a massacre," she said, her voice muffled by

the food.

Brandon raised an eyebrow, his expression sceptical. He wasn't buying her casual act, and he knew his sister was trying to deflect his attention. But he also knew that their father's overprotectiveness was a legitimate concern. Their dad had always been fiercely possessive of his daughter, and the thought of Clover dating was likely to send him into a frenzy.

"What did your boyfriend do to you, Clover?" he asked her.

Clover's eyes widened, and she nearly chocked on her pancake. She had been

trying to down play the situation, but Brandon's direct question caught her off

guard.

"N-nothing," she stuttered, trying to brush it off. But Brandon's piercing gaze told her that he wasn't buying it. "I'm serious, Nicholas didn't do anything!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "Ugh, why does this feel like an interrogation? Can't you just drop it?"

She glared at her brother, feeling a familiar frustration. Sometimes her brother was worse than their parents, always trying to control and manipulate her. It was as if he thought he was her guardian, not just her sibling. And their parents oblivious to Brandon's overbearing behaviour, were content to let him handle things, as long as he kept her out of trouble.

Clover's eyes widened in alarm as Brandon pushed his chair back and stood up. "You know what, fine. Since you don't want to tell me yourself, I'll just go and ask Nicholas about what's going on," he said his tone firm and unyielding.

Clover's face paled at the thought of her brother confronting Nicholas. She tried to protest, but Brandon didn't give her a chance. "Since you're done eating, let's go. We don't want to be late," he said, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and determination.

**********

Clover trailed behind her brother like a lost puppy, her feet carrying her mechanically to his car. The ride to college was oppressive, silence between the tick with unspoken tension. Brandon dropped her off near the entrance of the college building, his parting glance a stern reminder that he hadn't

forgotten about Nicholas. He drove off to park, leaving Clover standing alone.

For over a minute, she stood there, taking deep breaths to calm her racing thoughts. The prospect of facing her brother's wrath, combined with the usual chaos of college life, was overwhelming. Steeling herself, she pushed open the door and slipped inside.

The hallway was a sea of noise and colour, hundreds of student milling about, their laughter and chatter creating a deafening din. Clover felt her anxiety spike, and she instinctively pulled up her hoodie, using it as a shield to blend in with the crowd. She kept a low profile, avoiding eye contact with the mean girls and bullies who roamed the hallways. Her goal was to find her cousin

Mildred, who was likely already in the cafeteria, sipping on a coffee and waiting for her.

Clover spotted Mildred sitting at their usual table, tucked away in the far-left corner of the cafeteria's entrance. Mildred's boyfriend, Jason, was seated beside her, but their friend Diana and Thelma were noticeably absent. As Clover approached, Mildred sprang to her feet, enveloping her in a warm hug and planting kisses on both cheeks. It was a characteristically dramatic greeting, but Clover was used to her cousin's flair.

Mildred was Clover's cousin on her father's side, the twin sister of Bernard. Two years older than Clover, Mildred had always taken on a maternal role, looking out for her younger cousin with fierce devotion. Clover didn't mind; in fact, she cherished their close bond. Many people mistook them for twins,

given their inseparable nature. They were each other's confidantes, always ready to lend a listening ear or take the blame to protect each other.

As the girls hugged, Jason stood up giving them a discreet smile. He kissed Mildred goodbye, promising to catch up with her after school, before ambling off to join his friends.

Mildred handed Clover a steaming cup of cappuccino, a thoughtful gesture that

usually would have brightened Clover's day. "I took the liberty of ordering your favourite," Mildred said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "So, spill the beans! How did the anniversary surprise go? Any juicy stories to share?"

But Clover's face fell, her expression crumbling like fragile façade. "There's

nothing to tell," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them back, determined not to cry.

Mildred's confusion was palpable. "What do you mean nothing to tell? I thought you and Nicholas had planned to spend the day together, celebrating your one-year anniversary. We worked so hard on that surprise, skipping school for two days to get everything just right." Mildred's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "Clover, what's going on? You're not telling me something."

Clover's voice trembled with anger as she recounted the events of that fateful day.

"I waited for him at the cottage as per our agreement, but he never showed up. So, I decided to go look for him at his apartment. As I entered, I was greeted by clothes scattered all over the floor. I made my way to his bedroom, and that's when I heard the noises. I opened the door, and… and I found Nicholas with Lizbeth, that mean girl from college. They were…they were together, and

they didn't even notice me at first. When they have finally realised, I was standing there, Nicholas had the nerve to apologise, saying it was a mistake."

Clover's blazed with fury, her voice dripping with disdain. "A mistake? He was banging her from behind, Mildred! It was no mistake. He's just a cheater, and I'm so done with him."

She continued, her voice was laced with a mix of relief and bitterness. "And I'm glad I didn't…you know, give in to him that

day. It seems they've been carrying behind my back for who knows how long."

Her eyes narrowed, her mind reeling with the implications. "I feel so stupid for trusting him. I thought we had something real."

Mildred's voice was filled with indignation as she wrapped a comforting arm around Clover's shoulders. "You're not stupid, Clover. You're the kindest and cleverest person I know. No one can compare to your beauty, both inside and out. You're ethereal, and I'm not just saying that to cheer you up. It's the truth."

Her expression turned fierce. "Nicholas can take his apologies and shove them where the sun doesn't shine. He doesn't deserve you."

Mildred's eyes flashed with anger as she continued. "And as for Lizbeth, she's just a jealous manipulator. She's been seething with envy ever since Nicholas started paying attention to you. I wouldn't put it pass her to have seduced him, just to hurt you."

"I'm done wasting my emotions on Nicholas and Lizbeth. They can have each other," Clover said, a hint of detachment in her voice. "But now I have a bigger problem to deal with – my brother. He somehow found out about Nicholas and me, and he knows I skipped classes for two days to plan the surprise. I have no idea how to get him off my back. He's always been overbearing, but this time he's relentless. I swear, he's the real pain in the neck."

Mildred's expression softened as she gazed at Clover. "Despite his overbearing nature, Brandon cares deeply about you, Clover. You're lucky to have a brother like that. I wish Bernard was more like him, instead of constantly bickering with me," Mildred said with a chuckle, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she thought about her twin brother.

For a moment, her face glowed with affection, revealing the deep love she had for her brother, despite their daily squabbles. "But anyway, back to your problem. We need to come up with a plan to throw Brandon off your trail. I'm sure we can think of something."

Clover' face lit up with a smile as she leaned in, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's exactly why I brought it up, because I knew I could count on your genius-level planning skills. You're the mastermind, Mildred, and I'm just a mere mortal seeking your guidance." Clover's laughter was infectious, and Mildred couldn't help but grin at the compliment.

Their carefree conversation flowed effortlessly until the bell pierced the air,

signalling the start of classes and shattering their tranquil moment together. With the bell's insisted ring still echoing in their ears, Clover and Mildred reluctantly parted ways, heading to their respective lockers to collect the books they needed for their morning classes.

**********

As Clover rummaged through her locker, selecting the books she needed for her classes, Lizbeth and her entourage sauntered over, their eyes gleaming with

malice.

"Well, well, well, look who still licking her wounds," Lizbeth sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. "Now that you know you'll never compete with me for Nicky's affections, you should just give up. He only wanted to screw you, but since you are a nun and celibate, he had to move on."

The surrounding students snickered at Lizbeth's jibe, and Mildred's head swivelled towards the commotion.

Clover's face remained impassive; a mask of indifference that hid the pain Lizbeth's words had inflicted. She fixed Lizbeth with a steady gaze, her voice even and detached. "What do you want from me, Lizbeth? You've got Nicky, and you've made it clear what you think of me. So, what's the point of this little exchange?"

Lizbeth's eyes flashed with hostility as she jabbed a manicured finger in Clover's direction. "You think you're smart, don't you? Well, let me make one thing clear: stay away from my boyfriend. If I see you anywhere near him, you'll have to answer to me. And don't think for a second that it'll make a difference if he's the one who approaches you. I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me. You'll wish you were never born." Lizbeth's voice dripped with venom, her threat hanging in the air like a challenge.

Clover nodded curtly and turned to lock her locker, eager to escape the toxic conversation. But as she attempted to walk away, one of Lizbeth's lackeys pushed her forward sending Clover's books and stationery scattering across the floor.

Mildred. Alerted by the commotion, rushed to the scene and found her cousin scrambling to gather her belongings. Clover shook her head discreetly signalling Mildred to stay back.

Undeterred, Clover stood up, dusting herself off, and began to walk away. But Martha, another member of Lizbeth's clique, stuck out her leg, tripping Clover and sending her crashing to the floor. The hallway erupted in laughter, and tears pricked at the corners of Clover's eyes.

That's when Mildred sprang into action. She tapped Martha on the shoulder, and when Martha turned to confront her, Mildred delivered a resounding slap to her face. Martha stumbled backward, clutching her bleeding nose and mouth.

The hallway fell silent, time seeming to freeze as Mildred advanced on the mean girls, her eyes blazing with fury.

Mildred's voice was low and menacing as she addressed Lizbeth and her entourage. "I don't know what my cousin supposedly took from you, Lizbeth, but let me make one thing crystal clear: Clover is important to me, and I won't hesitate to protect her. Your family's wealth and influence means nothing to me. If you or your lackeys ever bother Clover again, I'll make sure you regret it. You'll never see the light of the day again."

With that, Mildred helped Clover to her feet, and together they walked away, eaving Lizbeth and her friends seething.

Lizbeth dragged Martha to the restroom, her anger boiling over. "That bitch will pay for this, I promise you," she hissed, rummaging through her bag for a medical aid kit. As she cleaned Martha's nosebleed, Lizbeth's fury only intensified. "This isn't over, Mildred. We'll show them what it means to cross us. Mark my words, Martha. We'll make them regret ever messing with us."