Elaine
Consequences, that I should've been well aware of felt like a slap to my face. This was a risk I was ready to bargain for, but not prepared. Not even a bit.
It's been three days since it became official that Alexander white, the so called frost prince of Stuart would mark his freezing presence soon. This news has resulted in jolts of surprise running through the hordes, it started as a spark and now it has set the school on fire. Even the walls buzzed with student's anticipation and intrusiveness.
As for me, let's pretend that I've not been angry at my pathetic self for feeling the intense dread creeping up over my nerves whenever I hear someone even mention his name. His last words echoing like a warning jab to my gut.
"Destroy me beautifully" that's what he had said, no scratch that. Promised me with underlying unnerve if we ever were to cross each others path again.
And I, Elzina Winston. With a twisted play of fate walked right into his den.
"Elaine?" at the sound of my name my eyes snapped back to meet Riley's warm brown ones. She pursed her lips narrowing her eyes at me.
"I spaced out again, didn't i?" sheepishly I grinned as she rolled her eyes.
Riley rivers, the sweet yet awkward girl had been a great sport and a friend. Someone more than I could ask for, who hasn't judged me for what I am. After being deprived of the same sex friend for my whole life, she was like a gust of fresh air. Someone I had unknowingly wished for to by my side.
"You are so good at this" she said passing me a cartridge of pastel red color, praising my skills as I blushed slightly at her compliment.
"Thanks, but when you get to work on this with that magic of yours, it's going to be way better and beautiful. Classic must be the right word" focusing my gaze on the twirling aesthetic patterns I was landscaping, I assured her.
It was a surprise when Riley shyly revealed her field of merit. When she showed me the pages filled with exquisite edges of ink, instantly I recognized what she was. An aspiring calligraphist and no matter how much she considers herself a budding learner, her works were far more magnificent than any amateur could jostle up.
"You are saying that to calm my nerves, I am such a wreck" at that I grunted a response of disapproval. Tiredly finishing up the back ground for another poster.
Apparently Academy's yearbook contest begins next week, which involves any form of art work to be presented at it's best, from whoever the willing participants are. Among them only the foremost outstanding work will be credited in, with a boost of recognition with its representation on Academy's international level meet.
And before one misunderstands and concludes me as a participant, let me do the honors of stirring away your doubts.
For once to begin with I haven't even applied for arts, when they asked me for choices I had blindly ticked away the first five boxes, which apparently covered a complete science course.
But when Riley fretted over her pending poster and banner chore for the promotion of the event, I decided to help her.
"I still don't get it, why do this yourself when the management is perfectly capable of hiring the professionals. The more digitalized, the more appealing" I frowned questioning her, my tongue tucked over the roof of my mouth in divided concentration.
"Academy believes in enhancing creativity and places it's trust upon the hands of it's students. So the arts department is always involved with the organization and promotions. The digital billboard and advertisement slides is the job for computer unit. The science, sports and music saturate the inside event as such, and the list goes on" as she informed me I took a split second to peek around the open auditorium we were in.
It was colossal, composite checkered themed floor, smoothly extending over the large square hall. It would be safe to say that it's twice the size of cafeteria with busy crowd of students who somehow managed to work elegantly even under the pressure over their respective allotted counters, probably the size of an average pool table each.
We were at the far end, close to the wall silently working, the use and throw gossamer apron I wore clings to the uniform shirt. The sight was messy with rattling specks of paint on it. The situation of my hands were quite similar too, with the green shade trickling over my wrist, I soaked it with a napkin before it could reach the rolled sleeve of my shirt. For now, this uniform was the most expensive thing my wardrobe retains.
"How do you find your dorm so far?"she asked me in a small voice as her wrist flicked into a motion, the strokes resulting in grandiose curves of alphabet.
"It's fine" I said absentmindedly, after the incident with Edmund so far I luckily never had the chance of seeing him. But I occasionally found him around with his stoic skull, busy barking orders or being his signature constipated self.
"Good" slightly nodding her head in thought she resumed her attention back to the quill.
"Why? Is there something I should know?" I ask her raising a brow as she looked at me, a friction of nervousness passing over her features.
"You do realize that your room is in Elite block, don't you?" she slowly dissected blinking as I frowned.
"What's that?"
She sat up straighter, tucking her pen in the stand and leaned closer to my side. He eyes scanning around for any uninvited eavesdropper. Amused I watch her dramatic gestures.
"You live in a building surrounded by snobbiest of snobs, if you haven't noticed yet. Don't you think it's weird that girls and boys live in the same building there unlike the common gender separated dorms?" I nod taking it in. though the question did popped up once or twice, I never divulged deep into it.
"The clique lives on the same floor as you do" I chewed on my lower lip thinking back to my encounter with Edmund and how it got revealed that lee was his roommate. But so far there was no sign of any other members, though the brown skinned beauty was someone I have a mission to acquaint with. No matter how much dangerous they sound, I would've jumped at the opportunity to strike a conversation with her if she had been spotted at least once more by me. But to my utter dismay she kind of disappeared after that day.
"Really?" I say pretending to be affected by it.
"Let me be straight with you" she whispered tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear "if the students found out, it's gonna be bad"
Scoffing I took the slot of acrylics from the side and dipped my sleek brush into the thick liquid.
"Elite was the result of Alexander White's Fathers generous donation. Only twelve members other than the clique has access to it. If you had taken the time to explore you would've come across their very own gym, lounge, pool and a gaming room. Only they have these privileges, not even the students of the academy can get inside without the permission. And somehow you were an extra ordinary exception. And once they are aware of it-" She said making a semi circle on the air with the pointer of the pen "they will notice you. You see, you get on the bad side of the clique the whole academy hates you. You get on their good side, which is highly impossible, the academy hates you anyway. The only key of survival is being as much invisible as possible, get it?" with a stern voice she looked at me like a teacher expecting her student to have grasped over today's lesson.
Gulping I nod.
"But I am just a charity case who was given an emergency spare room" croaking I reasoned as she looked at me in disbelief.
"They don't see where you come from, they just need a reason to target. And don't call yourself a charity, you are like a walking encyclopedia for all I know" scrunching her nose she hissed.
I Shake my head smiling a little, I let my head lean over the top of my seat. My free period was almost over.
"what's your next class?" Riley asks lightening up the conversation, as if she wasn't grilling me with a predatory pep talk a while back.
"P.E" I sighed, to my dismay the ground rule of the school involves a mandatory P.E certificate from the academy to be deemed as a complete graduate. I was struck in the cycle of my most hated class once again. It was like the whole of multiverse was plotting against me.
I saw her glace at me with a sympathizing smile, but her vision trails off at something behind me, widening with each second.
Perplexed I turned to look back when I suddenly felt a presence beside me. A paper was slapped on the table as I jumped a little. I squinted at it, it was a test paper with a sharp green A- at the top.
A large sparkling white grin flashed before my eyes as I looked up.
"Lee?" I winced at my croaked voice, clearing my throat from the embaressing dryness I call again.
"Lee?"
"Yes, and I got an A" and if it was even possible the stretch of his lips widened. Just how? I miss brave so much.
"Congratulations" I found myself giving him a hearty smile. How can you not brighten your aura when a sun was right in front of you. Being so? Sunny?.
A glance at the side revealed a bewildered Riley's mouth almost hitting the floor. i would've given her jaw some aid if it weren't for the few students already quitting their work to divert their attention in our direction.
I could already feel the tingle of uneasiness on my chest, I would know it any where. The onset of something that only grows, the eyes on me acting as a catalyst.
But no one looks away, instead more join in probably to decipher the enigmatic reason that led the popular boy to have a conversation with....with who the hell is she? I felt a low voice from somewhere whisper to someone not in particular. It was meant for me to hear, for everyone to see.
Shrugging off the itch I looked at him, I was a strong girl who had bigger matters on hand other than worrying about a high school drama.
So I wait for him to continue.
"This is all because of you chingu" he said patting my head, my lips thinned in turmoil i ask.
"chingu?"
"It's a term for friend in Korean" surprisingly it was Riley who squeaked clearing the confusion for me while lee rewarded her with an impressed nod.
She went pale under his gaze and shrinks back in her seat in relief once he focuses his attention on me.
"Friend? I don't even know you" I pursed my lips, cringing inside a little at my bluntness at which he simply chuckled.
"You are an amazing tutor and I am a bad student. But I see the potential of my grades turning up respectable under the guidance of your phenomenal teaching. So yeah, first step is to befriend you" after he finished his speech worthy of being quoted at United Nations embassy he scratched the back of his neck, the tip of his tongue grazing the top of his teeth.
"You called me friend because you forgot my name" I state narrowing my eyes in accusation. Pushing back my irritating bangs with the back of my hand as his eyes widens at my words.
For being called so popular, he sure did acted pretty normal in my eyes.
"Ho- how do you?" when he stuttered it was like the last straw as my lips twitched into a genuine smile.
"It's fine, Elaine is the name" I said waving at him as if it was no big deal.
It was quiet for a moment. The look of surprise on his face twisted to that of prosperity. And then he did the most un expectable thing.
He leaned down and pinched both of my cheeks, cradling it to the sides as one does to a toddler.
From the side I could see rileys eyes spanning the size of Jupiter.
"Where were you all my life?" his clutch on my cheeks left as he stood back straight grinning. It wasn't obscure anymore, we had the whole attention of the hall to ourselves.
Internally I groaned, so much for being invisible.
And then it was there again, I felt my palms get clammy, heart racing all of a sudden with heat spreading over my body. The gaze were so toxic that I had hard time focusing on breathing normally.
"Are you alright?" Riley's voice laced with concern drifted across, but it melted over the pounding of my heartbeat. Taking deep breaths I closed my eyes.
They are just humans, like you. You did no wrong.
Assuring myself I opened my eyes to see a confused Lee still on the same spot.
Why won't he leave?
A little voice in my head accused me that he was harmless and not to be a bitch, that just a minute back he was the one I hadn't feared of even though riley warned me about him.
But a larger part of me screamed that associating with people like him was the reason of my inconvenience. I don't know what is it about people , but when you have these attacks, a crowd around you is a mere tight rope chocking you from inside. Keeping the air in your lungs a prisoner.
"I need to go" I didn't cared about how pathetically my voice wavered as hastily I got up on my wobbly feet, making sure to keep my damp paint stained hands away from the apron.
Hurrying my steps I turned, the first felt numb, on second I stumbled and at third I bumped.
The harsh impact would've landed me straight on the ground if it wasn't for the arm that circled around my waist, I shut my eyes, Crushing the lids as my hands cemented on the flat chest of the one I collided with.
Slowly I opened them, my vision coming to focus.
The first thing I saw was the imprint of colorful patches on crisp white shirt, I tilted my head to see a mop of extremely familiar white hair that I would know anywhere, the face ducked to study the mess caused by me.
Time stopped, or it went more sluggish than usual as he raised his face to look at me.
Those piercing blue eyes met with mine, and it became harder to breath.
The anger in them morphed to a flick of shock, he was still the same and yet so different, so perfect yet so rancorous.
My eyes finally widens in realization, knocking sense over the situation I was in.
His jaw unclenched as his lips parts slightly, perplexed he blinks and as if my touch electrocuted him I felt the support of his arms retreat abruptly.
I took one last look at Alex's darkened eyes as a gasp escaped my lips, and then I was falling.
Quite literally.
***