Coeus | A TWO

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to JosephinePond maplelatte7 and soya672 for all their encouraging words and feedback. Thanks so much! Big thank you to anyone else who read or voted and sorry if I missed you but feel free to let me know.

While everybody else was moving in paced steps to their lockers or the exits, I was whizzing through the corridors in a diagonal path like a pinball zigzagging back and forth on a board. It felt like it was my first day at the academy again. Holding my time table as I wandered through the seemingly endless corridors, panicking that I'd be extremely late and leave a bad first impression.

When I'd suddenly received a text on the group chat from the captain of Coeus to meet at the club quarters after school, I had realised my error too late. It would've been more ideal to head there straight after the bell instead of taking my sweet time because it was a fair distance from my classroom.

The club was located in an entirely separate building from the academy. It was a Victorian styled bricked housing with three storeys and its own garden. Numerous times a day I'd walk by and get lost in admiration of it which I knew was pretty pathetic, but it was all I could sustain myself with.

Now that was all changing and it gave me the surge of jitters as I approached the tall French doors that sealed off the entrance. I lifted the lion headed doorknocker to lightly slam against the wood. I wasn't expecting an answer in only seconds and was more surprised to find a tall elderly aged man in a black suit to be standing there.

"Miss Powell?" His voice deep and monotonous. I couldn't be certain if he was making an enquiry or a statement from observation.

"Uh, yes."

"This way, please." He gestured for me to enter and I nervously did so.

The interior was even more dazzling than the exterior, leaving me frozen in awe for a moment. Chandeliers hung from the high, vault ceilings and hanging in gilded frames of the intricately patterned walls were replicated landscape paintings. I distinguished they were of Scottish origin. Also Welsh, Irish and of course, English. It was like an exhibition dedicated to the British empire.

I snapped out of my trance when a hand tapped my shoulder and I was faced with the suited man again. "I shall guide you to the conference room."

"Oh um, okay." I nodded.

As I followed the man, I kept glancing around at the stunning place that held enough culture to rival a museum. Yet, I also felt torn at how much was being invested in a club that was meant to be for fun and socialising. Even replicas costed a fortune, with these art pieces being very authentic looking. It was taking itself a little too seriously.

Just like the batty headmaster.

Nonetheless, I couldn't wait to share the wonderful sight with Ashton and Liam. In case they thought I was exaggerating, I pulled out my phone to take some photos while doing my best to keep up with the guide who was strikingly fast for his old age.

"So, are you like, the usher for the club?" I questioned him.

"We're more of what you call the attendance for the members, miss. Here to ensure you're as comfortable as possible," he answered.

"Wow that's... hang on, did you say 'we?' "

Before I got an answer, a lady dressed in maid attire carrying a tray passed by us. I found myself watching her like she was the most bizarre thing in the world as she disappeared into another room. There were more of them!

Suddenly, my attendant halted at an oakwood door. "Right this way, miss."

"Thanks um... what's your name?"

He lifted a brow. "It's Callahan, miss."

"Thank you, Callahan."

Then he smiled. "You're welcome."

I smiled back and proceeded to enter the room but paused, swivelling my phone to quickly snap a shot of Callahan too then resumed to step in.

I tensed when several pairs of eyes locked on to me, heat instantly prickling my face.

The conference room was basically how anyone would imagine it. A long table to accommodate for the multiple seats that outnumbered the current number of twelve members, minus myself. Each of whom I knew by name and their specialities.

All were present, excluding the The Aces and I couldn't even feel relieved about it since the stares from the other fellow members filled me with enough anxiety as I stood. Well, except maybe one plump, redheaded boy called Andrew Ferguson munching on a large sandwich and mayonnaise smeared on his cheek. Known by his big appetite and bigger talent in computer science.

"Quit staring, guys. You'll scare her away," said a voice that broke the silence.

It came from the brown haired boy, pushing the rims of his wheelchair to place himself in better view. Although his chestnut brown eyes were looking up, I couldn't help but feel so small at the reality of none other than the captain, Michael Howard right in front of me. "You act like you're encountering the female species for the first time."

Some rolled their eyes and one even mumbled "shut up". Just like that, the air felt lighter with the attention was deviated from me which I was glad for.

"I'm pretty sure it's your long winded speeches that are gonna scare her away," said a girl named Amina Pahlavi.

She'd been one of the first to catch my eye with being the only female and her gracefully tall frame. Somehow, it didn't make her intimidating or awkward looking around everyone. I believed it to be maybe her benign doll face and tranquil air about her that made her so approachable.

She flashed me a quick wink that made me fluster as I inwardly squealed inside. I didn't swing that way but the brunette certainly had me thinking twice for a jarringly long three seconds, baffled by formidable power of beauty.

"Ha, ha very funny," Michael responded before jutting his hand out to me. "So glad to have you here. I'm Michael, the captain."

It was just like Michael Howard to give such a humble greeting despite being just as well-known as the Aces. An icon to the school with his many achievements and had his own exclusive chambers for school subjects in the clubhouse as a means of not overexerting himself with constant movement.

Making sure my hands hadn't gotten too clammy in all my sweating underneath, I gingerly shook his offered hand. Contrary to the shallow cuts and fading traces of blisters along it, being graced to touch the hands of this legend was undeniably a pure blessing.

"Yeah, I know," I rushed out. "I-I mean I'm... it's a real pleasure to meet you. All of you."

If not for my dark skin that hid my blushing, my scorching face would've looked as stupid as I felt in that moment.

Michael, the benevolent soul, paid no mind to the blunder and flashed me another kind smile. "Well, take a seat and we'll go through introductions."

I nodded and made tentative steps towards the furthest empty seat when I came to find Amina reaching a hand out. She patted the vacant chair beside her, eyeing me with that alluring gaze.

My heart squealed.

Amina Pahlavi was actually inviting me to sit beside her. Maybe she was merely being polite but I would take it.

Do not combust right now, Stevie. That would not make for a very good impression.

I quickly occupied the seat, trying not to grin like an idiot. Michael went on to let each and every member introduce themselves to me along with a fact about themselves. Although I already knew it all, I thought it was better to keep it to myself than expose my slightly stalker-ish side to them. Definitely wouldn't make a good first impression.

Michael carried on with the meeting to inform us of what field of studies to focus for the upcoming events, major and minor ones alike. My attention was admittedly divided into listening and basking in the wonderful scent of Amina's shampoo, because it was too intoxicating not to lean towards her. Neither did she seem to mind. Then popping my bubble of bliss and reminding me why I had stayed away from this divine world edged the door open.

First was the distinct crown of finely groomed ebony hair, following after was the taller blonde and the burly burnet at each side.

It was like a spell was casted with the way The Aces seized everyone's attention. Contrarily, the leader didn't seem to be focused on anything but speaking into the phone by his ear. "No, I want that monkey fired and replaced with someone who actually listens."

A cold sweat ran down my spine at hearing that voice seething, flickers of that day in the lunch hall flashing through my mind.

Michael visibly deflated along with a few other members. Ferguson's shoulders hunched as he prioritised everything on chewing the bits of ham in his mouth.

"You're asking me why I want a replacement? Because I told him to park the car at the front so I could pick up my delivery quickly and get back for class and he didn't."

"Garren," Michael called.

Garren ignored him and continued. "Not only did he refuse, he used the pathetic excuse of saying, 'But sir, it's a handicap zone.' As if it was my bloody fault! Just what is he expecting to do about these constant government hand-outs?

Wasn't the whole point of that Paralympics to show they should be treated no different than anybody else? They're all about equality but oh no, they don't want their benefits taken away. Honestly, I've never known a better scam."

I couldn't even form a gasp. Did he really just say that? In front of these people?

There was a glimpse of something that fell across Michael's features. A prominent strain in when he sighed in defeat with a hand dragging down his face and the emotion was gone. Evidently, so was any urgency to chasten the insensitive maniac still hollering into the phone.

At the sudden feeling of eyes watching me, I turned to find a pair of honey brown ones staring right me.

Will Butler's steady gaze didn't falter when being caught and I quickly turned away. Shit, I just made direct eye contact with an Ace.

I could still feel them on me as I pretended to study my fingers on my lap. Against better judgement, my gaze drifted to the other Ace, Ben McCoy, who didn't seem to notice me as he casually occupied a seat while his leader was still ranting.

"I ordered him one more time to park there but he still disobeyed me and parked elsewhere! That's why I want the imbecile sacked, Mark," Garren spat. "And the next time you question my orders like that again, you'll be looking for a new job too."

He terminated the call with those final words and I immediately dropped my eyes to the floor now that his focus was on the individuals in the room.

"Garren, you were interrupting our meeting." Michael frowned. "And don't drag everyone else into your personal matters."

"If they're aware it's personal, then they'll be respectful and let me finish," Garren said ever so matter-of-factly.

Michael pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Just sit down, please."

Garren strode to the empty chair between his Aces that they'd reserved for him. However, not before poking out his elbow sharply to hit Andrew's back. The boy jerked and lost his grip on the sandwich, sending it splattering to the floor.

"Garren," Michael hissed.

"What? It was an accident," he claimed. "Augustus Gloop is the one with the greasy fingers, that's why it fell. Try to wash your hands in between your meals, mate."

Ferguson didn't glare at him for the ridiculing reference or anything. He just sulked at his sandwich, scooping up the pieces to dispose them.

Garren situated himself on his seat, leaning back. "Besides, I'm doing the boy's cholesterol a favour and prolonged him from having a stroke."

"Yeah, Gary's a hero, captain." grinned Ben McCoy.

Michael didn't respond to the comment. He simply looked tired and judging from the fact he didn't call The Aces out on being late, it must've been a common behavior along with the bullying. I wasn't even sure how to feel about the others not even doing anything to stop them but then again, neither did I. I had no right to call them cowards.

"Who's the girl?" Will suddenly asked.

Of course one of them would pop the question eventually but I still tensed. It was only then Ben and Garren seemed to register my existence as their pair of eyes fell on me.

"Stevie Powell," Michael supplied. "She's our newest edition to Coeus."

"Really? So suddenly?" Will's voice was laced with intrigue.

"Oh, I thought there was more people than usual in the room today," Ben muttered, scoping me from top to bottom.

Garren barely gave me so much as a bat of the eye, then peered to the captain. "We've already got our feminist and diversity quota. What's this one for?"

I could barely keep my jaw in place while Michael regarded the remark with a jaded look. "I told you to stop referring to Amina by that and they're both here for the same purpose as you, Garren."

Unsurprisingly, the dark haired tyrant appeared very skeptical of that which was tragically, the least insulting thing in all this.

"Right, and you couldn't have introduced her beforehand formally? You just had her sit there with no explanation and droned on with your meeting? I seriously don't understand your odd ways of doing the simplest of things, Michael."

"I did introduce her. You were late."

"That isn't my fault, it was that moronic driver's. Didn't you hear me on the phone? "

"Oh, everybody heard it," Amina dryly reassured him with the most beautifully condescending smile. "So don't worry, we'll gladly vouch for that."

"Well it's not like we need to introduce ourselves anyway. She already knows who we are," said Will. He had the shiniest golden hair I'd ever seen. There wasn't a ray of sunlight from the dreary clouds, yet an almost haloic light crowned his head. "Don't you?"

Ashton would've definitely had a quip to say at his arrogant statement but it was true. I nodded.

Seeing those ominous dark eyes staring back in the flesh were truly something else. "What's your name again?" He questioned.

"Stevie," I managed to answer.

"Stevie? Oh, I see now. You're one of those transgenders, right? That community's been circulating quite a lot of traction, lately."

Before I could manage to construct a sentence, Michael placed a hand on my shoulder and intervened. "You don't need to bother answering that," he assured me. Then turned to the dark haired boy. "Garren, it's a name. There is no standard gender to it, don't be so rude."

Garren merely rolled his eyes and brought out his phone, crossing one leg over the other. The captain took it that he wasn't going to get any form of an apology out of the boy and rolled forward to his post to finish speaking.

"Don't take it personally," Amina whispered to me. "Garren is... plainspoken. To him, it's just a question."

At first, it almost sounded like she was defending the rude arsehole but deduced that she only didn't want me to feel hurt. I offered a small smile and nodded.

Truthfully, I wasn't too fussed if that was the extent of how he would acknowledge me. Whether he thought my place here was warranted or not, I didn't care. So long as I was still invisible, that was good enough for me.