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*A/N: The picture above is a representation of how their school uniforms will look like. Please note the colours of the school are royal blue and silver.
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After she had left, the students got up and left the classroom in excited whispers as the bell rung for lunch.
‘OMG, our teacher is so cool! We’re pretty lucky to have landed her.’
‘Dude, teach is awesome!’
‘Yeah, she is. Can’t wait for her class. I’m so psyched!’
They made their way to the cafeteria with Jayden trailing behind. The cafeteria was already filled with students when they arrived. Their chatter got lost in the loud buzz as they made their way to the buffet.
Jayden picked up a plate and looked uninterestedly at the copious amount of food that lay on the table. After much thought, he picked up a slice of warm pizza and filled his glass with orange juice.
He walked around, looking for an empty table, finally finding one by the railings on the first floor. He sat down and took a bite of the pizza, munching it absentmindedly as he looked down at the ground floor.
Someone cleared their throat and he looked up to find the cute boy who had sat by him in class.
He looked nervous as he worked up the courage to speak. ‘Eh… um… s…sorry to b…bother you b…but c…can I sit with you?’
Jayden blinked up at him with a blank face.
‘It… it’s just that no one would allow me to sit with them and since you allowed me to sit with you, I… I thought that you… you’ll allow me to and-‘
‘Just shut up and sit down.’
The boy’s shoulders sagged in relief. He placed his plate on the table and pulled out a chair.
‘Thank you! Thank you, so much.’
Jayden rolled his eyes and turned away.
They sat in silence for a while before the boy spoke up again.
‘My name is Noel by the way. What’s yours?’
Jayden glanced at him and said nothing. Noel looked down, embarrassed.
‘Jayden.’
Noel looked back up. ‘Huh?’
Jayden looked away and continued eating.
Noel smiled brightly and stuck out his hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Jayden.’
Jayden looked down at his hand and frowned. Noel withdrew it, apologising profusely.
‘Sorry, sorry. Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.’
Jayden humphed, but Noel continued. ‘If I might ask, what course are you offering? I’m taking Science.’
Before Jayden could answer however, a group of boys walked over.
‘Why look! It’s the brat!’
At those words, Noel seemed to shrink into his seat. Jayden looked at both of them curiously.
The ringleader, a burly teen with a handsome face, smashed his fist onto the table causing Noel to wince and Jayden to frown.
The ringleader spat out. ‘Why are you still here, brat? Why don’t you crawl back into whatever gutter you came from?’
Noel whimpered, causing the teen to smile wickedly. He was about to speak again when the sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted him.
He looked around, finally resting his eyes on Jayden. He frowned. ‘What?’
‘Get. Lost.’
He glared at Jayden. ‘Why are you standing up for the brat?’
Jayden’s expression was distant. ‘I’ll not repeat myself.’
The teen looked at him cockily. ‘Oh yeah, and what you gonna do if I don’t? You forget Mills, I’m also part of the Noble 52.’
‘You forget, Roberts, how tenuous your family’s position is? Or shall I remind you? One wrong word. One wrong move. That’s all it takes.’
Roberts’ cockiness seemed to deflate. He glared at Jayden. ‘How do you know about that?’
Jayden looked away. ‘Get lost.’
Roberts huffed. ‘Come on, guys. It’s not worth the effort. Besides, where can he go?’
They sauntered away, but not without Roberts throwing them one last glare.
Noel sighed and sat back up. ‘Thanks, but you didn’t have to do that. He’ll just make it worse for me when I go back to our dorm.’
Jayden looked thoughtfully at him. ‘Why?’
Noel looked confused. ‘Huh?’
‘Why do they hate you?’
‘Oh, it’s not hate. It’s more like despise.’
Jayden stared at him.
Noel shrugged. ‘It’s because I’m poor. I don’t come from a wealthy home, not even a middle class one. My family struggles to make ends meet and even with that, we can sometimes go days without food, or water, or electricity. I only managed to get into this school on a scholarship.’
Jayden looked at him contemplatively before turning away. They spent the rest of the lunch break in silence, getting up after the siren rang.
They made their way towards their class in silence. They arrived at the door and Noel looked up in surprise when Jayden walked past it.
He hurried to catch up with him. ‘Where are you going? We have class!’
Jayden didn’t pause or look at him. ‘Come with me.’
Noel hesitated, looking nervously in the direction of their class. He finally huffed and jogged up to Jayden.
‘We are going to get in trouble for this!’ he hissed.
Jayden ignored him and continued to lead them past the class buildings. They crossed two quadrangles and a garden study area.
‘Where are we going anyway?’ Noel said as he huffed beside him.
Jayden continued to ignore him. They soon reached the narrow boulevard that led up to the dormitories.
‘You’re really skipping class, aren’t you?’ Noel said as they began to climb up the small hill.
Jayden ignored him again and they walked in silence until they finally arrived at the Common Lawn.
Jayden turned to him. ‘Which house?’
‘Huh?’
Jayden rolled his eyes and repeated patiently. ‘Which house are you in?’
Noel blinked at him in confusion. ‘Aquila. Why do you ask?’
Jayden ignored him and walked towards the Aquila building. A few students looked up at them curiously, as they entered the air-conditioned lounge. Noel let out a relaxed sigh as the cold air hit his face. It was past noon and the sun was relentless.
The Aquila lounge was both elegant and arrogant in the true Aquila style. The purple Arabian carpet was so soft, their feet sunk right into it. The violet sofas were elegant in style and arranged sensibly around the room. The walls were full of shelves upon shelves of books and the purple and violet eagle banner swung imperiously high above them.
‘What floor?’
‘Huh?’
Jayden looked at him patiently.
‘I’m on the twelfth floor.’
Jayden nodded and made his way towards the elevators. Noel hurried after him and they made their way past the large eagle fountains that stood like sentries beside the banks of elevators.
They entered an elevator and as soon as it slid shut, its walls, ceilings, and floor transformed into a large screen. As the elevator begun to ascend, an image began to form, showing a large mountain. As it moved up, the mountain’s peak got closer and closer.
Noel grinned, embarrassed. ‘Sorry about that. I forgot to warn you, the elevators are designed to make it appear as if you are an eagle soaring high above the earth.’
Jayden rolled his eyes at the arrogance and looked down. Sure enough, where the elevator floor should be, there was a bird’s eye view of a grassy plain, which got further and smaller as they rose higher and higher.
The elevator was soon filled with the screeching, elegant sound of an eagle. Jayden rolled his eyes again and Noel grinned sheepishly.
‘Sorry, forgot to tell you about that too.’
The elevator pinged open and Jayden shook his head and led them out. They stood on the twelfth floor and Jayden looked expectantly at him.
Noel stood there for a few seconds before jumping in realization. ‘Oh right. This way. I’m in the last dormitory.’
He led them down the corridor and past suits of armour emblazoned with the eagle crest before coming to a stop before a door. He swung it open and stepped inside.
Noel’s dorm was laid out in much the same way as his with the small exception of the purple and violet colouring and the rows of bookshelves.
Noel pointed to the room on the left. ‘That’s my room over there. Charles’ room is on the right.’
Jayden nodded and entered his room. His room was unbearably neat. The bed was lain with military precision and his shoes stood in orderly straight rows by the side of his closet.
Jayden glanced at him and he rubbed his neck self-consciously. ‘Sorry, I have small OCD.’
Jayden shook his head slightly, a small smile threatening to escape from his lips. ‘Pack your things.’
Noel started. ‘What?’
Jayden turned around. ‘Pack your things. You’re moving out.’
He walked out of the room with Noel stuttering behind him. ‘B… But w… why?’
‘I’m not leaving you here with that Neanderthal.’
‘But where will I stay?’
Jayden rolled his eyes. ‘With me, of course.’
Noel opened and shut his mouth several times, but no sound came out.
Jayden sighed. ‘Hurry up. We haven’t got all day.’
Noel finally snapped out of it. He walked hesitantly into his room, leaving Jayden to look uninterestedly around the apartment.
An hour later, Noel came out of his room with a large backpack and a suitcase in tow. Jayden glanced incredulously at the large shabby suitcase that was tattered at the edges.
‘Is that all?’
Noel nodded. ‘Mn.’
‘What took you so long then?’
Noel looked sheepish. ‘I keep long in packing. I told you I have a little OCD.’
Jayden shook his head and led them out of the room and down the elevator. Noel’s suitcase attracted a lot of attention from the students who were hanging around the lounge. They shot them curious stares, which Jayden actively ignored.
As they made their way towards the Scorpius building, Noel raised a question that had been bugging him.
‘Jayden?’
‘Mn.’
‘How are you going to pull this off? I mean, there is an ironclad rule about transferring dormitories not to talk of houses! It’s almost impossible to do it!’
‘Don’t worry.’
Noel still couldn’t help but worry as they made their way into the Scorpius building. The worry continued to gnaw at his insides as they rode up the elevator.
Jayden led them into his dormitory, pausing when he saw the backpack lying haphazardly by the door.
Noel muttered. ‘That’s right, school ends early today.’
Jayden turned to the right and walked towards Freckleface’s door. He swung it open with a bang, startling its occupant, who jumped from his bed in surprise.
‘What the-‘
‘Get out.’
Freckles looked at him in surprise. ‘What?’
‘Get out.’
Freckleface gaped at him. ‘Why? This is my room.’
‘Not anymore.’
‘What do you mean, ‘not anymore’?
Jayden nodded at Noel who was highly embarrassed and standing behind him. ‘It’s now his.’
Freckles looked shocked. He glanced at Jayden, then Noel, then back at Jayden. He frowned and crossed his arms. ‘No.’
Jayden glared at him. ‘Fine. What do you want?’
Freckles shook his head stubbornly. ‘Nothing. I won’t leave.’
Jayden scoffed. ‘Don’t be stupid. Everyone wants something and this your only chance to get what you want from me. Think hard and don’t waste it.’
That gave Freckles a pause. He thought long and carefully before nodding. ‘You’re right, I do want something.’
Jayden looked enquiringly at him.
‘My parents’ business is going under and no one wants to bail them out. They already owe large debts and, if the business fails, we will be ruined.’
Jayden frowned impatiently. ‘So, what do you want me to do?’
‘Save their business. Your family is powerful enough. If you save their business and cause their debts to be forgiven, then I’ll leave.’
Jayden huffed. ‘Fine.’
Freckles face brightened. ‘Really?’
Jayden rolled his eyes. ‘You have my word.’
‘Okay, then.’ Freckles jumped out of bed and started packing. He paused. ‘Hold on, won’t we get in trouble.’
‘No.’
‘Alright. Wait, where am I going to stay?’
Jayden looked at Noel who seemed to be highly uncomfortable with the entire situation.
He looked back at Jayden before catching on. ‘Oh yes. Erm… Aquila. Twelfth floor, Dormitory 13.’
Freckles nodded and continued packing. Jayden turned around and moved towards the dorm door.
‘Wait, where are you going?’ Noel called out.
Jayden ignored him and left the dormitory causing Noel to huff in annoyance.
Typical.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🎆🎆🎆🎆
WOW!!! Last year was something else, wasn’t it. I guess it’s something to tell our kids about (with some slight embellishments of course 😉)
Congratulations everyone, you survived 2020.
Let this new year brings us happiness, laughter and peace. Let it bring us all that our hearts desire and most importantly all that we need.
We enter this year, tinged with the sadness of the loss of loved ones and the separation from friends and family.
You are not alone.
And so, I have just a few words to say to you.
We didn’t come this far, just to come this far!
Special shout outs to all who made last year bearable: MJHood5SOS d10king AiKayHana Nimisha1810 ThisisGV divinebeats VismayVairagi
And of course, you my lovely readers. 🤗
Thank you all so much!!!
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