DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 2
“Do you want something to drink?” Saraline asks.
I nod. “Sure. But I’m not eating, I already feel squeamish.”
We walk to the food table and push past the guests to the drink section. We pour some of the reddish liquid into two cups and are about to take sips when a girl in waist length braids runs up to us.
“Don’t drink that.” She says. “I saw someone spike it.”
We both drop our cups and turn back to her. “Thank you for that. This night could have gone in a very different direction.” Sara jokes.
We all laugh. “I’m Paisley, that’s my roommate Michelle.” She gestures at a blonde in glasses a few feet away, she waves. Paisley nods eagerly and Michelle walks over to us.
“I’m Cassie, she’s Saraline,” I say when Michelle’s in our front.
We spend the rest of the party talking. “So what elementals are you guys?”
“We’re combatants,” Michelle explains. “But I specialize in archery.”
“That’s awesome.” I compliment. We all spend the rest of the night in a corner talking. In the end, we exchange phone numbers and Sara and I retire to our shared room. As soon as I get back, I call my parents.
“The school looks so expensive, no wonder it’s the best.” We’re on video chat. “And I made three new friends.”
“I’m glad you’re having fun.” My mom says. “How about Sebastian and his family? Have you met your brother and cousin, what are people saying about them? Has anybody found out your secret?”
“If you keep taking, my roommate will.” I glance at the bathroom door. “Nobody knows and I like it that way.”
“Sorry.” She sighs. “Just asking how you are. Tell me if you have any problems okay.” I agree and she hands the phone to dad. We talk for a few minutes till I have to go to bed.
That night, I dream of meeting Seb’s family and being belittled for not being good enough, then I sprout wings and fly into the clouds to hide. It’s a weird dream.
***
Sara wakes me up before my alarm does. I have a shower and dress in dark blue jeans and a grey t-shirt with a black collar. I let my copper red hair fall to my mid-back and apply mascara to make my brown eyes pop.
I get my stuff ready and Sara and I head to the main school building. The day starts with all the students attending an assembly in the auditorium. The room is packed and has a nice modern feel to it. The brochure mentioned that the Vasdors, an old family, donated it to the school four years ago. The walls are made of light brown wood while the floors are covered with a thick, navy carpet. The chairs are a lighter blue and arranged in neat rows. The windows are high and allow sunlight to seep into the room. The ceiling is packed with fluorescent lights, half of which are shining now. The teachers are all seated in the first few rows and a stage is set up in front. A glass podium is in the center showcasing the Brimstone school insignia. A scroll and an open book on either half of a shield. The scroll symbolizes traditional views and reminds us to uphold them. The open book symbolizes new knowledge and reminds us that we should always be open to learning new things.
The director, Lilian, comes to give her beginning of the year speech. “I would like to welcome our first years, congratulations on gaining admission to our esteemed school. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t celebrate too much, at the end of the semester we will be weeding out the worst of you. Just because you’re a student now, doesn’t mean you’ll be one in January.” She spends the next fifteen minutes delivering more encouraging words.
After the assembly is first period. Mine is Fire 101. I take in the strange interior of the class. The walls are made of a strong white material that is completely fireproof while the chairs are arranged in a semi-circle with the teacher’s desk front and center.
“Good day, I will be your teacher for the rest of the year. You may address me as Professor Harding.” A tall, lean, dark-haired man says, pacing the length of his wooden desk. “And the rumors about me being cruel, unforgiving and meanspirited are not true.” I feel my shoulders relax. “I am far worse than whatever you heard.” And they tense back up.
He asks us to showcase our skills. I quickly realize that this school is filled with overachievers. These kids take serious pride in their gifts, they flaunt them and are mean to anybody who makes a mistake.
It’s my turn and my job is to burn a single piece of paper without destroying the word in the middle. The key is to concentrate on where you want the fire to go. I try and light a little spark on the edge of the paper. The teacher looks unimpressed and some of the students look smug. I focus back on the piece and try to add a bit more flare.
The entire piece of paper catches fire and I jump back and yelp. My classmates scoff and snicker. “A fire elemental scared of fire, never in all my years of teaching have I seen something so... unfortunate.” He sighs.
I walk back to my seat and try not to cry. That was embarrassing. The exercise continues and I’m the only one who can’t do it. I couldn’t think of a better first class than this.
After this we have History. Illyrian History. What the teacher is saying is common knowledge but I didn’t grow up here so I can’t help but be lost.
Chemistry is next, I don’t bother getting my hopes us. And it’s a good thing I didn’t because this class teaches us how to mix potions. After this, we have Geography, a selective. The professor is nice and teaches everything slowly. I grasp it quickly and am confident that I’ll pass one class this semester.
We have lunch after fourth period. The cafeteria is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. My old school had plastic tables and chipped wooden seats. The one here is much fancier. Hanging on the intricately carved ceiling are various old chandeliers. The brown oak tables are rectangle-shaped and arranged in rows around the room. There are four plush, red chairs placed on either side of the table. The walls are made of shiny brown wood and have large windows overlooking the building grounds.
All the five classes have lunch together. A section is carved out for first years. I silently thank the school for understanding how awkward looking for seats is. I meet up with Sara, Paisley and Michelle.
“Hey,” Sara greets with a wide smile. “Today was the best. I love this school.”
Michelle and Paisley nod enthusiastically. “We were so scared of training but our instructor was nice. He complimented my shots.” Michelle says proudly.
“And I made another friend in History. His name is Axel and I invited him to sit with us.” Paisley adds. “What about you, Cassie? How was your day?”
My smile is very fake. “It was great. Classes were good, people were good, teachers were good.”
They see through my facade and frown in solidarity. “It’s just the first day, it will get easier.” Sara consoles.
“I certainly hope so,” I mutter as a lanky guy with white hair makes his way to our table.
“Axel,” Paisley calls. “We’re here.” The guy, Axel, plops down on the empty seat next to Paisley. “This is the Axel I told you about.”
“Axel from history,” Sara exclaims. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person. We have heard far too much about you.” She says sarcastically.
Axel laughs. “Am I famous already? It’s only been a day.”
“So Axel, are you a combatant?” I ask.
He faces his palms upward and a mini-tornado appears. “Does that answer your question?”
“It does. How do you do that, is there some....” I start but he cuts me off.
“Shut up.” He says unexpectedly. “I’m sorry, not shut up just please temporarily stop talking. I need to watch this.”
“Watch what,” I ask. “What are you looking at?”
He smiles. “That.” I turn back and through the crowd of students, see Katya making her way down the aisles. Students pause their conversation to watch her.
She walks with her head held high, fully aware of everybody’s eyes on her. She carries herself with the same grace as her mother. She’s making her way to Jamison Mctavish, her ex-boyfriend. I can feel everybody just waiting for drama to happen. He’s sitting at a table near the wall with his friends. He’s looking everywhere except at her.
She finally reaches him and says something. They’re far away so I can’t read their lips. Twenty seconds later, he stands up begrudgingly and they walk out of the dining hall, her in front.
“That was exhilarating,” Paisley remarks. “Do you think they’re going to get back together?”
“No way. Jamie is done with her. He finally found an out, he’s not going back in.” Axel argues.
“You never know, he might be planning his future as consort and military head.” Sara reasons.
“Well yeah, but then he’ll actually have to date her. What if they have an argument and she fries him?” Axel jokes.
“That was harsh.” I say to him.
He raises his hands in surrender. “Sorry.” He mumbles. “I was led to believe we could make fun of the royal family in this group.”
“We can. It’s just mental health struggles are a serious thing where I’m from, that felt a little mean.” I defend.
“Fine, we won’t talk about her mental health. Let’s talk about something else, Prince Greyson’s complete 180.” Everyone leans closer. “My theory is, his mum is using what happened last year as an opportunity to boost his political standing.”
“Cass and I checked his socials yesterday, complete wipe. I miss his old page, he kept things interesting.” Sara complains. “You know who really misses him? Mira.”
Michelle bites her lip. “Everyone was talking about it today. It was so bad.”
“What were we talking about? I didn’t hear about it.” I say. “We sat together during the assembly, we weren’t talking about anything.”
“It was on the school website. Do you have a profile?” Paisley asks. I shake my head “Give me your phone.” I hand the black smartphone to her and she presses a few buttons. “Just put in a password and you’re in.”
“Thanks,” I say. “It’s like everybody knows more about this school than I do.” I put in a password and activate the account. “And I’m in.” I search ‘Prince Greyson’ and read posts, trying to connect the dots on what happened. “No.” I gasp.
“Yes.” Michelle nods. “It was that bad.” Yesterday night, Mira went to his room to hook up and he turned her down. They’ve had a toxic on-again, off-again relationship and it seems like he’s completely cutting her off. Mira did not take it well. Unfortunately for Grey, she’s an earth elemental. She chucked rocks at his car and wrecked it.
Fortunately for her, Grey convinced his mom not to press charges or involve the disciplinary committee. She does have a week of kitchen duty though.
“I feel bad for her,” I say to them. “Grey did not treat her well.”
Axel chuckles. “Grey? Are you already on a first-name basis with the Prince?”
I cough. “Are we supposed to call them by their titles? I thought that wasn’t compulsory”
“We’re not legally supposed to. It being school and they’re just normal students but it gets weird when you don’t so everyone does. They don’t care either way though.”
I laugh. “You seem to know a lot about them. Aren’t you a first-year?”
He shrugs. “I’ve met them before. We even attended a state dinner party this summer.”
Sara’s eyes widen. “Don’t tell me you’re a Harrington.” She jokes.
He chokes. “Ugh no, I cannot deal with those people on a daily basis. My mom’s a Captain in the army and my dad’s a member of the state council.”
Michelle whistles. Axel rolls his eyes. “It’s my parents, I’m just an average first year. Their legacy is most definitely ending with them. But my little sister might still save our family, you never know.”
“But you seem so good with magic. I’m sure you’re exaggerating.” I say.
“I landed in the hospital trying to get into this school. I can’t stress myself like that again, I’ve decided to go where the wind takes me.” He laughs at his joke.
Paisley shudders. “This school’s tests and interviews were the worst. Can we never talk about them again?”
“But seriously, can’t we,” I say for completely different reasons. “Cause it was just the absolute worst.”
After eating, I drop my dark green tray on the silver cart and throw my cupcake wrapper in the bin. I turn back and run into the person I was just talking about, Grey. He looks so much like his father. He’s exactly how I imagine a younger Sebastian.
“You scared me,” I exhale.
“So, you’re Cassandra.” He eyes me up and down. “I can’t believe you actually came. At first, you were just a neatly tucked away problem. Now you’re here and might, no, definitely will screw everything up.” He also has a posh English accent. Everyone here has one. I remember asking Seb about it two tears ago.
“If you’re from another dimension. Why are you speaking English, and why do you sound British?” I asked on his first visit.
“Two hundred years ago. Illyria decided to have a common language. The leaders decided to pick one from Earth so it’ll be fair. England was the superpower then, so they picked that.”
I jump back to my conversation with Grey. “Those are your actual first words to me.” I nod. “Good to know, if you don’t mind. I have class.” I sidestep him.
“So what’s your plan, your angle?” He questions in a low voice, following me.
“To get to class,” I repeat.
“You know what I mean.” He says.
“Do I?” I tsk. “As I said earlier, I have class and frankly, I don’t want to talk to you. So if you’ll excuse me.” I walk to the door, he doesn’t follow me anymore.
I meet up with my friends in the hall. “Were you just talking to Prince Greyson?” Sara asks in awe. I nod.
“How did it feel?” Paisley looks starstruck.
“I rather not say.”