Chapter Nine #3
Ayana laughed again, but this time, softly. “Yes? If you would like to. It’s up to you. But come down to Queen’s Corridor–the theatre there. We have great stuff.”
I didn’t answer back, too busy trying to form the letters that would come out a ‘no’, but I was too slow.
They were already walking away. Or Cole was.
Ayana smiled one last time before retreating backwards with a playful finger raised, though it proved hard from how tightly she was clutching her books, and a teasing tone, “I'd better see you there.”
I nodded slowly, still trying to make sense of what just happened. I didn’t ponder on it too long, though, already following them out, though waiting a few moments to decrease the chances of running into them on the way out of Thirteenth Chamber.
By the time lunch had rolled around, I had two essays and an exam to prepare for by next week.
I wondered how many hours I’d have to spend sitting at the desk in the corner of my room to feel I was fully prepared.
I didn’t understand how these students were able to have so much time for extracurriculars when I only felt myself falling deeper into academic anxiety.
I sat with my tray at the farthest table, away from prying eyes, already starving since having missed breakfast. I thought growing up hungry meant I wasn’t affected by such things, but I was proven wrong.
The food here was something I'd grown to realize I wouldn’t be able to live without, and if I had to, I’d remember the taste on the tip of my tongue for the rest of my life.
August, naturally, found me with ease. I watched from afar as his eyes barely scanned the room before zeroing in on me.
A grin grew across his face as he headed in my direction, plopping down with a deep sigh.
“Today was a nightmare. Can you imagine having to go about your day after the events of yesterday? It’s torture. ”
I moved the asparagus away from the meat on my plate before cutting it into smaller pieces, muttering, “You wouldn’t understand real torture.”
He paused from scooping up the mashed potatoes lathered in a sauce so good I didn’t bother wondering what it was made of.
It was silent for a beat too long, and when I lifted my head to meet his stare, he let out a strained chuckle. “So… I did some research. I didn’t actually find much, considering how hush-hush this entire thing is, but apparently Thaddeus is an alumnus, and he was a student…”
He finished speaking with a mouth full of food before tapping his fingers to the beat of a drumroll. “Exactly twenty years ago.”
He held his palms up and his mouth formed an O shape in a mock-shocked face.
When I didn’t react, August threw his hands up before picking up his spoon again. “Really? No reaction? I thought that would be mind-blowing news.”
I shrugged. “I guessed as much yesterday.”
He mumbled something too unintelligible to understand before continuing to scarf down the food on his plate.
I tapped a finger against the table, wondering if I should throw him the idea I was beginning to turn in my head. Something worth researching.
“Hey, August.”
“Yeah?”
“If you happen to have the list of students in Thaddeus’ year, wouldn’t we be able to… I don’t know.”
I shrugged and waited for him to arrive at his own conclusion. Or rather, my own conclusion that I was allowing him to borrow. And as I’d hoped, he did.
His eyes lit up as he dropped his spoon for at least the third time since he sat down. “We can find the other six students he–wait, but how would that even help us?”
I shrugged again, picking at my food with my fork. “Who knows what we might find. Like Thaddeus implied, knowledge is important.”
I peeked at August from under my lashes and watched him think it over. A contemplative look filled his features as he ran his finger under his chin. “... I guess, yeah. It wouldn’t exactly be common knowledge, so it wouldn’t be easy to find. But that would be a good place to start.”
“What would be a good place to start?”
A new voice sounded above us, and August jumped before whipping his head back at whoever was standing over him.
Wolf was holding his tray with his head tilted to the side, eyeing us with a suspicious look that I didn’t think was warranted. He was a ghost up until now and even absent during the finance class I was sure we shared.
Missing out on the bloodless battle Mr. Rutherford allowed to ensue as two students, I couldn’t remember their names if I tried, went head-to-head in a ‘merger scenario’.
Quite cutthroat.
I must have noticed Wolf missing when I lost focus because Mr. Rutherford spoke quickly as he did sharply, as if he were cursing us instead of teaching us about things called ticker symbols.
GE, IBM, Mobil, Xerox.
Only by the end did I realize why I couldn’t find myself understanding what I was sure was English.
He was talking about companies in code, essentially. At least I hoped.
“And where were you this morning?” If I didn’t hold myself back, I’d be leaning forward with both hands gripping the table in eagerness. Instead, I sat back and crossed my arms over my chest.
I felt like Wolf was hiding something, but the connection between himself and Thaddeus was too broad to figure out. They didn’t seem to have any familial relations, and the age gap was too wide for any sort of friendship. So why was he picked out of the bunch yesterday?
He raised his brows a beat and settled next to August. “Around.”
Prick.
I narrowed my eyes, but he gave nothing away.
Holding himself too straight and picking up his knife and fork with perfect table manners.
I took note of the temperature in here, because it was not warm enough for him to be sweating.
And yet I could spot the light sheen glistening over his hairline. It was thin, but it was there.
We watched him cut up his meat before lifting a piece to his mouth. Only then, after he properly chewed and swallowed, did he ask, “What were you guys talking about?”
I didn’t know why he was here, considering he hadn’t sat with us yesterday. When August went to open his big mouth, I kicked him under the table. He yelped, and Wolf sent him a strange look, but the former quickly covered it with a smile.
When none of us spoke, Wolf lowered his utensils and wiped his mouth, done with the stifling silence. “Alright, what’s wrong with the two of you?” But he only looked at me as he posed his question.
Behind him, something caught my eye. Well, someone. Rain Atlas Jett, after our now intertwined involvement in a possible life-long relationship, wasn’t a shocking presence when she entered the Dining Hall. The boy following close behind her was to some degree a curiosity to me, however.
I hadn’t put much weight on his presence when I’d first visited Jett’s office, but he was there. Standing along the wall with a posture I couldn’t possibly recreate or have beaten into me.
He was always holding an agenda of some sort and gave off the impression that he was much too important for those around him.
I’d only glossed my eyes over him a few times during class, but there wasn't anything of interest. And that was only because Rain Atlas Jett wouldn’t keep someone too close if they’d ever posed themselves as competition. They had to be pliant, obedient.
Somewhat naive.
However, I’d only wave him off if I truly placed my trust in someone like Rain Atlas Jett. I didn’t. I could guarantee that she had already begun her search for anything she could hold against me.
“Who’s that boy always following Rain around?”
Wolf’s jaw ticked, and he seemed to cut harder into his meat, his cutlery making unpleasant, sharp noises against his plate that had August wincing. “Who?”
“If you’re going to act clueless, at least do it well.” I moved my fork around my finger in a taunting manner, tilting my head with pursed lips.
He looked up, but only for a moment before focusing back on his food, shaking his head. “Why don’t you go ask her yourself then?”
I shrugged. “You seem to always have this… strange behaviour around her. Thought you’d know something.”
Wolf’s grip on his cutlery tightened. “Well, I don’t.”
“Know something or the strange behavior thing?”
“You–”
“Alright!” August waved his hands around mediatingly with a strained chuckle, but it also seemed to be a comical gesture. Dramatic and joking.
I didn’t understand why he’d decided to become a burst of movement until Rain Atlas Jett and her lackey moved closer to our table from the corner of my eye.
Wolf composed himself and straightened his jacket, ignoring the approaching pair and choosing to focus back on his meal.
I watched him eat methodically, separating the vegetables from the meat before cutting them up into small pieces and separating those as well.
It wasn’t until Rain Atlas Jett stopped in front of our table that he lifted his fork and swallowed the food pitched through it.
She turned her head, and her eyes met mine before moving along to August and then Wolf. They lingered on Wolf only a second too long.
I saw the conflict in her eyes that she hid so well. But it was gone when she looked back at me. “Gentlemen.”
Her airtight mask back in place as she surveyed the meals in front of us, a calm smile placed softly on her lips. “Anything worth trying out today?”
August took the bait, swallowing quickly to answer, “Mmm, the cheesecake looks good, but I haven’t tried it yet.”
He seemed to have forgotten the little dispute Rain had raised at his mere presence only yesterday. But it wasn't something worth focusing on when Wolf was trying so hard to act so casual. My lip twitched in a barely-there smirk, amusement bubbling up inside me.
The slim boy standing behind her almost resembled a statue, unmoving, but he managed a minuscule sneer at August.
My eyes narrowed. “Rain, won’t you introduce us to your…”
I let her lead the conversation, but the information wasn’t of value. “Theodore, Secretary to the Student Body President, meet Alexandr Miroslav.”
Her voice was smooth. Rain was very diplomatic in the way that she handled her affairs in public. I knew she despised me, but from her calm eyes and simple smile, one would never tell.
Shifting my focus to Theodore, I rested my cheek against my fist and watched for what he’d do. Save for the noise of the Dining Hall surrounding us, it was a quiet few moments before he spoke, “It’s nice to be making your acquaintance. Officially.”
I hummed, eyes shifting to Wolf, hoping his body language would guide me through how to view Theodore, but he was still too focused on his meal, not considering him at all. And maybe that was an answer in itself. “Likewise.”
He stood a step behind Rain, his position a permanent reminder through every aspect of his day. That couldn’t be easy. A constant reminder that you will always be one step behind. One rank beneath someone far superior to you.
My point was proven when Theodore’s lips thinned as a student carefully curved around Rain, only to bump into him passing by.
I wanted to smirk but the reason behind it made me pause. This place was making me awfully egotistical; must be the atmosphere rubbing off on me.
That thought made me push my plate away. “I’ll see you guys later,” I spoke to August and Wolf, and stood to leave, only pausing a moment to regard Rain over my shoulder with a simple nod. “Rain, always a pleasure.”
She smiled. “I can imagine.”
I was planning on a smooth escape back to the dorms, my mind conjuring all the ways I could break into Wolf’s dorm for a quick search, but I was ultimately stopped at the steps out of the Dining Hall.
Marigold Walter was a rare student to find in open or populated areas. Always keeping close to the shadows and dark corners. Today, however, she seemed to be braving the crowd, only to pace the bottom of the stairs by the pavement.
At the sound of my shoes against the concrete, Marigold’s face lifted in urgency, and it didn’t take a genius to notice the blotchy red stains against her cheeks and tear-filled eyes.
Unease filled me at her wide expression, and I slowed to a stop, not knowing what our newfound relationship extended to. Silence filled the already quiet air. “... Hey… Marigold.”
I hadn’t meant to, but my greeting seemed to be the last string cut in a web of threads keeping her silent.
She spilled her guts on her own.
More tears fell, fear filling the stretch of her lips as the words came out.