by Ivy Clyde
“What the heck was that?” I mumbled, closing the door after him.
Nikolai came out of nowhere, insisted I leave Knightswood and then kissed me. His behavior was giving me serious whiplash. At times, it felt like he wanted me. Other times, he wanted me to leave because he wanted Zoya out of here. Was he only trying to use me?
A frustrated noise escaped my lips as I closed all the textbooks. He’d ruined my focus. I was curious about Vanessa, this mysterious girl who was gone from Knightswood but still affected everyone around here even when she absent. At the same time, my body wanted me to replay the kiss between me and Nikolai.
19
Paris
My second week at Knightswood started with a math quiz. Since it was general math with algebra and fundamental geometry, I was able to do well at it. My regular Advanced Math class was far more difficult to catch up with.
“How did you do?” I asked Zoya as we followed the crowd of students out of the vast lecture hall. It was similar to the one where we had our English lessons. It was the second mandatory subject that all juniors at the academy had to take.
“I don’t know,” she said in an unusually grim voice. “Let’s not talk about it.”
I shrugged, knowing she wouldn’t have done too badly. The questions were not that tough.
On Wednesday, we got the results of our Math quiz along with the grades to a Chemistry assignment.
“You’re on a roll,” said Lucas, leaning in to look at my marks. He’d seen the earlier A+ on my Chemistry assignment. For the math quiz, I’d gotten full marks.
I grinned. “Not too shabby.”
I turned to my right. Zoya looked relieved as she stared at her results. “How’d you do?” I asked.
Zoya showed me the test sheet. She’d gotten seventy out of hundred.
“I’m so glad I passed,” she said, flashing me a toothy grin. “I hate Math.”
“You did well despite that,” I said with a smile. Turning back to Lucas, I asked, “How did you do?” He took Advanced Math like me and the test had to have been a piece of cake for him too.
“Not as great as you. Eight-two.”
A tug on my hair from the back made me frown. Even without turning back, I knew it was Nikolai. He would sit behind me in every English and Math class and do such antics. When I didn’t respond to him, he tugged harder.
“Stop it!” I hissed, whirling around and flipping him the bird.
He frowned at me but I was beginning to get used to that icy cold mask he always had on. Sticking out my tongue at him, I focused my attention on the teacher. He was going through the problems that most students had gotten wrong. Since I’d received full marks anyway, I spent the rest of the hour studying my English notes.
Class had almost come to a close when the teacher’s voice called my name.
Alarmed, I stared back at the portly man at the front. The distance between us was far too much for him to know what I was actually studying.
“Sir?” I answered tentatively.
He squinted at me through his glasses. “So, you’re the new transfer student.”
I gave a nod.
“Good job on the quiz,” he said, giving me a small smile. “You are the only one to score full marks in this class.”
I smiled as relief gushed through me. Phew! I wasn’t in trouble. Just as that thought crossed my mind, I felt the whole class staring at me. In particular, I caught Brianna’s dark scowl. In response, I grinned back at her. She ground her teeth, the look in her dark eyes promising me pain. I looked away, not willing to let her sour my good mood.
It was Friday afternoon when Brianna finally succeeded in ruining my good week.
I was in Physics class when an assistant from the admin department came looking for me. I was seated in the back row, exchanging little notes with Lucas who was cajoling me to go out with him that evening to a club.
I stood up when my name was called.
“Is she needed right away?” asked Dr. Lincoln. “There’s still a good twenty minutes to go.”
“Apologies, Professor,” said the lanky-framed man. “The Principal demanded she go to her office right away.”
Dr. Lincoln’s gaze hardened as they met mine. “Very well. Miss Johnson, you are excused.”
Lucas gave me a worried look as I gathered my things. I felt anxious too. Ominous calls to the principal’s office always had that effect even when you didn’t get up to any trouble.
I followed after the assistant who’d come to get me.
Reaching Ms. Thorne’s glass-walled office, I could see the room filled with a few extra people. My Math teacher, Dr. Larson, and Brianna were there as well.
“Go in,” said the man beside me. “They are waiting for you.”
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door to the principal’s office and entered the room.
“You called for me, ma’am?” I asked politely, eager to break the tension. She was frowning at me while Dr. Larson narrowed his eyes at me. Brianna’s beetle-black eyes shone with triumph.
“I told you on day one we expect very high standards from our students,” said Principal Thorne.
I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“What I probably should have added was whatever grades you achieved here had to be through your own hard work.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Dr. Larson said you received full marks on the math quiz this week,” said Principal Thorne. “Miss Dumas and he are convinced that you cheated.”
“What?” I stared between them all, wondering why they were suddenly accusing me of cheating.
“How else could you receive full marks when we couldn’t?” asked Brianna. She leaned forward, hands on her hips. “You’re a transfer student from Kensington High. It’s impossible you can surpass any student at Knightswood.” She glanced at Dr. Larson. “Don’t you think so, Sir?”
“Yes.”
The air whooshed out of my lungs as I stared at my math teacher. He’d praised me a few days ago for doing well in the test. Now, he looked at me like I’d committed a crime. It hurt.
“I didn’t cheat,” I said through a choked voice.
The door to the office opened and a deep, familiar voice sounded behind me. “May I join in, Principal Thorne?” It was Dr. Lincoln, my Physics teacher.
“Yes. Please come in.”
Dr. Lincoln came in to stand beside the desk, glancing at me with a neutral expression.
I looked back at the principal.
“Miss Johnson, I am very disappointed with you.” A long sigh escaped her. “I’m surprised at myself for expecting anything different.”
“Do you have any proof I cheated?” I asked, looking up at Dr. Larson.
He gave me a strict look. “Do you think you can escape just because there’s no proof? Cheating is not tolerated at Knightswood.”
I almost scoffed at that statement. Students were openly bullied and abused in the academy and he had the gall to say cheating wasn’t tolerated.
“So you’re accusing me of cheating just because I come from a different school?” I asked, unable to restrain myself any longer. Out of all the bullying I’d faced since arriving, this was the worst. How could the teachers get involved too?
“Would you able to take the same test and come out with the same result, Miss Johnson?” asked Dr. Lincoln. Unlike Larson, he didn’t have an accusatory look on his face. He looked mildly amused.
I gave him a nod. “Of course, I can.”
“Why don’t we test her, then?” said Dr. Lincoln, glancing between Thorne and Larson. He completely ignored Brianna. “If she can do it again, then we’ll be sure of her aptitude. You don’t mind being monitored, Miss Johnson?” he added, looking at me.
“No.”
“Good,” he said with a slight curve of his lips. “How about we get on with it now? It will be a late weekend for all of us but at least, Miss Johnson can prove her words.”
“We all g
et to watch her while she does it,” said Brianna. “It’s the only way I’ll believe she didn’t cheat.”
“Watch me all you want,” I said through gritted teeth, balling my fists.
Thorne got to her feet. “Follow me, Miss Johnson.”
My attention shifted outside her office. Lucas, Liam, and Gabrielle were watching the whole thing from outside.
“Ahh, more students,” said Dr. Lincoln, walking out of the office. “More witnesses to your prowess, Miss Johnson.”
“Just get me the test,” I said, quickening my steps after Thorne and not meeting anyone’s gaze.
I was led to an empty classroom. Thorne made me sit at the teacher’s desk and Larson gave me sheets of the math quiz I’d taken earlier that week. It was completely pointless. I would solve everything in less time than it’d taken before.
The teachers filed into the first row with Brianna seated right behind them. As Liam, Lucas, and Gabrielle came inside, no one stopped them.
“You have an hour, Miss Johnson,” said Principal Thorne.
I gripped the pen hard, not even bothering to reply. Opening the test sheet, I looked at the first question and started solving the same problems again.
They all stared at me, not moving their gazes even for a second. The unfairness of the situation brought tears to my eyes. Swallowing the humiliation, I kept my eyes on the sheet of paper before me.
I’d taken fifty minutes to solve all the problems during the actual exam. This time, I finished within half an hour.
“I am done,” I said, getting to my feet.
“Mark it, professor,” said Principal Thorne.
Larsen snatched the sheets on my desk. His expression grew grimmer as he continued to leaf through the papers where I’d solved the problems. Lincoln came to stand at his side and watched him mark through my answers. Steadily, the corners of Lincoln’s mouth curved up in a smile.
“Well?” prompted Thorne. “How did she do?”
Larsen was fuming by now. He fisted the red-inked pen in his hand as it shook slightly.
“Full marks,” said Lincoln, picking my answer sheets. He walked towards Thorne and laid them out on the desk before her. “She’s even shown step-by-step procedures to solve the problems. I am impressed.”
Thorne looked at my answer sheets one by one. They were filled with my neat handwriting.
A sigh escaped her as she took off her glasses and looked at Larsen. “I believe we owe an apology to Miss Johnson.”
Dr. Larsen was red in the face.
I was finally able to meet Liam’s gaze in the back row. There was that same expression I’d seen that night. There was so much regret and sadness in his eyes, it ached my heart. Was he blaming himself for what happened today? Slowly, I looked towards Gabrielle and Lucas. They both looked relieved for me.
Finally, I glanced at Brianna. Her ugly expression marred the flawless beauty of her face. I stared at her defiantly, silently claiming my place at Knightswood Academy. I may be from a poor part of town like Kensington but my mom made sure I was no less than a student at Knightswood. She’d tutored me daily despite the hectic schedule that came from running the bakery. Even though she could never afford to send me here, she made sure I wasn’t missing out on the excellent coaching.
“So far, Miss Johnson has proven herself capable enough to stay ahead in my class,” said Dr. Lincoln. Moving closer to me, he laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I doubted her abilities at first too. Just like now, she proved me wrong. As teachers, we should keep away from biases.”
I looked up at Dr. Lincoln who was giving me one of his rare smiles. “Chin up, Miss Johnson.”
I smiled back at him, feeling a rush of gratitude for one of the strictest teachers in the academy. He came in to rescue me and artfully made me take the same test to prove my innocence. If not for him, I would have shouted until my voice turned hoarse and no one would have believed I didn’t cheat. There was no room for any doubt now. I’d won full marks on the test fairly.
Lucas moved forward and rested his elbow on my shoulder, leaning against my side. “So, can we take her away now?”
“Yes,” said Principal Thorne, getting to her feet. “I’ve seen enough today. Good job, Miss Johnson. Keep up the hard work.” It was hard to keep the frown off my face. She’d easily believed me to be a cheater only an hour ago. Now, she was breezing out of the classroom as if nothing happened with Larsen and Lincoln following after her.
“Well done,” said Gabrielle, reaching me and pulling me away from Lucas. Leaning down, he placed a quick kiss on my lips, startling me completely. Mouth hanging open, I stared into his beautiful sea-green eyes that were full of laughter.
Heat rushed to my face as I pushed at his chest and took a step back. “Th-thanks,” I muttered, hating the way my breath had quickened from a simple peck from him.
“Looks like you’re enjoying your new toy, Gabe,” came a snide voice from the corner. Brianna stood before us, sneering at me.
“Yeah, Liam let me play with her.” His expression suddenly turned frigid. The mirth from his eyes disappeared as he slowly moved towards Brianna. His lips morphed into a snarl as he stepped before her. “Make sure you don’t break our toy. You know what happens when we get angry.”
For the first time since I met Brianna, I found her go completely silent. She paled as she unconsciously took a step backward. Liam came to stand beside Gabrielle. He didn’t say anything but had the same icy expression as his best friend.
A noise of frustration escaped her as she turned away and stomped out of the classroom. A glance passed between the friends.
“Let’s get out of here,” Lucas whispered in my ear. “You need a break from this place.”
There was no debate about that. “Let’s go.”
20
Paris
Most of the trees visible through the windows of my cabin were bare by now. It was the last week of October and fall was already waning. Only a few patches of gold and red remained in the woods. I had to buy a portable space heater for the winter to compensate for the poor heating and insulation of the cabin.
Halloween was only a week away but students at the academy were already excited for it. From what I’d read online, the school hosted a special feast in the evening. What the website didn’t mention were the parties that took place at night in the old, unused Victorian cemetery situated in a nearby hill. Even Mom said Halloween at Knightswood could get wild.
I’d invited both Zoya and Lucas to my cabin that Thursday afternoon to plan out our outfits for Halloween. We could buy our costumes and all the makeup stuff we would need that weekend and be ready for the party.
A knock sounded at the door. Rising to my feet, I rushed to open it.
“You really do live in a cabin in the woods,” said Lucas, flashing a bright grin at me. He was still in his academy uniform while I’d changed into some comfortable PJs.
“Come in,” I said, moving away from the door. “Zoya is yet to come. Maybe her economics class is running late.”
“I can’t believe Liam Davenport is making you stay here,” said Lucas, walking inside and staring all around the room. “This place is so tiny.”
“It’s big enough for me.” Taking his hand, I tugged on it and pulled him further inside the room. As he stumbled forward, I gave him a gentle shove which made him fall on my bed. He looked thoroughly startled, his blond hair falling into his wide, blue eyes. I giggled.
Straightening up, he grabbed a hold of my hand and pulled me into the bed beside him. Lucas might seem feminine on the outside but he was much stronger than me. The force was enough to make me sprawl out on the bed.
My laughter got stuck in my chest as a pillow came to hit me in the face next.
“Stop, Lucas!” I cried. “You win!”
By now, he’d straddled my thighs and sat on them, looking down at me with an unfamiliar glint in his blue eyes. I stared up at his beautiful, feminine face. “You’re so beautiful,” I whi
spered as he pinned my hands on either side of my body.
He scoffed; moving off me and helping me sit up. “Don’t let my cousin hear you say that.” A shadow crossed his face as he glanced at me. “I shouldn’t even let someone like you get involved with me.”
“Someone like me?”
“My cousin is dangerous, Paris,” he said in a grim voice. “It’s not a coincidence I don’t have any friends here. It’s not just the gay thing.”
“He can’t be worse than Brianna Dumas,” I mumbled, playing with a stray thread on my shirt.
“She’s evil,” he agreed. “In some ways, they are both made of the same material. They will destroy anyone they set their sights on. If you had any brains, you’d be running from this place.”
“Hey! I got more than you at that last Physics assignment,” I said with a pout.
“Yeah, you nailed that one. A+ from Lincoln is like getting a Noble Prize.”
I laughed but then sobered up. “I have been working hard.”
“It shows.” Leaning down, he swept a thumb under my right eye. “You need to get more sleep before these circles become permanent.”
I caught his large hand in mine and leaned my head against his shoulder. “I won’t let anyone say I don’t belong here.”
“Paris…a warm, brave girl like you doesn’t really belong here.”
“Stop it, Lucas,” I said with a frown. “Everyone keeps saying the same thing to me. I’ve survived this place for two months. I’ll survive the rest of the year too.”
“Fine,” he said, drawing me against him.
“So…” I fished for a new topic to discuss. “Any ideas what you want to dress up as?”
“I want to go as Belle.”
“Belle? From Beauty and the Beast?”
He nodded. “That sunshine-yellow dress Emma Watson wears is gorgeous. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to wear something like that.”
“You’ll make the girls so jealous,” I said with a laugh.
