Raiden's first class, had been music.
Usually she was used to a homeroom period before school started in middle school, but Schatten Academy didn't seem to have the word "homeroom" in its dictionary.
This school takes mysterious to another level altogether. She told herself as she walked to class.
The teacher had not come yet when she had arrived. Raiden stood at the door scanning the room and the various musical instruments before her eyes landed on the familiar petite figure of Jennifer. Jennifer's face lit up as soon as she saw Raiden and she waved excitedly as Raiden sat beside her.
As soon as Raiden sat down beside her, Jennifer tackled her in a bone crushing hug. By bone crushing, Raiden could actually feel her ribs crack.
'I missed you so much.' She squealed.
'You literally just saw me this morning before I went for counselling.'
'Shush you meanie, I missed you and that's it. Period.'
'Okay, whatever you say, drama queen.' Raiden chuckled as she threw her hands up in air as a sign of defeat.
'My my, thank you, Queen of Mean.'
'Ah, I love the song.' Raiden stated.
'I know right? Sarah Jeffery is an absolute goddess.'
'Descendants series was the best movie series ever.'
'I won't even argue on that. Did you know-'
Their conversation was interrupted by the loud swish of the door followed by the entrance of Professor Cassandra. She wore black three-piece suit and her long hair was tied up in a ponytail which made it seem like she had come for business and not for teaching the students.
'Good morning everyone,' her strong gaze made everyone in the room silent, 'I am Cassandra Houston, as you all may have heard me address you yesterday. You are to call me Professor Cassie or just Professor. You are not to call me Professor, if you do not want to lose your credit in your exams. Also, remember that, I may call you up out of the blue to play an instrument of your choice from here,' she pointed to the instruments on the stage, 'as students of Schatten Academy who have taken Music, I do not expect anything less, have I made myself clear?'
Her cold gaze sent a shiver down Raiden's spine, it was so intense.
'Yes, professor.' The students replied in unison.
'That's nice to hear.' Professor Cassandra's gaze softened and her face broke into a light smile as she addressed the crowd again, 'Now, let us start the class today. You may know that Music is not taught to middle school projects unless you have the gift for it.' her face scanned the room until it landed on Jennifer's face,' Miss Kurosawa, since you were the only middle school project, apart from Mr. Pearson, I wonder why he isn't here today, who could earn a place in my class last year, why don't you tell the class what we define music as?'
Jennifer's face lit up as Professor Cassandra mentioned her name. She stood up immediately and began gushing out the answer as if she had already learnt it up by heart.
'Music is often defined as the vocal or instrumental sounds or both combined, in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony and expression of emotion. Music is generally an art form and cultural activity whose expression is defined in the form of sound. General definitions of music often include common elements such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. Music is performed with a vast range of instruments and vocal techniques ranging from singing to rapping; there are solely instrumental pieces, solely vocal pieces which do not require any musical instrument, and pieces that combine singing and instruments.' She let out a long breath as soon as she was done.
Professor Cassandra's smile widened on hearing Jennifer's answer.
'Absolutely correct Ms. Kurosawa,' she said, clapping her hands lightly, 'but I'm sorry, I'll only be able to give you half credit on that answer since you had already been in my class. You can sit down now.' She addressed the other students again, 'As Ms. Kurosawa defined, music is indeed a form of cultural arts that is defined in the form of sound, and I am sure none of you are strangers to the concept of music, given your age.'
The students replied in an anonymous no. Freakishly synchronized. Raiden commented internally.
'So, all of you listen to music, I suppose, I don't think there is a person in this age who does not listen to music nowadays. That would be simply an oddity.' She mumbled the last part to herself.
'So why don't some of you share why do you like music, or like listening to music. Don't worry all answers will be accepted today and there is no risk of losing credit.' She smiled lightly again.
The students stayed silent.
'Come on,' she urged, 'don't be shy now. It can be any reason, any genre that you like, there is no embarrassment in sharing what you love and why you love It.' she looked at the students hopefully.
'Because music calms my jumpy nerves.' One of the students in the back answered.
Professor Cassandra's face lit up.
'Yes, to calm the nerves, we have one reason, come on everyone, this is a participating class, and don't worry, what happens in this class stays in this class. Come on, say your thoughts.'
'To think clearly.' Another answered.
'To concentrate while I am studying.'
'It helps me cope with stuff that I go through, it makes me feel safe.'
'Yes, keep on going.' Professor Cassandra said in a breathy whisper, 'I love this thing. The first class of freshman year Music is always the best.'
***
'Geez you violent woman, why do you have to hit so hard?' Aaron coughed out as he choked on his food during lunch.
Raiden, Jennifer and Jayden just chuckled. They had all assembled in the great hall for lunch. The same hall where they had attended the party the previous night. A long row of tables had now been laid in the hall, which were covered with white black tablecloth with a white trim and laden with delicious food. Jennifer, Jayden and Aaron sat opposite Raiden.
'Where had you been this morning?' Jennifer asked threateningly, 'You missed all of today's classes. Cassandra was asking you where you were. You're aware that missing the first day of Cassandra's class makes you lose credit.'
Aaron just shrugged.
'Well technically she loves me so it wouldn't be much of a problem.'
'Don't be so cocky.' Jayden suggested putting down his book, 'Just because you two topped her class last year, and doesn't mean that she will let you off the hook this year. You two are not middle school projects anymore, you two are officially the students of Schatten Academy now. She will be stricter this year, so you better be aware now.'
'Geez you sound exactly like Cassandra right now.' Aaron rolled his eyes.
'Just stating what's obvious, since you probably don't know what it means.' Jayden just shrugged.
Raiden chuckled at the constant bicker between the three. It seemed quite nice watching them like that. Xavier and I bickered like that. She thought to herself.
'Ahem,'
Raiden was pulled out from her thoughts. She turned around in the direction of the voice, only to find Zane standing there, smiling.
'Oh, Zane, hi, I didn't see you there.'
Zane grinned wider. A dimple appeared on his right cheek as he did so. Cute.
'Mind if I join you? If I am not intruding, you four seem to be having some interesting conversation.'
'Of course you're not intruding.' Jennifer piped up, 'We weren't talking about anything important. Just teaching this dumbass here some manners.' She smacked Aaron at the back of his head making him choke again.
'I told you not to smack me so hard.' Aaron managed in the middle of coughs.
Zane laughed as he took a seat beside Raiden.
'Everyone, this is Zane, and Zane meet Jennifer, Aaron and Jayden.'
'So, all of you were middle school projects?' he asked looking at the three of them.
'Not me,' Jayden replied resuming his attention to the book again, 'I am a second year student. We're the residents of the same house.'
'Ooh,' Zane raised his eyebrows in interest, 'All of you are in the same house?'
'Mm-hmmm.' Aaron just replied while eating.
'Cool, which house?'
'Gardien House.' Jennifer stated, 'Dude, you seem to be asking so many questions, are you gonna murder us in our beds?'
'No,' Zane replied chuckling, 'my roommate often seems to go there to meet his girlfriend. He barely spent yesterday in his room and did not come back for the night; I assume he spent the night there.'
'Who, that pathetic excuse of a teen?' Jayden asked not looking up from his book, 'Yeah, I guessed he stayed the night here.'
'If, by pathetic excuse of a teen you mean that French man whore, he certainly spent the night in our house. I saw him come out of Cassandra's room when I went to wake you up.'
'Yeah and almost burst my ears.���
'I see.' Zane just commented, 'My roommate doesn't seem to have much of a good reputation. Well, I don't care. He doesn't meddle in my business and I don't wanna meddle in his either. Only thing is that whenever I speak is that I am often mistaken for him and get behaved with rudely like I did last night.' He glanced at Raiden as he smirked.
'I said I was sorry!' Raiden exasperated, her face turning red in embarrassment.
'I know, I'm just teasing, do not turn into a tomato.'
'I am not turning into a tomato!'
'Are too.'
'Am not!'
'Ahem,' Aaron interrupted, 'let us stop contemplating on that, lunch period is short. So Zane what are your interests?'