Everyone has to deal with school bullies, but our group have the worst of the lot. We don't really understand why they decided to choose us, but we believe it has something to do with the hatred between the two houses that we are in. A very medieval way of living if you ask me.
You see, in Hallowell we are split into houses. The way the houses work is by seeing which Greek God your personality is more like. We don't know why it is Greek God's, apparently it has always been this way, for over 100 years. The headmaster and teachers put you through some tests at the start of your first year, some physical, such as strength and power, some mental such as logic, knowledge and common-sense. There are three houses altogether; Zeus, Ares and Athena. To be put into the house of Zeus you most show signs of great maturity and leadership, as well as outstanding strength. The house of Ares is less pleasant, the candidate must be ruthless and 'manly'. As I'm sure you can understand, not many girls are placed into this house, although not none. The house of Athena is the most peaceful, of course that is the main personality of the God herself. They must show great wisdom and control.
I was put into Zeus along with my friends Jenny, Cameron, Jaimie and Charlie. I have been friends with them ever since our first day. We all excelled in out tests together, all being able to help each other in ways that no one else would. The group I mentioned earlier, I'm sure you have guessed belongs to the house of Ares, consisting of Ben, Blaise, Harry and Callum. All cruel and like to torture those who are unfortunate enough to have crossed the groups path, but none are as bad as their leader, Jayson Millard. He is beyond cruel and malice, he hurts people for fun, whether that being physically or mentally it doesn't matter, both are as bad as the other. He took a liking to me because I turned up to the first year with the headmaster, who is my father. The house of Ares, or mainly Jayson Millard, believes that I got it easier because my father runs the school, so they bully me and make mine and my friends lives a living hell. But they don't see what goes on behind closed doors, what happened at the start of my first year to cause me to come here.
So this is basically where my story begins. I am on the train heading back to Hallowell, seen as it is deep into the English country side where no one can find it or stumble upon it. On the train, the compartments are split into the houses, the house of Ares being on the complete other side of the train, much to my liking. I am sat in the 5th year compartment, on my own, my friends having ran to the catering compartment to stuff their faces like always. I pull out my book, 'A Twisted Love Story' and begin to read quietly to myself. I must admit that I am not a big fan of love stories, they just always seem so farfetched to me, the guy and girl always hating each other at the start and then falling in love due to unforeseen circumstances; it all just seems pretty unrealistic to me. It's nice and quiet in the compartment, all I'm able to hear is the muffled voices of people walking outside of the compartment, and the sound of the train's engine humming away to itself. It's so peaceful.
"I was dreaming all summer long that you wouldn't come back this year, I guess dreams never come true," my silence is broken by the obnoxious words spat out by Jayson Millard.
"No they don't, otherwise you wouldn't have come back either," I shoot back, still concentrating on my book more than the boy stood in the doorway to my compartment. He doesn't reply for a while, making me believe that he has just left in fury at my comeback, but then I hear the lock of the compartment door slowly sliding into place, making me look up from my book. I'm shocked to see that Jayson has grown over summer, which I didn't think was possible anymore, making him look all the more intimidating; which of course I would never let him know. His usual shaggy brown hair is kept back by a small amount of gel, keeping the locks out of his electric blue eyes. He's filled out a bit since I last saw him as well, gaining even more muscle from vigorous exercise I'm sure.
"Are you finished checking me out over there, Wood?" his lips slowly curl into a smirk, mocking me. I roll my eyes and turn my attention back to my book, ignoring the pounding of my heart at being locked in the compartment alone with this monster. "You can pretend you don't want me, but I see the way you look at me,"
"You mean with disgust, is that how every girl looks at you Millard?" I lift my eyes for a second to see the smirk fall off of his face and a glare take its place. I let a small smile take over my face, but it turns nervous as he takes a seat opposite me, a serious look on his face as he looks me over. I wonder if he is 'checking me out' or is he just looking for a flaw to make fun of. It's probably the latter. Right? Before I am able to react, my book is being yanked out of my hands, causing my full attention to turn to the mischievous boy sat opposite me.
"Give me my book back Millard," I'm sure my exasperation can be heard through my words.
"You know, me and the boys have been thinking," he says absentmindedly flicking through the pages of my book, ultimately making my bookmark fall from one of the pages.
"That's a dangerous thing to do," I grunt out. I will never be able to remember what page I was on.
"You're very talkative today, Wood," I can see the twinkle in his eye at having me fight back for once. I know that he loves a fight, so I don't usually give him the satisfaction but I guess I just can't control myself this morning. "Anyways, me and the boys have been thinking that you Zeus' have gotten a little too big for your boots these recent years,"
"And what is that supposed to mean? That we haven't been bowing down to your every wish? If that is what 'getting too big for our boots' looks like then it is going to stay that way," too big for our boots, who does this guy think he is?!
"Well, we have been thinking that maybe a little game may help us decide which house is better than the other," just as he finishes, I hear the compartment door rattle, followed by a knock. I look up and see my friends at the door, looking angry at being locked out, and at Jayson being here. I move away from Jayson and unlock the compartment door; which Charlie slams open as soon as the lock is fully off.
"What do you think you are doing here?" he spits out, rage clear in his voice. Charlie has always been pretty protective of me, ever since Jayson started picking on me more than anyone else in the school, and I have always been grateful for his help.
"It's okay Charlie, we were only talking, and Millard was actually just about to leave," I say dismissively as I snatch my book out of his hands whilst he is distractedly glaring at Charlie.
"Actually, I was just telling Wood here about a lovely little game me and the boys have come up with," Jayson smiles coldly at my group, but winks at Jenny, who nods back, so small that I barely even get the chance to tell if it really happened or not, but based on the giddy smile that is forming I would suggest that it did.
"We don't care about your stupid games, so you can either leave now or I throw you out," Charlie's anger is clearly getting the best of him as he advances on Jayson, standing over him in a threatening manner, wanting for Jayson to make a move so he can hurt him like he does us.
I grab Charlie's hand and pull him down next to me, which he refuses for a while but soon gives up. Taking a seat and pulling me into his side. I shift a little uncomfortable at being this close to him whilst other people are looking. I mean, there is nothing going on between us, but it doesn't look that way to others. I catch Jayson glaring at Charlie's arm which is wrapped around my shoulder and I frown at him, wondering what exactly his issue is, but he shakes his head and his smirk is back tenfold.
"Jay what are you doing here? We've been looking for you everywhere!" just then, the boys of Ares walk into our compartment, making the small area cramped with people. Each house on different sides of the compartment, each glaring at each other.
"I was just about to explain our little game to them," the whole group have matching smirks, all turning to look at me, making me uncomfortable and lean into Charlie, who tightens his hold around my shoulders. Jayson's smirk falters for only a second before he catches himself. What is going on with him today?
"Just come out with it already Millard, we're almost at school," Jenny says almost eagerly, as if she knows what he is going to say.
"I propose we have a bet. One person from each house swaps place for the year, living in the other house, living by the other house's rules and lifestyle. The first one to cave and come back to their original house loses," for a whole year? There is no way that my father would even allow a student to do that.
"What does the winner get?" Cameron asks, clearly into the idea of the bet. I look at my group and see them all interested, on the edge of their seats wanting to hear the stakes and the prize.
"Well other than bragging rights, the winning house gets to have control of the losing house for the next year, they can wish anything of the other house and you have to do it no matter what it is," Jayson is practically giddy at this point, along with Jenny and the rest of the group.
"This is ridiculous, my father would never allow two students to swap houses," I shake my head, disregarding the childishness of the situation.
"How about you don't be a daddy's girl for once in your life. He doesn't have to know, we can still go to our usual classes and the teachers will never know that we are staying in different houses,"
"Come on Eva, this is our chance to prove that we are better than them," Jenny begs me, the rest of the group look at me with pleading eyes. I sigh in defeat and look back at Jayson, a look of triumph on his face.
"Fine you guys can play your stupid game, I'm not getting involved,"
"Actually Wood, the other team gets to choose who has to swap houses, and we chose you," the look of happiness on Jayson's face makes my blood boil but I say nothing, hoping my glare will tell him how much I hate him right now.
"Fine then we cho-"
"We choose Ben!" Jenny shouts out before I can finish my sentence. I turn around and look at her in shock, but she just shrugs as if it's nothing.
"Very well. Ben you will be staying at Zeus, and Wood, you will be coming back with us to Ares,"