Arthur put Claire on her seat in the classroom. The few students who were in class had their jaws dropped since the goddess was with another guy. They gathered around Claire to see what was wrong and their eyes widened when they saw the swollen knee of Claire as Arthur raised her tracksuit pants.
"Gosh Claire that looks quite serious!" One girl exclaimed.
"How did this happen?" Another student asked.
"I'll go get some medicine." Arthur said and left.
No sooner had Arthur left the class than Duncan arrived. He saw some of his classmates grouped around Claire's desk. He approached them and that's when he saw Claire's swollen knee. He squatted in front of Claire and touched her knee as he gazed into her eyes.
"Did you fall?" He asked.
"Hmph, do you think I'm a toddler? You should blame that good for nothing president and pesky girlfriend of yours." Claire answered curtly.
"Does it hurt?" He asked again.
"Why don't you try falling and grazing your knee on a hard cemented floor?"
And just after that, Alexa also arrived and saw the scene. She rushed to Claire's desk and when she saw her knee, she was stricken with worry.
"My God, Claire! How did this happen?"
"I'm okay. Just a little treatment and that's it." Claire replied with a smile.
Then Arthur arrived with Tracy. He had a pain reliever spray and a bandage in his hand. Duncan shifted and Arthur knelt before Claire with Tracy standing beside him with worry boldly written on her face. After Arthur was done treating her knee, he wrapped the bandage on it and pulled her pants down to cover it.
Then just after, the mathematics mistress, Miss Diana came in. Surely they didn't even hear the bell ring.
Gwen strutted confidently into the classroom using the backdoor. She stopped, glaring pointy blades at Claire but not once did Claire even give her a glance.
She walked proudly like a peacock towards her seat which was on the first row. She sat down not caring about the menacing gazes she was getting.
Everyone started giving their concentration to their studies. Miss Diana gave them a problem to solve and also permitted them to share ideas.
Claire pondered on the problem not having a solution. She turned to Arthur and shifted her chair to him. When she was close enough, she dropped her book on his table making Arthur to look up at her.
"Claire..."
"Prepare to give answers to my questions after class. Right now, help me to solve this problem." She said straightforwardly not giving him a single glance.
Arthur nodded and started helping Claire out. The two continued to solve the problem oblivious to the deathly glare pointed to them.
Duncan relaxed in his chair after the tutor put down the question for them to solve. He watched Claire's back with a smirk waiting for her to sort help from him but his hopes crushed when she looked towards Arthur and started dragging her chair towards him. He rolled his eyes at Claire's ignorance but became angered when he looked at the gap between the two or... there was none.
Duncan stare was broken when a group of girls stood around him grinning from ear to ear with their notebooks in their hands. He sighed in annoyance and started helping them out but ended up flirting with a few.
"Okay, time's up! All groups dissolve!" Miss Diana announced. Immediately, everyone sat at their places. "Alright, a student should help us solve this on the board." She said glancing through them then her eyes fell on Claire. "Miss Klein please help us solve it." She requested.
All eyes turned to Claire and she got up wincing in pain. Arthur tried to get up and help her but before he could do that, Claire stopped him. She slowly stepped into the aisle but before she could take the next step she was swept up from the ground and also heard loud gasps. She realized she was in Duncan's arms and tried wriggling away from his hold but failed. Duncan walked to the board with Claire in his arms.
"Mr. Dylan. You should behave yourself." Miss Diana reprimanded.
"Sorry Miss, she's hurt because of someone's careless actions. As her classmate and 'bf' it is my responsibility to help her." Duncan bluntly retorted without a care. In the end, only a few could understand what Duncan really meant.
"That's enough! You can have your seat." She ordered Duncan.
He reluctantly agreed and went to sit down. Claire just rolled her eyes and started solving the problem as accurately as Arthur taught her. She gave the marker back to the Mistress and limped to her seat.
"Thank you very much Miss Klein. Let's continue."
After two hours, the lesson was finally over. Every one started moving out for breakfast.
Arthur was just packing when he felt a shadow looming over him. He looked up and saw Claire with her hands on her hips like a mother ready to reprimand her son for secretly eating candies.
"Explain!" She said firmly. Arthur sighed.
"Well I'm a transfer student from Skyline High. Since my family moved to City X, I had to switch schools and after some research, I found out this institution was one of the best in this city so I decided to study here. That's all."
"And when did you come?" She asked arching a brow.
"Yesterday..."
"Yesterday?! I met you yesterday but you didn't bother to tell me!" Claire bellowed.
"I wanted to surprise you." Arthur smiled sheepishly
"Surprise my foot." Claire stomped her foot. She was about to say more but she felt a tug on her collar. She angrily looked over her shoulder just to see Duncan staring at her with narrowed eyes.
"What?" She asked impatiently.
"Since you're done getting the needed explanation why don't you escort me."
"No!" Claire rejected without bothering to ask about where they were to go.
Duncan cringed slightly at the rejection. He looked between Claire and Arthur in a deep thought then let Claire go. He returned to his seat in a daze and in a matter of seconds, spaced out. Claire looked at him in confusion. A moment ago he was acting so domineering but now he is very obedient. Well that will be what Claire and anyone else will assume. But Duncan was right now lost in his own world of thoughts or ...
***
It's been a week and there was no site of Duncan on campus. Five days ago, Claire assumed he was in his room but only found out he has requested for a leave. She was very happy but as time went on, she started having a strange feeling; a feeling of longing. She restrained herself from contacting since she didn't want Duncan to assume she was missing him.
Right now, she was in the library sitting opposite to Arthur as she learned or right now she was deep in thoughts. As she was lost in the world of questions without answers, she felt a sharp pain on her forehead and in reflex she rubbed it as she looked at the guy opposite her with a frown.
"What are you thinking of? If you're tired of studying you can just stare at my handsome face for the rest of the day." Arthur joked.
"I wish." Claire simply stated before her phone started buzzing. She picked it up from the table merely glancing at the caller and answered.
"Yes?" She spoke since there was total silence at the other end.
She glanced at the screen to check the ID of the weird caller. She almost got herself rolling her eyes when she saw it was none other than her so called master who has vanished from a existence for the past one week. She annoyingly plastered the phone on her ear.
"If you're not opening your rotten mouth to speak some shit then I'm hanging up!" She bellowed.
"I've been gone for more than a week. Aren't you missing me?" He spoke in a low husky tone.
"Don't think too high of yourself. How much are you so important to be missed?"
"Never mind... Uhm, come to my home." He requested. There was a total silence after his request then there came the storm.
"Dream on dreamer!!!" Claire cut the line.
"Uh Claire who was that?" Arthur asked.
"Who else but the king of Golden Gates. That fool!" Claire hissed huffing and puffing imaginary thick black smoke. Arthur fell in deep thoughts whilst Claire also was trying to curb her anger.
Claire's phone dinged indicating she has gotten a message. She checked and found out Duncan has sent his address.
"You punk! Go to hell!" She screamed in the library which attracted everyone's attention but she didn't care.
...
Day by day, Claire's feeling of longing grew. She always dreamt of Duncan whenever she slept. This feeling of uneasiness started drawing her into visiting Duncan. She went to sign a permit asking to leave school on Saturday.
On Saturday, she went out without telling her friends and boarded the taxi. When she told the address to the driver, he didn't want to go but Claire had to persuade him and finally he agreed.