As James approached the imposing St. Killgar's School of Misfortunate Children, a chill ran down his spine as he looked at the school's massive structure looming in the distance.
James reached the dormitory wing, laughter and chatter could be heard. It was coming from Room 113, where the group of people he would soon meet were staying.
James cautiously approached Room 113 and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. Eight faces turned towards him, their eyes felt like they were sizing him up, but, The room was filled with a calm but fun atmosphere. Among them, a black girl with a hideous bob introduced herself as tamia, followed by a boy named gabriel, a black haired Italian, who started complaining once tamia pinched him for commenting on James's hight.
Next to gabriel was jade, she had fabulous blond hair and a nice smile, near the window stood Thomas, who didn't speak apart from greeting him.
Gabriel, with a grin, playfully said "Oh, we're always excited to welcome new dudes. I'm sure you'll be better than the last guy!"
Alice chimed in, "obviously..." with a slight French accent.
Thomas, standing in the background, observed quietly as james started unpacking his stuff. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, he tried to strike up a conversation, "So, how long have you guys been here?"
Sai, a Japanese guy with dyed blonde hair, responds with a twinkle in his eye, "Once upon a time..."
Etain,an Irish girl with long red hair, folding clothes, interrupts,"All of us have been here from the start."
Jade, sitting calmly, offers a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, you'll get used to everything. We're all friendly."
"Ian isn't."Etain laughs.
As they all start talking, James's uneasiness began to fade, but he still couldn't shake off his wariness.
As the night progressed, they would laugh and share stories, james found himself observing their interactions, trying to understand the dynamics of the group. He couldn't help but wonder if there was more to these guys than meets the eye.
This moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in James's life, and as he navigated this uncharted area. He'll have to tread carefully as he gets to know these strangers who he soon thinks of as his friends.
The next day, as James and a few of his friends sat in their classroom, the air was charged with a mixture of anticipation. The whispers of their talks from the previous night lingered in their mind. The teacher, a stern-looking man named Professor canal, stood at the front of the room, his monotone voice droning on about historical events that seemed to blur into the background.
As the lecture continued, James felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning slightly, he saw Tamia leaning in, her eyes wide with excitement.
"James, I can't wait for you to meet the rest of the dorm!"
She whispered eagerly, her voice barely audible above Professor Canal's monotone.
James frowned
"Wasn't etain talking about how Ian was an asshole?"
Before Tamia could respond, both of them noticed a sharp gaze fixed on them. They followed the hateful glare to a guy sitting a few rows ahead, his features twisted in a scowl. James and Tamia exchanged glances, wondering why they had become the focus of his disdain.
"Do you know him?"
James asked.
"Oh, Mark? Yeah, we used to be dorm mates. He was nice at first, but things changed. I wouldn't really recommend you meeting him or getting to know him too well. It's just better to keep your distance, you know?"
Tamia whispered.
When the class ended jane joined them as they started walking towards english class.
"Careful, james the teacher for English class is the principal and he's only nice to lucien."
Remarked Jane.
As the class began, James sat down, his attention immediately drawn to Lucien because of what tamia had said. With a sense of wonder, he watched as Lucien effortlessly fielded the teacher's questions, a mixture of amazement and envy washing over him.
He decided to focus on his own learning and make the most out of the class. As the lesson continued, he found himself becoming more engaged in the subject matter.
After class, he approached Tamia and Jane.
"Lucien is really something, isn't he?"
James remarked, trying to make positive conversation.
After class, Tamia and Jane exchanged concerned glances. Tamia leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone, her words careful.
"James, I've heard some things about Lucien and his dorm mates. Just be cautious around them, okay? It's not all what it seems."
Jane nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, rumors can spread easily, and it's better to play it safe. Just keep your eyes open."
James felt a bit offended on Lucien's behalf.
"Guys, come on. We can't just judge someone based on rumors. Maybe there's more to their story. I'll still be careful, but let's not jump to conclusions."
Tamia and Jane exchanged a disappointed look, clearly disagreeing with James.
"Soo what club are you signing up for?"
"Club?"
"Yep, new kids gotta pick a club before the week's up, or the teachers will do it for you," one of the girls explained.
"But why the rush?" James wondered aloud.
"Maybe they want the new kids to make more friends or something," the jane shrugged.
"Alright then," James replied, skepticism in his tone.
Just as he spoke, James reached his next class and waved goodbye to the two girls before heading inside.
As James walked into his class he was surprised at how colourful this one was compared to the rest of the school.
When he glanced up he saw a nice looking teacher that smiled once their eyes met. The class settled and the teacher started speaking.
"Hello class as some of you might know I'm mrs. Hansel and I'm going to be teaching drama this year as per usual!" She said.
"This is the first teacher that actually seems nice, plus, I don't mind drama." James thought.
"This teacher is the first one who actually seems fun," James mused. Despite his lack of interest in drama, he found himself intrigued.
None of his dorm mates shared his class, leaving him to choose a random seat partner. A little shy, he shuffled awkwardly in his seat, unable to initiate a conversation.
"Hey, you're the new guy, right?"
the person beside him inquired.
"Yeah, I- ,"
James attempted.
"I think you're my dorm mate. I'm Ian,"
Ian interrupted.
"Ian... where have I heard that name before?"
James wondered.
"Probably from our lovely dorm mates,"
Ian remarked, rolling his eyes.
"Did I accidentally say that out loud?" James questioned, feeling embarrassed.
"No, but I read your mind,"
Ian teased, letting out a chuckle.
"Fuck you"
James said playfully.
It seem James's dorm mates hadn't told the hole truth about Ian being a rude guy, or maybe they heard some rumours. They really shouldn't believe everything they hear.
He's starting to think they're a bit shallow.