12:30 PM • Lunch Break • Canteen 11
Daniels and Darling took the lift once again now heading to Canteen 11 on the fifth floor, north wing.
"Remember, you have to swipe your ID Card on the counter of any food you like. Your ID Card isn't only your ticket way in the building but also serves as an allowance card . . . " Daniels reminded, " . . . remember the ATM kiosks at the Accounting Office? Ground Level?"
Darling nods, "Yes. That's where I check for my balance and deposit my accounts into the card," she recalled as Daniels instructed.
Daniels smiled, "Good."
The pair stood by the entrance of Canteen 11, all entrance doors were now wide open unlike the hours before where they couldn't get in because of the schedule of its opening. Darling who was innately anti-social, found minimal sense of relief in hearing other people's voice, range and tone – other than Daniels' – as she had just spent four hours of her living life with the Head Girl's unstoppable and proud speeches.
Daniels led Darling inside the canteen which was bright with cool vibrant colors, walls were painted with neat, diverse and respectful murals completely different from every floor and room she had been in for the past hours. She recognized several familiar mural historic tales of lycanthropy to the far side. Floors were tiled in crimson red, white and gold and in the middle, written Peak Point Academy in mosaic. Large glass windows on the right were actually sliding doors leading to a canteen balcony decorated with long benches. The food counters were on the far end and so were the ID Card machines. Tables stretched at least ten feet and well positioned in rows and columns.
Darling's auditory was penetrated with warped patterns and irregular volumes of sounds and speeches and yet this created a harmonious activity in her brain. She was perplexedly amused chuckling upon hearing insults, jokes and gossips thrown by friends of friends as the both of them walked past the tables. Her expected clichés and stereotypes of what high school students in their rightful place would look like, was not accurate but can be seen separately.
"Is there an unspoken rule about the seating here? Or everyone just sits where they want regardless of who sat there the previous day?" Darling asked out of awareness and curiosity.
Daniels giggled, "I'm surprised you're aware of that kind of arrangement. . . but sort of yes and no. There's no unspoken rule but more like muscle memory and free will."
Daniels and Darling slipped in line for the trays.
"Unlike the classrooms which have assigned seating, the canteen has none. It's like, where you sat on the first day, is most likely where you'll sit forever or at the end of term. But then some students really are unaware of that and . . they just don't care. They take their seats wherever depending on their moods so the kids who have already made up their minds on where to sit are forced to look for another seat. We don't really make a big deal out of it. Every level, as I've mentioned earlier has a Canteen and this is the Junior's place, everyone knows it. But there are some who would eat away from their floor, and sometimes I find it disorderly and unpleasant to be honest, I mean, why do you have to eat on another canteen that isn't your own grade level? Right? Seems insensitive and unjust to me. I mean they serve us the same food on every floor."
Darling slightly impressed by how well-explained her answer was even thought it had lopsided a bit from the main question. She appreciated Daniels' thought, perception and memory process. And the fact that the Head Girl might be more of a silent-nitpicking-perfectionist than she had anticipated. Although it would make sense, I guess she was not Head Girl for nothing, Darling thought.
The pair bought their lunches and Daniels led the new student to one of the long tables right at the center where ten students are seated, chatting and playing. Darling was faced with what she assumed were Daniels' friends and a wide variety of flavors at that. They were still all werewolves. Of course, this school, and
"Hi guys just dropping by to say hello. This is Aileen Darling, new student, Class C," Daniels chimed turning her body to Darling as if pointing her with the illusion of using her fingers where in reality was helping her hand support the weight of her lunch tray.
Daniels' friends consisted of mainly jocks and on both sexes. It would not look like it since the students were wearing formal uniforms – as they should on Mondays and almost everyday – but Darling had a more natural sophisticated olfactory talent at sniffing the faint scent of chlorine filtered by a scented mango shampoo coming off a girl's hair that led her to believe that these guys and gals were indeed jocks. That and because two of Daniels' friends were visibly holding a volleyball and a basketball.
"Hi," Darling waved shakily displaying a small awkward smile and a rapidly blinking unfocused eyes.
Daniels' friends harmlessly mimicked her tiny, soft voice which they thought would be fun to ease tension but soon realized had no lingering effect deviated to a wave and welcomed Darling as normal as possible. The Head Girl and New Girl sat across each other and not far off from the right of the group in a position where there was enough space to breathe on both sides.
"Eat up," Daniels smiled waved her hands provoking the "eat up" action.
"They're all your friends?" Darling asked and placed both hands on either side of her lunch tray unsure of where to start.
"Yeah. They're teases get a bit out of hand sometimes, but I promise they're . . . almost harmless," she said a bit sheepish.
Darling decided to drink form her carton milk first and plunged the straw on the dot, "Are you an athlete?" she glanced at Daniels.
"Me? No, why do you ask? – Is it because half of them are athletes?" She chuckled and bobbed her head to the direction of her friends.
Darling couldn't help but smile, "I figured . . . birds of a feather, flock together?"
"True, but I'm not all that sporty. My cousin –" she points at the dark curly haired one, "– that guy, medium curly hair, is co-Captain of the Archery Team, and the girl sitting next to him is my best friend, Vice Captain of the Volleyball Team."
Darling's sight lingered on the two introduced by Daniels for a moment and then back to her meal. Daniels was subtly examining the new student as they sit eating in silence. The first time she had seen her she thought, what a pretty girl. Sugary grey eyes, silvery, extremely fair skin like she had bathe only in milk all her life with thick, stone blonde hair rippled all the way down her waist. Watching the sun fall on her face as soon as she stepped out from the limousine earlier felt like a scene shot from a transformative princess movie. Daniels thought what an angelic face she had which did not seem as impactful as the photo on her profile.
The Head Girl had her suspicions at first and she had kept it longer than intended now that they had met face to face. This new girl was two months late in admission. The Academy's policies weren't strict cold however there were only certain exceptions and limitations held that fueled Daniels' curiosity. It was why she took the uncommon liberty to personally tour her. She found that Darling's records were only average she was no Einstein, nor
All these thoughts and suspicions but the Head Girl had already made the decision to befriend such foreign and mysterious beauty. She was aware of the use Darling would serve to the academy and her own popularity and merit.
Simultaneously, Darling was also stealing glances at Daniels creating her own world view of the Head Girl. She wasn't into appearances unlike the former, rather what's going on in a supernatural's head. Darling is an anti-social, but what she lacks in social skills, she makes up for her heightened intuition and deeply rooted paranoia and judge of character.
Matthew Daniels stood up and slid next to Martina Daniels' seat leaning a few inches behind her, "Tina, the freaks just entered," he chuckled and grinned full of spite jerked his head toward the canteen entrance.
Darling having not missed the snarky remark, snapped her head to the entrance.
Six girls entered similar in uniforms, differing in looks and personalities, Darling concluded.
"How are they . . . freaks?" lowly she asked.
Matthew leaned over the table to reach her. He was bewildered at first, does she not smell the the scent of Warlocks? He thought. And then added, If she doesn't then she must be one dumb wolf, before letting out a quick sigh.
"
The canteen's chatters and rackets faltered by the sudden entry of the girl group. Darling thought they looked cool, like they were in a girl band or an ordinary group of
"You shouldn't look at them for too long," Martina advised tapping the top of her hand.
She eyes Martina, "Are they dangerous?"
"Yeah, they'll turn you into stone if you keep staring, whooo – " "–Stop Matt."
Martina shook her head, "I apologize for his behavior." Matthew Daniels pouted playfully but grinned. He sat down next to his cousin and went on to play on his phone.
Martina Daniels cleared her throat and leaned forward, "As I was saying, no one knows. They moved here last year at Christmas which was seven months ago, late admission . . surprisingly they were all academically excellent so the Academy Board's clemency permitted their admission. Not only that, but their father is Warren Alexandra, a renowned World Chamber Detective and Prosecutor and not to mention, our Alpha Warbeck's childhood friend . . . he was a former pack member and a Sentinel Blood."
Darling nodded as if she cared of titles and authority but in reality she didn't. "So. . . family connections is what got them in other than their outstanding records?" Darling reaffirmed and Martina concurred with a convicted nod.
"Still, I don't get why our Alpha let them through . . . they're hybrids," Matthew jumped in defense while picking on a tiny steel arrow toy.
Martina turned to her cousin with a questioning and offended look, "Because our Alpha trusts him – " "–Doesn't mean we have to."
"I'm uncomfortable with it as well. But they're the Alpha's orders. They were looking for a place to settle, and Alpha Warbeck needed someone of his stature for the Pack," Martina explained and then turned once again to Darling. "No one could stop him from letting them through the territory, not even his Elders."
"Are Hybrids that bad here?"
"Are you kidding? Of course they are. They destroy the balance of the
Darling wanted to refute Matthew's argument but she thought it was a little too early for disputes in moral and political compasses and instead refrained and nodded in response.
"Do they have different mothers? None of them look like each other . . . half-siblings?" Darling asked, diverting to a more gossip worthy and harmless topic.
Matthew snickered and turned to Martina, "Damn, she gets on pretty quick."
"Yes and no. Warren Alexandra isn't their real father, she adopted the girls – almost all the same age – on different occasions whilst solving his cases. At least that's what I've heard." Martina cleared. "That's why you could visibly tell their ethnicity apart."
"Man's got a fetish if you asked me," Matthew murmured.
Martina nudged him with a warning look, "Stop it. And no one was asking you."
"What? Don't you find it . . . weird?" He asked Darling with an uneven raised eyebrow. "He's a grown up, un-destined, un-mated and adopts seven girls out of nowhere and all of them Hybrids? FEH-TISH-UH," Matthew flippantly laughed.
Martina Daniels cleared her throat but couldn't stop a smile from forming in her lips, she smacked Matthew in the arm in an attempt to flee from the temptation of amusement crawling up on her by her cousin's words and then turned to Aileen Darling with a stern look, "I apologize. He's a douchebag. And no, I don't think it's a fetish. I've met Mr. Alexandra, he's nice and a sweet man, my father and him also knew each other and assured us that he is harmless and a good man," Martina explained trying to sound as persuasive as she can be in hopes to cover the slip in what she believes to be a not-so-Head-Girl actions.
"Are you afraid of them?" Darling asked out of the blue, locking eyes with the cousins. Although it wasn't possible to stare down two people at once, but for the cousins it felt like that. Like like the new girl's unyielding innocent eyes were only fixed on them.
Martina started in a low voice, "No, there's no reason, to be afraid, I gue–" "Me? Nah. They're harmless, but they're still freaks," Matthew leaped in again. "Especially the little one, Lucille. Shy, keeps to herself and easily jumps," he chuckled pointing outside, through the windows at the youngest of all the Alexandra Sisters.
"You said there was seven of them but there's only six," Darling pointed out and the Daniels cousins took a second glance.
"Yvannia Alexandra, she's been disappearing here and there, and heaven knows where. She's said to be the black sheep of the sisters, though I doubt it," Martina replied with a shrug.
"Why is that?"
"She's in Class B, she's intelligent to say the least."
"She's prolly be banging someone in the staff room," Matthew revealed that had earned him a stabbing glare from Martina. "What? She's a slut. A nympho. She jumps from one guy to another," he added chuckling.
Darling found his opinion awkward and irrelevant, so she easily disregarded it whether it was fact or self deluded.
"You've made your point, Matthew," Martina sighed. She leaned over to Darling, "Anyway, these are just rumors, but she IS overly flirtatious with the guys in the whole building based on my keen observations," Martina whispered. "I'm not really suppose to gossip about this, but if you think it's in your best interest to get to know these girls for your safety, then I won't withhold any information from you," Martina Daniels smiled kindly.
***************
After lunch, Head Girl and New Girl resumed the tour on the outer grounds. Daniels led Darling to the Green Field, an oval field where the normal sports happen.
Peak Point Academy is a Werewolf Institution but it doesn't mean the students should be deprived of normal, mundane sports. The Green Field is used as a Rugby, Football or Soccer, Track and Field and Pep Squad and Scouts Training activity facility for the high school students.
The high school campus grounds is contoured by Crown Park Woods to the South, Peak Point Woods further West, and Northwestland Forest to the North. East is where the Main Road lie.
After the field, Daniels took Darling in the campus
Their next destination was the Peak Point Dorms. Dorms were only accessible for foreign and oversees students enrolled in the academy which are in alliance with the pack. They went back, passed the field and into the west wing ground floor. They exited out the courtyard, entered the east wing and took the elevator to the fifth floor.
"Where are we going now?" Darling asked as soon as they came out of the lift.
"Your Homeroom."
"But aren't they having class?"
"Not at this time. They're in the Laboratory for Chemistry. Then after, straight to the gymnasium for Physical Education."
They reached the door to Class 11-C, slid it gently open and entered the classroom void in any supernatural interaction. It was the first time Darling had set eyes upon a real classroom knowing she would be studying, sitting, exercising her rights in it the following day. She had seen what classrooms normally looked on television, soap opera, the internet and in abandoned school buildings and yet this all felt new and alien for her. She wasn't nervous or anxious mainly because she had other hurdles to point those at.
The walls and ceiling were still of the same material as the stone, the only difference was the color of ashen grey. It reminded her of an old ruined church in Ireland now a tourist spot. The classroom looked more the inside of a castle than of a cathedral. Five silver miniscule chandeliers hung beautifully off the ceiling with paintings once more of history. Floors were hard marble, surprisingly bright and clean. If there were no tables and chairs and a split board occupying the whole front wall, the room would look more like a ballroom than a learning box.
Daniels strode down the middle isle and Darling followed in a slow pace absorbing in every little detail of the room. The chairs were lined neatly despite the books and notes piled on top of the desks. Blazers and hoodies draped over the back rest. Natural light pierced through the open windows and white silk curtains hung drunkenly onto the side.
At the far end of the classroom lockers stood in alternate red and white with a combination lock.
"There's a maximum of thirty students and minimum of twenty seven in each of the four class levels. Your locker is 11-C27, left side corner, as you're the last student to join this class," said Martina with a welcoming smile right next to Darling's red locker. "You'll have to ask the Main Desk for your combination lock and then you can reset it from there."
"Thank you," Darling breathed, an overwhelming calm finally washing over her.
"And that ends our tour," Daniels clapped with a squeal.