The sky is getting gloomier. Clouds began to shimmer before the sun, shielding the world in a grey light. Today, clouds appeared unexpectedly on the Gold Creek.
"Oh, lord. What would've been worse than a storm? A new guy in our school..." Eve stares through the window—unsatisfied with the view. The news of the new student had to be written on paper. And Eve is a good writer.
*Writing* "A rich, snob boy too. Daddy must've been given too much love to prosper him. Look at those clothes, too..."
"I have never wished to wear more than just a sweater to school. But of course, I had to live where the sun constantly shines."
"Carven.io...Never heard anything more narcissistic than that."
"This is not usual. Why is there a storm right now?" She glares doubt at the sky. Air weakens on the outside, yet rain is still dampened by the clouds.
"Haah...Foo..." She lets out a breath to fog the window, assuring the humidity increases.
"Yeah. It's about to rain any day. I better get home quickly before it starts pouring. Don't want to wet this new book by myself..."
"And I don't want that boy to look after me, either. I mean, what's the worst that could have happened?"
Many were expecting such an event—awing the sky where they could open the curtains with pleasure. The wind blew colder than a few hours ago, and the leaves were falling red. After all, it's the season of autumn.
While Eve had to work her way on the project, she had left a time in the hallway where Dion gathered all his followers to look after him. Carrying the bag from home to school was the heaviest task to do. That's why many are willing to take his place.
"I heard Dion was the one discovering the new bacteria in Russia 2 years ago. He even manage to publish them altogether with his new song..."
"I didn't know he could sing either! Whole time I thought he was just a researcher!"
"Oh, but to be this good...I could cry in the bathroom all day listening to his songs..."
"Oh, Carven.io! I remember now. Heard your name in my mom's cup recently!" Cyrus slaps his head.
"Although, I don't think I've ever been too obsessed with a cup before..."
"Good, now you understand the gravity of this situation closely. Of course, I wouldn't expect any of you to know nothing of me..." Dion began cleaning his locker—a container of dust and unutterable disgust.
"How can we, Dion? We've heard about you! Especially some of your activities out there!"
"Yeah, whatever you did there in England was something magnificent! Especially the concert, the spotlight...heck, I've still had an album of your podcast."
It is a tape consisting of Dion's record outside of this hill. There is something wise and educational you could hear from it. For instance, this one is called "Anger issue management."
"Oh? I never heard of that before." Cyrus peeks suspiciously.
"Dion, please tell us more about your journey!"
"Please sign my autograph! I need it!"
"Dion, we love you!"
"You already said that many times!"
"Dion, you are already one of the best students here. You shouldn't be too worried about sharing yourself. Nothing's wrong with helping others to grow like you, right?" The teacher comforts him.
"Now, now...I would like to share most of my great journey out there. But first, I have a lot to look after this school..." The boy controls the crowd with his hands.
"Can we go for an insight about this class yet? I'll be pleased to see every student here rather than introducing myself in class. My bag seems happy with the lockers, but I need to look inward with the students here to feel content."
"Of course, Dion! But what about the class, teacher?"
"The class can wait. I never said literacy was timely...except if you didn't submit it in time. Did you?" The teacher looks sharp at his students.
"Remind me not to waste any more months looking at those drafts every week. I want you to look after Dion and see how he did it...he'll show you."
"Alright, teacher!" The students roll their eyes out in displease.
"So, who's your class leader here? I heard there's a big guy named Cyrus who looks in charge of the class." He looks impatiently at the crowd, waiting for a special topping on his cake.
"That'll be me! Hehe..." Cyrus walks over to the crowd, proudly showing himself to Dion.
"My, what a look. No wonder people like me would know about you...haha..." He compliments Dion best.
To his surprise, Dion took his words unwell and focused on him instead. His right hand lunges to Cyrus's shoulder, dragging his ear to his face.
*Whispers* "Hey, a good question. Do you consider if I took all your friends myself? Surely you don't need any of these people, right?"
The words send a chill through his spine. Cyrus's smile vanishes immediately upon watching the shift in Dion's smile.
"W-what? What are you talking about?"
*Whispers* "I'm not going to repeat this again. Don't cross the line with me, and I'll make sure you come home in pieces. You understand?"
"Okay. Okay...sheesh...the podcast didn't lie about you being a creep. Nice performance, though..." Cyrus backs off with a chuckle.
"Glad to see every face around here. My class seems more cheerful and bright than I thought!" Dion smirks.
"Actually. I think we've forgot one person." Cyrus recheck.
But if there's one thing everyone had been waiting for more this autumn, that'll be the prince. They said his looks and presence were not of this world—a fortune untold. His look is a fragment of his greatness, but his proficiency is somewhere above them.
In a moment, Eve rethinks about her decision after hearing the crowds from outside the class starting to hype Dion's name. Some even mentioned the things that had stuck in Eve's head for a long time.
"Oh, who am I kidding? I can't stop thinking about that new student. He was the only interesting thing I could see over 6 years in this city. An upper-class family that could change the town for good?"
"Why not me? Why him?" She envied.
"I must consult with him. With the news of the outside, I could complete my research about the outside world. Finishing whatever this final project I'm about to share with my teacher..."
"Or novel project? Teacher said I had to make at least an 80-page story in two months before the presentation. The topic is shit...and I have no clue what to add here..." She checks her draft on a paper sheet clipped to a book. A brief introduction was made in a paragraph, but it is an overstatement to call it a page.
"Maybe I could tell a story about a rich boy? I mean, everyone loves him..."
"We love you, Dion!" Everyone outside the class was having the day of their life. The party is still out there, with Eve being absent once more.
"Please let us help you, Dion! That bag might be too heavy to hold!"
"Can't we visit your home, Dion? We can throw a party there, too!"
"But it's too cliche. I'm not fond of these kinds of genres. If its not fantasy, then it couldn't be me..."
"Settle down, girls! I'll be here all day when you need me." Dion brags at his fans.
"But why settle in my house when I can share more of my family's legacy here? I have golds and glory you could use..."
"Sounds like violating the school's law to bribe teachers. But anything for money, I suppose." The teacher smirks with content over the deal.
"Maybe it could be a fantasy. A gold-laced king and a gold town...? Yeah, that could work!"
"And of course...that means I must *sigh* talking. Get those creditable resources from him and finish this immediately..."
"Here goes." Eve braces herself. Lowering her book and standing high was the most infuriating thing she had to do, but with the new student getting closer to her position.
The librarian would never be more content with this guest. The answer from the world above their heads—freedom from sin and grievous piety. Doubt fills her head when she sees the prince standing at her, ready to answer everything she needs.
"Eve Ainsley? Am I pronouncing her name correctly?" The new student peeks through the doorframe, looking for a name fitting his search.
"Maybe because of a luck." Eve mutters beside his left ear.
"Hm. I don't need the luck to tell myself how great I am. So, aren't you supposed to be outside?"
"
"Ahaha. So funny." He laughs at her.
"What's so funny? I really don't care about you."
"Don't flatter me, lady."
"Oh, you think you're different, young lady? That's the worst pickup line for a man."
"What? Forget it...I need to ask you a question..."
"So, new boy. Did you come far from the northern island to stay here? You must have a lot to share about your hometown there?" Eve pulls out a piece of paper and a pen.
Hearing her question stirs the attention towards Eve. The gratitude she had offered to Dion is a stunning discovery, leaving everyone gasping at Dion's back. They became apprehensive towards her, furthered by his vanity and her bitterness.
"Whoa. Did Eve just..."
"Tch! Stay away from him, Eve! He's ours!"
"You have no rights to ask him! Don't hurt him, too!"
The boy claps with a smirking taunt over Eve. He finds it hilarious to hear such a question from a girl who murmured ignorance.
"That's what I expected! Can't spill that thought off me, can you?"
The boy reaches for Eve's shoulder, trying to comfort her with his charm, feeling lucky to witness another student. To his surprise, her body moves away from him.
"Answer my question." Eve brushes her shoulders.
"Well, I came from London. The name's Carven could never be found anywhere but a proudful kingdom like British."
"Hm." Eve glares in doubt. For her, it's not enough to confirm her thoughts. But why?
The answer is, "Your accent sounds...off for a british man."
Dion felt attacked right before his people, "What? My tongue speaks as I am born. What words you expect from me?"
"Something innit, oi, and mate?" She glares unamused.
"Ugh, of course. The usual tongue they reckon for my lot. Wishing to see me with dodgy teeth, too?"
*Writing* "Now, that's an accent..." She contents.
"Eve, get off him! You're ruining it. Also, be kind with him!" A girl scolds her while escorting Dion off by centimeters from her.
"Don't make me deduct your point for that, young lady!" The teacher holds a paper.
"Oh, what's with the sudden play, Eve? Now you threw all those faces after seeing a new boy in our school? Ugh, hypocrite..."
"Fake! Fake girl! Stay off if you can't play nice..."
The librarian took her chances to learn more about the world above the hill. She was prepared to bear witness to the truth—a note full of answers and reason.
Indifferent, Eve continues on her paper regardless. As the crowds circle around the two, awkwardness continues within. Mockery and neverending ridicule over Eve for what they thought of as generosity.
Cyrus steps in, whispering to Dion's ears in his solution for their awkwardness. Perhaps he knew the secret about Eve's sudden questioning of him, or he tried to look after her.
"Oh, I see...well, why didn't you say earlier?" Smiles fill his face as he hears from Cyrus.
"So, you want to make a magazine out of me? You're coming in the right place, lady."
"So, what do you want to know, specifically? Other than my home..."
"Finally. This better be worth it." She taps the pen.
*Shrug* *Shrug* *Shrug*
The blue creature ventures around the school. Its path appears strayed—walking through an open lane while hiding under things and corners using a bag—An enigmatic approach in a search for Eve.
"This is worse than the last time I had to rebel on a raccoon here. What an awful place to be..." He said as he pitched his foot to the polished tile.
"Aww, where is she? She should've been here during this hour."
"Huh?" The creature stops at an intersection. His attention was grabbed by the mumbling of students at his right ear. The lamp is on, and the hallway is empty, perfect for a strike.
The blue creature crawls inside a backpack.
"There she is!" The creature peeks through a corner, watching the two chattering in the class alone. Dion gestures a lot and smiles against the frowned Eve while she lists every piece of information she can find.
"Oh, no. She's with someone else! With...him..."
"And that's where I...*Muttering*..."
"I need to do something. He could've gone after her, too. Unless..."
An idea struck his mind as he glanced at the school's speakers above the board.
"Of course! I am so smart! Time for greatness!" The creature made his way out of the class.
*Faint* "Hey, did anyone see my bag?"
"Gotta go!"
*Bang* Thunder struck within the clouds. A bang turns the sky into a waging war of lights.
"Woah. Look at that thunder! Is it raining already?" Cyrus opens the curtains.
"Brr. It's getting cold here..."
"I bring a raincoat! Don't worry!"
"That was a quick autumn, everyone. Oh, this reminds me. Don't forget to put on the autumn's project as we speak, alright?"
The crowds were amazed, watching the thunder dance from cloud to cloud while the new student spent time with Eve, completing his work on the novel. The boy was eager to share his achievements and stories while the girl carefully noted each word with caution. Alas, Eve had more than a page to write in her note—not yet for a draft.
"And that's the last time I've break a swimming record before I had to went a surgery for my wrist after an accident. Sounds heroic, right?" Dion brags to her.
*Writing* "Wow, you're an extraordinary child. Aren't you?" Eve finishes with the note, leaving him an unsatisfied face.
"Yep. One and only. All those flaws you've heard on internet are a bluff made by my haters because they were too jealous of me." The boy taps his chest.
"I don't use internet too often. Not sure how I should think about that, either."
"Oh, don't worry. You can find me around the store when
"Good. Maybe I'll forget about you in a second." She replies coldly, ignoring every offer and persuasion from Dion.
"Are you playing with me? What's with the stoic face lately?" He felt insulted at Eve's devoid of joy.
She replies, "Am I? Get used to it. I'm not glazing over you, new guy. I'm only here for a good time with my project and I only need you to give me some references to made one novel."
"Why don't you ask another parts of my family, instead? Go ask my brother instead. Thank you for wasting my time..."
"Every day, people like you would've glazed over me because they knew my worth. How do you look at me and still thinks of your selfish needs?"
Eve pauses, "You have a brother?"
That question silences Dion. His hands lowered with shock as he processed the thought of Eve with disbelief. Just as he was preparing to leave the conversation, Eve pulled an answer he didn't expect.
"Y-you...don't know?" The boy looks calmly at her.
"Don't know what? I'm not a frequent social media user, so I don't really know anything outside of this city. And I'm keeping that way."
It took only one answer for Dion to change his emotion toward Eve. And as another thunder struck behind the curtains, everything enlightened into his face with a smile.
"Wow. You really don't know anything, aren't you?" He utters.
"What? What didn't I know...? You have a brother, right?"
"I don't...have a brother." His pupils dilate. Shadow kept covering his face as the thunders grew frequent in the sky. But his face remains calm.
"Good to know...I don't have either..." She replies calmly.
"So, this is the first time you knew about me, right?" The boy chuckles at her.
"Like...nothing else about me, right? Right...?" The boy grasps her shoulders tightly, leaving out a shocked face that shakes Eve from her note.
"What are you doing...?" The girl grew discomforted. The boy stares concerned at her face.
But there's something off to be looked at the prince—quite unnatural and wrongly placed. The librarian felt detached from the prince, so unnerved in his presence. Once calm and bright, aberrated from the glamorous look he had before.
*Bang* The thunder sparks louder. The loud banging noise from the sky nullified the sound of Eve struggling from behind as others were enthralled by the outside breeze.
"Tell me..." Dion uttered with a smile.
"How long have you been like this? How long?"
With her effort, Eve fought back to Dion's grip on her shoulder. But he showed extraordinary power over his determination to the new student.
"Get off me, now. Who told you to..."
"I've never thought someone would knew nothing of me. How insulting yet pleasing for me. It all makes sense now..."
"But what are the odds? You've been living like this, against all odds of my family product? How dare you..."
"Teacher!" Eve shouted, but Dion stopped her.
"I suppose we'll have more to talk about sooner. You and I...in this city...I can't wait to see how this thing goes between us."
"Haargh!" Eve slams her head towards his face, hitting his nose.
"Ouch! My nose!"
The boy backs off, taking a space from Eve as he holds onto his broken nose. Hearing his painful whines alerts the others away from the window, watching as Dion leans onto a table.
"Huh? Dion! He's hurt!"
The bones shiver at the thought of hurting Dion—a horror to their eyes. Students were rushing to his aid—doing their best to help him away from Eve.
"Eve, what did you do to him??"
"Dion, are you okay? You're bleeding from your nose!" The teacher looks after him.
The boy stood out fine—to everyone's surprise. Such injuries are a minor inconvenience to his strong will. A bleeding nose wouldn't stop him from what he had planned for Eve.
"Ugh! I'm fine...! Don't worry about me."
"Eve Ainsley! What did I tell you about behavioral maintenance in school?" The teacher scolds her.
"Yeah, why can't you just be normal with the new student??"
"Eve, you're evil! Bleeding our friend is not cool!"
"Who do you think you are??"
The thunder bangs through the sky, the air soars with rage as the corner of this building begins teetering under the wind, and the light has never shone brighter. Just like Eve, the building remains silent against the gusts.
"No, no, no...it's okay. It's all under control, ladies." He calms the situation while holding his nose with a tissue.
"We're having a little mishap on the discussion—nothing to be worried about. Eve is having an interest over me, and I was too drawn in this conversation that I forgot the little woods at the table I bumped in."
But such reason had her grow restless on Dion. She argued against her silence among his insults.
"Interest? Can you be more pathetic than that?"
"Having an interest in you would've been a nightmare for me. Let alone fisting your nose with my hand..."
"Then perhaps you need to let that hand go where the school board can see, Ainsley. You're about to have one trip to the administration office for this and every negligence of manner you've had in the past years..."
The teacher prepares to leave the class, only to be stopped by Dion's hand as he reaches for a reconciliation. His action immediately surprises everyone.
"Woah! Mister...no need to add more fuel on the stove. This is a simple misunderstanding."
"No need. As a nobleman, a truce is a preferred priority than violence."
"Let the hand confirm that this violence had never happened in the further days, okay?" He offered her a warm greeting to the lady before him. With friendly hands and a nose still dripping blood, Dion showed discipline and maturity in this fight. Many took this as an example for the future.
"Woah...such a mature boy! Many would never be like you!"
"For peace and...huh?" She paused to look at the gloves. The nylon coated on his fingers held up something invisible.
An unruly air surrounded the prince's hand and flowed damply like drizzle onto his palm. The librarian felt the fading smiles heading sharp as a breeze. She had never felt an air so tense yet so humid coming from a man before.
"I would like to know more about this "moonlight" girl I've been told about. It sounds...appealing..." He teases her.
The white gloves have a seamless design for anti-wet and soft friction, allowing their wearer to avoid mold and stickiness on the surface of their palms. The grasp within the glove would've come dry and unscathed from dust, perfect for hygiene and contact with the outside.
"Uh..."
"Huh...you have a wonderful hand, huh?" Eve stops for a moment.
"Oh, please. Mind the glove...I've been greeting a lot with this people today. But I haven't with you yet."
"Say. Does the name "Moonlight" come for a reason? Or is it an abbreviation of how mysterious you are?"
"Oh, it's nothing, Dion! The name's only for her..."
"We gave that name for her because she's bad. Moonlight is bad."
"She's mysterious. That's all..." Cyrus steps in. He looks after the others, resisting the irresistible influence of Dion and his favoring fans.
But the others—fondled at the prince's gaze—saw nothing malicious in him. They continue to praise him, even with the lack of words. Their cheers become erratic and unpredictable. The librarian had never changed her mind quickly about the prince.
"Come on, Eve. We shouldn't fight together as friends here."
The hand still awaits before her, with a soft glove and a lavender scent on Eve's nose. Knowing the pressure surrounding her, she took no time to reach the hand.
She took his truce eagerly. Their conflict ended before many eyes, and tension lowered significantly. With a shake of a hand, everyone had forgotten everything standing between the two. While reluctance still lingers in Eve's thoughts of this peace between, she finds it more engaging.
"Warm...so dry..."
"Good. That was easy, right? Talking and understanding...I hope you understand that."
*Whisper* "But I know you will..." He whispered.
The librarian will remember that day. The day the prince steps out of her way with a wind she could never forget. While they blew coldly towards her shoulder, they sparked brightly before her eyes. The librarian had never felt too wise to know better.
"Why did you have to be rude to the new student? He didn't do anything wrong here..." Cyrus approaches her for a talk.
"I don't want to talk about it." Said defensively.
"Well, maybe you don't have to. I have a feeling that boy wouldn't like me either..."
"You have a weird feeling that he's up to something here? Like maybe trying to reach onto us or something worse? I had a feeling he's not fond of us."
"I'm afraid he is. Who looks at us and smiles that terrible?" Eve checks her draft.
*Writing* "Looks like I know what kind of novel I would make of him. A freak in a golden cape and false crown..."
"Could anything be worse than this?" She wonders.
*Speaker* The school's speaker buzzes.
"Ehem...ehem..." a man-like voice comes out. "Eva...Eve Ainsley, please head to the principal office immediately."
"You need to come to the office ASAP, and please...don't waste my time..."
"I mean, don't waste the time..."
"There's an urgent matter we need to talk with you."
*Tap* *Tap* Closed the mic.
She was not surprised. Only half a day passed, and the new student left her questioning everything around the school. Restless, she departs from the class before handing her notes to Cyrus, asking him to keep them in her absence.
Only she could notice the humid air growing tense and frequent in the town. Not a mystery—she was the only one to point out among these people. The days have been filled with thunders, striking the earth endlessly with its bursting nails. Why has nobody noticed the odd-looking prince like the librarian does?
"Well, well, well...if it ain't the student who messed up. Why's the principal calling you? Is it the new guy you're messing with, moonlight?"
The student's berates was an unwise decision. The next thing she knew, she was inside a locker, locked from the inside, where her hand could only plunge out for help.
"Hey! Not cool! Let me out! Hey! Hey!"
[Principal Office]
"Alright, sir. I'm here..." She appears brightly in the office, waiting for the man behind the black chair to give her the judging stare.
"Hello? Mr. Witz, are you there?" She finds null in her presence.
"Hello? Hello? Are you..."
These aberrations appear seemingly upon the prince's arrival—she had expected. But what about the roaring thunder, shrouding in mystery—now calling for her name in a maddening descent? Followed by a crash with a fire and a loud thump follows from the sky?
Bang! The thunder struck, revealing an unusual guest sitting on the chair. It's all blue and bright before Eve.
*Pop* "Buttleboo! Glad to see me?" A surprise encounter for the girl and the creature. He seems excited to meet her, preparing the room cold as she intended. But does it feel the same to her?
*Pop* "Eey...?" The boy pushes another confetti.
"What...?" The girl was not.