"Hey, I am glad you are finally here." Sophia Matthews said to the new girl, in her usual lively voice that sounded almost as if she was singing whenever she talked.
"Huh... I am too." Flora Lewis replied to her best friend who had pulled her into a tight hug.
"Uh, do you mind letting me go now?" Flora asked her friend gently, clearing her throat. The tight hug was suffocating her.
Sophia realized what she was doing and quickly let go.
"Sorry, I was just too excited to see you. It feels like it's been forever since I saw you. Who would know we are going to be meeting in school like this?" Sophia rushed out, her brown big eyes glinting with excitement.
Flora nodded in agreement, managing a smile.
"Yeah. I never knew I would be attending this school as well. It all happened so fast." She replied her friend.
"Well, it is good that you are here now. We are going to do a lot of catching up." Sophia said with a big smile. Flora nodded.
"So, are you ready for a quick tour?" Sophia continued.
"Definitely." Flora said, clutching her old, worn out backpack, tightly.
"Come on, honey. Let's get you settled before the wolves start circling." Sophia said as she pulled Flora by the left hand, leading her ahead.
"Um, yeah." Flora heaved a sigh, she seemed a bit reluctance to step further in the academy.
"Welcome to Lunar Academy." Sophia's voice rang out as she pulled Flora along.
As they walked, Flora's eyes darted around, taking in the students lounging on manicured lawns and gathered in tight-knit groups.
Everyone seemed to exude an aura of confidence and privilege that made her feel even more out of place.
"So..." Sophia began, wanting to start a chitchat, her voice as cheerful as ever. As she spoke, she linked her arm through Flora's.
"What are your thoughts about the school? What do you know about it?" Sophia asked. Flora heaved a sigh and pressed her lips into a thin line, before replying.
"Well, I have heard that it is the biggest, most prestigious school in our community presently and it is for the elite, mostly." Flora replied.
Sophia nodded her head in approval.
"That information is correct. People like you and me are privileged to attend this school." Sophia said.
"Speaking of that, I have an advice for you." She added. Flora's ears perked up and her steps faltered.
"What is it?" Flora questioned, her eyebrows furrowing in concentration.
"Don't advertise that you are from a humble background. People like us aren't exactly welcomed with open arms here. I tell you, those elites can make anybody's life a torture if they set their minds to it." Sophia told her.
Flora's heart sank at the information.
"Great. As if I didn't have enough to worry about." Flora muttered, more to herself.
"Don't worry, stick with me and you will be fine." Sophia reassured her, resuming their walk.
"Now, let me give you the quick tour. Over there is the main academic building. Top floor is off-limits unless you are part of the student council or have special permission." Sophia told her, pointing at the tall building standing elegantly before them. It spoke of opulence.
"Why? What is up there?" Flora who couldn't help her curiousity, asked.
Sophia's eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Nobody knows for sure. Rumor has it that is where they keep all the ancient pack secrets and artifacts. But get caught trying to sneak up there, and you will be wishing for detention instead of what they will do to you." She explained.
Flora sucked in a breath.
"That sounds scary." She mumbled and Sophia nodded in agreement.
"I know right." Sophia replied. With that, they fell in a comfortable silence as they walked.
As they approached a grand fountain in the center of the courtyard, a commotion erupted nearby. A group of students were gathered, their voices raised in argument.
"Uh oh, pack drama. It happens all the time. Let's steer clear." Sophia muttered to her friend.
However, Flora found herself drawn to the scene. In the center stood two boys, tension radiating between them like heat waves.
"You have got some nerve showing your face here at the meeting last night." The taller of the two snarled, his eyes flashing gold.
The other boy, with dark hair and an air of quiet intensity, stood his ground.
"The last time I checked, Reid, I have as much right as you do, to attend that meeting. Or did you forget that while you were away playing lapdog to the Nighthowls?" The other boy snapped back.
Sophia tugged on Flora's arm.
"That is Liam Hale and Caleb Reid. Used to be best friends until... well, pack politics. Come on, we don't want to get caught in the crossfire." Sophia told her.
As they turned to leave, Flora couldn't help feeling intrigued by the duo's history.
"Used to be friends but now foes? Intriguing!" Flora mumbled under her breath.
~~~~~~~~~~~
As Flora and Sophia climbed the stairs to the hostel building, some students hanging around noticed them and started gossiping.
"Now, who is that? A transfer student?" One of the group asked one as attention shifted to Flora.
"Of course, seeing how she is in casual wear." The other pointed out, staring openly at Flora.
"Don't mind them. Wait here for me. I need to go talk to a classmate for a moment." Sophia told Flora and hurried away.
"Look at her backpack..." One of the students said to another, loud enough for Flora to hear.
As she felt uncomfortable just standing there, Flora decided to climb down the stairs in search of her friend.
However, at the first step, she missed her footing. And she knew she was going to fall. The other students around started to laugh.
"Argh..." Flora grunted, bracing herself for the fall but instead of falling down, she felt a firm grip at her waist, pulling her from falling.
"What..." She muttered as she looked up and her eyes met with the adorable blue eyes of a boy.
Before she could thank her savior, a girl trotted to the scene and landed a slap onto Flora's face.