CHAPTER 1
In Fred's ear, the noise in Olympic High School Hall sounded like a shriek. The audience applauded and chattered. The speaker sounded like fireworks. He couldn't think clearly. He felt dizzy and attempted to stagger out of the hall. "Please excuse me," He said quietly to the students standing near the hall's entryway. Nobody heard him, and nobody cared. He eventually forced his way out. "I can't be ill... "I can't be sick," he told himself as he walked down the corridor.
"Jake Clinton, the second runner-up!" The principal's voice echoed throughout Fred's mind. It was almost as if it was said directly into his head. He was about to enter the restroom when he collapsed.
He lay flat, grunting from the pain, which he couldn't pinpoint.
"Help..." mumbled Fred. "Help me," he gasps for air as his eyes close, hearing the echoes of his name before blacking out. What's the matter with you, Fred?
"I saw him unconscious beside the restroom along the corridor," Derek remarked. Derek is a classmate of Fred's. Although they were not friends, Derek had always admired Fred and wished to be closer to him. He wished he could be like Fred. He called the school nurse as soon as he found Fred, and now he is being questioned by the principal and Mr. Charles as if he is responsible for Fred's illness.
"Call his parents, Charles," the principal said as she checked his temperature. Fred was still unconscious, lying on his back on the bed in the sick bay.
"His parents are late, ma," Mr. Charles explained carefully.
"Late? Oh… hmm… does he have a guardian?" The principal inquired, perplexed.
"According to my findings, I discovered he lives alone. I was unable to identify any guardians."
"Can you tell me why? Wait…" She scoffed. "This young man is only seventeen. How is it possible that the school is unaware that this boy is without a guardian? "Who represents him at Open Days?"
"Ma, he's quite secretive," Mr. Charles sighs. He rarely discusses his personal life with anyone. I know he works part-time in a veterinary clinic and pays his school fees and other bills.
"I am disappointed that you knew all of this and failed to bring it to my attention," the principal says to Mr. Charles. "For crying out loud, he's the assistant head boy. Poor boy," she shook her head, "please notify me when he is fully awake." She walked away from the bay.
"What exactly are you staring at?" Derek was taken aback by Mr. Charles' sudden outrage.
"I'm sorry," Derek said quickly and turned away. He was taken aback by the manner in which the principal spoke with Mr. Charles; it was unusually formal for a mother-and-son conversation. Mr. Charles was recently discovered to be the principal's prodigal son, having returned from rehab with a fake certificate.
Olympic High School Is a secret school. There are many student journalists around whose job it is to find and publicize secrets.
Derek sighed in relief as Mr. Charles flounced out of the room. Fred immediately stood up and began properly dressing. He was adjusting his collar, his trousers, and his shoes. Derek was taken aback by this. "Can you tell me how long you've been awake?"
"Not for long, but I couldn't say anything because I didn't want to be interviewed by the principal," Fred explained as he continued to adjust his uniform.
Derek is in awe. He has always admired Fred's voice and manner of speech. He had tried severally to imitate him but, his classmates would ask him to shut up because he is nothing close to Fred. The whole class admired Fred. The majority of the girls in the class are crushing on him, he is like the perfect guy but not entirely the perfect guy, he is rude and treats them like they don't exist. He is always in his space, and he never talks except a question is directed at him. Fred is an admirable devil. They all admire him, and they are all scared of him at the same time. In summary, Fred is an Oxy-moron.