Daniel had gotten into a routine. The first few days had been a blur—new faces, new places, the never-ending stream of tasks and orientations that made everything feel like a checklist. But now, a week into his time at St. Hartwell, things were beginning to feel more familiar. He had found his way around the campus, located the best places to grab a quick bite, and even started recognizing a few friendly faces. Still, the question of the head prefect role lingered at the back of his mind. And now, it seemed like the universe was nudging him in that direction.
The bell rang for the start of the first period on Thursday, and Daniel was just about to take his seat when he spotted a familiar face walking toward him—Ethan.
"Hey," Ethan greeted him with a grin, his backpack slung lazily over his shoulder. "Ready for the class of the century?"
Daniel smirked. "Is that what it's called? I thought it was just History."
Ethan laughed. "It's only called 'History' by people who don't understand its true power. You'll see. It's a bit like a soap opera but with more wigs and less dramatic pauses."
Daniel shook his head in mock disbelief. "I'll try to keep that in mind. Maybe it'll be the highlight of my day."
"I'm sure it will be. But speaking of highlights, have you heard the latest about the head prefect selection process?" Ethan lowered his voice as if telling a secret.
"Selection process?" Daniel raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was just a popularity thing, like everything else."
Ethan gave him a sideways glance, leaning in a little. "It's more than that, man. I mean, sure, popularity helps, but the actual process? It's not something they tell you about on day one."
Daniel felt his curiosity piquing. "What do you mean?"
"Well," Ethan said, glancing around as if making sure no one was listening, "it's not just about being the smartest or having the most friends. The position comes with a lot of influence—more than you might think. It's about managing the whole student body, maintaining order, all that stuff. The head prefect is supposed to be a kind of... middle person between the students and the staff. But there's a catch."
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "A catch?"
"Yeah." Ethan's voice dropped even lower. "You have to prove you can handle it. And that means a series of... 'tests' that you won't find in any of the student handbooks."
Daniel felt his pulse quicken. "What kind of tests?"
"Ah, that's the mystery," Ethan said with a grin. "No one really knows for sure. But trust me, if you want to stand a chance, you'll need to be ready for anything."
---
By the time the class ended, Daniel was more intrigued than ever. The head prefect position sounded less like a straightforward leadership role and more like a gauntlet—one with unknown challenges lurking at every corner. And if Ethan was right, it wasn't going to be as simple as signing up and waiting for the results. There was a game being played here, and Daniel wasn't sure if he was even on the board yet.
Walking to his next class, Daniel's mind was racing. He couldn't help but replay the conversation over and over in his head. Tests? What kind of tests?
But before he could dig deeper into his thoughts, a figure appeared beside him—Micaela, of course.
"Hey, you look like you're deep in thought," she remarked, her tone light but knowing. "Something on your mind?"
"Yeah," Daniel replied, glancing at her. "Just thinking about what Ethan said. About the head prefect tests."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Ethan talked about that?"
Daniel nodded. "Said there were tests. Like, hidden ones. Some kind of challenge to prove you're fit for the role."
Micaela gave him a skeptical look. "Ethan's got a way of making things sound a lot more dramatic than they really are. But... he's not entirely wrong."
She hesitated, as if deciding whether to share more. "The position is pretty powerful, so they want to make sure you're not just some random student who decides to throw their hat in the ring. You'll have to prove yourself in ways that go beyond academics. And yeah, sometimes the tests are... strange."
"Strange? Like what?" Daniel asked, his curiosity only growing.
"Like I said, you'll find out soon enough." Micaela gave him a mysterious smile. "But if you're serious about the role, you're going to need more than just a good GPA or a friendly smile. You've got to show that you can handle it."
Daniel wasn't sure whether she was teasing him or giving him advice, but either way, he appreciated the cryptic warning. It was clear that the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but that only made him more determined to figure out what he was up against.
---
Later that afternoon, Daniel had a chance to put the mysterious tests out of his mind for a little while. He found himself seated in the library, thumbing through the textbooks for his next assignment. It wasn't the most thrilling way to spend an afternoon, but it was familiar—he'd always been the kind of student who liked to get ahead on his work. The quiet atmosphere of the library, the smell of old paper, and the soft hum of students around him—it felt like the perfect setting to just think.
As he flipped through the pages, he couldn't help but notice something that made his stomach twist. On one of the tables nearby, a group of students was gathered, laughing and joking around. But it wasn't just the noise that caught his attention. It was the glint of something shiny in their hands—tokens, chips, the unmistakable appearance of... gambling.
Daniel's eyes narrowed as he watched them, his mind working quickly. Is this what Micaela was talking about?
He had heard rumors about gambling happening at the school, but this was the first time he had seen it up close. It seemed like such a strange thing to happen in a school like St. Hartwell—prestigious, elite, and focused on achievement. And yet, here it was, out in the open, like it was no big deal.
As Daniel observed the scene, a sense of unease settled over him. He was beginning to realize that the school wasn't as perfect as it seemed on the surface. There were cracks—small, subtle cracks—but cracks nonetheless.
With a sigh, he closed his textbook and stood up. It was clear now that whatever challenges lay ahead, they wouldn't be easy to navigate. The head prefect position wasn't just about school spirit or managing a few committees—it was about understanding the hidden undercurrents of St. Hartwell, about dealing with things that were swept under the rug.
And if Daniel wanted to earn that position, he was going to have to figure out just how deep those cracks went.
---
The next morning, Daniel couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. Maybe it was the way the air felt slightly thicker than usual, or the way the sunlight seemed to hit the buildings a little more intensely, as if the school itself was gearing up for something big. It was hard to explain, but something about that morning made him feel like he was on the edge of discovering something important.
He shook off the feeling as he grabbed his bag and headed out the door. The usual routine: breakfast in the cafeteria, followed by a couple of lectures that were more or less the same. But today, there was an undercurrent of excitement—or was it anticipation? Daniel wasn't sure. All he knew was that it felt like something was brewing, just beneath the surface.
Walking into the cafeteria, Daniel was greeted by a familiar face. It was Ethan again, waving him over from his usual spot at a table near the windows.
"Morning, man!" Ethan said as Daniel sat down across from him. "What's up? You look like you're about to solve a mystery or something."
Daniel smiled, though his mind was elsewhere. "Maybe I am," he said, his voice low. "Ethan, do you know anything about the so-called 'tests' for head prefect?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile creeping up his face. "Ah, so you're getting serious about it, huh?"
"I don't know. Micaela and you both mentioned them, but no one really says what they are." Daniel leaned forward, lowering his voice. "What exactly am I up against?"
Ethan glanced around, checking that no one else was listening, before speaking. "Alright, alright. I'll give you a little more, but don't say I didn't warn you. The tests... they're not what you think. They're not some written exam or a series of tasks you can prepare for. The head prefect position is about influence—who you know, what you can leverage, and how well you can navigate the student body."
Daniel frowned. "That sounds like politics. Are you telling me I need to kiss up to people to get this role?"
"Not exactly," Ethan said, shaking his head. "It's more about reading the room, understanding the power dynamics. Some people—powerful people—hold the key to your future here. And it's not just about being liked. It's about being needed."
Daniel was starting to feel like he had stepped into a labyrinth, but the more Ethan spoke, the more he realized that if he was going to stand a chance, he had to stop thinking like a regular student and start thinking like someone who could lead.
"So, where do I start?" Daniel asked, determined now more than ever. "What do I need to do to prove myself?"
Ethan took a moment before answering, his eyes flickering around the room as though considering the best way to phrase it. "There's someone you need to meet first. You're not going to get far without dealing with her."
"Who?" Daniel asked, curious but hesitant.
"Cassidy."
Daniel froze. The name brought back the memory of the encounter in the courtyard. He hadn't expected her to come up again so soon.
"You're kidding me, right?" Daniel said, a little too loudly. "That girl? She's a senior, and she practically chewed me out the other day. Why would I need to talk to her?"
Ethan chuckled. "Yeah, she can be a little... intense, but she's one of the people who runs the student body behind the scenes. You want to have any kind of chance at the head prefect position, you need her on your side."
"Are you serious?" Daniel said, rubbing his forehead. "I thought the whole point was that I had to prove I can handle things on my own, not beg for someone's support."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking at Daniel with a mix of amusement and understanding. "Look, it's not about begging. It's about alliances. And in a school like this, you're not going to get anywhere without making the right connections. Cassidy's got the ear of a lot of influential people. If she thinks you've got what it takes, she can open a lot of doors for you."
Daniel wasn't sure what to think. He had always been someone who preferred to make his own way, to earn things on his own. The idea of playing political games felt uncomfortable. But the more he considered the head prefect position, the more he realized that if he wanted to be in control of his own destiny here, he'd have to play by the school's rules—even if those rules involved some maneuvering.
"I'll think about it," Daniel said, though in his gut, he wasn't sure if that was true. He had the feeling that meeting Cassidy would be more trouble than it was worth.
---
Later that day, Daniel found himself in a much different environment than usual. He had decided to follow Ethan's advice, though with some trepidation. Cassidy's reputation loomed over him like a storm cloud, and the thought of trying to navigate her unpredictable nature made him nervous. But as he approached the designated area—a quiet courtyard by the science building—he found himself hesitating.
Was this a mistake? He had no idea what kind of game Cassidy played, but he had a sinking feeling that it wasn't going to be as straightforward as a simple conversation.
Taking a deep breath, Daniel stepped into the courtyard. The moment he did, he spotted Cassidy sitting on a bench, her eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses, her legs crossed in a way that oozed casual authority. She looked up just as he approached, her lips curling into a small but knowing smile.
"Well, well," she said, her tone light but with an edge. "If it isn't the new kid himself. What brings you to my neck of the woods?"
Daniel wasn't sure how to begin, so he opted for the direct route. "Ethan said I should talk to you about the head prefect position."
Cassidy's smile widened just a fraction, like she was amused by the idea of him asking for her advice. "Ethan, huh? That little troublemaker." She chuckled under her breath, but then her expression turned more serious. "Alright, you want to talk about the head prefect position? I'll give you the rundown. But be warned: there's no going back once you start down this path."
Daniel's heart skipped a beat. This was the moment. The first step into the unknown.
"Are you in or not?" Cassidy asked, her gaze steady, almost challenging.
For a moment, Daniel considered walking away. But then, he remembered his goal—the position he'd dreamed about without even realizing it. The power, the responsibility, the opportunity to shape things. It was right there, in front of him. He just had to take the first step.
"I'm in," Daniel said, his voice steady. "Tell me what I need to do."
Cassidy studied him for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "Alright. But understand this: the real test doesn't come from the teachers or the staff. It comes from the students. The ones who hold the real power here. And right now, you don't even know who they are."
---