The school was crafted beautifully. Whoever designed and decorated the grand hall took the time and energy to make it perfect. Students mingled among themselves as they all made their way to the auditorium. I watched as groups started to form among them. You could tell who was smart and who was not. A few students came up and talked to us as the three of us made our way through the crowd. Atlas quickly sent them on their way doing it a lot nicer than I would have. I watched from the corner of my eye as Trey reached out to touch a crystal hanging from a light fixture.
" Hey, don't take anything." I scolded
He shot me a look and said " You know me better than that, I was just admiring it."
Atlas shoved him and said " how many times has Noah bailed you out because you were just looking."
" Too many times."
We made our way to the front of the auditorium. There were two other students in the front row. The rest of them tried to stay as far back as possible. It was like they were hiding from the teachers. Shaking my head as that thought crossed it. Only bad students did that. The two girls in our row were talking among themselves. Trey leaned over and said something to them. The one with long black hair said something in response. The brunette laughed at what she said and Trey looked pissed. I made a mental note to ask him what she had said. The two girls started to sign to each other as the headmaster started the welcome speech. I zoned out thinking about how I was going to make my room look since I was going to have to share with someone. Hopefully they were halfway organized. I zoned back in when the Headmaster started to call out the top three students of each entrance exam. I shuttered as I thought about my exam. While I was ready for the written exam I was not prepared for the physical exam.
" Now the top three students for the Ministry Course are: in third place Trey Lightwood, Second place Atlas Anderson, and in first place we have Olivia Sky Ashborn."
Trey and Atlas looked at me as they stood up. I was in shock. It has always been the three of us in the top three places at everything from sports to academics. It was always the three of us. The girl with black hair stood up and made her way to the stage. She must be Olivia. The headmaster pointed to the microphone and asked her to give a speech.
" I don't have much to say. All I did was work hard and do what I could. I look forward to learning with all of you."
She walked back down and started to sign to her friend. Trey and Atlas sat beside me and gave me a sympathetic look. The top three of the other courses were not that memorable. When the medical course top three were called the girl beside Olivia stood up. Her name must have been Brenda; she gave almost the speech as Olivia did.
" Hey Noah, are you okay?" Trey asked as soon as the ceremony was over
" yeah why wouldn't I be?" I asked
"That is the first time that you have not ranked in the top three" Atlas said " We just want to make sure you're fine."
" It's fine." I said " It is only this one time I just have to work harder for the next time. Besides, it 's not like I will have to see her again."
They said their goodbyes and headed to find their rooms. I made my way through the maze of halls that belonged to the ministry dorm. I found my name beside the one name I did not want to see. While what I had said to others was true in some sense. It still hurts like hell not to hear my name called. Most people would take it just fine. I strive for perfection. I had to be on top. It was where I belonged. The ones on top got to make the rules they did not get looked down on. To be beaten by a girl was another matter. And now I had to bunk with her. Out of nowhere the door swung open. Speaking of the devil. I looked down to see her with her hand outstretched.
Walking in she asked " Which side do you want?"
I just stared at her. Trying to process all of this. I was stuck with a girl that beat me and she was taking all of this in stride.
She tilted her head and asked again" Which side do you want?"
" I'll take the left," I said finally.
She put her suitcase on the bed. It was a simple black with no extra things. I was so used to my sisters having over the top girly things that to me the plain suitcase was out of place. The room was bare and basic. There was a twin size bed, a closet on both sides and a bathroom that we had to share. We started to put away our things in silence. After placing my last item there was a knock at the door. When I opened it I came face to face with Olivia's friend.
" May I come in?" She asked in a soft spoken voice.
I held the door open and let her in. she walked past me and said " I am Brenda by the way. Nice to meet you."
" Nice to meet you." I replied
To Olivia Brenda said " Are you seriously not done unpacking?"
" No" was the short and simple reply.
" Why not." Brenda asked, sitting on the bed.
" I did not pack enough and they moved around."
"So?"
Olivia shot Brenda a look and said " I have to re-organize them."
Brenda looked up at me and said " I am going to go ahead and apologize for my friend. She is OCD."
" I am not, " Olivia protested.
I raised an eyebrow at the two of them. Trying to figure out why this had anything to do with me."
" OCD is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive and unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors. I just like to be organized." Olivia said
" Girl" Brenda started before another knock was at the door.
I opened it to find Trey and Atlas there. I let them in as Brenda and Olivia kept arguing.
" What are you to ladies talking about " Atlas asked
" I am telling Olivia that she has OCD and she claims she don't" Brenda replied
"No one with OCD wants to have it. It makes them do things over and over otherwise things feel weird. I just like things that are clean and organized. I don't have to do it, I just like it that way. To try and generalize it like that is why some people can't get the help they need." Olivia said as she put things in her closet
" putting your clothes in color groups and then putting the colors in alphabetical order is weird."
" Wait, you put your clothes in order?" Trey asked
" yeah. I also put all of the types together. You can come look."
As we all locked it to her closet it did something to my brain. She had all of her short sleeves shirts in color order then she had her long sleeves in order and jeans were put in order from dark to light. It made me want to do the same thing. All I did was hang likes together.
" Now if I have a specific item that I want to wear then I can easily find the matting item." Olivia said as she dumped the rest of the items on the bed.
She started to fold them and neatly place them in a drawer. The three of us made our way to the other side of the room. Brenda and Olivia kept their voices to a whisper. We could bearly hear what they were saying.
" Are you seriously going to bunk with her?" Trey asked
" Yeah," I whispered. " Like I said, it's fine. Plus if she is that organized I could not ask for a better roommate."
" Hey, I mean to ask what she said to you at the ceremony?" Atlas asked Trey
Trey sighed and told us what she said. I couldn't help but laugh, because it was true.
" It's not funny." He said shooting her a look
His eyes went wide as she pulled out a handful of crystals and set them on her night stand. I shook my head at him and gave him a warning look. The last thing I needed was him trying to steal something. Olivia must have noticed him looking, because she said " would you like one?"
Trey looked like a kid getting in trouble when he said " sorry"
" It's okay I know a lot of Raven shifts so if you would like one you can have one."
Trey jumped up and almost ran over and started to ask her questions. Me and Atlas shared a look. This was going to be a problem. If she keeps doing good then there will be a shift in our dynamic and he will definitely be stuck in the middle. He came back over to us with a handful of crystals.
As Olivia headed to the door she asked " What time do you usually go to bed?"
" Around nine, why?"
" I am going to be out late and I want to make sure I dont disturb you as I come in."
She left before I could respond.
" She doesn't seem that bad." Trey said.
" She beat all of us. When has that ever happened?" Atlas asked.
" Never." Trey sighed, " Like Noah said it was a one time thing."
" I don't think it will be. From the way she acts she is going to be in our way." I said
" Then what do we do?" Atlas asked
" the best we can. " I said, " Worse case scenario we can as Mr. Lightwood for help."
" Do you think my dad will actually help us?" Trey asked