Did I Fail?

The sound of leather boots against the floor could be heard distinctly as Marley walked in the deserted corridors. She rounded a bend, barely avoiding running into a perplexed janitor. After a total of seventeen steps, she reached a sandalwood door at the end of the corridor. She sharply rapped on it with her knuckles, twice.

A faint "Come in!" was heard and the girl took a deep breath, smoothing the nonexistent creases on her tunic before she entered the house mistress' room.

A blast of air-conditioning hit her when she stepped into the minimally furnished room.

The walls were adorned in a solid, topaz-coloured wallpaper. Trophies that Wretchen house had won in the past years, lined the transparent glass cabinet on the right side. A three-seater grey couch was placed behind a low coffee table on the left side.

Straight ahead from her, Mrs. Boscobel, the house mistress, sat behind a sandalwood desk, a teacher in the chair facing her.

Mrs. Boscobel raised a hand, motioning for her to wait. Marley obediently ducked her head and went to stand near the couch.

She pulled her black blazer closer to her chest, the air conditioning in the room making her feel cold. She looked at her black, polished shoes while she waited. There were minor shoe stamps from when some kid had stepped on her feet in the bus but for the most part, her shoes shined like new.

The girl kept herself engrossed in her shoes for the next ten minutes till Mrs. Boscobel explained to the teacher that she couldn't grant her a leave, not now when the semester has just started. As the dejected teacher got up, Marley thought of looking up and wishing her 'good morning' but on second thoughts, she opted to keep her head bowed till the door banged shut, indicating that the teacher had left.

"So, what's your name, kid?" Mrs. Boscobel's demanded, making her look up suddenly. She cursed her neck, which began to ache from the sudden jerk.

Clearing her throat, she answered, "Marley Linton, ma'am. You called me?"

The house mistress adjusted her rimless spectacles on the bridge of her nose and motioned for Marley to sit. When the girl was settled in the chair that the teacher previously occupied, she began, "Ah! Marley."

Marley tried to contain her uneasiness, clasping her trembling hands under the desk as the house mistress shot her a sharp, assessing look.

"You might be aware of the student council elections that are going to be held next week."

Satisfied when the girl nodded, she continued, "Being the house mistress I am in charge of selecting a capable candidate from Wretchen house. Unfortunately, none of the applications we received actually fit the post."

The girl subconsciously ran her hand over the phoenix emblazoned on her blazer, the Wretchen house emblem.

She couldn't understand what all of this information had anything to do with her but Mrs. Boscobel was an intimidating woman, so she chose to wait till she finished explaining.

Mrs. Boscobel leaned forward on the table and intertwined her fingers with those of Marley's.

"Tallara suggested your name. Will you be able to fulfill this responsibility?"

It took a good thirty seconds of numbness before Mrs. Boscobel's words finally set in. When they did, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Did she say Tallara? But why would Tallara, her friend, put her in the limelight? She knew that Marley hated attention. She knew what Marley was going through. Then why would Tallara do this to her?

Besides, she hadn't even submitted an application. Wouldn't it be unfair to all those aspiring kids who were vying for the position of House Captain? Heck, Marley wasn't even interested in taking up the post!

Moreover, was it even acceptable for the house mistress to take suggestions from an ex-Captain? Surely, Tallara's opinion would not count, right?

Crossing her shaking legs under the desk, she tried to speak in a collected tone.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Boscobel, but I think Tallara might've suggested someone else's name. I'm just not - I think you're mistaken."

The house mistress looked blank for a moment before her nostrils flared.

"Listen clearly, kid. Tallara Silverton was asked to recommend an eligible candidate from Wretchen house, to take over after her term gets over." Mrs. Boscobel pointed a bony finger at Marley's chest.

"And she stated clearly that the only, and most, eligible person was Marley Linton; which, unless I'm mistaken, is you."

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Three minutes before the bell would ring to signal the end of the day, the cultural co-ordinator's voice boomed over the speakers.

"All the teachers are requested to stop the lectures. Students and teachers, please wait in your classrooms."

Marley and her classmates hurriedly packed their bags. Their Ancient History teacher, Mr. Raglan, too collected his old, worn textbook and wiped the board clean.

When no further announcements were heard, everyone turned around in their seats.

The students were busy dissecting the reason behind the announcement. The teacher looked uncomfortable.

There were all possibilities being tossed around - fire might have broken out in the building, terrorists might have hijacked the place, the police might have come to crack down on Michael Koller and his drug distributor friends, or worse, snow might have blocked the main gate.

After awhile, however, the voice rang out again.

"Please settle down, students and faculty members. We have an important announcement to make."

There was a pause during which all teachers ran to their desks and the students queitened down.

"Tomorrow, the school will be shut for everyone, students and staff members alike, due to the unexpected death of our founder, Mr. Joshua Durden. Which means that you will have an extra day of winter holidays."

People tried to conceal their excited grins. Marley even saw a smile on Mr. Raglan's face.

Nobody had even heard of Joshua Durden before, though that explained the JD in their school's name. But they obediently stood with their heads bowed, and observed a two-minute silence for the departed soul.

"Now, comes the second piece of news. You all might be aware that every year, on the 9th of April, we announce the new cultural committee. Since the school will be closed tomorrow, we will be announcing the new House Captains' names today."

An uneasy feeling settled amongst Marley and her classmates. There were hushed whispers about which one of them had cracked the rigorous interview and examination process.

However, Marley had an odd ache in her head, like the premonition of a coming calamity. Something was wrong, she could feel it in her gut.

"Let's begin. The House Captain of Krystle house is: Alina Karimi!"

There were the sounds of clapping from the English classroom before the entire school burst into applause.

"The Apino House Captain is: Shikin Warne!"

More clapping followed, particularly from the Biology classroom.

"The Goverwix House Captain is: Perrine Vauxhall!"

The cultural co-ordinator's voice was beginning to loose it's initial enthusiasm with every passing announcement. The students clapped, nevertheless.

"And lastly, we have the Wretchen house."

Marley could feel bubbles in her stomach - not the ones due to acidity, but due to nervousness.

"So, the House Captain of Wretchen house is: Marley Linton!"

Shocked stares greeted her when she lifted her head to look at the front of the class. Mr. Raglan cracked a smile, her classmates turned to stone, and applause rang out from other classrooms in the corridor.

Marley could only think, 'What the hell?', even as her expression remained blank. No student in her class clapped for her - none of them.

"We congratulate all the new Captains. Please report to the Principal's office first thing after the school opens after the winter break."

I'm going to kill Tallara. I guess I'll rot for the rest of my life in prison but it'll be worth it.

Without pausing for anyone, not even Mr. Raglan, to congratulate her, Marley grabbed her bag and made her way to the main gate. She was deeply engrossed in her own thoughts as she skipped down the stairs.

The brunette's hair swayed in the wind, her loose ponytail bobbing up and down. She ran across the cement lawn, pushed open the main gate, and was the first student to leave the school that day.

Marley Linton was also the first newly appointed House Captain to leave the JD High School gates that day.