"We've got a lot of ground to cover Tori, hustle!" Justin urges, already a few paces ahead, his hair seemingly unaffected by the breeze. 

"What kind of a school holds an assembly before it even begins?" I exclaim, making no effort whatsoever to quicken my steps.

"The kind that has its own busing system, and its own stables and golf course," he retorts, slowing down slightly to allow me to catch up. If he hadn't shown up to fetch me this morning, I would not have made any effort to go. It's not that I didn't know- I did. I'm just not an assembly type of girl. 

"Busing system huh? A system which conveniently does not start until school starts. Hence the walking..." I complain, pushing a stray strand of hair out of my face. In retrospect, maybe I should've combed it a little more. Well, too late now.

"You could've just left me you know, now both of us will be late," I mumble. 

"Yeah, I probably should've come for you earlier, sorry about that."

That is not at all what I meant, and oddly enough, I'm not at all surprised by his misinterpretation of my whining.

After spending most of yesterday being bombarded with all sorts of information about the way life is here, I see exactly what Ethan meant by 'Prince Charming'. Justin somehow manages to be extraordinarily kind. Which, considering how some people can be, is actually quite a feat. Most days I struggle to hold back my tongue.

We silently walk at a brisk pace, taking all sorts of turns. I try my best to remember the places as we pass them, but with this much to see I give up after a couple of minutes. Just as I feel a cramp forming in my calves, Justin slows down considerably, climbing up the steps of a weathered grey building. Time-worn. That's what this place is. Ancient. It wouldn't last even the smallest of tornados. 

The building is shaped like the slabs of cheese shown so often in cartoons. It stands three stories tall from the right side, and slopes down enough to only be one story high from the left side. It's a shame such a piece of beauty was built with cement. 

"Good, it didn't start yet," Justin comments, relieved. He ushers me to the empty seats towards the back, peering around the room as he sits beside me. 

I wonder who he's looking for. He gives up after few minutes of searching, sighing as he melts into his chair.

Shortly after we settle down, the girl seated beside Justin turns to us, a massive frown set deep in her face. And what an interesting face it is. I've never seen ears that pointy, somehow I've fallen in love with them. Just imagining the different accessories I can place on them brings a chill.

"Have you seen Ethan?" she asks, scrunching her trimmed eyebrows. She has very thick curly black hair and big black eyes with a button nose and full lips. She reminds me of a pixie, but a lot tougher. More like a biker pixie. What Tinker Bell would look like if she decided she was made for the road.

"No. You know he doesn't do assemblies. Actually, you don't do them either; I thought you'd be with him."

"I just got back today. I was gonna say hi to my new roommate but then that snake Arnold caught sight of me and made sure I stayed for this nonsense," she grumbles, giving Arnold (I'm assuming) the stink eye. 

"A new roommate? Liz, what did you do to the old one? and who's the new one?" Justin asks, freely bombarding her with questions. 

"I actually did nothing this time, jerk.  Alice got herself expelled. The Murrey incident, remember? And nah, I have no clue who the fresh meat is. Apparently, it's some chick named Victoria. I swear if she turns out to be a-" 

I interrupt her before she gets any further. "I'm the fresh meat- Victoria. I'm guessing that means you're my roommate. It's nice to meet you."

For the first time since we sat down, she turns and looks at me, as if my presence was completely non-existent before now. And maybe it was. But blending in is a sough after skill so good for me.

"Oh, cool. I'm Elizabeth, call me Liz" she announces happily, giving me a wide grin. 

Before I can even rack my brain for possible ways to continue the conversation, an uncannily tall lady takes the podium. There's a haunting sort of hush that washes over the audience, encompassing them like a tidal wave. The sudden silence is almost deafening. What kind of a lady is she?

The woman tilts her head towards the teachers seated to her right on the stage. From this distance, I can't be sure if she says something to them or not, but as soon as she shifts her gaze onto the student body, two of the teachers get up and exit the room.

She clears her throat once, then folds her fingers and scans the students, almost as if she's studying each face individually. Her gaze finally makes it towards the back seats, towards me. 

I know I should look away, this seems like one of those hierarchy situations. But I don't want to. The more I look at this woman the more I begin to grasp the depth of the power she holds.

And the more I wonder, what do the eyes of someone like her look like? It feels like a lifetime before she moves on to a different student. Though I'm sure everyone she scrutinized felt the same way.

Finally, she clears her throat once more and begins her speech.

"Good morning dear students. I'm certain that after your years at Robus Academy, I do not have to remind you of our expectations of you. Expectations that you will achieve what you can to the best of your abilities. You do not have to be an award-winning scientist or pilot a fighter jet, you simply have to work hard. With hard work comes everything else, which is why hard work comes first and foremost. I'm well aware that you are more than accustomed to our belief here. To work harder than you did yesterday, every day. Of course, as you know, conscientious students are also honest students. You are all honest students. Which is why lying, plagiarism, and cheating are punishable by expulsion. However, I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir as none of you would ever even attempt something such as that. I expect a smooth year and am looking forward to what all of you will accomplish. Good luck."

The other students appear tense, most of them staring straight ahead, unblinking. This woman has this peculiar way of speaking, where she expects certain things. She doesn't advise or request, she commands.

She steps off the podium and nods in the general direction of the students, then once more towards the teachers. She gracefully exits the room, the tails of her indigo blazer fluttering.

As soon as she's out the door it's like the air is air again. People remember how to breathe.

Another teacher takes the podium and I decide it's time to tune out. I'm not in the mood for more speeches. I turn towards Justin and find that he's already looking at me, smirking. "She's a sweetheart, isn't she?" he comments sarcastically, laughing. 

"Yeah, a real gem."

*****/\/\*****

"Why are you still wearing that hideous thing?" Ethan asks, horrified. His eyes are trained solely on the crest pinned neatly to my t-shirt. 

Ha, I wore this precisely because he insulted me for it last time. Although I definitely did not plan to run into him while picking up ice cream for Liz and I. That girl's nicer than I expected. And apparently, she's a sucker for chic flicks. Who would've guessed?

"Why do you think I'll listen to you?" I retort, pretending to be equally as horrified. He scowls, stepping closer, his eyes almost gleaming silver. 

"Why are you so damn stubborn?"

I try to sidestep him so I can order, but he easily blocks me. "Well, why are you so stubborn?" I growl, now annoyed. 

A hint of a smile betrays his angry exterior as he taunts, "really blondie? That's the best you've got?"

"I can say the same for you. Calling me blondie because I'm blonde? That's so creative I'm flabbergasted."

"Who even uses flabbergasted nowadays? That's really weird."

"That's not the point. Can you move so I can order?"

"No. Take off that stupid crest."

"No. Move out of the way."

"No. Actually, if you get rid of that thing then I'll buy you the ice cream you want."

I seriously consider his offer. I almost betray my belief on something for free food. You are not a slave to your stomach Victoria, get a hold of yourself. 

"Would you please leave me alone? What is the deal with you anyways? I've never seen a guy so conscious of what some random girl is wearing- to the point where he would actually pester her," I grumble, leaning on a nearby counter.

"I am not pestering you," he states firmly, clearly offended by my accusation. 

"Also, I've never seen a girl so stubborn that she would deny the simple request of a devastatingly handsome guy several times. It's absurd," he adds, pursing his lips. He turns his head and the light catches on his ear piercing, making it gleam.

"Devastatingly handsome? Your ego knows no bounds, does it?" I retort, sighing. 

"Look me in the eyes and tell me its baseless ego, I challenge you."

I look him straight in the eyes and say, "you're handsome, without a shadow of doubt, you are mind-blowingly handsome. I acknowledge that. I also do not care. Not one bit. And I absolutely do not understand why I must listen to you. We're not even friends."

He parts his mouth slightly, but thinks better of it and simply turns around to order his food. I have no idea what he orders but it takes a while. Once he's done he grabs his food and leaves, shaking his head in mock disappointment as he passes by me. 

I have no reason to listen to him. His demand doesn't make sense and I don't know him well enough for him to be demanding anything from me in the first place.

After placing my order, I begin to pull out my wallet but the girl at the counter stops me and says, "its been paid for. Enjoy your meal."

She then hands me two ice-creams in the striped turquoise holder native to this shop. I try to protest but she's already finished with me, her attention is now on the next customer.

I glance at the food in my hands and notice a folded piece of paper sticking out from one end of the tray. I have a sinking feeling I know exactly what just happened. In a rush, I arrive back at the room and hand Liz her ice-cream before proceeding to examine the note.

The words 'Consider it, please – Ethan' are scrawled on it in really messy writing. What is it with this weirdo and the crest?

I recline in the couch nearby, now examining the crest. It's circular in shape, slightly bigger than a quarter, made of a metal similar to titanium. In the middle is an engraved circle with five swirls inside. The word 'Aqva' is carved above it. It's not even ugly, let alone 'hideous'. 

Clearly it's worth something, if half a dozen people are willing to commit a crime to obtain it.

Moreover, it's precious in a sentimental sense. It's been in the family for generations and Grams gave it to me, kept it safe after my mom passed. 

This is what has him so worked up? Isn't he supposed to be some rebel type of thing? That's what I've heard from the few people I've talked to up till now.

Why does he care so much about what I choose to wear? He doesn't even know me. And he certainly doesn't strike me as the type who takes women's fashion seriously.

Unless... I sit up straight suddenly, a thought occurring to me. What if it's not about how it looks? It seems far more likely that he isn't being honest about why he wants me to keep it off. But if it's not about how the crest looks, then what is it?

It's unlikely he'll tell me if I ask him. Even if I did decide to ask him, I haven't the slightest clue where to find him. I can't ask Justin for Ethan's whereabouts because he'll probably develop a wrinkle from all the worrying he'll do thinking about why I'd need such a thing.

It's a lost cause. 

Or wait, maybe not. I don't know the exact origins of the crest, but I do know that its old enough to be considered 'historical'. I've scoured libraries before, maybe I should give the library here a try and see what turns up. Maybe that would at least point me in the right direction.

I glance at it once more. What a peculiar crest.

/\/\/\***/\/\/\

Yay, the second part is up and in a timely manner! I was really bad with posting on time in the past but I'm doing my best. Hopefully, it'll work out well :)

What are your predictions? Will Ethan help?

Please remember to vote if you liked this part :)

Chp pic: sort of similar to what the symbol on her crest is. This one is from Avatar, it isn't the symbol I'm using. I'll be making a good copy of the design I made for her crest and posting that soon :)