The last class of the day had finally come to an end. 

Since Sidney didn't have her friends in her last class, she departed from her classmates and walked towards the courtyard. She was relieved the second day was over and she was dreading the next.

She pushed open the entrance door and closed it behind her. She walked down the steps, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked up at the late afternoon warm sun shining down on her from the cloudless blue sky.

She walked down the cobblestone path and up to a massive shaded oak tree.

She had seen many oak trees back in her part of town, massive ones that were centuries old. The buildings had been built around them, however, the oak trees at The Royal Charm Academy had been there since the academy began.

She leaned against the tree and slid down, resting her legs off to her side. She closed her eyes and felt the warm sunbeams peeking through the foliage above with the gentle cool breeze rolling through.

'It's only the second day and I'm mentally exhausted. I've got to go over the books I checked out at the library for my classes. I have to study the worksheets the teachers gave me and have them turned in tomorrow morning at each class. I've got to pick up the laptop from Headmistress Devona and start my online classes.' She thought to herself, letting a sigh escape her lips.

'And I thought the first day of school was the worst.' She turned her attention to the leaves rustling on the branches. 'I don't know how scholarship winners can do this. How can we catch up? We're so far behind everyone else, especially since they've grown up in this environment, we haven't. How do they expect us to catch up in a short amount of time? It's like we were destined to fail.' She frowned as those thoughts crossed her mind.

'I know My boss, my coworkers, Molly, Missy, Mama, and Papa are rooting for me and I miss them dearly. At the end of the week maybe I can call them and talk with them for a bit. If I do any sooner it'll make me look pathetic for not being able to be away from my family. I'm homesick, it's not funny and I've never been away from my family for this long.' She thought as she chewed her lip.

'I'm just worried about Mama's progress with her medicine. Hopefully, the leftover money we get from Headmistress Devona can accumulate quickly so we can pay for her treatment. I'm worried she won't make it until we can. She's getting worse no matter how much of a front she puts on. Being away from her while she's sick is the hardest thing ever.' Tears well in her eyes and she blinked a few times, getting them away.

She shook her head, casting those thoughts from her mind and she zippered open her backpack and pulled out one of the thick books she had borrowed from the library. "Rules of Etiquette," She read off the title on the cover.

She hummed as she opened the door and glanced at the table of contents. Her eyes went wide as she flipped to the next page and back. 'Three whole chapters on conversation starters and how to keep a conversation going. Two chapters on how to use dinnerware properly? Four chapters on formal greetings and two on the door and not informal greetings? And there is so much more.' She slammed the book shut and shoved it back into her backpack. "This is hopeless!"

Mia, who had been looking under the bushes calling out for Pearl, turned her attention to Sidney. "Huh?" She tilted her head to the side as she made her way over. "What's hopeless?" She deadpanned, stopping a few feet from her.

Sidney's head snapped up to the dark-haired girl. "Mia?" She questioned, scurrying to her feet and dropping into a messy curtsey. "It's um, nothing. I didn't mean to speak out loud."

Mia tilted her head, confused on why Sidney was being so passive. "You did though," She bluntly commented, her eyes searching Sidney's body language. "You said it's hopeless. What's qhopeless?"

Sidney furrowed her brows, racking her brain for a reason why Mia would care so much. "You wouldn't understand and I don't think Thea would be too pleased to see you speaking to me." She shuddered at the thought of Thea exploding into anger. 

Mia shrugged her shoulders, seemingly not the slightest bit worried. "Thea won't know. She's taking a long rose water and goat milk bath. I offered to find Pearl for her since Sparkles was already in our room on her feather-down pillow." She overly shared her reasons for why she was there.

Sidney opened her mouth to speak but quickly recoiled. 'Mia is an odd person. I can't understand anything she does. Her words certainly don't match her mono expression.' She thought to herself before speaking out loud. "Oh, what about Dree? I'm sure she will tattle on you to Thea."

"Dree is the least of my worries." Mia passively replied, shrugging her shoulders. "She's probably somewhere tearing her soon-to-be royal lady down. I could always lie about what I said, she wouldn't know the difference."

Sidney was beginning to feel torn about her feelings for Mia. "You don't care about what others think, do you? How do you do that?" She inquired, only for her eyes to go wide. "I'm so sorry, that's a bit too personal!"

Mia shook her head, kneeling on the grass. "It's not personal. Everyone knows I am unable to feel emotion or pain, all but you, I assume. So, I can't physically understand why I should be upset at someone's opinion about me that isn't true." She flatly replied, resting her hands on her lap.

Sidney could see how that was both a blessing and a curse. "I still admire how you are fine with all of that. If it was me I would yearn to be able to feel emotions or pain."

Mia tilted her head to the side. 'Huh, no one has ever said that before.' She thought to herself, her eyes searching Sidney's face to see if she was being honest. "You believe that? You admire that about me?"

Sidney nodded slowly, pulling her knees up to her chest. "Of course. My little sister thinks you are the coolest, next to Thea that is." She smiled fondly at the memory of her sister going on a rant about how Mia was the coolest for not caring about what anyone said.

Mia didn't realize that people admired her or thought she was cool. "Huh, who would have thought people would think that about me."

Sidney furrowed her brows. "You have your fan page, you know that right?" She inquired, resting her chin on her knees as she gazed up at Mia.

Mia shook her head. "No. I didn't even know Thea had one until recently, only because Dree mentioned it. I guess I should check it out and see what is being said about me, not that I care." She replied, not truly caring about what was said, more or less interested. 

Sidney let out a soft sigh, tipping her head back and looking up at the sunbeams peeking through the leaves. "It's all good things being said. Mostly a bunch of people fangirling or fanboying over pictures or things the paparazzi posted. At least, that's what my sister tells me." 

Mia had her fair share of privacy being invaded, even inside the palace by former staff. "Interesting," She mused, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "That's why you're here? To give your family a better chance at life?" She tried to be gentle with her words.

Sidney nodded, letting out another long sigh. "Trying, at least. Thea isn't making things easier, nor is Dree when she's around. I can only imagine who else is going to give us scholarship winners a hard time." She shuddered at the thought of others like Thea and Dree.

Mia listened attentively to Sidney. "Try speaking to Thea again." She suggested. "I'm sure you two just got off on the wrong foot and you two can be cordial with each other for the rest of the school year."

Sidney could tell Mia just wanted to keep the peace. "I'll try." She smiled, stretching out her legs in front of her.

Mia stood up and brushed off the back of her skirt. "I should get going to find Pearl, you wouldn't happen to know any ways to find a cat, would you?" She inquired, having no problem asking for help.

Sidney thought about it for a moment, pressing her lips together and furrowing her eyebrows. "Um, I've never had a pet but I suppose jingly things attract their attention like bells or keys?" She suggested skeptically with a shrug of her shoulders. 

Mia nodded, making a mental note as she pulled out her room key that had a few other keys on it. "Thank you." She said as she pivoted on her heels and walked away without saying another word.

Sidney stood up and grabbed her backpack. Slinging it over her shoulder she struggled to get her other arm through the strap. After she was successful, she made her way back into the academy and toward the dormitory. 

Keeping her head down the whole way, she pulled her dorm key out of her pocket and put it in the knot. Turning it she pushed open the door and slipped in, letting it close on its own.

Amelia walked out of the bathroom with a purple face mask on and a plate of cream crackers topped with small cheese slices. "Sidney!" She exclaimed, watching as the Senoian girl came into the room. "Where have you been?"

Sidney walked over to her desk and set her backpack on the floor. "Hey, just spending some time in the courtyard." She replied, crouching down and unzipping her backpack, pulling out its contents, and setting it down on the desk.

Amelia nodded as she sat down on the edge of her bed. "That's neat. It is a really pretty day out. I'm surprised more people aren't outside. Yasmin didn't come straight to the dorm either, I'm not sure where she is." She mused, shrugging her shoulders.

Sidney nodded, sitting down at her desk and opening up one of her books. "Wherever she is, as long as she's back before supper I wouldn't worry." She passively commented, pulling out her sister's notebook and opening it.

Amelia walked over and stood behind Sidney, looking over her shoulder. "What are you doing?" She inquired, curious to see why Sidney had immediately sat down at her desk after unloading her backpack with a lot of books.

Sidney pulled out a blank notebook and opened it up. "I'm studying. Shouldn't you be studying too? We have papers to be turned in tomorrow morning before our classes." She asked, turning around to face the strawberry-blonde girl.

Amelia pondered on what Sidney had said for a moment before replying. "I didn't get any papers, not from any of my classes nor did my classmates." She innocently replied, taking another bite out of her snack in her hands.

Sidney furrowed her brows and pulled out the papers showing them to Amelia. "You didn't get these papers? But the teacher passed them out to everyone in my class as we left." She quizzically pondered, frowning as she racked her brain for a reason she didn't have.

Amelia shrugged her shoulders, walked over to her best, and sat down. "Maybe you should ask the teacher why you got them and I didn't." She flashed a smile, setting the tray beside her on her nightstand. 

Sidney stood up and walked towards the door. She would be taking Amelia's suggestion and talking to her teacher. 'I wonder what is going on . . .' Her thoughts trailed off as she felt a knot form in her stomach.

She soon found herself in the teacher's quarters. 'Where is . . .' Her eyes searched the doors to the right nameplate fixed to the door. She was located on the second floor and walked up the stairs and up to Ijin Gong's room and knocked.

The door opened to reveal Ijin, putting his round glasses over his brown eyes. "Yes? May I help you?" He asked, tucking a lock of jaw-length black hair behind his ear and crossing his arms over his chest.

Sidney played with her fingers behind her back. "Hi, Mr. Gong, it's uh, Sidney, Sidney Barnes. I was wondering about the papers you passed out during class. My roommate, Amelia, didn't get any like I did and I-I was wondering the reason." She stammered, feeling extremely nervous.

Ijin's expression softened as he chuckled after she had finished. "That's what you're worried about? Rest assured Miss Barnes, I had no ulterior motives in giving you class papers. I simply like giving my students random quizzes and small essays at odd times to keep them focused. Your class got one today, yesterday the class after yours had gotten one and turned it in today when they came in." 

Sidney hadn't realized she was holding her breath and let it out slowly. "Oh, um, that makes sense." She said, realizing that she had nothing to worry about. "I was worried that my class or I were singled out and it was a ploy by Dree or Thea."

Ijin frowned a little as he listened to Sidney speak. 'I can't believe she would think such a thing. Do all scholarship winners think like this?' He thought to himself as a soft smile graced his lips. "The teachers would never stoop that low. We are here to teach, not to alienate students, or scholarship winners like yourself. You needn't worry."

Sidney nodded, looking down at her shoes. "I was worried about nothing." She felt foolish for letting herself jump to a wild conclusion like that over some silly papers. "Do other teachers also do things like that for their classes?"

Ijin pressed his lips together as he nodded his head. "Yes. It is quite common. Much to the dismay of a few royal families, including Duchess Katherine. We found out that just because it was instilled into the students their whole life doesn't mean they understand what they were taught."

Sidney now could be prepared and not burdened by the thought of that. "Thank you. Mr. Gong. I'm sorry to have bothered you after hours over something I shouldn't have been worried about." She apologized, dipping into a small curtsey. 

Ijin shook his head and waved his hand in dismissal. "It's nothing to worry about. I'm always happy to answer any questions you might have. Do not be afraid to ask for help either, that's what we as teachers are here for, to help our students understand what they are learning." He kindly spoke, a smile gracing his lips.

Sidney gave a curt nod after he had finished speaking. "Have a good rest of your day." She said, pivoting on her heels and walking back down the stairs as he returned her words and closed the door.

'I can't believe I thought the worst. I should have known the teachers would never do such a thing. Duchess Katherine, Thea, and Dree may not be the nicest people but they don't hold any authority here, the headmistress and the headmaster do. I shouldn't worry and focus on studying.' She thought to herself as she made her way back to her dorm room.

She opened the door and walked in almost colliding with Yazmin who was walking towards the bathroom. "Oh, Yasmin! I'm so sorry." She apologized as the door behind her closed with a click of the lock.

Yasmin stepped back, pulling the earbuds from her earbuds and she met Sidney's eyes. "Oh no, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention and listening to my music walking close to the door which I shouldn't have been doing." She said, wrapping the earbuds around her MP3 player.

Sidney nodded as she walked over to her desk. "Let's both call it even." She flashed a smile over her shoulder as she sat down at her desk. "Where have you been, if you don't mind me asking." 

Yasmin tossed the MP3 onto her bed from across the room. "Michael needed help finding his phone. He had left it back in the music room but didn't remember where so we looked all over the school." She replied walking into the bathroom and closing the door.

Amelia walked over with a glowing face now that her mask had been washed away. "So, what happened?" She asked with bright eyes as she sat down in the chair at her desk.

Sidney picked up her pen from the table and scribbled some words on the top of her empty notebook. "I had nothing to worry about. The teachers here give random quizzes and essays to their students throughout the school year in different classes. My class just happened to be the second this week to get one. Yesterday the class after me got one."

Amelia frowned as soon as Sidney had finished and groaned. "No, I don't want surprise quizzes and essays! I graduated from school to get away from that and now I have to anticipate it throughout the whole year!" She cried out, slouching in her chair.

Sidney pressed her lips together to suppress a giggle. "At least we're not the only ones getting them. Dree and Thea will be having to deal with them too." She hoped her words reassured her roommate and new friend.

Amelia straightened up in her chair and got to her feet. "I suppose you're right. As long as we're not being singled out, I'm fine with it." She exclaimed, a bright smile back on her lips. "We're gonna show the others we are just as smart as them!"

Sidney turned back to her desk and glanced at the clock that was ticking away on the wall.

She still had enough time to finish these papers and pick up the laptop from Headmistress Devona before dinner.

〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰

A/N: 
Sorry guys, I have a bit of writer's block for this chapter. 

I originally had wanted a conversation with Marshall and Sidney to show more of his character, but I figured I could save that for a later chapter. 

I had figured I ought to bring Mia in and the ideas just flowed like a river. Even though Sidney and Thea are the MCs, I do want side characters like Mia to have some time to shine.

Chapter Talk: 
I have grown attached to Mia. She's not a bad person and she's actually a kind person. Although she doesn't show it she genuinely cares about the scholarship winners and wants them to succeed. Which is why she said what she did back in the chapter to them before they went into the auditorium. 

You now met the Economics and politics teacher Ijin Gong. This is how you'll meet the teachers since I'm not skilled enough to write out some of the classes. I may write the ending or beginning but not detail of what's going on in the class, or at least certain classes.

Thanks for reading!