Every sophomores, juniors and seniors gets on their feet and crowd the gym like the headmaster compelled them. I really don't want to go but everyone else is going and Alicia almost pull my arm out while dragging me down.

"Each one of you will come closer and pick a piece of paper, a color will appear after you do and you'll stand in line with the other. The colors that will appear are green, red, blue and yellow," he explains and takes a step back, spreading his arms out like he's giving us the floor.

The students begin to walk towards the opened box to take their paper and I watch each color appear. The first person to pick is a sophomore that I don't know, his paper turns blue and he takes a stand as the other picks theirs they form four line which represent each house. Jessica is the first to go in our circle and pick a paper, color green. She waves the paper in our faces before going to line behind the Greens. Nate goes after her but he picks the blue. He groans and pouts before going to lines up. Alicia picks yellow. Caleb picks red. Penelope picks red and smiles like it's what she wants. Ari picks blue while her twin sister picks yellow. I think this is the first time I'll see them be apart and they don't like it either. I can tell from the way they're prolonging their goodbye.

When it's my turn to pick, I don't move at first but it's hard to keep standing still when everyone is staring at me and waiting for me to pick since I'm the only person remaining.

I suck it up and take my time to walk towards the box, I dip my hand into it and pick the last paper. I take it out and hold it, I watch the plain white paper change color into... Red. My head snaps to where the red are lined and meet Penelope's gaze.

Oh, fuck no! Any color but this.

I shake my head and squeeze the paper in my palm before walking to stand behind the last person at the red line, dropping the paper on the way.

The headmaster get up from his seat and approaches the table, he grabs the mic and starts talking. "The Annual House Contest isn't about coven or crew, it's about individual student and that's why it's compulsory for all students to participate." He stops to take a breath before continuing. "Turn around and look at the person standing behind you, they will be your teammates for the next five to six weeks. The colors given to you isn't picked randomly, each house is selected with all talents to carries each contest. It mandatory for all team players to participate."

I have a feeling he added that last part for me.

"The vote for the female and male team captain will be opened immediately after this assembly. Put in the name of the students you want and walk away. The announcement will be made at the ground hall at eight pm tonight. None participating students are welcome to join. The only rule regarding choosing of team captains is never to nominate yourself. The true ink will know and alert me. Breaking the rules can lead to spending forty eight hours detention in the Expérience hors du corps. Any questions?"

My hands shoot up like I've been waiting for him to ask that.

"Yes, Cami." He looks down like there's a fire burning in my eyes that he can't see.

"Who will judge the contest?" I ask not out of curiosity just want to be sure if they'll be judged by the school staff or outsiders.

"That is a very good question, Cami and some of us know that we have people come from the other branches of The Vale all around the world."

Great.

"Any more questions?" No one answers. "Good. The rest of the students can go back to class while you guys put it in vote for team captain before rejoining your classes."

He dismisses us and the students breaks the line, walking outside the gym to cast their votes. I wait behind Jessica, not wanting to be the last to put something down. After Jessica cast her vote in the green ballot box, I move to the red and see small piece of paper and the pen with the true ink. The headmaster is standing next to the box watching the students write the name. I bend down and grab the paper and begin to write, showing what I'm writing so he can see my writing clearly.

I write 'i don't give a fuck who makes captain'.

I rise and watch the headmaster's face as I fold the paper in four before putting it inside the box. "Cami..."

"Do you have something you want to say to me, Dean?" I scowl at him as I dip my hands into my pocket.

He sighs and shakes his head.

"That's what I thought."

I walk away and meet up with the guys that are waiting for me. "Are you excited about the contest?" Nate asks.

"Nah, competition isn't really my thing. I prefer getting into trouble. Why didn't you tell us when I asked?" I ask him.

He shrugs and wraps his arms around Jessica, pulling her close. "Because I wanted to see the look on all your face since none of us have experienced it but let me tell you this, the next five weeks are students favorite. And after everything, we throw the sickest party at the barn. But of course, Cami isn't excited," he finishes with that, delivering the words with tiredness as he reaches forward to pinch my cheek. "Only you will be bored when it comes to fun."

I push his hands away and glare at him. "I'm not bored, I just don't like competing."

And it's true. I hate competition even when I know life is one competition but I don't care about that.

"That's because you're a sore loser." He purses his lips playfully.

I shake my head and pushes his chest. "Kids, I'm going to be late for class." I tell them and back away. "See you at lunch."

****

The day drags on and everyone is excited for tonight, they want to know who their captains are. I, for one am not bothered.

Immediately after dinner every one gather inside the grand hall, the place I have no idea is in the school. Nate says they reserve it for important occasion like tonight where all students can be present.

Everyone takes their seats on the chairs and stares ahead at the headmaster who is holding a sheet paper, which obviously contains the name of the people that made captain.

"Are you excited?" Alicia asks from my side.

I turn my head and frown at her. "You know exactly how I feel about this. If it was up to me, I would be laying on my bed staring at the ceiling but now I'm here wasting my time."

She watches me with amusement before asking, "you really don't enjoy this, do you?"

"If you mean the upcoming contest"–i shake my head–"then no, I don't."

She hums. "So what do you do for fun?"

"Competition against my friends isn't fun and trust I know how to have fun, just ask Jessica." I answer, pointing at Jessica who's sitting in front of me with Nate and Caleb.

"That's right, you guys attended the same school before coming here." I nod. "But I'm not asking Jessica now, I'm asking you."

"Okay... Mmm... I smoke and drink for fun. I break into the principal's office to put dog shit on his desk for fun. I crash Jessica's party for fun. I spray permanent paint on the sheriff's car for fun. Would you like me to continue?"

"Maybe later," she replies with a smile. "You're fun, Cami." She faces front after that.

That wasn't the reaction I was expecting. I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly not calmness.

"When I call your names, you stand up for recognition." The headmaster holds the sheet to his face and begins to call out the names of those who made captain. "Penelope Michaels and Calderon Larson are Red House captains."

Oh, shit. Really?

They stand up for recognition before the headmaster goes on with the list the people that made the captain, the only familiar name is Nate, who is the captain of Blue House.

"All captains are expected to meet with the House Supervisors. Mr. Wallace and Miss Mulligan for Red House. Mr. Groff and Mrs. Weasley for Blue House. Professor Mark and Miss Morse for Green House. Mr. Lahey and Mrs. Radcliff for Yellow House.

"All team players are expected to get their gears at the store and the rest of the students can get their desired gear from there as well. The first contest is sports and based on popular demands, the boys will be playing Lacrosse and the girls will be playing soccer this year. First match will be held on Thursday and the final will be on Sunday. There are four houses but only one house will win. First leg of the match will be Red versus Green and Blue versus Yellow. Winners faces each other on Sunday. You're free to train anytime but not during your classes."

He concludes his speech with advice on going to bed early, and leaves the hall. Every one gets on their feet to celebrate their captains. I look around the sea of people to find Penelope and my teammates. I see them standing at the other side of the hall talking. The excitement is evident on their faces.

I really don't want to have anything to do with Penelope but I have to tolerate her for the contest, so I approach them. It looks like they're having some kind of meeting when I hear Penelope say, "this should be easy, we kicked butt last year, we can do it again this year."

The girls cheers.

"Wait, you guys won last year? Were you also in Red House?" I ask no one in particular, I'm just curious after hearing what Penelope said.

Penelope faces changes, her excitement fades into something that I can recognize as irritation, she doesn't make eye contact as she ignores me and turns to the other girls. They continue with their talk.

I sigh and back away but I don't get far when I see Miss Mulligan approaching.

"Excuse me, I can't play soccer, what else can I do?" I ask the supervisor since the headmaster made it clear repeatedly that it mandatory for us to participate. As if.

Miranda smiles at me like she's happy to see me, if only the feeling is mutual. I still have to talk to her about how she knows people are coming to kill me because she gave me the first heads up.

"You can cheer." She suggests.

Over my dead body.

"Can't do that either."

She stops in front of me and chuckles. "Well you have to do something."

"How about she wash our gear when we're done with it." Penelope chirps in when it's least expected.

I turn my attention to her and see her looking at me already. "How about I pull out your tongue and feed them back to you?" The words are funny but she knows not to mess with me.

That wipes the smirk off her face. "What did you just say?"

I tip my lip up and answer her. "You heard me." I don't bother to repeat it.

"Settle down girls." Miranda cautions.

"Miss M, she–"

"Settle down." Miranda repeats with a do-not-mess-with-me tone and I think Penelope knows better.

She quiet down but not before she sends the dagger glare my way.

For next thirty minutes, Miranda talks strategy and how she expects us to be on the field first thing tomorrow morning. She dismisses everyone but calls me back.

"You can't help yourself, can you?" She's talking about my verbal spare with Penelope.

I dip my hands into my pocket and shrug. "Can't blame a girl for trying too hard. Anyway, why is there a separate competition? Can't both boys and girls play the same sport?"

"It was like that before until the female started complaining about the guys throwing their weight around. The girls game don't matter, it's just to make them happy and their cup is just a trophy."

"Really? So why do they bother?"

"For fun, I guess."

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

"Eww."

"It's actually fun, you'll see. See you at training tomorrow."

I roll my eyes and remind her, "I'm not playing, why the hell should I be at the training?"

"Because it's compulsory."

"Compulsory my ass. Whatever I'll try my best but don't bet on it, I always sleep in on weekends."

She chuckles. "We live in the same building, I'll come get you." She teases and says, "you seem sad, are you all right? I can tell that you're sad, and you're doing a really good job at hiding it but not from me. What's up?"

She is the first person to see through my mask and I hate it.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?" She asks.

"Switch from one person to another, actually don't answer that, I don't care. I know the way to your office if I need to talk."

"I will be expecting you. Good night, Camille."

"It's still Cami."