~

I wake up to a ringing noise in my ears, and groan a little as I reach my hand over to switch the alarm off. I check the time: 5:30. Our first day at the School actually was off-timetable, and was more of a 'bonding session', so it technically started at 8, at breakfast time. The only reason I woke up so early was that I could take care of myself properly.

I needed to have a good first image.

Eventually, I climb out of bed after a 5 minute break, sauntering my way over to the bathroom. I do my business and then brush my teeth, and then finish off to head to the walk-in wardrobe.

I stare at all my clothes, and then pick out a black turtleneck shirt, and a dark red skirt. Hopefully I wouldn't get dress-coded for it. I pick out a pair of black boots that go just below my knee, and go really well with my tights.

When I've picked out my clothes, I head back to the bathroom, changing into said items. I then head to the vanity, and my eyes immediately find its way towards my multiple sets of nails. They linger on a dark red pair, a perfect match for my outfit.

I sigh, and take out my hairbrush, a large black thing, brushing my hair. I add some cream to tame its thickness, and then let the hair flow down my back. Reaching out for my makeup bag, I pull out a pretty red lipgloss, applying it as I look in the mirror. I make a mental note to take this one in my cross-body bag.

I then get some contour, apply that in the correct places, and blend it out with my beauty blender. After this, I add some blush, blend that in as well, and take out my mascara, rubbing it gently onto my eyelashes. Finally, I take out my eyelash curler and curl my eye lashes, and then picking it up and the red lipgloss, I walk over back to the walk-in wardrobe, picking up a black bag. I pocket the two items in it, along with a pocket mirror, and then sit back down on my bed.

I take out my phone, tapping my fingers against the dark red cover, wishing I had my nails so I could get a better result.

I go on WhatsApp, and find I've been added to a group chat with everyone in my dorm. I see that Olivia was the one to add me, (us girls had exchanged numbers yesterday).

I'm about to close the chat when I see that someone is typing - an unknown number, so it must be one of the boys.

I wait for them to speak.

Dorm 12

~Thomas🥶
WAKE UP EVERYONE
IM STARVING SHANKS

~Newt
Bloody calm down. We're
coming.

Olivia 🩵
Way to wake us up Thomas

~Thomas🥶
My pleasure Livvy

Do I come out now?

Fawn 🤍
I'll come out with you

~Newt
I'm coming now

Olivia 🩵
👀

~Newt (in reply to Olivia 🩵)
Shut up

Olivia 🩵
No 😊
(in reply to Thomas🥶)
There's no need to call me that

~Thomas🥶
Does it annoy you?

Olivia 🩵
Very

~Thomas🥶
Then I'm not stopping

~Minho😎💪
Shut up shanks I'm tryna sleep

~Thomas🥶
I will come to your room
and start banging on it

~Minho😎💪
It's your fault I'm sleeping
I could be awake right now doing
my hair

~Thomas🥶
Your welcome 😊

I snort, and end up switching my phone off after I save everyone in my contacts. This group was already chaotic.

And I loved that.

I get up, and unlock my door. I nearly bump into someone, and I turn around quickly.

"Fawn! I'm sorry I didn't see you!" I say hurriedly.

She gives me a small smile. "No it's okay. I shouldn't have stood right behind the door."

"It's fine." I smile back. "Where's Olivia?"

"At the Homestead already." I nod at her, and we walk in sync towards the door. I open it and let her go through first, and then I follow after her.

Everyone is already seated. Upon our arrival, Thomas jumps up happily, as everyone else gets up a little less enthusiastically.

"We are 5 minutes late. We need to go now."

Olivia snorts. "5 minutes isn't going to do you nothing."

"I'm afraid your British slang has not reached my ears. Please try again." Thomas ends up walking next to her as we exit the dorm, Minho leading the way.

Olivia snorts again, smacking Thomas on the arm playfully.

"Woman, what I'll do to you later-"

He doesn't finish his sentence as Newt is staring at him, eyebrows raised. Thomas pats Olivia gently.

"I'm not going to do anything, am I?"

"I suggest you stop patting me." Olivia says simply, although she's smiling happily. Thomas does as she says, and then runs over to Minho. Newt shrugs his shoulders at Olivia, and then limps over to join them.

"You two look gorgeous." I say, when Olivia joins us. And they do: Olivia's wearing a simple blue shirt with a quote on it I can't read, and the same white shorts she wore yesterday, but she still looks amazing. Fawn is wearing a white top and light pink flares, a little matching flower clip in her hair. And her hair is braided down her back.

Olivia tuts. "Says the queen herself!"

I snort. "I'm not a queen."

"Whatever you say." Olivia shrugs, a smile planted on her face. Fawn is also smiling, clearly agreeing with her.

Eventually, we reach the cafeteria, or a hall where we will have all our meals. The big doors are gaping open, revealing opposite it a little stage, not unlike the one in the Main Hall. On the left side is where all the food is, where the dinner ladies and one man are serving fellow pupils. Filling the rest of the hall are multiple 6 seated tables. I think the teachers expected us to sit in our dorms.

Minho leads the way to an empty table in a corner, far away from the stage and close enough to the door.

"This is our table from now on. If anyone tries to take it, smack them."

"I'm sure there's no need to do that." Newt says quickly. Minho just raises his eyebrows at him.

"As much as I love this conversation, I am actually starving now, so can we please go in the queue." Thomas whines, clutching his stomach in exaggeration.

"I'll wait at the table so nobody takes it." I suggest, when nobody leaves.

"Make sure to punch someone." Minho says quickly.

I snort. "You haven't seen me punch before."

"Probably because you can't." Oh, how wrong he was.

I raise my eyebrows at him. "Wanna bet?"

"I'll bring you something, Lyra." Olivia interrupts, smiling at an attempt to get rid of the tension.

I smile and thank her back. The 5 of them walk away to get their food, and I watch as they walk throughout the queue, receive their food, and then begin to head back.

Only some of them make it, though. Olivia, Fawn and Newt come back and sit down, Olivia handing me something to eat. However, as Minho and Thomas try to, they get bombarded by other kids, and get distracted.

"What's up, Thomas?"

"Nice to see you, Gally."

"Alby, bald as ever."

"Are you really trying me, Minho?"

"You won't do anything to me."

"Man, I can make better food than this shi-"

"Yes you can, Fry."

They finally end up at the table, and sit down, placing their food. Or in Thomas' case, slamming it down and immediately beginning to unwrap something.

"I need to introduce you to everyone." Thomas says in between bites." Newt stares blankly at him, along with Olivia.

I'm guessing the British ate different.

I take what Olivia gave me: a brioche roll. I look at her, and she's eating the same thing. Happy enough, I begin to eat it, taking small gentle bites. Definitely not as large as Thomas'.

"Who's the guy with the eyebrows?" Fawn suddenly speaks, placing her spoon into her empty yoghurt pot.

Minho bursts out laughing. "You mean Gally? He's a right shank."

"You call everybody a shank." Newt points out.

"I know."

Thomas finishes his food quickly. "The bald dark-skinned guy is Alby. The other dark-skinned guy is Frypan, or Siggy, but nobody calls him that. The guy in grey with his hoodie up is Aris. I promise hes not as weird as he looks." Thomas adds wearily. Olivia smiles faintly.

"Where's Chuck?" Minho asks, wiping the back of his hand against his mouth. I nearly wrinkle my nose, but decide against it.

Thomas shrugs. "I don't know. There are also other girls but I'll let you 3 meet them afterwards."

Olivia just smiles in response. Fawn looks frightened at the thought, but then relaxes after a while. I wonder what calmed her down.

I glance at Newt. He's mouthing something at Fawn.

Of course he is.

I share a look with Olivia, and then we both burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Newt asks innocently.

"Nothing." I snort, meeting Olivia's eyes again. There's a big smirk on her face.

"It's clearly nothing if you're laughing like that." Minho adds, leaning against his chair, crossing his arms again to flex his muscles.

He really needed to stop doing that. Nobody liked a boastful person.

"Did you not hear me? I said nothing." I repeat again, my voice a little harsher. Gosh, he annoyed me so much.

"Alright, someone's a bit angry." He says sarcastically, giving me dirty looks.

"Well done. You noticed something." I begin to clap sarcastically. If he was going to be petty then so could I.

Minho opens his mouth to say something, however he gets interrupted by Thomas, who shushes him quickly.

I don't need to wonder why, as a pale guy with thin, black balding hair steps up onto the little stage at the front.

"Rat man." I hear Thomas mutter quietly. I nearly snort, until 'Rat Man' clears his throat.

"Students. To those who don't know me, I am Vice-Principal. My name is Mr Janson, but I also respond to 'Sir' or 'Mr'." He introduced himself, rubbing a hand through his scalp. "For your first day here at Glade Boarding School, you will begin some bonding activities for today, and get used to the layout of the school. You will also pick your hobby, which is more like a side-job. That is all I have to say." With that he abruptly leaves, and then Thomas turns back round to face us.

"Pray that we get Jorge." Is all he says, when another teacher enters the stage.

"I'm Vince." He says, a strong accent coming through. Vince has blonde hair and really pointy blonde beard. That's all I notice of him. "I am going to be reading out your groups for today."

Vince was a simple guy.

"Thomas Edison, Newton Brown, Minho Lee, Gally Galilei, Alby Einstein, Charles Darwin, Aris Hill, Sigmund Freud." Vince finally takes a breath. I look at Thomas, and he seems relaxed, as there's a big grin on his face.

Vince opens his mouth to read the rest. "Olivia Brown, Lyra May, Fawn Dover, Harriet Tubman, Sonya Sterling, Brenda Esposito, Teresa Agnes and finally Rachel Stone." (I know the surnames aren't good I just had to come up with something 😭).

"This group are with Jorge."

"YES!" Thomas shouts out, and everybody in the room turns around to look at him. He makes an apologetic face and sits back down.

A guy makes his way over to us as Vince continues reading out names. I realise it's the same guy who gave us our timetables, so it must be Jorge.

"Flattered to know you love me that much, hermano, but you're supposed to be quiet." Jorge makes a face at Thomas, who shrugs innocently. "Come. We can leave now."

Everybody gets up automatically, as Jorge signals for the other children to get up as well, and then he leads us all out of the cafeteria. A little curly-haired boy, who looked a lot younger than he should be, joins us as well.

I hope today would be interesting.

~

A/N

Long chapter! Hope you all enjoy it! Another filler chapter but to be honest I haven't actually figured out a certain plot yet, however I do have an idea for one!

Also 136 reads? I'm flattered, thank you all so much! Love you all 🤎