It's past 12 pm and I am sitting in the cafeteria (which is the biggest cafeteria I have seen by the way) watching other people eat while my stomach growls in hunger. Because it has been unambiguously decided by Peach that we should all eat together. We. The four lab rats that Peach has ridiculously stylized The Black Colony Colonels.
Hari has texted a few seconds earlier to say they are rounding up classes.
While I bid my time and pray I don't end up already dead before the rest of the Black Colony Colonels waltz in, I put on a video call to Barbie Mullen.
She picks up at the first ring, her face radiant and her mouth working at double speed chewing something. I can see that she is in the cafeteria at Greta High.
"Hi there Schorlar " She mouths with a grin.
"Is that Nightie " I recognize Norma Jean's voice even before her chubby beautiful face appears on the scene, displacing Barbie Mullen.
"You are eating at Barbie's table" I say flatly. Which is new. Because back home, my sister is the popular stylish one with throngs of friends and followers who rarely wanted to sit with us older folks. I wince slightly. Older folks ? Barbie and I are only three years older. I feel archaic all of a sudden.
"Yes " She has the widest smile on her face "I have ditched my old friends. Too much party time. Too little study time. "
"I am impressed " I say drily . Norma Jean has always hated classes with a passion. She is more sporty than academic. So what changed. I cannot resist the temptation so I add flatly "I hope you can keep that up"
"Jose Ann visited yesterday" Norma Jean continues "She says if this works out well there would be yearly scholarships to the Academy. " She squeals delightedly "I am dotting my i's and crossing my t's so I can get in next year."
"You are fourteen " I remind her testilly "If this unwise scheme works , which I am hundred percent sure it won't , you won't be getting in till you are sixteen. Which is a whooping two years from now. You can come down from your high horse now, Norma Jean."
"Such a pessimist" She retorts with a scowl "I don't expect anything less from a Dark Magian though. Anyways even if it takes two years, I will one day follow in your footsteps which is the first best thing you have done actually." My throat is tight and boiling and my hands are curling into powerless fists but Norma Jean continues with a smirk "I can then meet Moon Sol and live out one blissful year in a werewolf's arms."
I reply absentmindedly "If you are done daydreaming, can you pass the phone to Barbie Mullen?"
"Not until you tell me if you have met them yet" Her face is expectant and her smile makes me want to throw up.
"Pass the phone now, Norma " I want to punch her face .
"Have you met Moon Sol yet? " This is from Barbie herself and I wonder how they could be so infected by this unrealistic obsession for a bunch of singing monkeys. Except of course they are not monkeys. Barbie and Norma Jean's faces are pressed close to the screen and their eyes are burning bright at me, expectantly.
"Yes" I admit reluctantly but before Norma Jean could complete her gleeful dance, I add "Just one though".
"Which one?" They ask in unison.
"Frost eyes" The name alone makes me want to puke "He's in my department".
"He is?" Norma Jean's eyes are round and bulging. Then she says quietly "Please be nice to him."
"I am afraid I cannot " I roll my eyes "He's cocky. Arrogant. Pompous. So so unlikable. It's no wonder he's the least liked amongst the trio. "
"Gosh" my sister is almost on the verge of tears "He must be lonely."
I snap at her "As he should be."
"Hi there , flame hair" It is Peach Thubman and finally the Black Colony Colonels are here. My stomach does a wild thankful dance.
"I will call you guys back." I say to Barbie.
"We love you." She and Norma Jean blow me kisses and I end the call with a sigh.
____________________________________________
I am wolfing down a plate of grilled chicken, rice and steamed veggies when Cassidy announces abruptly that her roomie is a werewolf.
"I got a Vamp." Peach squeals, her mouth full "Her name is Morgan. She's a sweet frightfully pale girl".
"Sweet ?" I am incredulous "What's sweet about a couple of fangs dripping blood".
"Duh " Peach smirks "Having a scythlike teeth and having to survive on animal blood and dying semi dead corpses. It is a helluva prime time ride."
"I wish I got something glamorous" Hari comments gloomily "Too bad my roomie is human ".
"We could trade places " I tell him , crunching noisily "My roomie's fanged and bloody."
"Is she hot" Hari cocks an eyebrow.
"Is he hot ?" I retort. And a round of raccous laughter erupts.
Hari has devoured all of his food in a matter of seconds. He gets up and announce with a proud grin
"I got a date."
Everyone stares at him impressed and then everyone asks in amused unison "Is she hot ?"
"You bet " He licks his lips lecherously.
"Vamp or Werewolf" Cassidy wants to know.
"Cold skin. A colder ass which I plan to warm " His laugh is sweet and promising thrills "And those fangs .... bite me , my lady."
Cassidy says "Way to go, Champ" and Peach has extracted her phone and is filming excitedly.
Hari does a mock bow and shuffles off swaggerishly.
"Lucky bastard" Peach comments. We all agree.
"Speak of hot " Cassidy has her eyes glued to the door and in that instant the rest of the cafeteria goes wild with excitement. I am hearing muffled shouts of "Moon Sol" and then the food suddenly tastes stale in my mouth. A lot of girls are giggling and doing nothing to hide it. Phone cameras appear from different angles. I feel sick already.
"Burning hot " Peach is unashamedly ogling these dudes while they walk to the counter to take their food. Like Viviette Tom, I want to scream at these girls 'enough of the fandom' but my throat burns and I stab at my rice in wordless fury.
Well to their credit, the Moon Sol guys reek of flawless perfection. Yes I admit that, grudgingly. There's the not so tall one with deep brown skin and an athletic build.
Then there's the really smoking hot dream boat. Black curly hair. Abs. A blinding white t shirt that does nothing to hide his magnificent chest. Tall. Yes my knees wobble. Unintentionally.
And then there's Frost eyes. My admiration cease at this point, obviously. I notice he's the only one wearing a jacket. Typical. I snort.
"OMG, they are bringing their trays over here" Cassidy squeaks excitedly in what she considers a whisper which somehow sounds like a shout to my ears. I look up, alarmed.
Yes, they are bringing their trays over here. I fidget uneasily in my seat. Peach has worked her face into ecstasy. Phone cameras are clicking in our direction. My appetite is slightly ruined, thank you very much.
"Oh please don't scream desperate" I warn quietly but it falls on deaf ears because even before they seat down on our table, Cassidy has extended her hand to the curly haired one and squeaked out a "hi" in a glamourous high pitched voice.
I am embarrassed on her behalf.
"Hi " His voice is politely sing song "I am William Shawn." He kisses her outstretched hand and I watch Cassidy turn a deeper shade of pink. "You must be..?"
"I..." Cassidy stammers, suddenly idiotified "I am .... uhm.... my name is...."
God.
"Her name is Cassidy" Peach comes to her rescue "Do sit down and I will introduce the rest of the table. I am Peach by the way". Her voice seemed glamourously affected too and I observed that the top two buttons of her fitted black gown had been magically unbuttoned to reveal the volumptous swell of not_so teenage like breasts.
I roll my eyes unamused.
Moon Sol sits in an arrangement that keeps Jordan Files directly facing me and his glass eyes staring brutally at me. I am thinking of a hundred and one excuses to excuse my self.
Curly haired William Shawn is introducing the rest of the band. "This is Dammy Brentwood. " He gestures to the dark brown beauty god who gives us one of his killer smiles "And this is Jordan Files " We do not receive any smile from Frost eyes instead his face has that bored, cocky smirk. I want to wipe that infuriating smirk right out of his ridiculous face.
William continues "On behalf of the White Colony, we welcome you to the Academy. Let's eat and drink to one year of a happy life in the Academy and many more years of a strengthened bond between the two Colonies."
Cassidy is looking at Dammy as if she would prefer to eat him instead. I am seated closest to her so I tap her discreetly.
"Yes, let's eat " Cassidy jolts back to life stabbing at her plate without carrying anything.
Spoons clink on plates. Food finds their way from plates into mouths. My rice is still tasteless in my mouth and Jordan Files is eating with all the ease in the world as if he has no single worry. It irks me . I don't know why.
"Peach " Dammy speaks for the first time . His voice is smooth like paper. "How bout that introduction you promised us."
Peach gets up and clears her throat, her tempting breasts threatening to burst out of her partially unbuttoned gown . She re introduces Cassidy. When it gets to my turn, Jordan Files takes the words from her mouth.
"Night Carter" He says flatly, gulping a glass of water.
All eyes on the table divert to me and then back to Jordan. This is the height of my embarrassment.
"You two know each other?" Cassidy's eyes are nearly popping out of their sockets.