"Remember, girls, to always just go with the flow," Kelsey announced to the three of us before we enter the headmaster's office as if she'd done this multiple times.
Kelsey grabbed my arm last second, adjusting my bangs and eyeglasses as if she was trying to keep me composed. We all lowered our heads, adopting the silent, submissive attitude of guilty students, and took our seats.
Across the table, Hunter, Hudson, and Krygan sat stiffly, their expressions unreadable but tense. At the head of the table, Mr. Thornton looked at us with a disappointed face, his few remaining hair strands crumpling under the weight of the situation.
"Girls," Mr. Thornton began, voice strained with frustration, "these boys here are accusing you of cheating during the last combat practice." His eyes flicked between us and the boys, a flicker of disapproval in his gaze.
Kelsey nodded quickly. "Yes, we did," she admitted without hesitation. "Sorry," she added, nudging Tasha beside her, who nodded in agreement. Then Tasha nudged Charlie, then me.
In unison, we all echoed, "Sorry," but the words felt hollow on my tongue. Something didn't sit right.
I hesitated for a moment before speaking again, voice steady but tinged with defiance. "...although it wasn't explicitly stated in the rules that we couldn't help from the sidelines," I said clearly, after I spent the whole night reading the rules on combat practice, meeting Mr. Thornton's gaze. "But, I'm still sorry, and we won't do it again."
The room fell silent. Mr. Thornton and the three girls looked at me in confusion, as if I'd spoken in a different language. The boys, however, looked flabbergasted, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Hunter's jaw tightened, and Krygan's brow furrowed as if trying to process what I just said.
"Wait," Hunter finally broke the silence, voice sharp with suspicion. "You're saying it's not against the rules, but you're sorry about it? That doesn't make sense."
Kelsey rolled her eyes subtly, but I caught the flicker of nervousness in her gaze.
Mr. Thornton cleared his throat, clearly trying to regain control of the situation. "This is a serious matter," he said, voice trembling slightly. "If you're admitting to cheating, there will be consequences."
I clenched my fists subtly, feeling the weight of the moment.
Mr. Thornton's voice cut through the tense air. "Margaret, I know you're new here, but some rules aren't explicitly written down because basic human decency and values should be inherent."
His words hit me like a slap, and I was taken aback. Kelsey was right—my tongue should have been kept in check.
"Yes, Mr. Thornton. I sincerely apologize," I muttered, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.
"Good," he said, his expression softening just slightly. "Now, as punishment, you will be responsible for cleaning stadium grounds next week."
We all nodded in agreement, already preparing to leave. But then Mr. Thornton added, "The boys, feeling aggrieved, requested that you be their stakes for the next tournament."
My brow furrowed. Do they really have to do that?
Kelsey muttered a curse under her breath, then snorted and taunted Hudson. "Don't you dare pick me. I almost died last time."
Mr. Thornton reached into a fishbowl filled with three red fish. "To make it fair, each of you will choose a name from this bowl," he said, pushing it toward the center of the table.
Hudson went first. He placed his hand just above the water, and a red fish bit down on his palm. As he looked at his hand, the name Kelsey appeared—bright and clear. My eyes widened, and I bit my lip to stop myself from gasping at the magic unfolding before me.
Hunter's palm showed Tasha's name, and then, to my shock, my own name appeared on Krygan's hand. Krygan looked at me with a sly smile tugging at his lips. He then raised his finger in a warning gesture, his eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite interpret.
I gulped hard, feeling the weight of Krygan's warning and Hunter's intense stare. It was as if they both saw something I didn't—and I feared whatever that was.
We were just about to step out of the headmaster's office when Mr. Thornton called me back, his expression unreadable.
"Margaret," he said, voice tinged with disappointment, "someone reported that I was involved in a fight in the cafeteria yesterday. You were, apparently, part of it."
My stomach clenched. I knew immediately who had ratted me out, but I kept my face neutral.
"You've been here barely a week," he continued, "and troublemaking is the last thing I expect from you."
I wanted to defend myself, to explain that I wasn't the instigator, but I knew it was useless. Mr. Thornton's indifference to explanations was clear. I mumbled a soft apology, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me.
If I wanted to graduate without issues, I'd have to swallow my pride.
He nodded slowly, as if deciding something. "I admire your humility, Margaret. For your punishment, I want you to take the night shifts this weekend at the library. Our librarian will be away on travel, so you'll be covering her duties."
The library. Not a bad punishment, I thought—maybe a little solitude would give me time to think. Plus, spending the weekend in the quiet stacks might be a quiet escape from the chaos.
I nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, sir."
-----
Kelsey, Tasha, and Charlie dropped me off at the library building on Saturday afternoon.
"This is so sad," Tasha said, pouting her lips. "It's supposed to be our first weekend together, and you're here."
"I guess we'll just visit the new party place next week. You should be there," Charlie added with a small grin.
Kelsey reached out and hugged me tightly. "Don't worry. We'll bring something for you on Monday."
I waved them goodbye as they slid into the limo owned by Charlie's family, the sleek vehicle disappearing down the drive.
I turned my back, taking a deep, steadying breath. The quiet felt heavy, almost oppressive, as I stepped inside the library.
A student nearby looked up and nodded. "You're Margaret, right?"
I nodded in return.
"Great. My shift will end in an hour. Let me give you a quick tour first," she said, her tone friendly but with an undertone of curiosity.
As she led me through the grand, shadowed aisles, I couldn't shake the feeling that this library was more than just a place for books. Its vast, silent halls seemed alive—whispering secrets I couldn't hear, hiding stories I wasn't meant to see.
The grand library stretched far beyond what the eye could see, its towering shelves spiraling upwards into a vaulted ceiling that seemed to disappear into shadows. Ornate wooden ladders on brass wheels lined the aisles, inviting exploration and discovery. Rich mahogany and dark oak woodwork framed every shelf, carved with intricate patterns of vines, flowers, and mythical creatures, giving the space an air of timeless elegance and mystery.
"Over here," the student said, pointing to a secluded corner filled with old, leather-bound books. "This section is special. It's where the rarest collections are kept. Some of these books are hundreds of years old."
I glanced around, feeling a mix of awe and unease. In the center of the hall stood a grand marble statue, its features worn but dignified, surrounded by carved stone pillars that reached high into the ceiling.
Don't worry. No one really comes around the library on weekends, especially at night," the student assistant said with a reassuring smile. "Students are off partying in the city or heading home. There might be a handful, but you know better than to disturb them. If they need something, they'll come to you."
She spent the last hour explaining everything I needed to know—how the system worked, where to find certain books, and the quiet rules that kept the library running smoothly. Her tone was casual, almost dismissive, but her eyes flickered with an unspoken warning.
As she gathered her bag to leave, she paused and glanced around, lowering her voice. "You know, I'm not really supposed to say this, but... you can sleep through your shift and no one will know." She chuckled softly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Just don't tell anyone I told you."