ALICE TAPPED her pencil annoyingly against the paper sitting in front her, the edges lifting it off the table - the result of the steady draft coming from the window. She watched the professor's hand movements with a faraway look, her mind barely able to grasp the words coming from his mouth. Looking lazily about her, she saw that the majority of students felt the same way as she did about this class - which was, by the way, inexplainably boring to the core - for they were either staring out into space or watching the clock intently with cold stares. Some were even slumped against their chairs or sprawled about on their desks, their head lolled to the side, revealing that they had fallen asleep during this difficult lecture, which Alice herself only half understood. She sighed, content that the professor didn't notice the disinterest in the majority of his students - and why not might be asked, but it was not obviously shown. Perhaps because he was having such a joy teaching his class, which perhaps resulted in him not noticing, since he was talking away excitedly, as if the students would jump up at any moment, realize what they were missing, and go, 'Quite right, professor! What a delightful discovery.' Although, no one in Aura would ever say that, and even if they did they would never say it in that way. Because who these days said 'quite right' or 'delightful'? Slang and cursing was way more common, and even peppy Alice found herself talking like others at times. Being from an English lineage, though, proved to most that she wasn't up for that sort of thing. She did have a faint British accent, even though she wasn't born there. But Alice loved her British accent, even if it was faint, because it was still noticeable.
Alice stretched her arms behind her, glancing at the clock. Five minutes! How the two hours had just gone by, simply by not paying attention and thinking about other subjects. Alice glanced away from the clock, already self-conscious about it. She was a majestic, after all, and she felt a priority to like school and be an A+ student. Although her grades weren't perfect, she was either at the top of each close or near there. Studying was a drag, but to be "alright" in the student's eye you had to be perfect or near perfect. And Alice had to admit, she did care about other opinion's. She did want to stay a majestic. She did want to be popular. Was that so wrong? Of course, she didn't crave popularity like most of the royals, and nor did she feed on it. But it did come in handy, and Alice would rather be a majestic or a royal than a nobody. She liked making friends; she liked being known. Luckily, though, the popularity didn't go to her head. But she had to admit that she probably couldn't live without it. Alice wondered for a second what it would be like to be suddenly demoted to a nobody. Well, it wouldn't be that bad. In general, she didn't care or give about the cliques. But she would admit, secretly and to herself, that it would definitely not be on her to-do list to be a nobody. Definitely.
Riiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggggg. The bell rung loud and clear; announcing lunch period. Alice smiled, happy that this class was finally over. After lunch, she had the special abilities classes, which were always fun. Alice stood up, the ringing of the bell still echoing throughout her ears. That thing was loud. The chair that she had been sitting in was pushed back and then in, the scraping of the legs against the floor an ugly noise.
Alice walked through the door, happy to finally get to lunch period. Well, it wasn't that she was exactly hungry, it was just that the classroom atmosphere was so... well, stuffy. And boring. And definitely not her favorite places to be. Alice strode down the hall, still a ways away from the cafeteria. Should she eat in the cafeteria? She knew a couple of people that ate other places - besides the bathrooms for those who were truly lonely there were always such options as the gardens or the auditorium for those who had practice in drama or dance. Alice was in both, but she didn't have practice today. She was dedicated, what with her random flips and love in gymnastics, but she wasn't dedicated enough to give up her lunch period every day. But she did know a couple people who were... Alice stopped by the gateway that led to the gardens, peering out. There was still snow on the ground; covering the plants and flowers. However, she could see that it was melting in places and slowly thawing away. Soon, it would once again be beautiful and alive, as it was in spring and summer. In fall, too, although that's when snow started to come in.
Alice checked her wristwatch. There was still plenty of time for lunch - and it wouldn't hurt taking a walk through the snow. The cold didn't bother her, anyways, and she was wearing a pretty warm coat. As she was about to step out, she was interrupted by a group of girls. More like fangirls, though. "Alice! Alice!" They said in unison, broad smiles on all of their faces. Alice cringed, but stayed upright and peppy. "Yes? Is there something I could help you guys with? Alice asked, a helping tone covering up her true feelings - annoyance. "Um..." One of the girl's muttered, suddenly nervous. Alice asked what was up, but she still remained nervous. Another group of girls appeared behind her, and another girl spoke up. "Well, we were all wondering if you would help us..." Alice thought that their probably was an "or else" on the girl's tongue, but she probably wouldn't say it. Alice was definitely not in the mood for being totally helpful today; yesterday had been a crappy day. "Um, sorry, but I can't." Alice said uncomfortably, trying to make her way through the little crowd outside so she could get through her walk in the gardens. They didn't let her through. Sighing, Alice whipped back her hair with a ribbon and stretched out her arms. "Fine. Have it your way." She put her hands on the nearest girl and flipped over her, and did the same to the three after her. Landing in the snow with a thump, Alice winked and briefly waved, setting off on a peaceful run.
A few minutes later, she was deep in the gardens and a ways away from the girls. Alice spotted a bench, wiping off the snow with a gesture of her hand. Sitting herself down, she sighed; out of breath. Alice looked up into the sky, opening her mouth briefly to taste the refreshing coldness of a group of dropping snowflakes.
If words could kill; the current lecture that was being given would have killed it’s students over an hour ago. The words that escaped the professor’s lips seemed to absorb all the lively energy in the room and replaced it with dead energy. The classroom looked more like a battlefield with the amount of students who had laid their heads down in defeat. Only a few were able to keep their heads up and try to make sense of the words coming out from the professor’s mouth. Included with one of those few students who managed to stay awake was the one and only Drake Vance, who was beginning to feel the end coming closer.
How long had it been since he gave up trying to understand the words that were coming out of the older male’s mouth? That was a question even Drake could not answer. His mind had gone blank after he learned about some person that was the fourth of something, who participated in some war. What energy he had left was used to keep his eyes open to see all the names that were being written on the board. Seated near the center of the classroom with his arms resting on his lap, Drake was the only one who managed to keep his head up in this battlefield.
Every word went through one of his ears and out the other and took a bit more of his energy from his body. His expression was blank, almost dead. In attempt to keep himself awake he played with his wristband and was failing miserably. Already Drake began to nod off, his mind slowly raising its white flag in surrender as the words continued to assault him.
Riiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggggg…
At the sudden noise Drake jerked awake which caused him to slam his knee against his table which led to a string of curses under his breath. Several of the Aura students stared at him before they quickly gathered their books and scurried out of the room. He sat there for a moment, rubbing his knee till the pain faded away and he began putting away his chicken scratch notes. As he put away his books, Drake stole a look at his schedule and at his watch to check the time. It was lunch, which gave him time to grab something to eat and take a nicotine break.
He pulled on his backpack and began walking towards the cafeteria planning to buy something hot to drink and some soup. It took him almost fifteen minutes before he finally got his meal and he made his way towards the door. As Drake made his journal towards the gardens where he planned to have his lunch, he heard the squeals of a group of girl and the name Alice being repeated. ‘Fangirls? Didn’t know they exist/’ he thought with a light chuckle as he zipped up his coat and wrapped his scarf around his neck.
Drake held his lunch in one hand as he began going through his pockets for his cigarettes and pulled one out and placed it between his lips. With the object of his desires in his mouth he pulled out the lighter and lit up his cigarette. He let out a small groan of satisfaction as he took a deep drag of the toxic smoke and continued walking down one of the many pathways towards where he normally had lunch. As he approached the bench he ate at, Drake raised an eyebrow at the body already seated there and slowed to a stop.
It was barely lunch and someone had decided to ruin his day by sitting where he had always ate lunch. He had two choices, one was to be mature and find a different place to sit and have lunch while the other was to go ahead and sit there. Drake looked around the Garden for a moment before shaking his head. He did not like change, not in his daily routine at least. It was where he ate his lunch, it was where he took his nicotine break, it was his seat. After making his decision, Drake moved towards the seat and sat down beside the stranger.
He did not ask to sit down, much less if she minded that he smoked around her. After all, it was his bench and he would do whatever he wanted. Drake looked at her in the corner of his eye, taking what information he could about her. She was cute, that was one of the things he concluded. She dressed well which meant she had money to spend and she wasn’t one of the faces he saw on the plane ride to Aura which meant she was a student here. Which ultimately led to the conclusion that she was someone that everyone knew at the school. Drake shrugged as he took another drag of his cigarette and flicked his wrist to get rid of the ash forming on it.