Nightmares at Everglade Falls

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ophelia

As I chat with Miss Blume, trying to ease my nerves about starting at this new school, I notice the head boy approaching. He is almost a whole foot taller than me, with a chiseled jaw and steely eyes that look anything but pleased.

In fact, Gabriel looks a little disheveled, his pupils dilated, his hair tousled, and there’s a telltale pink smear of lip gloss on his neck. I can’t help but raise an eyebrow, guessing what he was up to before our little encounter.

“Thank you, Gabriel. This is the new student Principal Celestia had told you about yesterday.” Miss Blume introduces me, and Gabriel gives me a cursory handshake before quickly retracting his hand.

I could be offended, but what really surprises me is the electric jolt I feel when our hands touch. He barely looks at me as he tells me to follow him, and I can sense the annoyance radiating off him.

Maybe my unexpected appearance disrupted his plans, and now he’s taking it out on me.

Who the hell is doing anything sexual before nine on a school day?

That is totally on him.

I try to match his brisk pace as he leads me towards one of the buildings, but his brash demeanor leaves me feeling a bit uneasy. “So, uh, Gabriel, right?” I venture, hoping to break the tense silence between us.

“Yeah, that’s me,” he replies curtly, still not meeting my gaze.

I clear my throat awkwardly. “So, you’re the head boy. That’s... cool.”

He snorts derisively. “Yeah, real cool,” he mutters, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

I bite my lip, feeling a little out of my depth. “Um, so, what exactly does being head boy entail?”

Gabriel lets out an exasperated sigh. “It means I have to show you around the school and make sure you don’t get lost or something,” he grumbles.

I nod, struggling to keep up. “Right, got it. Well, thanks for doing this, I guess.”

He just grunts in response, his attention focused on the path ahead. I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at his cold demeanor. I had hoped that my first interaction with the head boy would be a bit more welcoming.

As we reach the entrance of the building, Gabriel gestures for me to follow him inside. “This is the main building,” he says brusquely, barely sparing a glance in my direction.

I nod, taking in the grandeur of the entrance hall. “It’s... impressive,” I offer tentatively.

Gabriel scoffs. “Yeah, if you’re into that sort of thing,” he remarks dismissively.

I bite back a retort, deciding it’s best not to antagonize him further. Instead, I focus on taking in my surroundings as he leads me through the corridors, pointing out various classrooms and facilities.

Despite his abrasive demeanor, I can’t deny that Gabriel exudes a certain charisma. There’s an air of confidence about him, a natural authority that commands attention. It’s clear why he was chosen as head boy, even if his attitude leaves something to be desired.

As Gabriel leads me through the school, his brashness is evident in every step he takes. “Here’s the library,” he mutters, barely sparing a glance at me.

I raise an eyebrow, trying to hide my frustration. “Thanks,” I reply, my voice tight.

He continues the tour, pointing out the classrooms and labs with the same curt demeanor. It’s like he’s just going through the motions, not bothering to engage with me at all.

“Okay, this is the pool,” he says, his tone devoid of warmth.

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my cool. “Great,” I force out, my patience wearing thin.

Finally, when we arrive at the row of lockers, I’ve reached my breaking point. I’ve been biting my tongue, trying to keep the peace, but his demeanor has worn away at my patience until it’s paper-thin.

I square my shoulders, determination fueling my voice as I confront him. It’s time to speak up, to call him out on his behavior, no matter the consequences.

He cocks an eyebrow at me as I fold my arms and take a step back.

“Is there a problem?” he asks, his tone laced with annoyance.

I take a deep breath, meeting his gaze head-on. “Yeah, there is,” I reply, my voice steady despite the nerves coursing through me. “Do you only save your smiles for people in authority or what?”

He frowns, clearly taken aback by my question. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he retorts, his tone defensive.

I fold my arms, refusing to back down. “It means you’ve been nothing but rude and distant since we started this tour,” I say, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “And I’m sick of it.”

He scowls, clearly not used to being called out. “We are here for one thing. Just pick a locker already. We are already late for fucking class anyway,” he snaps.

This fucking dude!

I grit my teeth, refusing to let him intimidate me. “I can figure it out on my own,” I shoot back, my tone defiant.

He clenches his jaw, his frustration palpable. “You’re my responsibility,” he insists, his voice firm.

I shake my head, my anger boiling over. “I’d rather not spend another minute in your arrogant, rude presence,” I declare, my voice trembling with emotion.

He bristles at my words, his jaw clenched. “You don’t know anything about me,” he growls.

“Believe me, I’ve seen more than enough,” I reply, my tone defiant.

He groans, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Fine, figure it out on your own,” he snaps, turning to leave.

I can’t resist one last jab. “And maybe wipe off the evidence of your girlfriend while you’re at it,” I call after him, unable to resist the opportunity to get in one final dig.

He freezes, his expression darkening. “I don’t need any of this,” he mutters under his breath before storming off.

I watch him go, feeling a mixture of satisfaction and regret. Maybe I went too far, but I couldn’t stand his condescending attitude any longer.

Alone now, I realize that I have no idea what to do next.

How am I supposed to find my classes without his guidance?

Maybe I should have held my tongue for a little longer.

I stumble into the classroom, my heart pounding in my chest. It took me over half an hour to find this place, and I’m exhausted already. The teacher, a woman with sharp features and a stern expression, looks up at me with a mocking smile.

“Well, well, well, look who decided to grace us with her presence,” she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes as I scan the room for Aurora. I don’t see her anywhere, which only adds to my anxiety.

“Take a seat and grab a syllabus from the desk,” the teacher continues, gesturing towards a stack of papers.

I can feel eyes on me as I make my way to an empty seat. From the corner of my eye, I spot Gabriel, his expression dark and brooding. Great, just what I need.

I plop down next to a girl with purple hair wearing a red blazer, and a guy with a blonde buzzcut on the other side. They glance at me curiously, but I’m too frazzled to make small talk.

I grab a syllabus from the desk and quickly scan it. The title catches my eye: “Advanced Elemental Control.” My heart sinks. This is definitely not where I belong.

The teacher drones on about the importance of the class and how it’s all about honing our abilities to control and manipulate elemental powers. She mentioned something about pairing us up with another student, but I’m too overwhelmed to process it all.

As the teacher continues to talk, I can feel panic rising in my chest. I haven’t even taken the elementary classes yet. How am I supposed to keep up in an advanced class?

I glance over at Gabriel, hoping for some kind of reassurance. But all I see is a scowl on his face, and my stomach twists with disappointment.

I turn my attention back to the teacher, trying to focus on what she’s saying. But it’s no use. My mind is racing a mile a minute, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m in way over my head.

I’m sweating bullets under my collar as the teacher goes on about grading our projects. She starts talking about the energies of the moon, and I feel like I’m drowning in anxiety. Maybe I should’ve started from Year 1 like a normal person.

The girl beside me speaks to buzzcut boy “Theo, you’re with me,” she says.

They high-five.

I look around numbly, my mind elsewhere. Where the hell is Aurora?

The teacher announces that we can pick our partners, and panic sets in as I realize I don’t know anyone well enough to choose. People start pairing up, and the classroom empties out, leaving me feeling even more lost.

I muster up the courage to approach Mrs. Renault, the teacher. “I’m new,” I blurt out, feeling small under her sharp gaze.

“I can see that.”

“I am not sure I can start with this class. I think I need to start with the previous classes before I get to the ‘advanced’ material.”

She doesn’t seem impressed. “You’re not here to be coddled,” she says bluntly. “If you need a tutor, organize it yourself.”

I nod, feeling defeated. But then she surprises me by calling out a name: Gabriel. My heart sinks as I see him still seated, a gorgeous blonde beside him.

“Yes, ma’am,” he says, his voice tight with annoyance.

“I need you to team up with Ophelia,” Mrs. Renault says, her tone firm. “You scored highest in elemental classes, and she will need help.”

“But, ma’am, I’m working with Isabella,” Gabriel protests, his scowl deepening.

“I know, but you’re always working with her. Embrace change,” Mrs. Renault retorts. “You’ll be working with Ophelia. Isabella, you can work with Thomas over there, and Owen, work with Aurora.” Then, one by one, she begins reshuffling students.

I feel the fury of the other students as they stare me down. It’s my fault this is happening, and I hate myself for it.

“This is unnecessary,” I whisper to Mrs. Renault, but she just brushes me off.

“You come late, and now you want to teach me how to teach, huh?” she says, and some students snicker.

I don’t say anything as I watch her gather her things and leave. Everyone’s still staring at me, and I feel like disappearing into thin air.

But then, finally, I spot Aurora making her way towards me from the back of the class, and relief floods through me. I could almost cry from relief.