Chapter 5 - much to her dismay

    "Good morning." Xavier greeted her with a gentle smile.

    "Morning," She returned a soft yet visibly exhausted smirk. As if she had just come back from war.

    He fell silent for a while, closely examining her face, "What happened?"

    "Nothing. Have you done your homework? Can I copy just this once? I totally forgot." It was true that she forgot. But that's because she's distracted by a certain golden-haired dumbass. 

    "Well, yeah, of course. But before that, you tell me what happened, 'cause you've been coming to school like this for weeks. Are you sick?" He puts a hand on her forehead, checking her temperature, "You feel warm."

    Her face heats up, "I'm fine, and duh, we're werewolves, remember? We're supposed to be like, really warm." She grabs his hand and sets it down, "I seriously don't know what you're talking about."

    "Cut the crap, I can practically smell your exhaustion from a mile away." His face quickly went from concerned to frustrated in a split second, "Is someone bothering you?"

    "Well, if you put it like that..." She muttered.

    "Who?" He asks in a frighteningly serious tone.

    "It's not his fault, really," Aster replies, mentally slamming her head against an imaginary wall, having just realized the kind of implications that having a guy bothering her has.

    Aster was expecting a scolding from Xavier. But instead, he remained silent. Staring down at the floor, seemingly deep in thought, "Lemon."

    "What?"

    He sighs, "Never mind."

    He rummages through his bag, looks around and hands over a light blue notebook, "I'm gonna need it back after lunch, make sure you make a few changes. I'll get going."

    "Oh, okay, thanks, see-" And just like that, he was gone with the wind, "...ya"

    She didn't expect such a cold response from him. Not that she wanted him to get at least a tiny bit upset or anything.

    ...

    ...Okay, maybe she did. But that's not important right now. 

    Last week, it was announced that they're switching classrooms. The rooms on the higher floors will now be used for club activities. There are four floors, ten rooms on each floor, separated by a long hallway which makes it five rooms on each side. One side facing the soccer field and the other side facing the school gate. She prays to the moon goddess to have their class be transferred to the side facing the school gate because all her hopes of getting into college will more than likely dissipate and vanish into the air if she'll have to see Khai more than she already does.

    This was a 50/50 chance that will cost her the entirety of her future. She can not afford to lose.

    She reaches her assigned classroom and sits herself down, their adviser entering shortly after.

    "Alright, when your name is called say present. And if I'll have to repeat your name, consider yourself absent." Mr Stevenson, Steven for short, was everyone's favorite teacher. Strict in the classroom, but an entirely different person during break time. He strives to keep his professionalism inside the classroom, but outside of it, he's an acting counsellor, psychologist and father to 3/4 of the campus. Give it a few more months and he's gonna cost the school shrink their job.

    "Angelo Giansson"

    "Present." She was reminded of Xavier's unbecoming reaction earlier. 'Lemon, what does that mean? Did Khai's scent stick to me?'

    "Edward Kjiellberg"

    "Present." She sniffs the hems of her sweatshirt, 'Holy crap, it did.'

    "Ashleigh Marie Nordin"

    "Present." Great, now she has to make sure Khai and Xavier never cross paths. Not that she had any plans of introducing them to each other in the first place, but still.

    "Aster Stellini"

    She should buy a new perfume this Saturday to cover up his stupid scent. That guy unknowingly brings nothing but trouble into her life. Her face crunches up, Khai was alike to a goddamn flower girl. But instead of throwing petals, he throws problem after problem at her. Her livid thoughts were interrupted by a light nudge in the foot.

    She looks over to her seatmate whose eyes were wide, gesturing to their teacher. She quickly realizes what the girl was implying and jumps out of her seat, "Present!"

    Aster earned a few chuckles across the room, but she was too exhausted to care.

    "Aster, you seem distracted. You were dangerously close to getting marked absent." Mr Steven deadpanned.

    "Apologies, sir." She sits back down and heaves, 'Way to go, Aster. Can't go a second without making a fool of yourself, can you?'

    "Rhiane Roseander"

    "Present." Rhiane, her angel of a seatmate. They've been acquainted with each other since 5th grade but this is the first school year that they became classmates. They quickly became good friends as the girl was incredibly easy to get along with that even a whiney werewolf like her can be tamed. The girl brings out a softer side from within her that she didn't even know existed before meeting her.

    Aster taps her shoulder and whispers, "Hey, thanks for saving my ass back there."

    Rhiane flashes her a soft smile, "No problem."

    A college female student knocks on their door, calling for their adviser to seemingly deliver a message. Mr Steven gives her a slight nod, "Alright, students pack your stuff, we're moving to your new classroom. Make sure you empty your desks and leave no item or trash behind. Kindly form a straight line outside, one for the boys and one for the girls once you've finished cleaning your respective areas."

    Everyone quickly gathers their things and forms a line. They then followed after their adviser, guiding them down to the third floor where their new room will be.

    Right means soccer field and left means school front. She had her fingers crossed while mentally reciting some sort of mantra. She closely watches the direction of their adviser's feet that was only very slightly leaning to the left. But that was enough to make a small part of her celebrate.

    'Thank heavens, I won't have to jump off a window today.'

    However, Mr Steven made a sudden sharp turn to the right and reaches for the doorknob of what seemed to be their new classroom.

    'I mean my parents did left me as a child for I don't know what reason. My bad for actually hoping I'd get lucky in life for once.'

    Much to Aster's dismay, Mr Steven was in fact, not heading left. He was just a weird walker.