Threads of Fate, Book 1

1: The New Transfer

My alarm rang rather loudly, pulling me out of a restless sleep & my roommate groaned in protest. 

"Turn that bloody thing off!" she yelled as she threw her pillow in my general direction. I sighed & reached over to my nightstand to shut off my phone. Alexi groaned & hid under her other pillow in hopes of falling asleep again but we both knew that it was a very feeble attempt. Sleep has disappeared for the both of us. I sat up in my bed, stretched out my sore muscles & slid out from under the covers to put on my lavender slippers. I walked towards our shared loo to wash my face of the nightmare I had last night. 

I looked into the mirror & the reflection was not at all pretty with my ghostly pale skin & bright blue eyes with deep dark circles underneath them from lack of sleep, staring back in fear of the reoccurring dream. My brown naturally curly hair was a complete rats nest from the tossing & turning. I looked up at my own numbers that always hovered over my head in ghastly white font, the date & time & place in which my last minute in this world was to happen. 

I coughed. Whatever sickness was taking over me was the reason for numbers to be so close to todays date. Only six more months. Contrary to the numbers of others I can see, mine never said how I was going to die, just where & when. My reoccurring nightmares were all about the different scenarios of how this event was to occur. So far I had hoped it would be in my sleep, but unless I planned on being asleep at 15:43 in the afternoon in the middle of Westminster, then I don’t see that being an option. Besides, that would be too nice for me who’s been burdened with a curse for such a long time. It’s sad mostly. 

Being able to know when others are going to die is extremely depressing & a burden on anyone's conscious carrying knowledge like that. Almost close to being the one that caused the death, especially since I can’t do anything to stop it or risk someone else dying in their place way before their time being up. Not something I can live with. I’ve already made that mistake & I don’t plan on doing it again. But knowing when your time is coming, that is it’s own level of depressing. Again, can't do anything about. Sure, I could save myself & doom someone else to take my place, but I can never bring myself to do that. Just not who I am. I'm not perfect, but I can't live with that on my conscience.

Alexi walked into the loo carrying her favourite "Nightmare Before Christmas" mug full of the smell of the freshly roasted coffee with a hint of vanilla from the Keurig in our kitchen area. She sets the mug down on the counter & inspects herself in the mirror. 

Alexandra Morgan is a 5’6” 18-year-old beautiful blonde with perfect curls and bright blue eyes that always seemed to sparkle more once after she’s had her first coffee of the day, & always sparkles more with the more caffeine in her system. She comes from a wealthy family with business in the Ascot, Berkshire area. Her dad practically owns all of the real estate there & does really well. The good thing about her is that she’s not like those “rich snobby girls” that most of our school consists of. Yes, her family has a bloody lot of money locked away somewhere deep in a vaulted bank. Hence why she is here in Westminster Academy (or what many call it Westminster Private Academy for the Prestigious & the Wealthy) where the tuition & everything that comes with it is always at a cost. 

So why am I here? Honestly, I don’t really deserve being here; I am not a part of this society, not even on the same level as the proud & the wealthy. The large hierarchical chain that revolves around the society today is one of power. I do not belong here. Yet, here I am, I remind myself. My parents make good money as lawyers but no where near what most of my classmates's parents make.

 As she begins to apply the light layer of makeup, I couldn't help but admire her technique. Since it is a regular school day, Alexi doesn’t add much to her already flawless skin, just some blush & mascara & a bit for her eyebrows. She brushed her hair, causing the silk curls that were once a mess due to sleeping on it to now fall into place, into the cascade of silky blonde hair that looked soft to the touch. Oh yes, there were times that I envied my closest friend for her looks as I stared at my plain reflection at the large mirror that dominates most of the wall of the loo.  I wish I had the patience to do this every morning, but nothing could help cover up the deep dark circles under my eyes. I vigorously brush my teeth to the pearly white that they normally are & wash away the grossness of the night. I brushed my hair, hopelessly considering that no matter what I do it’s still going to be the big frizzy and curly mess that it is, & tie-up the big parts to the back so they will stay out of my face. It's a lost hope. I looked like Hermoine from "Harry Potter" but I am not a witch nor am I at Hogwarts, however this school sure seems like it with its castle-like appearance.

“You know, you should try something different. Something that makes you stand out a little more instead of just blending in the background. To make you pop,” Alexi commented as she applied dark mascara to her lashes. I laughed.

"There's no makeup in this world that will cover up these circles or do anything to my plain looking appearance," I said, pointing to my face. 

"Well, you look like death & I know for a fact that underneath those dark circles & pale skin, there's a woman just wanting to surface & say 'notice me'!" She exclaimed while waving the mascara brush. I rolled my eyes. 

"Yeah, good luck with that. You need to stop watching Korean dramas. It's not healthy you know, & giving you crazy ideas." I muttered as I splashed water on my face. Once I finished drying my face, I made my way to the kitchen area in our dorm for a quick breakfast before we needed to head downstairs. I found myself a strawberry pop tart & poured myself a glass of milk. 

"Ugh, I don't know how you can stand to eat that. It's not very good for you. Besides, why do you insist on eating those when we eat breakfast at the Great Hall every morning," Alexi commented as came into the kitchen to refill her mug. She was dressed in her uniform already with matching jewellery to complete her look.

"Hey, don't knock it until you try it. Besides, I don't know how you can drink coffee. It's so bitter & not good for you," I pointed out, chuckling.

"Touché." We both laughed while we continued our breakfast routine. I glanced at the small silver watch on my left wrist to make sure we weren't late to school. "Are we late?" Alexi asked. 

"Uh huh," I responded as I quickly stuffed the rest of the pop tart in my mouth, chugged the rest of my milk & rushed to put my uniform on. The Westminster Academy was a prestigious school which meant we had to look the part. Since it was the beginning of March & still relatively cold in London, we had the option of wearing pants instead of the plaid skirts we wear during the hotter temperatures. I take any opportunity I could to wear the grey khaki trousers as I am not very big on wearing skirts unless absolutely necessary. I buttoned up the white long sleeved dress shirt with the sixth form emblem in shiny gold thread (I'm almost entirely positive that its threaded from real gold) on my left breast pocket. I put on the already tied blue silk tie & finished my outfit with the dark blue, almost black looking blazer with the Academy's emblem right over my other one. Once I slipped on my black chloroframs, I stuffed the dark blue sweater into my book bag along with my laptop & books. Just in case it gets cold later (it is London after all), & took one last quick look in the mirror. 

"Come on now, Caly," Alexi called from the door to our dorm. "We're going to be in even bigger trouble if we don't leave now!"

"I'm here," I say breathlessly as rushing through took a lot out of me. I coughed & put on a smile while a concerned Alexi eyes me. 

"You really need to get that looked at, love. It's been months & that cold isn't going away." I loved how much she concerned herself but how do I explain to someone that I am dying & no doctor is ever going to help me. That my time is nearly up anyways. 

"Yeah, I'll go later. Let's go." I brushed it off with an empty promise. 

We left the third floor of Purcell's House, the house those of us who boarded at the school lived in. This one is mainly just a girl's house while other houses are generally mixed. The only boys that come to Purcell's House are those that only come to school during the day & then go back to their homes afterwards. There are a total of eleven different houses & each had their own colours. All throughout the school year competitions between houses are held to keep up the moral & spirit along with some fun. Our next one is set to happen next month & everyone is looking forward to it. So far, Liddell is in the lead but Purcell is close second. 

Once in the courtyard in between all of the houses & the main portion of the school, we relax a bit when we realise there's still a crowd in the courtyard waiting to enter College Hall, the name of the building that is used as a dining hall. The building was made of stone with beautiful large archways & stained glass, an ancient building just like the rest of the school, but restored throughout the years to maintain this place of history. We made it just in time. Alexi & I high five each other & start to look around the crowd for other members of our group. 

"Caly! Alexi! Over here!" a voice called from the right. I catch a glimpse of Leonard & Edmund amidst the crowd of people. We used our way through the crowd & reached our friends. Edmund & Leonard, or Ed & Leo as they prefer to be called, are identical twin brothers. Both are tall, about 6'2", with dirty blonde hair & hazel eyes. They're no strangers to the gym as they constantly love to compete in sports, but mostly to compete against each other. The majority of our classmates always confuse the two of each other, but since Alexi & I spend so much time with the Twins, we know how to differentiate the two. Leo has freckles around his nose area while Ed has freckles on the top portion of his back. They're not that dark & can be hard to see but they're definitely there. But the whole female population of our school, even some of the male population, all swoon for these guys. Not that I blame them, I know a good looking man when I see one, even if they are my best friends. "Well, good morning, you wonderful ladies," Leo says with a bright smile on his face, the kind that you need to wear sunglasses for. I will never understand how this man functions so early in the morning. 

"Leo, it's too early in the morning for your peppiness," grumbled Alexi. Leo laughed & I shook my head.

"Has she had her morning coffee yet?" Ed whispers in my ear. 

"She's had two," I whisper back & we both laugh. 

"Secrets don't make friends, you know," Alexi accused while sticking her tongue out. Ed & Leo laughed while I peeked around to see what was holding up the crowd to go into College Hall. 

"What exactly is going on? Why are we still out here?" I asked the twins. 

"Oh, actually I'm not entirely sure," Leo said.

"I heard someone earlier talk about a late transfer student. I mean, it could just be gossip." Leo shrugged his shoulders. 

"New transfer? This late in the year?" I asked. It's really rare for anyone to transfer this late in the year. It's been done before, but they were exceptions. Other than that, those that want to attend our school have to wait to apply the following year. 

"I guess that would explain why the Headmaster would be gone, but why the hold up for the Great Hall then?" Alexi asked, shifting her book bag from one shoulder to another. 

"Headmaster is on keys this week since Mr. Lee is on leave," Leo smirked. 

"You guys would know that, wouldn't you," I commented & gave Leo a playful push. The twins were not only popular but they were the class clowns of the sixth formers. They were very smart but definitely took every chance they could to play a trick. Everyone loved them. With the groundskeeper gone, the twins has free rein to play all the tricks they want with no interference. I swear, Mr. Lee probably despises the twins. 

Ed winked at me & we all laughed. The bell from the Westminster Abbey rang, silencing everyone with its seven chimes. Once the bells finished, the students at the front started moving, making their way into College Hall. 

"About time, I was getting hungry," I complained as my stomach growled at me. 

"You're always hungry," muttered Alexi. "Besides, didn't you just eat a pop tart?" 

"Yes, but that isn't breakfast. That was a snack. A pre-breakfast, if you must." I pointed out as we made our way past the stone arches that lead into the main building where College Hall is held. We passed through large wooden doors & into College Hall. The room was large with vaulted ceilings & beautiful windows from ceiling to floor on either side to allow any bit of light to enter. There were four long wooden tables with another wooden table perpendicular to the four with wooden benches on either side, all with large silver platters with different breakfast foods in each plate for the occupants to eat. The four vertical tables were to be occupied by the students & the lone table at the end was the head table with wooden chairs instead of benches on the side of the table facing us for the headmaster & faculty to sit. Not all professors ate in the dining hall with the students, but those that did add a semblance of normality; that they're just like us. Either that or they're there to spy on us; at least that's what the twins like to joke about. 

We went to our usual spot at the middle of the second table from the left to await for the morning announcements. There was no assigned seating or any order to where you can sit, we just seem to always come to this spot & have done so for the past year & a half that we've been friends. 

There were some professors talking amongst themselves at the head table but the headmaster was still gone. Normally the headmaster gives the morning announcements before allowing breakfast to start. Since I've been to this school, there has never been a day that the Headmaster didn't give the morning announcement. Right as I was about to ask my friends their theories of who was going to give the announcements, Professor Markowitz, the Headmaster, walked in. The hall silenced almost immediately. 

Professor Markowitz carries an aura of respect everywhere he goes. His black hair is streaked with grey but he ages well for a 45 year old man & dresses rather modernly. It doesn't look like he's "trying to fit in with the youth" but makes him look professional with grey dress pants, black Vans & an emerald sweater with the school emblem. His black satin tie was tucked in & he had his white collar sticking out. He came in with a bright smile on his face & exchanged pleasantries with the professors seated at the head table. He took his place at the middle of the head table & before sitting down, he addressed the hall. 

"Good morning, students to another bright day for learning," he said cheerfully. I caught a lot of people glancing out the windows to the gloomy & foggy weather we were having outside which is typical for London. A bright day for learning? Definitely not. Only if indoors with the heaters on. "I must apologise for the slight tardiness on my part as I will make sure it doesn't happen again. Now, I know you all must be hungry so I will not delay any further with the morning announcements. It's that time of year again where future pupils of Westminster Academy attend the guided campus tours from our neighbouring schools to enlighten their students to the bright future we offer here for them, & in hopes to bring more students here to attend the sixth form program here. I must remind you all to be on your best behaviours so that we can show these students just why Westminster Academy is the best of the best & what they are to expect if they decide to apply for our school."

"Best behaviour, he says. Don't worry, we'll show them exactly how we do it here," Ed whispered to us with a look on his face that tells us he's coming up with a plan full of trickery. Leo gave his brother a high five. I rolled my eyes at them

"Also, as I know some of you are aware, Mr. Lee is gone for the remainder of the week. So I must ask you to please mind your areas & make sure all common areas are clean & presentable, especially with guests coming this month for the tours. & lastly, we will be having transfer student attending the sixth form program, so sixth formers, I hope you show him a warm welcome. It's not often that we accept transfers this far into the year but this was a special case. & with that, I finish this with the quote of the day: 'If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way' from a great American author Oliver Napoleon Hill. Salúd!" 

We all yell "salúd" in return, a phrase that the Headmaster likes to include his fascination for the Spanish language in his morning speeches as a way of saying "food will now be served". The room then filled again with chatter & the clinking of plates & silverware as students began to grab their food. I grabbed some fried eggs & bacon. The twins began arguing about what tricks they would pull when this week & Alexi started chatting to Allison Byrd who was sitting to her right about the new transfer student. 

"You heard that right? He definitely said he which means it's a guy that transferred here," Allison gushed. I couldn't help but listen in on their conversation. I haven't really put in much thought in guys considering how limiting my time was. It would be really selfish of me & stupid to get attached to someone in a romantic way, only to break their hearts in such a short time. I already hate that I have to do that with my friends. Granted, in the beginning I avoided making friends at all, but Alexi & the twins didn't take no for an answer. Especially not Alexi who was my roommate anyways. She also doesn't approve of my lack of socialising with people & takes any chance to drag me off to events & parties. The twins of course help. 

"I wonder if he's hot," Alexi replied with a dreamy look on her face. I rolled my eyes. 

"I hope he's in one of my lessons today! I would love to catch a glimpse of him!" chimed Leslie Woods who was sitting next to Allison. 

"I wonder who his family is. This guy has to be someone special for the school to allow him to start the program so close to graduation," Allison commented. Ah yes, of course. Rich people tend to only hang out within rich people circles & love to gossip. But she did have a point. He definitely has to be someone special. 

The rest of their conversation continued about the mystery of the new guy but I stopped paying attention there & focused more on finishing my delicious breakfast. As much as I would like to come up with theories on who the mysterious transfer was, but it honestly was a waste of time. Only six more months left on this Earth. A guy isn't worth it, no matter who he is. 

The Abbey bell rang eight times, announcing the end of breakfast. I had Economics for my first hour today & then double of Art following that. My schedule today was full of light lessons & I was excited. I grabbed my things & said goodbye to my friends while I made my way to my economics class. 

Professor Arend was an amazing teacher & you could tell just how passionate she is for the subject that she teaches. She goes above & beyond making sure you understand the lesson. I took my usual spot at the front of the classroom where I have a better view of the board. I may not come from a rich family, but I earned my spot in this school because of my grades & dedication to learning. I want to learn as much as I can before I depart from this world. & what better to gather knowledge for whatever is in the afterlife. 

Professor Arend started with attendance & was about to begin her lesson when a knock on the door interrupted her opening words. Whispers arose from the students around me. Could it be the new transfer student, was the common question everyone was asking. Unfortunately, Professor Arend was blocking the view into the hallway for me to see what was happening outside the classroom door. She was definitely talking to someone, & that someone was definitely a good looking guy. 

Entering the classroom after Professor Arend was the transfer student. I froze with shock & a bit of fear. This guy was beyond gorgeous. He was tall, well over 6', with jet black hair & bright green eyes. He had the build of an athlete & the uniform fit him snuggly, showing off the muscles underneath. His hair was messy but the good kind of messy. I could imagine him running his hands through his hair whenever he was stressed or nervous. Wait, what am I thinking? 

But that wasn't what had me scared. There are no numbers. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. This has never happened before. How was this possible? Everyone had numbers, everyone has an expiration date. How could this guy not have one? 

His eyes seemed to be scanning the room, taking it all in. Did I just imagine his eyes lingering on me a bit longer than the rest of the class? No, that can't be right. Compared to the rest of the female population of girls who are naturally born pretty or have access to plastic surgery, I am the last person anyone would have any interest in. 

"Class, I would like to present Mr. Thane Night. He's our new transfer student, so please everyone make him feel welcome," Professor Arend spoke, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Why don't you take the empty seat next to Miss Leos so we can then get started with today's lesson." Bloody hell, of course the seat next to me had to be empty. 

He thanked the professor & sat down, dropping his book bag at his feet & pulling out a MacBook. Now that he was closer to me, I could feel a strange aura coming from him. Something familiar, yet something new. Almost unworldly. Who was this guy?