Auroras Academy

Chapter 4

“This is where you sit?” As we took a few steps up to the platform I glanced back. Each table had hundreds of students rustling about, each talking separately causing a crescendo chatter. However, the platform was cut off from the rest in its own little world. No, it felt like they were above the tables on the ground level. Like the platform table was royally ruling over their people. And rightfully so. Everyone seated on the raised platform looked like gods. Each was drop dead gorgeous and hotter than the next.

“Of course, where else would I sit?” Lauren giggled, like my question seemed silly. To me the answer seemed obvious; with the common folk, down on the ground level.

“Am I even allowed up here?” I asked plainly. It felt like I didn’t qualify as I passed the threshold, every eye in the room watching me carefully and stabbing me with jealousy.

“It’s alright, we’re allowed a plus one.” She goes for the open chairs on the far side of the table, setting her tray down next to a boy with hair so black and shiny it looked like silk. I set mine next to hers. Across the table I spotted Clarke and smiled. He sent a small wave. A red haired girl with loose curls and mascara coating her eyelashes sat next to him, a hand resting on his shoulder. The glossy black haired boy glanced over his shoulder, his gaze hoping from Lauren to me. His piercing silver eyes examined me with disdainful suspicion.

“Who’s your new pet?” The glossy haired boy asked, though he was more of a man than a boy, his shoulders had a solid bulk to them no doubt each arm wrapped in muscle, his cheekbones and jawline so sharp they could cut a diamond. He could most certainly snap me in two. His nostrils flared, his eyes flashing wide before pinning me with a steely glare.

“I’m glad you asked. Attention everyone!” Lauren fake clinked her orange juice bottle with a fork to get everyone's attention at the table. Though, I swear half the room went quiet as well. I felt the heat returning to my cheeks again. “This is Lynn.”

Lauren gestures wildly at me, unleashing her inner game show host. I awkwardly smiled. With all eyes trained on me. I couldn't stop the urge to dip into a slight bow. Some nodded and waved their greetings, most went back to eating.

“Cute.” Lauren purred, “Anyways, time for some introduction; this bundle of joy is Jackobe.” She shook the black glossy haired boy's shoulders who shrugged her off.

“I’m Hansel, nice to meet you!” A strawberry blonde haired boy to my right cheerfully said, shooting his hand out for me to shake. I dutifully took it but instead of letting go he pulled me closer. “Man, you smell nice.”

“Umm that’s enough now.” I nervously laughed, plucking his hand off mine while he was in some sort of daze from my smell? I really need to switch my body wash or something. Others around the table watched the interaction.

“Stop being weird Han!” Lauren snapped causing him to blink in surprise. “His sister genius is right next to him; Claira” She nodded before putting her headphones back on. “That’s Elliot the baldie.”

“It’s a medical condition Lauren!” Elliot snapped as he stabbed at his salad.

“Did I ask?” Lauren stuck her tongue out. Elliot shoots up, shoving his chair back. Lauren grins, a cackling laugh escaping her throat. I sure as hell do not want to get on her bad side.

“Hey, hey!” Clarke flings his arms out between the two. “And I’m Clarke. As you know.” A sweet smile spreads across his lips and I feel my knees melting.

“No,” Lauren chides venomously, “that’s she-devils puppet. And that’s she-devil.” She points straight at the red head perched next to Clarke

“Go ahead, call me the she-devil all you like.” The red head leaned back in her chair, clearly unamused.

“Wait, I shouldn’t have genderfied. That’s just the devil.” A twisted grin forms on Lauren’s face and the redhead simply rolls her eyes. “Now next to her is Garrett, real computer wiz.” A boy with long shaggy brown hair smiles, one of his front teeth missing. He looked like a skater in a preppy posh kind of way with his uniform on.

“This is Liz and Charley. Both are very fun. Great to party with.” Lauren doesn’t specify which is which but one has an entire heaping plate of food while the other disinterestedly pushes some green beans around her plate. “Last is Mikey. The rest don’t matter.” A young dark skinned boy with green eyes gave a slight wave. Those Lauren referred to as the “the rest” groaned.

“C’mon, at least say their names.” Clarke complained, pleasing the majority.

“Ugh fine! That’s Denver Mikey’s friend. That’s Dave and Louis; Liz and Charley’s flavors of the month.” She adds with a wink. “Eloise is Elliot’s mate. I know, their names are oddly similar. I guess she-devils fake disguise name is Madison. And you already met Han.”

After Lauren finished they all stared expectantly at me.

“Uh hi? There’s no way I’m remembering all your names.” I wanted to escape so badly, a shirl laugh escaping my mouth.

“It’s fine. I still have trouble remembering them all too.” Eloise gently added, her soft round features making her look like an angel in the glowing sunlight.

“So? How come you guys get to come to this table?” They all start to laugh. Lauren elbows Jackope whispering “see I told you she was funny”.

“What do you mean?” Clarke asks from across the table, the only one taking me seriously.

“I don’t know. Is it like a rotation or something? Who gets to sit up here?” I ask again, this time no one laughs, the truth sinking in for them.

“No, it’s just the Big Ten. Like the top scoring students in the school.” Charley drawls, given up on eating her beans and resorting to smacking on a piece of gum.

“Like I’m number 3.” Lauren adds pointing to herself. “Clarke’s number 2, Jackope’s 5, Elliot’s 4, Liz and Charley are 6 and 7, Claira is 8, Mikey’s 9, Than Garrett’s 10. The Big Ten, you know?”

“Oh yeah” I add, trying to fake that I somehow forgot the top ranking kids in school but failing miserably. Madison looks at me pitifully and I emit defeat. “No, I don’t know. So you rank yourselves?”

“No, the school ranks us.” I jump at Jackope’s deep baritone to my left. I couldn’t ignore the fact he was glaring a hole into my head during the entire introduction. As I glanced around the table it got me wondering…

“Then who’s the last one?”

“Huh?” Lauren stared at me confused.

“That was only nine. Who’s ranked number 1.” The entire table quiets. Each casting concerned looks at each other.

The tense, quiet table turns to pick at their food, none of them wanting to answer the question. I definitely accidentally stepped on the ground I wasn’t supposed to.

“Sorry, I-”

“Flint.” Clarke blurs out, cutting me off. “He’s been ranked number one since his freshman year. He’s a 3rd year now and captain of the disciplinary squad.”

“He’s too good to sit with us. And rather hangout with his squad.” Lauren points with her fork, flinging a piece of cantaloupe off of it. I follow where she’s pointing, to the end of a table filled with a rowdy bunch of the most muscular teenagers I’ve ever seen. Each looked like they were on steroids and put everyone around them to shame. In the center of all though, a gorgeous male sat relaxed with a quirked grin on his face as he chuckled at something his squad member said. It was easy to tell he was the leader, every one of his squad looking up to him with such admiration that I felt myself admiring him as well. Or maybe it's just his drop dead stunning looks.

“Clarke has been trying to woo him for a year now, but not such luck.”

“Ugh, I'm trying to get his attention so I can get on the disciplinary team. Either the school selects you or you get on Flint’s good side.”

“Keep your man-crush to yourself, Davis.” Lauren sticks her tongue out and Clarke frowns at her.

“Most don’t even count him a part of the big ten anymore. He’s in a league of his own.” Liz adds dreamingly, her hand resting under her chin, admiring the eye candy from afar.

A resounding church bell sings throughout the cafeteria, marking the end of lunch. I’m sure they came from a real source, not some fake bell broadcasted through the intercoms. Though, the source of the bell was nowhere to be found. The table begins piling their leftover food on their trays and dumping them in the trash.

“It was nice meeting you Lynn.” Eloise softly says goodbye, allowing Elliot to take her tray for her.

“See yeah later,” Liz and Charley are the last to gather their lunch, leaving just me and Lauren.