Falling For Kael Noir

Chapter 2

EVELINA.

The way she said the name, like it was forbidden to mutter, like it was a name that I needed to be terrified of or something. I stared at her blankly, and her eyes widened as she came to the realization that I had no idea who this Kael Noir was.

“I forgot you were home-schooled up untiI last year, so you probably don’t know.” She stops to steal a glance around the hallway again, and I wasn’t sure if this time it was for the Dramatic effect. “He who must not be named.”

“You make it sound like mentioning his name will doom the world.” I stared at her amused. It wasn’t just the way she was acting; it was the way everyone was shaken up at this mysterious stranger’s return.

Naomi presses her lips into a thin line, giving me the most warning stare she can muster. Her brown eyes stare into mine.

“If you come even a meter close to him, go the other way. Everyone knows to stay out of his way; no one wants to tap into whatever negativity he brings.”

“Chill out girl, aren’t you being overly dramatic?”

“I’m serious, Evelina.. dead serious.” Naomi says, every playfulness gone.

“There is a reason everyone avoids him, and a good reason at that.” She paused, biting on her lower lip for a second like she was in a deep thought before speaking. “He.. He also doesn’t, you know...associate himself with us and people in general. The only reason why it seems like everyoneis in a fright is because no one expected him to return, not with the way he left”

I gave a subtle nod, intrigued at who he was and what could have happened last year, but at the same time I didn’t want to go poking the bear. I wanted to get through senior year without any hitch.

It had taken months before my parent would agree I needed more socialization than the ones done through video call and in the presence of our home, even with their lack of presence, I could never go against their wish and order.

Which is why I wanted to go through senior year without getting into any trouble or doing anything that might take away this little freedom I had managed to gain. As much as I was popular, I was still socially awkward and was glad I had Naomi here with me. We clicked on my first day here and have been inseparable since then.

“Enough about Voldemort.” Naomi says, bringing my attention back to her. “I can’t believe we don’t have first and second period together” She groans.

“I know, right?” We had both sent each other our schedules and realized most of our classes this semester were separate.

“How do I function without you? It’s bad enough that we have to be trapped in this freaking make-believe prison, but I have to be trapped here alone.”

“Yeah, coming from someone with A’s in alI her subjects.” I laughed. We were both top students in the school, which makes it amusing seeing her complaining about having to be here five days a week.

“Um. Evelina, dear. Just because I manage school doesn’t mean I like being in school” She groans, just to do great in as the bell to our first classes of the day rings. “Seven crappy hours of our lives-what a befitting name.”

“I don’t think that’s what it means.”

“Well, that’s what it means to me.” I laughed at this. “Anyways, Come, let’s meet in the hallway since we both have third and fourth periods before lunch.”

“Sure, Naomi.” I responded, taking out my books from my locker. Naomi and I waved at each other; she was heading over to the other side of the hallway, and I the other way. The hallway was cleared up with students heading to their first class of the day.

I was sorting through the books in my hand, not paying attention, trying to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything. I was about to turn the corner when suddenly I collided with something solid. No, someone. Books that were once in my arms drop to the ground from the impact, causing me to blink, trying to process the scene. Once it all registered, I fell to my knees, trying to gather them

Back together. “I’m so sorry. I began, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn’t get a response, but instead a feeling of being stared down. My brows furrowed, wondering if they heard me, and I began to raise my head up just for me to be shoved back down, my bum hitting the cold tiled floor. A gasp falls off my lips at the impact as my heart thuds in disbelief. The book I had managed to stack back all fell to the ground. I hurriedly pick them up, clutching them to my chest as I get to my feet, still surprised, not because of the impact but because of the audacity of it all.

Not a single soul in Blackwood would think to lay a hand on me, much less shove me to the ground. I turned back, staring at the figure walking down the now empty hallway, dressed in all black with a black hoodie pulled over his head. An air of indifference in his stride.

“Rude much.” I muttered underneath my breath before proceeding to make my way to my first class of the day. Thankfully when I got to class, the teacher wasn’t there yet. Hushed out a breath of relief, making my way to my seat, which was in the front row of the class. My mind drifted back to the hallway and back to the incident. Curiosity clouds my mind about the tall black-clad figure. No…no, Evelina.

Whoever that is isn’t worth your time; you shouldn’t be thinking about rude jerks. I internally scold myself just as the door opens and the English teacher, Mr. Benson, makes his way in.

“Good morning, class.”

“Good morning, Mr. Benson,” we all chorus out as he takes his Spot at the front of the class, facing us.

“We will be having a rundown of topics for the semester before diving deep into each topic” He states, his gaze scanning the room. “Take out your note” he says, moving to the board to jot down something taking a deep breath, I place my notebook on the table, determined to focus on the lesson ahead. About fifteen minutes into the class, the door opened, and instantly everywhere went ice cold.

I followed everyone’s attention, staring right at the entrance of the classroom. And right there stood a broad framing, dressed in all black, with a matching black hoodie on. The hoodie was pulled low over his head, and a face mask concealed any distinguishing features. It was hard to make out the color of the eyes since the hoodie did a great job at concealing that as well. Yet there was something about this whole demeanor, something I couldn’t put a hold on. Something I was certain Didn’t care to know.

“Mr. Black’ Mr. Benson calls out, his voice having nothing but

Disinterest in it. “It’s nice of you to join us.” He adds, carrying the same tone as before. Black? As in the infamous Kael Noir. My gaze ran over him again, assessing him, trying to figure out what about him makes him an outcast. Well, if we decided to minus the hoodie strapped on his face along with the face mask concealing his identity. I guess that would do the job. Wait. Hoodie. My eyes squinted. I leaned forward, realizing how familiar the Hoodie was. It belonged to the rude jerk I had bumped into in the hallway. The rude jerk being Kael Noir.

All the more reason to avoid him. Wasn’t sure what the rumors were, but like Naomi said, there was a reason his presence here was causing a tumult. My eyes slowly move up to his hooded form, and I am knocked out of breath when I find his face turned towards my direction. I could have sworn he was staring right at me, almost like he was assessing me the same way I was doing and I swear to god this sends a cold chill sweeping down my spine, my cheeks flushed with the embarrassment of getting caught. I turn around and look down at my desk, my hands clenched against the sides of my chair, looking anywhere but at him.

“Have a seat, Mr.Noir, so that we can carry on with class” Mr. Benson says again, and like the first two times he had spoken to him, he was met with silence. Not that he cared. From the look of it, he just wanted to get done with his class, and Kael Noir happens to be the least of his worries. I kept my focus on my desk as he made his way to the back seat of the class.