Arabella and the Four Knights

CHAPTER 1

BREAKING THE RULES

"YOU will love it there, Arabella," her mom told her from her seat, focusing on driving their car to the next turn.

"It's Ara, mom," she corrected the name she called for her. She doesn't want to be called by her real name. For her, it was so old school. The name Ara makes her feel more confident.

"You used to love your name when you were six."

"Well, funny 'cause I am not six years old anymore," she said as she raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms on her chest.

She made herself busy looking at the aged trees swaying with the cold breeze that was on the side of the steep road they were taking. They were towering and shading almost every part of the road, covering it away from the sun. It was too provincial for someone who grew up in a busy city.

"Who the hell made the idea of building a school in the middle of the forest?" she mumbled. The smell of the oak-brown majestic trees went through her nostrils upon opening the car window. It had a bit of an organic smell of miasma that made her almost puke. She really doesn't like the idea of transferring.

"Why do I have to leave? I love my life there."

"With your friends?" Her mom's forehead crumpled.

"With the friends who cared for me," she explained, stressing the word cared.

"With your friends who almost put you to death," her mom corrected.

"Mom, you're exaggerating."

Her mom's reason for her transferring was because of the stupid accident that happened to them last month. Richard, her boyfriend, was still in a coma. Angel survived but never spoke a single word from that time and was visited by a specialized doctor once a week; her boyfriend did not make it.

"Darling, this is for your own good."

"How will this make me better? More like you were putting me in prison."

She put on her earphones and pressed the volume up. She doesn't want to hear any more lectures from her mother.

Time passed as swiftly as they passed through the shady glades.

She removed the buds from her ears as the car stopped in front of their destination. She stopped her music to post a status on her social media but saw that she could not get a single bar even if she waved her phone up.

"Oh, great! Now, my life is really over."

Her mother wanted to help her carry her luggage but she pulled it on her own, entering the black-ironed gate of the school. It was open and the sight of the two ladies in front made a more welcoming appearance. It was as if they were waiting for her arrival.

The school has three white-stained buildings with sets of pointed gothic roofings. It was mixing with the plain weather that looked like heavy clouds would converge at any time to wash away the well-mowed grass on the vast campus. She can see various groups of students in their uniforms that are probably divided among shared common interests. And she probably will never join in any of those.

Standing by the gate were two middle-aged ladies. One wore a long dress and the other had the most authoritative look because of her coordinated suit.

"Hello, Principal Brown," her mother greeted the person with more respected attire. "And to you..."

"Edna," the woman in dress introduced herself.

"Welcome to Northville Academy," the principal told her mother and moved her gaze to her. "You must be Arabella."

"It's Ara," she corrected, drawing a gentle sarcastic smile on the edge of her lips.

"Well, Ara, welcome to our school. I am sure you'll love your stay here."

"That is if I stay long here," she mumbled.

The woman in a dress showed them the way to the dorm where she would be staying. Edna, the woman in a dress, would be in charge of anything they needed. She will be their dorm mother if that is what they call her.

And there she was left by her mother with a tight hug and a statement that she would definitely miss her. Left by the door of her room were she and Edna.

She looked up at the door.

"Great! This really is a prison," she mumbled again.

"Come on! Let's meet your roommate," Edna said with joy.

She opened the door and a dim atmosphere greeted her. Everything in those four corners was in black and in the same palette. The room was filled with metallic music that mixed with everything.

By the side of the bed, was a girl at her back, reading a book.

"Hi, Violet! Your roommate has arrived," Edna announced.

The girl never bothered to look at them and just waved her hand with one flick. Then, she returned to whatever she was reading.

Edna faced her one last time. "So, I hope you get along well. You can find me on the first floor of this building when you need anything," she said goodbye.

Ara took a sigh and looked around at her cell. That is what she wanted to call the room. It was dark because of the floor-length black-out curtain of the only large window they had in that shared space. It was really not her type.

"Great! I am stuck with a Goth," she said in her mind.

Two beds were separated by their sides. The empty side was obviously hers, so she stepped towards it carefully, not making any sound. But it still did.

The Gothic girl looked at her. Her iris was beautiful ocean blue, if not for her heavy eyeliners and mascara. Her lips were the same shade, popping chewing gum. She stared at her and moved the volume of her music higher.

It was so irritating that she wanted to pull that messy black hair of hers. Thinking that she will be stuck there with this weird girl is hell.

"Hi," she greeted as she straightened her back. "I'm Ara. Don't worry, I will not be staying here for long. I will be out here in a day or two," Ara spoke as she sat on her soft mattress. She opened her luggage and started unpacking.

"Careful. My last roommate also said the same as yours," she said in her coarse voice.

That made her pause and she looked at Violet, who was back in her book, as what she said did not give her goosebumps. She was about to ask her about what she had uttered but the door knocked.

Ara stood up and opened the door to receive her uniform. Even her uniform was not to her taste. The skirt was long enough to make her look like an old lady.

"Ahmm, do you have a scissor--sss! Whoa!" She almost jumped on her feet when Violet suddenly was standing beside her with the scissors in her face. "Careful! You almost stab me."

Violet smirked and raised her eyebrows. The music somehow stopped echoing in the cell. And she could see that her roommate was wearing earphones. After handing her the sharp object, she also strode out of their room, wearing the same uniform as the school gave her. But she never planned on following such a rule. She began cutting her skirt and pinned it halfway on her thighs, making it like a sexy schoolgirl. Because that is what she really is. She even unbuttoned a few of the upper parts of her top, exposing her cleavage.

Not abiding by the rules was her plan. Grinning, she pictures herself being kicked out by the school.

She grabbed her small backpack and headed towards the canteen. It was still nine in the morning and breakfast was still served.

The canteen was typical of what she normally had at her previous school. The place was packed with students who were wearing the same outfit. Well, not for her, because hers was made uniquely by her. It even made a head-turner.

Carrying her tray of food, she looked around and saw that everyone had their own groups. She was not planning to make friends anyway. Because her mind has a goal of leaving immediately.

She settled for eating outside the cafeteria, carrying a canned drink and an egg-drop sandwich in both her hands. Luckily, she found a bench under a tree. She sat quietly and began digging into her breakfast. She was enjoying it while looking around. But she almost got herself up upon looking at the bench.

A guy in his uniform was lying on the grass under the tree. He was wearing headphones, probably listening to a song that made his head bounce at a rhythm. His necktie was missing and his shoes were different from the rest. His wavy black hair is messy with highlights of silver strands on his bangs.

"This guy is also a rule breaker," she thought.

An announcement was heard from speakers everywhere. The first-day orientation will start in a minute and every student is expected to attend.

She never wanted to attend but the orientation started and the president of the student council began to give his speech. To her surprise, she had heard that voice before but couldn't remember who it was. To her curiosity, she headed to the gathering and stepped in by the entrance of the hall. With the shock that she felt upon seeing who it was, and bumping into the other student entering the hall, her drink spilled on her blouse.

"Oh, great!" she exclaimed, rushing towards the nearest comfort room she could find. She was trying to wipe it with the tissue that she had on her sandwich a while ago but it wasn't enough to erase it.

"Just how big is this school that I can't even find a restroom?" she let out her frustration. She walked a few more minutes and stopped when the familiar voice of the student president talked. She heard him behind her back, so she turned around and confirmed it was really him.

"I guess I made myself clear a while ago in my speech that I won't tolerate any student who breaks rules," he said, as he did not know her. His eyes began scanning her from head to her exposed legs and thighs.

Well, they never really know each other, except for the sexy kiss that they shared once.