The Colony

CHAPTER 3

Saturday evening, the day of the University's great annual Banquet. Everyone's gathered at the university great Hall, wearing their finest dresses. Though having searched for dresses with Olivia, I ended up wearing a dress from my aunt Nyala's Autumn Collection. She insisted on dressing both my sister and me for this "special occasion, although not without telling us, again, about her and dad's first Banquet at ABU. She graced me with a delicate floral long dress. A tawny brown dress that features a cap-sleeve bodice with a v-neckline and a diamond-shaped back. To top it off, she pampered me with a Vinuca Wool cloak and a penannular G-shaped brooch, one of the finest dresses she has ever designed.

As for Becca, well, nothing our aunt had seemed to please her, so a simple cheap green dress made the cut for her.

Though everyone looks amazingly well dressed, the real star of the banquet is the food. The large tables that stretch along the hall are filled with all kinds of delicacies. Whole roasted cows and pigs. Huge platters of fowl, stuffed with nuts. Ocean creatures drizzled in diverse kinds of sauces. Countless cheeses, bread, vegetables, sweets, and waterfalls of wine and punch. Not that I haven't been in this kind of banquets, between the inaugurations of dad's company's buildings and my aunt's Fashion shows, I can say I'm no stranger to this kind of event. But it's good to be in one where my family's name is not the center of attention.

At the end of the Hall, on a table just as plenished, are sit the Principal and the Head Teachers. The Principal, Wade Forwind, stands up, raises his hand, and waits for the room to be quiet.

"Good evening students!" His voice echoes throughout the whole room. "Welcome to the 299/300 academic year! As you all are aware, Allenori Bay University is one of the most prestigious universities there is in E8 and it is our purpose to maintain the same status this year. I expect nothing but exceptional results from every single one of you as well as exemplary behavior. Your uniforms will have all the information needed, and those will grant you access to every facility you're allowed to. With this being said, they're mandatory within University grounds. Regarding the recent incidents, the University is consciously aware of how close we are to Faliaici. We can assure your safety as long as you're inside the campus, where we can provide you with everything you need. You'll be, though, on your own, once you step outside. Both the other professors and I wish you a good academic year! With no further ado, please find a place to sit and enjoy the Banquet!"

Everyone orderly finds a place, sits, and starts eating. Olivia, whom we haven't seen since this morning, joins us. She wears a tight light blue dress that accentuates her form and two delicate jewel-toned blue rings. Her hair falls perfectly in a charming hint of wave. With not as much makeup as many others, she chose a scarlet lipstick, finishing with a marvelous contrast.

"Wow, look who brought her A-game to the Banquet! Looking to nab the hot guys, I see."

"You don't look too bad yourselves. Especially you, Samantha. I can see your aunt lived up to the expectations."

"She's a well know Fashion Designer after all."

"Let's eat, shall we?"

We start eating, and for the first time, surprisingly, Becca keeps her manners, eating in a rather calm way. We all enjoy our meal while chatting and getting to know each other better. Olivia reveals a bit of her life, seemingly not wanting to get into much detail. She grew up in Cantecca, the capital of Latinola, with her mother. Her father was a Neurologist and Surgeon specialized in Bionic anatomy. He died when she was just a kid, so she retains few memories with him.

As we finish our meals and head to the ballroom, we stumble on Vi as she arrives a bit scruffy looking and gasping.

"You're awfully late." Comments Olivia

"Sup b***h, what happened?" Asks Becca.

"I know I'm late. Had a rough day, don't worry 'bout it. I'm fine."

"You have a scratch on your cheek, though. You sure you're ok?"

Vi swiftly forces her hand on her face to check the scratch and looks nervously at us.

"Don't worry," I smile, "I have some makeup in my purse. We can discreetly go to the bathroom and fix you up."

"Thank you!"

While Becca and Olivia head to the Ballroom I accompany Vi to the bathroom. Although finding her lateness weird and the scratch on her face at least a bit suspicious, I try my best to aid her and hide the graze without asking a thing.

"There we go. Good as new." I say, smiling.

"Thank you...but you don't need to fake the smile."

Astonished by her frontality, I divert my look while putting the makeup back on my purse and fettle her hair. Ignoring her comment, I smile once more.

"It wasn't a fa..."

"I've seen how you look at me. The same way others look at us from the Low-Grounds."

"I was raised to treat everyone the same way."

"Doesn't mean you look at us all the same way. Becca is not the same. She doesn't really belong to your world. She longs to get free. You're so rooted in that world you probably haven't noticed it, have you?"

A moment of silence follows. She thanks me again and turns her back, leaving.

"Wait!" I stop her. "You're the first person from the Low-Grounds I ever met. Growing up, we weren't even allowed to be in the Mid Sections... I'm trying..."

"Don't worry, Princess," She grins "It's not your fault."

I sigh, briefly look at the mirror and groom myself to get back to the banquet. I get downstairs, to the ballroom, filled already with students chatting and dancing, mixing up with the glamour of the crystal chandeliers and the sublime cream color pallet chosen to décor the room.

As I start to look around for Becca, Olivia, and Vi, I'm interrupted by a familiar voice that seems to follow me wherever I go. Frustration boils deep in my system as I turn and face the tall blue-eyed blonde guy dressed in a graceful red tuxedo. With an unparalleled pallet of delicate Autumn scents, his perfume is felt throughout the room spreading the boldness of his presence. Yvan Vassili...The pressure of seeing him again would force me to say unpleasant things or to express feelings that I've suppressed the whole summer. I focus on the music, gradually emerging from the anger that possessed me, and force a smile, reminding myself of the elegance of the Banquet. I surely wouldn't like to be the reason why this evening goes south.

"Samantha, what a pleasant surprise." He says gently handing me a glass of champagne.

"What a surprise indeed. Here I thought you were going back to E9 to pursue a political career just like your father."

"Nothing I cannot do here." He smiles, proudly revealing his perfect set of pearly teeth. "Formalities aside, let me say you look amazing. Would you give me the honor?" He asks, inviting me to dance.

After hesitating for a second, I decide to accept and just get over it. He guides me to the dance floor, holds my hand, and gently lays his on my waist leading me into supple movements synchronized with the music.

"Something bothers you." He comments.

"More than one thing at the moment."

"I don't need to be a genius to figure the reasons."

"And yet here we are"

"Ever thought about the seriousness of my feelings for you?"

"Why should I? Wouldn't I be like the other girls you just have fun with?"

"Oh, you're worth so much more than that." He smiles. "What do you have to lose?"

"I still have a crush on..."

"Who, Elon? For how long have you two have been trying to get together? I never did anything wrong to you, but I feel that you cast on me the frustration of the impasse of your relationship."

I turn my head, trying not to look him in the eyes, and let him notice the veracity of his words. In a touch of poetic coincidence, my eyes stop upon a couple dancing on the other side of the Ballroom. Those peerless dusky brown hairs along with the vivid blue eyes. I could recognize Elon from a distance. Yvan's questions start to race through my head. How long indeed were we in this impasse? He ignored all my texts...and here he is, so close. But yet so far...Before we fall in the infelicity of our eyes crossing, I turn my attention back to Yvan. He looks me deep in the eyes, always keeping a smile on his face.

"Give me just a reason not to give me a chance." He asks.

"I...I have to go," I say, leaving him alone in the middle of the ballroom.

Overwhelmed by the situation I head to the dorm. Maybe sleep it off won't be such a bad idea. Without turning the lights on, I strip off my dress and climb into my bed, wrapping myself with the soft blankets. I can almost hear Becca's voice - "Forget that guy..." - and can't help but think that maybe she was right to tell me that. So it hits me now that maybe, just maybe it wasn't meant to be. I cry myself to sleep.

I wake up the next morning, Sunday, bothered by the sound of sirens that cause commotion between students in the corridors. I look at Becca and Olivia's bed. Empty. I quickly get dressed and follow the students to the center of the confusion. Everyone's gathered around a perimeter delimited by yellow tape. The policeman is collecting information from some students and it can be heard an indistinct chatter between the presents. A bit further, something that shook me for seconds. Wrapped in a plastic bag, a body...someone was killed inside the Allenori Bay University campus...