Chapter III

Be aware of switching POV's.

Lucien’s POV

esteire: So we’ll finish this on Tuesday. She types over the chat box.

She’s astonishingly efficient and quick. The paired assignment wasn’t due until Thursday, but we managed to complete almost all of it in the span of two hours. We have to type up a kind of story/essay on Amorei and our relationship and or opinion of it into five doubled spaced pages; it accounts for 50 points, equivalent to a test grade.

esteire: See you tomorrow Lucien.

Lucien: Please, just call me Luce.

esteire: Luce.

We both have uncommon names, so our emails’s just have our name before the “at”.

I thought hers would’ve been more mysterious, but I don’t care either way.

esteire has left.

I have a feeling she doesn’t open easily to anyone, but I think I’ll give it shot. And I switch off the monitor and start on my other homework. It is 5:28 PM.

Elisa’s POV

5:29 PM. Why does that Mikael have to be so mean?! He was the only person I knew near me; what was I supposed to do? Now I’m stuck doing it by myself. 

You’ll pay for this mister Reddy! I think, shaking my fist in the air.

Maybe.

“Hey, Elisa. What’s with that expression?” My sister says, lightly ruffling my head.

“Ehh!” I remark at her ruffling.

Even if I am a year younger than her; it doesn’t mean she has to treat me like a little sister. Oh wait, I am her little sister. I mean like a baby. No wait, that doesn’t work either. “Argh!” I cry out in annoyance. 

“Hey there now, no need to get worked up,” she laughs, waving her hands.

“Ah, it’s nothing,” I mutter.

She bends over me, looking at my laptop screen.

“I see. So that idiot Red ditched you, huh?”

“You don’t have to put it that way, but yeah,” I mumble.

If I saw that jerk again, I’m going to, going to...I don’t know what! But I’m sure I’ll do something! I think, fist-pumping the air again.

“Haha!” My sister giggles, “Here, let me help you then.” And took control of the mouse.

“Hey! You don’t need to help! You have homework too, you know!” I protest, trying to seize my wireless white mouse.

“Nope, I insist,” she says. And it’s final.

Mikael’s POV

Second day of back to school. Yippee.

“What a bore,” I mumble to myself, trudging along the sidewalk.

I’m being careful where I walk, I don’t want to almost walk into a pole again. If she saw that again... I grimaced.

“Perhaps if you didn’t desert Elisa yesterday, you wouldn’t have so much boring time to yourself.” Says a voice high-up.

“Huh?” I spin around, facing my insulter.

And there she was springing down from a tall stone wall like a cat, nearly colliding into me.

“Hey! You almost hit me!” I object, startled by her sudden appearance.

“Almost.” She replies.

I scowl. She smiles.

“Only an amateur would crash into something,” she carries on.

Glowering, I growl back, “And what exactly are you hinting at?”

She smirks mischievously.

“Anyway,” she says more seriously, “You should check out what Elisa has done so far.”

“Not happening.” I instantly respond.

“I helped her, so you owe me one.” Is her immediate reply.

“We’ll see about that.” I say under my breath and resume walking. Then I remember she was paired with Luce, so turn around briefly to question her.

She was already gone. 

Wait, what?! Where’d she go?! I think furiously. She was literally here two seconds ago! 

Esteire’s POV

Red pivoted on his heel and continued plodding down the sidewalk. Ha, probably wondering where I went, I thought with a grin. You better go see her Red; as much as I like helping Elisa, there’s other things I need to do. Otherwise, there’s no point in finishing everything so quickly like this; I would’ve taken my leisurely time. However, I no longer am able; right now, I need all the time I can attain.

Sebastian’s POV

While searching through some documents I notice something I overlooked earlier. They were records on Elisabeth and Esteire’s scores and schooling. My eyes widen.

Both of them are advanced level students several grades higher than the Junior year they’re enrolled in. But then why were they here? I skim the pages, immersing myself in the many AP’s, 1^st Honors, and A+’s present in every line. Then I hit the last section: 5.0 GPA. Seriously?!!! I work hard for my prized 4.6 GPA, but this, this isn’t even fair! Yet, all the more reason to have them join the Student Council before they get into any other clubs...

---

“You!” I single out Esteire and Elisa, “Why are you two here?!”

The girls stop in their tracks and look at me like I had asked ‘why do you breathe?’

Elisa spoke first, “For school...?”

“No no, not that. May I speak with you two somewhere else?” I ask, gesturing at the crowded hallway. They nod.

“I was wondering,” I begin when we approached a deserted hallway, “why either of you attend high school if you’ve technically received all the credits needed to graduate.”

Elisa hesitated before responding, “Well...since I’ve been homeschooled my whole life, my parents thought it’ll be good to have some normal schooling as well.”

“I see, and you?” I motion at Esteire.

She doesn’t answer and the air swarms with awkward silence. Shortly after three seconds however, Elisa salvaged the moment by hastily answering for her, “Moral support.”

“Oh. Well then, could you two join the Student Council? With marks like yours, it would be a great addition! If only one of you joins, that’s fine too though,” I prompt.

“I’ll pass.” Was Esteire’s immediate answer. 

My shoulders sag slightly at her quick refusal, but I look to Elisa, my last hope. I have a feeling that I won’t be able to convince Esteire if she is dead set against something. Even so, I still don’t quite understand why not the Student Council; she must have a lot of free time.

I give Elisa an imploring expression.

“Umm, I’m not sure...” She trails off and then looks over at her sister for guidance who gives her none, rather; she looks disinterested and her face is turned away from the conversation.

Elisa peers at me again with those sweet blue eyes of hers, still diffident. I almost feel guilty pressuring her like this, but really, the Council needs more people like them.

Without warning, Esteire speaks, “Elisa, just do what you want. It doesn’t matter to me as long as you’re happy.”

Although they aren’t directed at me, I feel my heart warm from the sincerity and kindness of her words. 

Sometimes, it seems, Esteire is too laid-back for her own good, making her appear coldheartedly nonchalant, even to the most perceptive person. Perhaps, that’s the reason why I can’t seem to figure out what’s on her mind.

Elisa’s POV

Sebastian was staring pensively at my sister after she spoke. 

It almost made me envious. 

Despite that, I understand his amazement at Esteire expressing her usually hidden emotions. Actually, she doesn’t often show this soft side of hers to me even as a sister, so I feel deeply touched by her words. 

No one else seems to care about me as much as sis does. Not even my own parents. True, they worried enough to have me homeschooled, but ever since Esteire came into our family, they’ve been completely entranced by her looks, smarts and quiet composure. In every aspect, she dominates over me. I don’t hate her for it; I really love Esteire. While everyone else is preoccupied with their lives, sis is always there for me no matter what.

“I’ll join.” I say confidently. 

I thought I saw a flash of a smile from Esteire.

It’s time I ventured out. 

And this was a good opportunity to work on my lacking social skills. In the Council, I’m positive that I’ll be able to meet and work with many new people.

“Thank you! I’m glad. Our next meeting is this Wednesday; I’ll see you there tomorrow!” Sebastian smiles and with a wave leaves to resume his duties as President.