Chapter Text
Friday, September 29th (No specific year)
'GOOD LUCK! TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT AT THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!' My dad yells at me from the car. I cover my face with my hair to hide from embarrassment despite no one else being around. My dad smiles one of his weird toothy smiles, then rolls up the window and drives away. I sigh. Today was my first day at Hermitcraft Boarding, not that it's an actually boarding school. They just call it that because it has dorms. And somewhat stricter policies than other schools.
I turn around to face the school building. The school itself doesn't look that amusing; it looked like a giant museum, with giant pillars, and a triangle roof. The only thing interesting was the cherry blossom trees surrounding it. I go up the thousands of rows of stairs that lead to the main door. The higher I got, the more I felt the breeze go through my long, brown hair; it was a cool September day.
By the time I got to the top, I didn't need a mirror to know my face was red and that I was puffing and wheezing. Damn my asthma. I take a few deep breathes, in hope that'll last me until I'm able to get my inhaler from my satchel, which currently is slung across my shoulder. I reach up to grab the handle of one of the two, humongous double-doors. What I'm greeted with is a huge, grey, office-like room covered in carpet. There's one desk, also grey, with a person behind three computers. Secretary, probably.
'Uhm. Hello?' I ask as I walk up to the counter.
'Oh! Hello!' He called. The guy peeked his head above the computers, revealing a bunch of red hair pulled pack in a long ponytail (or man bun). He doesn't look too too much older than me, like he just graduated.
'Hello there, I'm Python. Python Grace-Bauer, though most people just say Python GB'
'Um, I'm Xaiden Bennett, Xaiden Bennett Crafted. But you can just call me-'
'xB! Yeah, yeah, I remember! I know your older brother, Iskall. Also, the principal told me about the new student. That's you I assume?' I just nod.
'Nice. I probably would've given you the tour, but I'm filling in for the secretary who's out sick, so the principle sent someone to get you.' I just nod again.
'Any questions before they come?'
'They?'
'Yeah! Wels and Keralis.' Python said. 'Actually, they should be here about...'
'WHOS THE NEW SWEET FACE!?' Someone called while bursting through the door.
'Sweet... What!?' I said, confused. There were two people. Wels and Keralis, probably. They were both tall, one tan and muscular, while the other was pale and lanky.
'HIYA SWEET FACE!' The tan one said in a Swedish accent (I would know. My brother has a similar accent), and his eyes are looking like they were freshly caffeinated. He steps up to me, his face only inches from mine, while having the grin of a child. 'WHATS YOUR NAME!?'
'Keralis. Ke- ra- lis. KERALIS!' Python yelled.
'O-Oh! Sorry!' And Keralis steps back with a sheepish smile.
'Sorry 'bout him. If you can't tell, he just chugged twelve mugs of coffee...' The other said. 'I'm Wels!'
'xB. I'm xB.' I say shyly. His blonde hair and ice-blue eyes were mesmerizing, strong physique outlining his paper thin shirt. It took me a minute to realize that I was staring, and red, the heat tingling on my face. Thankfully, I think my long hair covered most of it.
'One more thing before they take you xB.' Python said, then flung a hair tie at me. 'Your hair needs to be pulled up.' Ah. As I pull my hair up, I feel Keralis' eyes starring into my soul.
'Do ya need something Keralis?' I turn and ask him. He starts sputtering something in another language (Its Swedish, what am I saying) and turns his head away. Huh. Wels sighs.
'I'm not really up to date on my Swedish, but I'm pretty sure he just asked if he can call you princess.' Oh. Oh. Normally, I hate nicknames, xB being the only exception. But, princess. It actually has a nice ring to it. Before I can tell my brain to shut up, I reply with a simple 'I don't see why not.' (BRAIN, SHUT UPPPP!!!!!). But, I quickly saw his face whip around to face me, eyes glowering. I smile back.
'So princess! Your Swedish Meatball's little brother?'
'... I beg your pardon-'
'Yeah, he calls Iskall a Swedish meatball.' Wels explained. Huh.
'Now that I think about it though... Why don't you sound Swedish?' Python said.
'Our parents split. Iskall went with my dad in Sweden, and I went with my mom in...' I trail off. I know where I was raise, but don't really remember being raised there. More like I forced myself to forget.
'A galaxy far, far away!' Keralis eventually finished for me. Not exactly the truth, but it's better than saying where I'm actually from. Not that they would actually understand, but still. Every time I say it, where I'm from, I feel something... guilt maybe? For what I did to her. For what I saw happen them. Crap, am I-
'Princess, you ok?' Keralis asked, booping me on the nose.
'I- Uh- Yeah, I'm fine.' I respond, tripping over my words. I take another deep breath, praying they didn't hear the small wheeze that followed it.
'Welp, I think you guys are a bit overdue to leave. Class starts in ten minutes and it is across the-'
'SHIT! XB, KERALIS, LET'S GO!' He yelled as he grabbed my wrist and started running through the busted door. I am not ready for this.
'WELS! WAIT A SECOND! SLOW DOWN!' I tried yelling, but he was too busy running through the hallway.
'Sorry Joe! Excuse me Scar! Joel, don't trip me! Pardon me, Ren! Doc, watch it!' I hear him say to the various kids he ran into or by.
'Wels! Wels! Hey!' Someone yelled behind us, light footsteps catching up to us. He stopped instantly, but cause of how fast I was running, I ran straight into him just as he turned, and before I knew it... I was face to face with him. 3. Inches. Away. We both turned red, and I jumped off of him, too embarrassed to lend a hand. My lungs, on the other hand, are screaming for air. I try taking deep breaths, but it doesn't do anything. I reach for my inhaler, and slip behind a row of lockers.
Wels PoV
'Wels! Wels! Hey!' I hear Gem cry behind me. I stop suddenly, half expecting a slap across the face for running in the hallway. I turn to face the Slayer of Doom, but instead, xB ran straight into me, tackling me to the ground. When I turn face up again, my face is right in his. So. Freaking. Close. Now, I half wanna kiss him (like I do with all my homies *cough*) and the other half of me wants to punch him for running into me. Either would have been fine, but before I choose, he got off and disappeared. Before I could look for him, I start hearing a few kids snicker. Then laugh. Then-
'Wels! I'm so, so, sorry!' Gem say, pulling my face down so I look straight into her emerald-green eyes.
'It's fine I guess. But do you know where xB went?' I ask, returning back to my pale skin from my pink, embarrassed one.
'That kid you where dragging? Yeah, he's over there' She pointed over at the of the row of lockers, right next to... his.
'Could you maybe get him, and bring him to the dorms for a tour. Your first period is free, right? I totally forgot that he isn't in combat...'
'No worries! I have nothing better to do anyways. I don't have PvP on Fridays, plus Pearl and Scott have art, and Impulse has drumming practice along with Skizz, so I have nothing to do, no one to bother...'
'Yeah, well, I have to go! Professor is going to kill me if I'm late again...'
'No worries! I'll take him on the tour 'round the dorms and school, and you come get him when you have your next class together!'
'Thanks Gem, really. You're a life saver!' And I run off.