Elara’s POV 

"It's the school blog that shares every news from far and wide. From the school branch in this country to the other branches. Both good and bad news." Pearl explained but I still didn't see why everyone was excited.

"Gossip Girl disappeared for a while, with everyone wondering why because we couldn't get the hottest gossips again, but now it's back, and with a reminder of the worldwide academy festival. Everyone is so happy." Pearl bubbled but I just got more confused.

"Festival?" 

Pearl pulled down her phone, her eyes round with shock.

"You don't know about the worldwide academy festival?" She screamed, immediately attracting everyone's attention — the one thing I despised so I frowned at her.

"Sorry." She apologized with a meek look.

"Spill."

"Well. The academy festival happens worldwide. It's both a festival and competition whereby all elite schools in the country come to participate, and one of them goes with the crown of the best school." She explained then paused, suddenly doing some sort of dance with her hands.

I just stared in awe, blinking repeatedly at her.

"Winterfell won last season, and we will win again this season, no matter what type of trick Prescott High wanna pull." She told me.

"So that's the reason for your excitement?" I questioned and she gave a happy “yes.”

Okay. Weirdo.

I remembered she mentioned another school and had to ask. "You mentioned Prescott High? Where is it or who are they?"

The excitement vanished from her eyes and she scoffed. 

"They're the second best Elite school. A group of wannabes always competing with us. They won three seasons back with dirty tricks anyways.” 

Dirty tricks? That piqued my interest.

I was about to bamboozle her with more questions when the PA system chimed, announcing the next class. One I wasn't sure how to get to.

"WOW! We share the same timetable." Pearl explained and I looked down to my hands to see it was empty.

When the hell did she grab it?

.........

"So, have you decided what to do for your elective?" Pearl asked me on our way to the school cafeteria and I paused.

"Is that a course I can choose on my own obligation?" I asked, and she nodded, handing me a paper and instructing me on what I could pick from.

"I am choosing Philosophy." She stated and I shook my head sideways in pity. I was still wondering whether I should choose arts when I saw music theory.

"How about this?" I pointed out, and then Pearl gasped.

"You wanna be under Mr. Mikahli?"

"Who is he?”

"You will see but note that he is a new teacher," Pearl added, before moving forward while I just stood there, wondering what the surprise was about.

I soon got to know why because the so-called Mr. Mikahli turned out to be the jerk who bumped into me yesterday.

Standing there, a note was in his hand, the other hand in his pocket trousers as he ran his unwelcoming green eyes all over me.

He took his lower, pink lips into the mouth then released it with a pop of disapproval.

Tall, lean and dressed in an all black, buttoned-up shirt rolled to the elbows, dark slacks hugging long legs, and combat boots that looked like they belonged more on a battlefield than in a music room. 

A long, gray scarf hung loosely around his neck, contrasting with the inky waves of unkempt black hair that framed his sharp, pale face.

There were dark circles under his eyes like he hadn’t slept in days, and when he moved, it was quiet, deliberate, like a predator sizing up his prey.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned, his voice low, almost lazy.

So he was a teacher?

"I am here for the music class," I answered, and he scoffed like I had said the most unbelievable thing in the world.

"Get out." 

"What?" The words shot out of my mouth before I could stop them. My pulse pounding in my ears as a mix of fury and disbelief clawed at my heart.

"You heard me. Out, music class isn't for a weakling like you." He insulted me, and my lips parted, heat rushing to my face.

Weakling like me?

Did he just say that?

"You have no right to say that about me, sir." I let him know with a glare, my voice sharp, slicing through the stunned silence.

"I said get out."

............

"Ugh! He is such a prude," I muttered to myself, unable to believe someone just kicked me out of his class.

For what? Did he know me somewhere, have I offended him before?

I was still wondering when everyone around me suddenly started screaming away, real loud, as they all ran in a particular direction.

"Prescott high are here." A girl said to her friend before dragging her away.

"They look so prepared. I bet this year's competition will be tougher." Another whispered and I had to wonder if these people were crazy.

"Being excited over their own competitors?" I decided to follow them and see how special these students were when I caught sight of the three.

Andre, Drake, and Justin. 

My current, worst nightmares, walking in gracefully, like kings, a knowing grin on the side of their lips as they waved around to the girls, yelling out their lungs.

I staggered like I had been stabbed, my heart beating repeatedly in my chest, a lump forming in my throat.

'They shouldn't be here. Why were they here?' I dug my nails into my palms as I struggled to breathe.

The air around me suddenly turned suffocating, like a nose was being tightened around my neck.

'Air, air, I need air.' I thought, my hand holding my chest, my legs wobbling as I crumbled hard to my knees on the ground.

My vision grew blurry, as it burned inside, hearing people cheer for them like they were some sort of heroes when they were just monsters.

'Did they come to find me, haven't they ruined me enough?' I wondered, but then it hit me.

It couldn't be.