Chapter Text
Albert looked around at the hall of Everboys. “Where are the others?” He whispered to Kaden. Just thirty minutes ago, the school halls were jammed with students. It was still crowded, with at least over fifty Evers, but it felt as if a lot more empty than earlier. He huffed, “Did they just separate the boys from girls? A little weird…”
“Yeah,” Kaden whispered back. “I don’t think we need to be separated. Unless we’re going to do a big— entrance or something.”
“Oh don't tell me.”
They glanced behind them. “We’re just going to embarrass ourselves if the teachers decide that,” Eyes narrowed, and Albert recognized that manner. “Besides, what’s the point? Let's just ditch this and find out where the actual entrance is.” He waved his hand and walked past them.
"I don't think that'll be an option." The students' heads all turned to a man standing near the end of the hallway. Albert stiffened.
Unlike the color of the school, he was wearing red paired with a rather gloomy shade of gray. Glasses settled on the end of his nose bridge, sophisticated and proper. “Elijah.” He added, “It’ll have no consequence but your dignity’s on the line.” He adjusted his jacket.
Boys whispered among each other, “Oh he’s a teacher…” While Albert stared, though trying not to catch his eye. But Kreek did.
Elijah muttered under his breath and sneakily slipped past the crowd. Some others followed. The teacher didn’t bother stopping them as he focused on the teen he used to take care of.
Kreek looked the same as he did years ago, only now taller and had a bit of a stubble. Eight years didn’t do anything to him, and it was like Albert hadn't seen him for more than a week. It had him wondering… So this is where the teens from Gavaldon are taken to? A school?
He stepped back, towards the direction Elijah went. Kaden glanced at him, “Albert? Where are you going?”
“I’m-” The other stuttered, staring at the teacher’s direction, “I’m going to go follow them.” He started brisk walking, pushing past other students.
“Albert wait—” But he had already turned so many corners, he couldn’t track him.
Not even the teacher who was keeping a close watch could.
Where was he going? He did not know. He followed the sound of faint sets of footsteps, and he was glad to hear that no one was following him. He thought that Kaden would, but they had just met, of course he hadn’t. Albert couldn’t check anyways, he couldn't look at Kreek again.
A door shut, he followed the sound. And before long, he spotted a grand entryway in the corner of his eye, an Evergirl leaning on the gold door frame. Yet again, he followed his instinct, he approached.
He noticed that the student looked annoyed as he did. “Let me guess, want to sneak in?”
Albert stopped in his tracks, “...Sneak into what?”
“The theater,” She raised an eyebrow. “Your friends came begging to be let in. Saying they don’t want to be part of an event.”
“They are not my friends. And- Why are you even standing out here? Some kind of patrol are you?” He laughed uncomfortably, “Just get me in. And don’t ask why.”
She huffed but nodded. Albert couldn’t help but feel like she was staring at his eyes, which was normal to him. But he wanted to joke, “What? Never seen someone with heterochromia before?”
The acting guard shook her head. “No… Just never seen someone else with a pink eye color.” Just then, he noticed her hot pink eyes, and her ear to ear grin. “My name is Dani Polar.”
“Albert Aretz.”
As he walked in with Dani holding the door open, she suddenly called, “Raven! There you are!” He looked back one last time to see a short, black-haired Evergirl walking swiftly to their direction. Albert breathed out, that must be the last of the Evers.
He successfully snuck in.
At the other side of the Theater of Tales, School for Evil students whispered among each other. Temprist was confused and tapped Laugh’s arm, “What’s going on?” Laugh pointed at the back row of the sea of pink.
“Some Everboys walked in. Only about five though… I’m not sure where the others are.” They murmured. Temp could hear Nevers throw insults and laugh at the bright colors and proper clothing of the “Good” students.
It was kind of an eyesore, Temp agreed, but only because he had been looking at gloomy colors since he had gotten here. But one thing stood out with them. They looked so proper and alert… Oh how Temp thought he’d fit in more there. As he stared, he sat up straighter, spotting Albert among the sea of Evers.
Albert was isolating himself from the others, trying not to draw attention. He resisted the urge to call out to him, sneak past his schoolmates and try to get Albert out with him. But he couldn’t.
He couldn’t help but slump down in his seat, sighing. Laugh had joined in with the others and he didn’t want to listen.
“Cheer up.”
Temprist perked up, “Huh?” He turned to the person— or monkey hybrid, sitting to the right of him.
“You know you won’t get through this hellhole easily if you don’t act amused,” He said quietly, “For one I’m with you in this, but we’re already here. So it’s better to just, suck it up.” The monkey shrugged and adjusted his seat.
“Better to not get punished.”
Temp swallowed and nodded, “Yeah- Yeah you’re right. I just don’t see the point.” The conversation ended as the sound of doors opening startled the both of them.
They turned to the west side where doors flew open near the downstage, and a crowd of Everboys rushed in. They drew their swords and began to playfully fight each other. A little show, if you will. And by the end, they threw roses to the Evergirls with a yell.
Nevers began to boo with their own chants as the Evers took their seats. Albert turned to Kaden who looked dazed, “Her name is Raven.”
Kaden snapped out of his trance and replied, “Huh?” Albert laughed.
“The girl you threw your rose to, her name is Raven. Thought you would want to know.” The red-haired boy just nodded and laughed with him, looking back at the well decorated stage.
Needless to say, both Albert and Temprist were entertained.