Red and gold leaves crunched beneath Emil's shoes as he walked the rest of the 3 and a half mile stretch between Lukas's workplace, and Liberty High. No surprise, it was named by the rather eccentric - and exceedingly patriotic - principal, Alfred F. Jones. The school had been built quite a while ago, but Alfred had opted to rename London High under the basis of, "This is America! I don't know about you guys, but I sure as hell am NOT gonna let England take control of anything else."
It was a wonder the man got a teaching degree. Emil shivered, and wrapped his jacket tighter around his skin. For God's sake, Lukas! It's 30 degrees outside, and his brother/semi-parental figure can't even drop him off a little closer to the school?
"Hey!" A feminine voice snapped Emil out of his silent complaints, and his attention switched to the bright green Jeep gliding along the road. A blonde girl about his age, maybe a year or two older, with sun kissed skin swung her head out the window, emerald eyes focused excitedly on him.
"Need a ride? We have an empty seat in the back!"
Emil stalled, racking his brain for the girl's name. Ellie? Edith? Something like that, he'd find out later. For now he just wanted to get out of the cold. Then again, there was that age old rule 'don't get into cars with strangers'. Whatever. He kinda doubted the girl sipping from a Kool-Aid pouch was a threat.
"Yeah, sounds great."
He grasped the handle of the car, mumbling (and blushing) his thanks before sliding onto the leather seats. The sophomore next to him flashed a shy smile, before turning to look out the window. She was tiny, with a choppy blonde bob, pale skin, and a casual red jacket and pair of jeans.
Sitting in silence, Emil ignored the chatter of the two girls in front, and let himself daydream a bit. A shaky movement invaded the corner of his vision, and he found himself staring at the trembling girl next to him. It wasn't that cold in here, so it was obviously something else. He ignored it. Suddenly, Emil found himself slamming into her as the Jeep made a sharp turn into the parking lot. The girl must have gotten her license not too long ago with the way she drove. Or, maybe she just sucked at driving.
Quickly pulling himself off of her, he muttered a few...choice.. words before turning to look at the girl next to him. "Sorry, didn't mean to crush you." he tried with a strained smile
The girl fidgeted with a tattered purple ribbon in her hair, and briefly smiled "Oh, it's fine! Not your fault." Her chipper voice confused Emil a bit, it wasn't exactly what he'd expect from someone who was just smashed up against a car door. She looked fragile already, like she could cry at any second.
The Jeep skidded to halt. "'Kay, guys, everyone out!"
"Thanks for the ride, Emma!" A dark skinned student in a blue dress blew a kiss to the senior in the front seat.
Emma. He'd have to remember that in case he needed a ride soon.
"Thanks!" He called out. Emma winked in response, and wiggled her fingers at him as she left.
Emil hoisted his backpack over his shoulders, and began the trek to his next class.
•oOo•
"Listen up, kiddos! Sit down, lay down, as long as you're paying attention you can do whatever the hell you like. I want you to pass this class as much as you do, but mess around, and you'll meet my frying pan, got it?" Ms. Héderváry tucked a lock of cinnamon colored hair behind her ear and winked.
Emil could almost sense the guys (and some girls) around him swooning.
"Desperate much?" He thought.
Besides, her multiple love affairs weren't new news to anyone. Her ex husband (whom had been mentioned in class a fair amount of time already) was a composer touring in Austria, and there were rumors of a relationship with senior Gilbert Beilschimdt, who seemed to find himself in detention with her in nearly every day of the week. Perhaps not all fact based, the rumors still made Emil flush when hearing them.
Their history teacher was exceedingly pretty, and had quite the violent attitude, but she taught well, and kept her students captivated - not a feat everyone could profess. The clock ticked on as Emil took some quick scribbled notes, and soon enough he was being dismissed to lunch. He'd almost walked out, but a quiet noise stopped him.
Was someone... crying?
Emil poked his head around the doorframe, pushed down all feelings of guilt, and watched. The girl from before shuddered as she packed up her things, Ms. Héderváry murmuring something too quietly for him to pick up.
"Alright, Lili. Are you sure you don't need a minute?"
"Yes, ma'am. I'm fine now!" The girl's - Lili's - choppy blonde hair bounced slightly as she smiled.
"Come down anytime if you need help, okay? I'm serious, just come down."
Lili nodded, before walking towards the door. Emil sprinted down the hall to the lunchroom, thoughts reeling with curiosity.
•oOo•
Lunch was - to put it nicely - an absolute wreck. Honesty would've been calling it the aftermath of a tornado, or perhaps the remnants of a bombing. Hey, what could he expect? The kids here were absolutely insane. After scooting into a table next to some 'nerdy' kids, Emil was completely eradicating his worry for Lili. She seemed fine, now. She'd waved at him from the 'girl's table' (Which was not the reason he left to get a drink, thank you very much!) and seemed fine, so why should he worry?Nothing to be concerned about.
Next class was gym. Emil hated gym. It wasn't a mindless hate either- No, he had a good reason! Being an absolute weakling, for one. Exercise wasn't something that appealed to him whatsoever, nor was it especially promoted in his family. Lukas was always one to eat healthily. Despite this, both brothers had an extreme sweet tooth, and were rather prone to lying around their small home all day. Lukas especially was rather bookish, but oddly enough, not boring or nerdy. He was more on the classy side of things. Emil, on the other hand, preferred to spend his days lounging about on the internet. And not eating healthy, ever.
Liberty High's gym was the place where tears were shed, blood was spilt, and most people felt like dying. Except for those damned jocks, like Ludwig and Gilbert. Nobody really liked those guys anyways. One of the most embarrassing moments of Emil's life was when he passed out during the mile, and Lukas came to pick him up. Damn brother, and his condescending speeches.
Glossy wooden boards were covered with scuff marks and scratches, evidence of kids no longer condemned to high school. Emil envied them. The florescent ceiling lights, if possible, made the class all the more unbearable. The last thing Emil wanted while being forced to run was blaring lights burning his eyes.
"Alright, kiddos. Today we'll be starting our basketball unit. Think you can handle that?" Mr. Adnan questioned, his tone upbeat. Sadiq Adnan, and yes, they were on first name terms, was just about Emil's only non-internet friend, a fact Lukas often professed. Despite Emil's ever growing (could it really grow much more?) hatred of gym, he and Sadiq got along well. At the announcement, a couple kids clapped and cheered, the rest silently staring, and one or two brave ones groaned.
"Nah, it's not that bad. Long as you got some sorta athletic ability, you can probably make it." Sadiq threw a casual wink in Emil's direction, barely visible under his white mask.
The class was segregated into five groups, setting Emil first in his line. He attempted to casually make his way to the back, but was stopped by the borderline hysterical voice of Lovino Vargas.
"Chigi! I don't want to be in front, stronzo!" The scrawny Italian shoved him forwards at the same time Sadiq blew his whistle as a signal to begin shooting. Emil stumbled forwards, and ran down the court dribbling a worn basketball. It slid out from beneath his palm, and he made an effort to pull it back beneath his control, only to send it flying further across the court.
"That's just fan-tastic." Emil muttered cynically, chasing after the ball. Amidst the laughter of his classmates, he sheepishly picked up the orange object, and sent a pleading look at Sadiq. The man just ran a hand through his dark hair and shrugged as if to say, "What can you do?"
Approaching the hoop, Emil tossed it up... and over. Up... and it crashed off the backboard, smacking against the ground. Four tries later and Emil was on the verge of praying for help. As he bent to launch the ball in the air a seventh time, a hand moved his arm gently downward. He turned to see Michelle Bonnefoy, younger sister of senior and school-wide pervert Francis Bonnefoy. Luckily for him, the two were almost nothing alike. She was rather pretty, with dark skin, warm brown eyes, and thick black hair pulled neatly into two ponytails by red ribbons. He vaguely remembered her presence in Emma's car this morning. They hadn't had many conversations, but he was aware that she was a decent person.
She laughed lightly. "Sorry to be so blunt, but you suck. Your posture is completely off." Michelle turned, scrutinizing him briefly. He shot, and the ball echoed off the rim, barely swishing through the fraying net. He'd made one shot, but didn't plan on making one again, preferably for the rest of his life.
"Thanks."
"Yeah, not a problem. You were holding up the line, and looked like you needed some help." She leaned forwards, plucking the ball from his hands. She sprang upwards, and her shot making it cleanly through the hoop, surprising Emil with her skill.
The rest of gym wasn't entirely so bad. After Mr. Adnan, due his teaching criteria, told things they all had already heard in previous years about basketball. That was fine by
Emil, he'd rather hear about the sport then actually play it.
•oOo•
Hours ticked by before it was time to make the 3 and 1/2 mile journey /back/ to where Lukas worked, a huge building that seemed to Emil as if it were entirely made of glass. It was a little warmer now, maybe 40 degrees. Still not an ideal temperature, but it was a little bit better.
"Hey! Wait up!" A voice called out to him, footsteps smacking on the pavement. Emma, hair wildly blowing and tangling in the wind waved him over.
"Yeah?"
"Are you really walking home?" She questioned, smoothing down her hair.
"I walk home every day."
"Yeah, no. I'll drive you, because there's absolutely no way you're gonna make it home."
"Why do you say that?" He asked, slightly miffed.
"Because A: It's hella cold. B: Look at they sky. Don't those look like thunder clouds to you?" She gestured upwards at the continually darkening sky.
Oh. Well, I'm an idiot.
"I guess you're right." Emil acknowledged, wondering why Emma was so set on helping him. Oh. Right, the obvious reason. She wanted to show off her car. Or, maybe she was a decent person. Emil almost rolled his eyes at himself. Cynicism was becoming easier every day, it couldn't hurt to believe that there were some good people in the world.
Emil slid into the back of the car, slightly surprised to see Lili next to him again. Was she dropped off every day? It really wasn't any of his business.
"So, where ya headed?" Emma asked, drumming her fingers on the wheel.
"It's-" Now that he thought about it, he didn't know the address of the place.
"Um... It's like 2 miles straight from here, and then a left, another left, and then a right."
"Lili, go get Google Maps up!" Emma commanded. Lili playfully saluted, before pulling out a sleek phone from her pocket.
With Lili's help, they navigated to the building, and Emil thanked them before exiting the car, and walking into the lobby area. It was almost hotel like, in a way. The wall were an off white, paintings in gilded frames in various spots. 3 plush red chairs were aligned just so, and a oaken counter/desk stood proudly near the western wall. He approached the stairwell, making a vague gesture to the blonde man with glasses sitting at the desk. He was here five days a week, normally. Whomever was manning the desk knew that he would just walk up to his brother's office, and that would be it.
"Emil? What are you doing here?" The man asked, eyebrows furrowed.
He glanced at the man's name tag. 'Eduard Von Bock'.
"Mr. Von Bock, I'm going to go get my brother so I can leave."
Eduard chewed his lower lip. "That's just it. Your brother already left to pick you up."
Emil pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd kept Lukas waiting, and now he'd have to either quickly dash into the parking lot and yell for Emma, Michelle, and Lili to drive him back, walk back (which would take even longer, and tick Lukas off further), or call Lukas and have him return to his office.
PICK ONE: Walk back, call Lukas, or find Emma
A/N: Hey guys, let me know what you think in the comments! I'm always pumped to get reviews from you. I may or may not have the next chapter up soon.
Bye!