Chapter 1: The New Girl
In the still of a cool day, a young girl with long, white hair and a cape sits alone on a bench. She is quiet, scribbling into a journal. She wears a blank expression, completely emotionless. But inside, she is screaming.
"Yes, Mom, this is just what I needed, a journal!" She scribbles with anger, "How mysterious! You give me a million dollars; enroll me at this stupid academy! I already stick out like a sore thumb and now you expect me to carry around a journal with a huge crystal dangling from it? What is this for anyway, documentation of my new life in purgatory? It is bad enough you let them send me away! And as if I'd ever write my secrets down in a journal! That's just asking for trouble!"
She closes the journal and lets out a long sigh. Suddenly, the school bell rings. The young girl grabs her book bag and heads into the school. Having missed every class on her first day, there was one period she was not going to miss, lunch.
Entering the cafeteria she glances around at her fellow students whose eyes suddenly fall on her. Gritting her teeth, she grabs a tray and steps in line, startling the boy next to her so much that he almost drops his fork. She sits quietly at an empty table across the cafeteria. She instantly catches the eye of one of the boys in a group of friends sitting at the table in front of her.
"Odd," Yumi nudges him noticing he'd suddenly fell out of conversation, "You okay?"
Odd sits silent, eyes focused. Yumi follows his gaze to the next table to the thin, white-haired child.
She grins, "Oh, I see. It's a new girl. So why don't you go invite her to sit with us?"
Odd becomes flustered. "Very funny," he blushes, "And be quiet, she'll hear you."
Ulrich stares at his good buddy in confusion, "Since when have you been too nervous to talk to a girl?"
Odd bows his head in shame, "I don't really know what it is. She just sort of struck me as unreachable."
All four of his friends gawk at him. This was definitely a first. Ulrich, Aelita, and Jeremie all want to see this mysterious girl with their own eyes, but don't for the fear she will think they are staring. Odd sits still with his half-eaten lunch in front of him. Feeling concerned, Yumi stands and heads over to the oblivious new student.
"Hey," She reaches out a hand, "My name is Yumi Ishyama."
The young girl looks up and shakes her hand as if by habit and not as a kind gesture. Her hair reaches past the chair where she is sitting and has a silver luster. Her face is like a china doll. Yumi notices this and momentarily loses her train of thought. "M- My friends and I noticed you over here alone," Yumi says coming back to reality, "Would you like to sit with us?"
The girl nods and follows Yumi to the table. Yumi moves her tray and motions to the seat next to Odd, who is staring wide-eyed at Ulrich Stern across from him. Jeremie and Aelita are choking back laughter, but become frozen at the sight of the young girl before them. Yumi smirks.
Odd, feeling defeated, quickly regains his composure and turns a wink to the angelic figure who now sat beside him. "I suppose I should introduce myself," He smiles playfully now, "My name is Odd Della Robbia. You're new here, aren't you?" The girl nods, looking down at the giant proportions of food on both of their trays. "So what is your name?" He asks looking slightly irritated with her dazed silence.
"My name," The girl says with a soft voice, "My name is Odette."
"Full name?" Ulrich asks becoming impatient.
"Odette Callista Dione," she says, folding her napkin and laying it on her lap. The five friends look at each other, and then their eyes return to the girl. Odette shrugs, "My mother had a think for astrology." Suddenly, a large hand from behind lands on Odette's shoulder. She turns to see a tall man in a red jacket and a headband glaring down at her.
"Ah, Jim!" Odd says, noticing the shocked expression on Odette's face, "You're looking rather handsome today. The girls will be after you like mad. You better hide right now!"
"I'm not falling for that one, Della Robbia. Your little friend here has been reported AWOL in all of her classes today," Jim says. Odd sits down silently. "Well, Dinone-"
"It's Dione, sir."
"Dinone, Dione, you've still earned yourself an hour of detention for skipping classes. It's your first day so I won't be so tough on you, but don't make this a habit.
"Yes, sir," Odette bows.
"That's better, very polite. Now come with me, Mr. Delmas wants to speak with you." Laying her napkin on her tray, she stands, grabs her things, and passes Jim on the way out. "Now listen, Della Robbia, I don't want you setting a bad example for our new students," Jim says before continuing after Odette.
Jim leads Odette to the principal's office and knocks on the door. "Come in," Says a voice from inside. They open the door and enter. Inside sits principal Delmas. He eyes the new student. "Dione," He begins, "I want you to be aware that Kadic is a strict academy. Truancy will not be tolerated. You understand?"
Odette nods, "It won't happen again, sir."
"Very well," Delmas pauses, "But would you care to inform me as to why you would skip all of your classes on the first day?"
Odette looks to her feet and shakes her head. Then she remembers, "Sir, have you found me a dorm?"
Delmas sighs, "I have, indeed, though I haven't told her yet." He paused and scratched his chin.
"Your daughter, Elizabeth, is it? The only student without a roommate," Odette says, interrupting his thoughts.
"H-How do you know? Have you met Elizabeth?" Mr. Delmas asks startled.
"I have not." Odette shakes her head. "It was only a guess."
"I see," He says, not convinced, "Well, yes. You will be sharing a room with my daughter Elizabeth. I will have a bed for you by curfew tonight and I will inform my daughter soon enough."
"Mr. Delmas, sir!" Jim jumps into conversation excitedly, "Have you noticed this girl's posture? It's perfect, the best I've seen for a child her age!"
Mr. Delmas observes the young student, "Well, Jim, it would seem you are right." Delmas sighs and sits back in his chair. "You may leave now, child, class is starting. Perhaps you should attend this one."
Jim exits the room without a further word.
On the way out, Odette pauses at the door. "And I am not a spoiled brat, sir," she says with a frown, and then leaves before more can be said.