Post-completion edit! Greetings, everyone. So this story is finished, and I believe it took me over three years to write everything. And well, that's a long period. Over the years, I changed, my writing evolved and so did the story. Which means from time to time I'll come back to edit a few things, brush up some dialogues and character reactions, grammar... Story itself will remain the same (I hope).
Leprechaun Academy is one of the most –if not the most- qualified boarding schools in the entire country. It is a high-level institution ran by the globally known historian, sociologist and psychologist, Headmaster Nicholas St. North. Accommodating students of Elementary, Middle and High School, it has been proving successful in forming great leaders and remarkable citizens since its early foundation.
Our campus proudly provides all facilities needed to make student's school life as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Sports courts, football and baseball fields and pool for PE classes and extra activities; gym; a two hundred seats auditorium; a library with access to a large collection of books and printed files; gardens and green areas well preserved for leisure and rest; stable; cleaned and structured classrooms; well equipped laboratories; high-speed wifi connection in the entire campus; common rooms with the most technologically advanced electronics, such as wide screen televisions, sound system, computers and so on; outdoor café; three main daily meals prepared aiming for the best health-productivity result possible and dormitories divided in Elementary, Middle and High Division according to school year, with separate sections for boys and girls. Each room has also a private balcony and is shared between three same age students, with separate beds, studying desks and medium sized wardrobes for each of them.
In addition, school also has a team formed by the most capable and devoted professionals thoroughly chosen for every and each post. Teachers are extremely qualified on their own fields and highly experienced in boarding school's system and the challenging academic curriculum the Academy requires. Our student body is just as worthy of compliments as the institution and employees themselves. A school would be nothing without its students, hence Leprechaun Academy is attended by the most promissory young minds of the century. Children with a brilliant future ahead of them who will graduate with rich extent of knowledge in the most important fields of science and culture, and will also develop values such as friendship, loyalty, honesty and courage.
Our Academy is not only a school, it's a home prepared to give comfort and support for those in need; it's a place for academic learning and personal experiences; it's a place for creating bonds for life; it's a place for growth and maturation. It's a place to live life the fullest.
School admission will be done through interviews with our Admissions Committee. To schedule an interview, contact us or by phone or email. You can also pay our campus a visit in person from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
For further information about application and deadlines, please contact our Admissions Office.
We will be waiting for you with open arms.
CHAPTER 1
A sixteen-year-old girl with long black hair and tired eyes was sitting on the window still staring at the infinite white view that was the campus at that wintry day. It had snowed during the night and the white blanked that covered every square inch of the school property made the place look quiet and calm. Classes had ended that day, and she spent her free time hanging at the Student Council's room, a rather cold room due to a poorly timed broken heating system.
"Snow is slowing down," the girl, Violet Parr, said as she watched the scarce snowflakes falling from the sky and curled her body to protect herself from the cold. "It's times like these that I wish I was born a smelly boy."
"Why is that, Vi?" Andy Davis, her fellow classmate curiously asked from his seat on the too long dark wooden table, as he ran his eyes through the report of the last school clubs monthly expenses. The boy with brown hair, bangs parted to the left, casual posture, yet focused expression also happened to be the Academy Student Council's vice-president.
"Boys don't have to wear skirts in this cold!" Violet complained irritated staring down at the skirt she was wearing that ended above her knees.
Leprechaun Academy required students to wear its uniform during weekdays and during school activities, and the uniform differed from male to female students. Although they shared the same style of white long sleeve collared shirt and navy blue blazer, girls were assigned to wear blue bowties and plaid pleated skirts, while boys wore same colored versions of neckties and khaki pants.
Violet was also wearing thick wool tights and the standard issue sweater, but they didn't seem of any help in that weather. "I'd like to make a requirement." She stood up decidedly with her shoulders back and chin up. "I demand skirts to be annihilated from the school's uniform immediately," she said firmly and stared at the president of the Student Council as she spoke.
The president, a platinum-blonde girl with impeccable appearance sitting at the end of the table let down her pen slowly and looked at the other girl with a half-serious look. "Very well, Violet," the president said calmly. "Since you're not a member of the Student Council, you will have to write down a document like every other student in the school. Or you can always use one of the suggestion boxes." The girl gestured to the black box at the entrance of the room. "In that case, we'll vote whether it is a viable proposal or not and it will be registered in our next meeting minute. Either way, it will go to the principal's desk so he can examine it himself, and who knows? North can call you out to further discuss your valuable proposition," she finished with a sarcastic smirk.
"This is a serious issue, Elsa." Violet crossed her arms over her chest getting irritated. "Skirts in winter are only one of patriarchy's rules submitting women as inferior beings that have to suffer in cold. It's society's way of undermining our power."
"It could also show women's strong endurance to adverse conditions," Elsa said.
"I'd believe that," Andy agreed. "No need to wear the pants to be the boss."
Violet glared from one friend to the other. "Fair point. I'll give you that," she conceded and started walking to the door. "But not enough to make me less indignant."
"Where are you going?" Andy asked.
"Have fun dying of hypothermia in here. I'm getting back to my room," she shouted over her back to the left two.
As she opened the door, a blonde girl a head smaller than her entered stomping her feet. The girl used the Academy's uniform and her hair was tied in a French braid on the back of her head, with a simple headband over her forehead and bangs falling over the left side of her face. "You are not gonna believe what's going on outside," the girl spat, her cheeks were red from the cold temperatures and her bangs stuck to her forehead. "It's complete chaos."
"Worse than your lovely windswept appearance, Astrid?" Violet asked the new comer with a brow arched and a small smirk on the corner of her lips.
"Worse than your face when I'm done with you, you twat." Astrid, the Student Council treasurer shot back with a mortal glare at her friend.
"What happened, Astrid?" Elsa intervened before those two could actually get into a fight. The last thing she needed was Astrid exploding again, God knows how much reparations would cost them.
"There's a rumor going on around the school about this massive snowball battle that's supposed to happen now, and every goddamn soul out there is hyped about it."
Violet rolled her eyes bored and mumbled she'd be hiding under her covers and to text her for dinner.
"Is that the best way people found to spend their time?" Elsa asked in disbelief as Violet left. "Certainly, it was another stupid idea of someone from the Middle Division. I hardly believe many people would be as dumb as to participate in this snowball contest." She got back to her papers. "We shouldn't have to worry about that."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, El." Andy held a smirk, as he remembered the eyes of a very charismatic pair shining with excitement at the sight of the ground covered in white.
"Do you happen to know anything about it, Andrew?" Elsa asked looking at him curiously.
"Not a thing, I just have a really strong guess about who would be supporting that idea." He shrugged and leaned back on his chair flipping his pen through his fingers.
Andy's words triggered something in Elsa, and she sighed as her brain ran through all bad scenarios she could think of. It didn't matter whether it was something irrelevant or not, despite what logic told her, there was a hint of disaster in the air and she couldn't just close her eyes to it. Student Council's duties called.
"Alright then. Let's see what this fuss is all about." She stood up nonchalantly. "Andy, would you like to accompany us?"
"Of course," Andy said with a joyful smile and stood up as well.
Followed by her fellow classmates, Elsa left the Student Council's room with her lips pressed in a thin line and hands folded across her chest. Why couldn't students behave nicely when it was so cold outside?
"Dude, this is bad," Hiccup said as he looked around at the amount of faces gathered for the snowball fight. Things apparently had gotten a little bit bigger than they expected, as at least half of the student body waited there at the courtyard area. The auburn-haired teenage was crouched down at the edge of the retaining wall and rubbed his hands on his left leg-more accurately on the end of his leg and start of his prosthesis ( a sweet memento from a childhood accident)-to warm it up. The lack of a leg wasn't usually an issue for Hiccup, his handicap going unnoticed on his daily life, but cold days always reminded him of the accident, as his cut member agonized him with jolts of pain. He shook his head to get a lock of hair out of his eyes. "Look at all these kids!"
His silver-haired best friend stood beside him and looked at the sea of students with amusement. "What are you talking about?" Jack Frost shrugged and glanced back at Hiccup. "We're only getting started."
"Frost, you bastard. What if someone breaks a window... or some bones? North is totally gonna expel us if it leaks out that we're the ones who started this." Hiccup jumped from his spot and landed right next to Jack, his feet a little unstably because of the snow. Although his words expressed his deep concerns, evidences of his own enthusiasm were not entirely hidden on his face.
"Scared much, aren't we?" Jack rolled his eyes with contempt. "Relax, I have everything under control."
"Surprisingly, I cannot believe you." Hiccup's mind was flooded with many memories of times when Jack also had total control of situation. He rubbed his hands together and blew warm air on them.
"You're free to believe in whatever you want, Third."
"Jack! Jack!" A nine-year-old Asian little boy with spiky black hair came running in their direction. His cheeks were read and the puffs of air immediately condensed as it came out of his mouth.
"Sup, Russel!" Jack fist bumped the kid. "Ready to have some fun?"
"Yeah!" Russel said throwing his hands in the air and grinning a toothy grin. "Can I ask you one thing?" he asked rather shyly.
Jack bent his back so he his eye level was equal to the boy's. "Hm?" He encouraged Russel to continue.
"Can I be on your team?" Russel asked with big begging childish bright eyes.
"Sure, buddy." The teenage messed the boy's hair with his right hand. "We're gonna kick some buts..."
"I should've known you were involved in this," the three male students heard a sharp female voice saying from behind them. Oh, that was a familiar voice for sure.
"Well, well." Jack turned on his feet and straightened up, looking at the group coming in their direction with contempt. "Look who graced us with her royal presence: Your Highness herself." Jack made a reverence at the blonde girl, one of her fellow classmates, the girl given the role of Student Council's president, kindly referred to as the Queen by Jack Frost and his comrades. In Jack's opinion, Elsa Arendelle also happened to be one of the most boring people he'd ever met. The Student Council posse, her loyal servants, trailed behind her.
Astrid rolled her eyes as Andy's lips turned upwards a contained smile as he silently greeted the (as he had guessed) culprits behind all that mess.
"Can I ask what on Earth you think you're doing here, Frost?" Elsa asked him with unreadable face and cold voice as she looked around at the gathering. She could many of the familiar faces she usually passed by in the hallways.
Jack absently kicked some snow with his foot. His empty eyes stared at the far horizon. "It's not always that we have this much snow piled up so we thought we could have some fun, you know?" Jack turned his head at Elsa's direction and winked at her. "Oh, wait." Jack's hand ran to his forehead as if he had remembered something important. "You don't really know, right?" he asked nonchalantly.
Elsa stared at him, a confused frown starting to form on her face as a curious part of her silently questioned what his words were supposed to mean.
Jack grinned and cleared his throat to explain it. "I mean, 'fun' isn't a word that consists in your vocabulary, right, Arendelle?" he asked using his fingers as quotation marks.
An indignant Astrid stepped up ready to grab the silverhead by the collar of his shirt and make him eat the snow he seemed to like so much off the ground. "Just because not everyone indulge in the brainless shit you call fun-"
Elsa put out an arm to stop her. She gave Astrid a stern look to remind her that they were supposed to end the commotion, not start one. "A comedian as always, Frost." Elsa gave him a dignified smile and wrapped her coat tighter around her body.
"It's a pleasure to entertain you, Your Highness." Jack bowed again with a smirk on his face.
"Jack, cut it out…" Hiccup tried to intervene and put a hand on his friend's shoulder, but was completely ignored. Jack didn't even look like he'd felt something.
"I'd appreciate it if you dismissed this ridiculous gathering now," Elsa said firmly, getting right away to the reason she was there in the first place.
"Sorry, beautiful, but I'm afraid I can't do it." Jack turned on his back and looked around at the crowd watching tense and with eyes wide-opened as President Elsa and Jack Frost discussed. For different reasons, both Jack and Elsa were fairly popular among the students. Elsa, for being a brilliant, talented and responsible student who had taken on the presidency that same year, and Jack for being a mayhem causer notoriously known for his pranks and for bumping heads with the school authorities. Being on opposite sides of the school dynamics, the two of them had had their fair share of clashes and despite being on the same year and having known each other for some time, they had grown to despise each other with great enthusiasm.
"You see, Your Highness," Jack continued, "we're not doing anything wrong, we're just playing outside." His words came out calculatedly calm. He turned his head to face Elsa again. "Or are you saying that the Student Council doesn't allow students to take some fresh air outside those suffocating brick walls? What are we? A bunch of over-exploited workers in an insalubrious industrial revolution factory?" Frost raised an eyebrow daring her. The way her eyes widened for the tiniest fraction of time was enough to tell him that his message had the desired effect on the girl. He knew he'd gotten her wrapped around his finger, and that discussion would be over as soon as he was done playing.
Elsa narrowed her eyes intently looking at the silver-haired boy. Over the past years, she had picked up pieces of information trying to built a profile of that guy. She had watched him hoping that she could figure out what motives he had to act the way he acted, but she was not successful figuring out much. From what she could tell, Jack Frost was a lot of things-complex and simple at the same time. Among them, he was a troublemaker, a revolutionary wannabe, a bad influence to other students, an irresponsible and immature idiot… a cunning rat. "It's freezing, Frost. You are leading all these kids"-she gestured the group with her hands-"to a few days trip to the infirmary. And you're very aware of that." Elsa glared at him accusatory.
The silver-haired guy stretched his arms over his head lazily with his eyes closed. "I'm not doing anything," he said. "They are all here by their own choice, Your Highness… Or you really think I'm forcing them to stay?" Jack laughed out loud like he'd said the funniest thing in the world. He stared at Elsa, serious like she'd rarely seen him before. His eyes were cold like ice and his voice was dark as a moonless night. "I'm not the dictator here, Arendelle." He winked at her with satisfaction.
"Now if you excuse us," Jack said with his normal voice and smile on the face again. "We have a battle to prepare to. Or is there anything else you wanna discuss with your humble servant?" Jack teased.
A moment of silence followed until Elsa spoke again.
"No, that would be all," she said calmly and turned away to leave. Although the situation was far from being some silly rivalry between Jack Frost and herself, she had to give him the win this time. Like he had pointed out, she couldn't use her authority to simply force everyone inside. Stupid as he may be, Frost was right and there wasn't much she could do there. "Let's go."
"Are you kidding me?" Astrid snarled staring from Elsa's retreating back to the smug Jack. Throwing one last glare in Jack's direction, she groaned. "You were warned, dumbass," Astrid said with her arms crossed over her chest before leaving with Elsa.
"Hey, Andrew, why don't you join us?" Jack asked, just to tease Elsa even more.
"Maybe next time, Jack." Andy waved and followed the two girls back inside.
"Are you sure you don't want to participate in their game, Andy?" Elsa asked as the three student council members walked up the stairs. Before they had even reached the doors, they could hear loud screaming erupting as the game seemed to start.
"Nah, it's cold and I much rather not end up with my clothes soaked and muddy." Andy shrugged. He wasn't a big fan of snow activities. "Besides, it is kinda irresponsible of them."
"Kinda?" Astrid repeated sarcastically and stopped walking for a moment to stare at him angrily. "That's a complete absurd. Frost must be the biggest idiot in the entire universe. Honestly, Andrew, try punching some common sense into that friend of yours one of these days."
"Come on, don't be so hard on him," Andy tried to defend his friend, which he had to admit, wasn't an easy task when it came to his fellow council co-workers.
"Ha!" Astrid let out a dry laughter. "What goes on in that big head of his? Is he really trying to kill all those kids?" she asked accusatory.
"I don't think so," Andy said gentle as he opened the door to the council's room to let the girls in first. "I just think he was trying to give them all a rest, you know, we're all exhausted from all the exams and all. This is just his way of doing stuff."
"Well, his way of having stuff done sucks," Astrid pointed before collapsing on her chair tiredly, and Andy had to laugh at it.
The whole time the two of them talked, Elsa kept in silence, lost in her own thoughts as she figured what could be her next move. Just because Frost was being a nuisance, it didn't mean she would just lower her head and let him rule school as he pleased. "Yeah, I have to agree with Astrid," she finally said catching the end of the conversation and let out a tired sigh. Looking at the blonde, she added, "Can you get Violet to come back here, please?"
"Sure, but why?" Astrid asked curious, not even nearly following Elsa's thoughts.
Elsa smiled at her and with a decided voice, gave her answer.
"We just have a lot of work to do and a pair of extra hands could be useful."
