HOW TO PLAY

"So, here are the rules."


I was so bored.

My art teacher had some sort of medical emergency this morning therefore we had a substitute teacher for an art class. As if that wasn't bad enough the substitute wasn't actually a substitute. He was a teacher in training and therefore not qualified to babysit a bunch of juniors in an art class. Ronald, I was not going to call him Mr. Knox, had given up on trying to keep the class tamed and was writing some kind of essay- probably for the college class he was most likely failing.

I just wanted to draw.

Ronald apparently didn't know where any of the art supplies were in the art room so I couldn't use the charcoal to draw. It was the only thing I ever used. I refused to draw with anything else. So I had nothing to do and I was trying my hardest to block out the chatter of the class. I cursed myself for the hundredth time for leaving my earbuds at home and let out another sigh. Only 17 more minutes until lunch.

I constantly felt eyes on me, as I usually did, but right now they were especially annoying. Were they as bored as I was or did they really have nothing better to do than stare at me? I cast a curious glance in the direction I felt the stare coming from.

Brilliant blue eyes, hair dyed navy blue, crisp school uniform. It one of those idiots standing near my locker earlier. We met eyes. He seemed to study my face in mild curiosity before turning silently to face the window.

Strange.

He seemed to breathe formality and indifference. But the thing that bothered me was there was something about him that reminded me of my brothers. Something…off. Almost as if he was above everyone else while simultaneously below everyone. I found myself growing more intrigued but resisted the urge to continue staring.

With a slight frown I returned my attention to the spot on the wall I was staring at before.

But a figure was blocking my view.

"Hi!" I groaned out loud, not even trying to hide my displeasure. However, whoever it was paid it no mind.

"People call me Freckles! Nice to meet you!" I lazily, looked upward. A girl with shortly cut, brown hair stood in front of me. She was smiling brightly and evident of her name many small freckles spotted her face. I eyed her wearily. I could feel the stares of many in the room when people noticed that she was talking to me. I glanced over my shoulder to discourage them.

"Oh! No need to introduce yourself, I know who you are! It's my first day here and all I've heard anyone talk about is Sebastian Michaelis, Claude Faustus and you of course, Aria Tamburlaine. People were saying that you weren't at all like your brothers except for the fact that you look like them. And people said that you were quiet and didn't really talk to anyone and you can never really take anyone's word for things like that… Oh gosh I'm rambling. So anyways I saw that you were in this class and I wanted to come over and say hello! So… Hello!" I blinked. I'd never had so many words thrown at me in such a short time.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" The girl- Freckles- asked, already sitting down next to me. If everyone in classroom wasn't already staring at us they certainly were now. My irritation level rose.

"So, where are you from? Oh that's a stupid question; you're probably from here right? I just moved here from Michigan. Washington is so pretty! And this school is so big! I got lost trying to get to the building from the parking lot, but I think that was because there were so many people out there. Were your brothers there or something? That would make sense. I didn't see them though."

"Stop."

"I really want to see what the fuss is all about. I wonder if they really are what everyone says about them. Ah, not that anyone says anything bad about them. Oh that reminds me- why do you all have different last names if you're related? I think that's kinda-"

"Stop." The girl stopped finally, and looked at me in surprise.

"Stop talking to me. I don't care who you are or where you're from. Those rumors you heard about me were right. I don't talk to anyone and I am not going to start now. So get up from the seat that I mind you sitting in, go back to your own desk and leave me alone." The stares from the classroom were making my skin crawl. I got up without a second glance at the girl and walked out of the classroom. I figured the lunch bell would ring soon so I'd kill time by walking around. Sure enough the familiar bell rang through the hallway minutes later.

Normally, I would drive home for the lunch break as the cafeteria noise was much too loud and I hated the lingering stares I would get whenever I went in there. However, I've realized that I am really not the best driver over the summer. I hit a pole and bent my car around it. It was too close of a call so I definitely wasn't going to be getting another soon. Plus there was absolutely no way that Claude was going to give me the keys to his new BMW. So I had no choice but to head to the cafeteria.

As I was walking I remembered that Aleistor was probably waiting for me outside of my Art class like he had been waiting for me after every period today. I had begun to really regret the fact that he had seen my schedule but at least I managed to avoid him for now.

"Hi!" I blinked in surprise and took a step backwards. The same brown haired girl from earlier was standing in front of me, grinning toothily. I narrowed my eyes in annoyance.

"Didn't I say to leave me alone?" I snapped, moving to walk around her. To my extreme displeasure she began to eagerly walk beside me.

"Yeah, you did." I glared at her from the corner of my eye.

"So why are you still bothering me?" She sighed deeply.

"You're the only person that actually talks to me. All everyone else talks about is you and your brothers. Everyone is obsessed with you guys and don't take this the wrong way but I don't want to keep hearing about you all. Like you're super pretty and I'm sure your brothers are hot but I still don't understand what the big deal is."

What? Someone that didn't want to obsess over us?Suspicious...

I gave her a sidelong glance and she looked extremely bashful.

"I'm not an idiot. I've had people give me the same lines before just to get closer to me and eventually my brothers. Why are you any different?"

"Well... I guess I'll have to prove myself to you then!" She exclaimed, latching herself onto my arm.

...

"What kind of game are you talking about Alois?" Ciel asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

"The fun kind!" Alois chirped impishly.

"Let's say it's something like 'capture the flag'. The teams are you and I of course and the flag..."Alois cast a sidelong glance behind him. "Is Aria Tamburlaine."

Ciel frowned. "What do you mean exactly by capture the flag?"

Alois smiled devilishly. "Whoever fucks her first, wins."

Elizabeth choked on her mineral water.

"You can't be serious." Ciel responded, his voice displaying his confusion.

"Alois! How dare you!" Elizabeth squealed when she stopped choking. "Ciel would never do something so... so... repulsive! Stop trying to drag him down to your disgusting level!"

Alois rolled his eyes at her.

"Shut up, Lizzie." He shot back and Elizabeth huffed in indignation. She collected her things in a hurry and stomped out of the cafeteria. This regained the group's attention.

"What's the matter with her?" Bardroy asked lazily. Nobody made any move to go after her.

"So how about it Ciel?" Alois asked, ignoring the question.

"What are you guys talking about?" Soma wondered.

"Yeah, what did Alois say to Elizabeth?" Finnian asked, frowning in confusion.

"There's no way either of us have a chance with her, Alois." Ciel deadpanned.

"With who?" Mey-rin questioned.

"Are you saying that you're afraid of being rejected by her?" Alois challenged. Ciel frowned.

"No, but even an idiot like you could tell that we have no chance."

"So you're saying that you won't even try? Well I guess after she falls head over heels for me I'll be sure to remind you of this conversation." Alois quipped.

Their group of friends continued to question them but they continued to be ignored.

"She's not going to sleep with you Alois." Ciel said, a harshness in his voice that was not there before.

"I'm willing to prove you wrong. And if I'm wrong you can sleep with her." Alois replied smoothly. He smirked internally as he realized Ciel was falling into his trap.

"This is stupid." Ciel concluded, his tone resigned.

"Maybe. But it'll make this one hell of a year." Alois grinned.

"So here are the rules..."


Thanks so much for all your support and for the review this story got! I can see that you guys are interested so I'll try to maintain a 2 chapters a month schedule around the 15th and 30th of each month! Although if I'm catching up too quickly I'll move it back down to one chapter. Sorry that this one is a bit short- This is the last chapter that's going to explain the setting and side characters- next chapter is diving into the plot with a special call from Aria's family member?! And hints about what she is?! Stay tuned! Thanks again for the support! Please keep it coming so I can actually finish this story!

Check out my other Skip Beat story also updated today! They Had Each Other! My take on the lives of Cain and Setsuka Heel without the help of the actors underneath them! Also I'm officially a Beta Reader now! Let me know if you'd like me to be yours!