Hi everyone! Friday is here again!

Claire is starting her first day of school. Let's hope things go smoothly XD

Chapter 3:

Ace woke up in the morning to the sound of running water and light footsteps as sunlight streamed into the lounge from the lopsided window. He groaned as he turned on his side, his body stiff from sleeping in such an uncomfortable position last night. Just as he was ready to drift back to sleep, he suddenly heard a loud knocking coming from outside.

"Who is pounding on the door so early?" Ace mumbled, covering his head with the pillow. However, the knocking continued louder by the seconds, and soon, flakes fluttered down from the ceiling with each pound.

"Whoa, why is plaster coming down? Stop, stop, stop! I'm coming!" Ace called out as paint chips rained down on his orange bed head. He scrambled off of the sofa and winced before limping towards the front. Ignoring his stiff shoulders and the tingling feeling that pinched his legs, he quickly opened the door.

"Who is making a ruckus this early – D-Deuce?!" His jaw dropped in surprise at the sudden arrival of his dorm mate.

Unlike Ace, Deuce looked as if he had taken the time to dress. His uniform was crisp as if freshly ironed, and his hair was parted neatly with a comb. On his right eye was a painted black spade.

"So, you did come here." Deuce regarded Ace's disheveled hair and rumpled uniform before tossing him his bookbag. "I heard from the other residents that you ate the dorm head's tart and got collared – can't believe you did something so stupid." He sighed and shook his head.

"Shut it," Ace said, his face reddening as he slung the bookbag strap across his shoulder, "I don't want to hear that from you… By the way, is he still mad?"

"Not really," Deuce said slowly as he recalled the morning, "He did look a bit irritated when a couple of people missed the morning roll call. They suffered the same fate as you."

"That means he is still totally mad, you idiot!" Ace sputtered.

"Oh, that you Deuce? Morning! Be there in a second!" Claire called out from the second floor. Soon, the duo could hear the pounding footsteps as their new friend came down the stairs, trying to fix her black-and-white striped bow tie. Claire had forgone her janitorial garb and wore a frilly high-collared white blouse and a long pleated black skirt that covered her ankles. The uniform surprisingly fit her despite how old-fashioned it was.

"Whoa, where did you get that?!" Ace said, gaping again. Deuce couldn't help but stare as well. He somehow lost his ability to speak.

Yesterday, when Deuce and Ace met her for the first time, Claire had just been hired as a handyman after that bizarre event at the opening ceremony where she mysteriously been accepted into this school despite her non-magic status. Obviously, she couldn't attend because of that, and Headmaster Crowley gave her a job to let her stay on campus. With her oversize coveralls that were covered with dirt, grease, and sweat, she looked like a small brown church mouse with the way she tried to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Now that she has been accepted into the school (with Grim as her magical half) for the way she handled the situation at the Dwarf's Mine, her hair now rested on her shoulder in a loose ponytail and glowed auburn in the sunlight. The school uniform revealed the curves in her figure and gave her a rather feminine look that wasn't there yesterday.

"The ghosts send these over earlier this morning. They're from Cro- the Headmaster," Claire explained, not noticing the stares, "He got me some extra things and even a bookbag – can't believe he actually remembered." She held up hers for them to see. Unlike Ace's and Deuce's, this was made of worn-out leather with only a handle at the top. "Well, what do you think? Looks okay?" she asked when there was still silence and twirled around for them to see.

"It looks like something my grandma had worn," Ace said, a hand behind his head. "Well, at least it is better than that jumpsuit. You actually look like a girl now."

"You look nice," Deuce stammered as Claire lightly punched Ace on the shoulder, "Good thing you got them in time."

"Still, I feel like I stepped out of the Victorian Age," Claire said, pulling on her long puffy sleeves. "These clothes are so outdated."

"Victorian… what?" Deuce tilted his head to the side.

"Is that a store?" Ace asked.

"Um, no. Never mind." Claire kept forgetting that in addition to being a new student at this school, she was also a new resident in this world. With no way home, the Headmaster had been gracious enough to take care of her until she found a way back. She is going to have to be more careful, especially with more ears around this school. She quickly pocketed her dorm key and motioned to the door. "Shall we get going? Grim! Hurry up!" She called up to the second floor.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Grim grinned, coming up. He had on his bright and shiny pendant, looking very pleased with himself. "Let's go! My first day to become the greatest mage ever starts now!"

"Hey, hey, make way! The Great Grim is here!"

Students turned and stared as the little gray raccoon came down Main Street with his head high up in the air while the other three followed behind like a mini-parade. Word has clearly gotten out pretty quick, and they all pointed and whispered behind their hands. Claire was so embarrassed that she kept her head down and her shoulders hunched. Ace and Deuce seemed oblivious to the attention, while Grim, reveled in it.

"That's right, folks. Feast your eyes on my shiny new pendant," Grim puffed out his chest to let the crystal glitter in the light. "My collar is way more stylish than the one around your neck," he added and smirked at Ace. "Not to mention, you can't use your magic, right? You might as well take our old job and start cleaning some windows."

"I'm definitely going to remember this," Ace snarled, looking ready to wring Grim's neck.

Grim snickered with delight as Claire sighed and shook her head.

"Grim, stop harassing, Ace," she ordered.

"Before you two start doing anything, let's not forget that the trouble you got into yesterday with the headmaster," Deuce said, helping Claire out. "Anyways, what are you going to do about class?" He directed this question to Ace. "You're going to have trouble if you don't get that collar removed."

"Oh, right, I hadn't thought about that," Ace said and scratched the back of his head. He winced slightly after his arm collided with the collar.

"Why don't we go back to the dorms and apologize to Dorm Head Riddle?" Deuce suggested. "Class won't start in a while."

"This is not going to end well," Ace grumbled and frowned. He still clearly thought that he wasn't in the wrong.

"Let's check out their dorm!" Grim said as he climbed up on Claire's shoulder, "We can go watch Ace apologize."

"This isn't a show damnit!" Ace glared at Grim who merely smirked back.

"Don't tease him, Grim. We can go some other time," Claire said, trying to play peacekeeper.

"Oh no you don't," Ace turned to Claire and glared at her as well. "You promised that you would come with me, remember?"

"Well, which is it? Do you want us to go or not?" Claire sighed, shaking her head, "Fine, whatever. Oh, and Grim" – she turned her head to the gray raccoon – "Don't run off after class today."

"Huh? Why?" He tilted his head to the side.

"I need to get back to the dorm and have a room set up before tonight. Knowing Ace," Claire said grimly and made sure they were out of earshot, "this issue is not going to get resolved anytime soon."

The entrances to the seven dorms were all located at the Hall of Mirrors – the same area where Claire and Grim had chased Ace to yesterday when he tried to skip out their 'washing-a-hundred-windows' punishment. Most of the students were headed in the opposite direction of them, towards class, and by the time they reached the area, it was mostly empty.

Despite the urgency to get Ace's collar removed, Claire couldn't help but stop and stare with curiosity at the place she had only managed to have a glance at before. There was a total of seven life-size arch mirrors, each hidden in a fancy purple-and-gold alcove and glowing green torches. A small set of steps lead up to each one of them, and hanging above each arch was the dorm's crest in bronze.

Claire didn't have time to study any of them hanging as Ace and Deuce headed towards the alcove on the far right. The emblem on the top of the alcove was in the shape of a heart with a crown and the word 'Heartslabyul' written across on a banner. Each step leading up to the mirror was lined with toadstools on both ends with the final step to be shaped like the pages of an open book. Metal cards and roses framed the mirror, and on the top was the Heartslabyul emblem again with two spears crossed together.

"Are these mirrors the same as the Dark Mirror?" Claire asked out loud, wondering if it was going to erupt into green flames and have a floating theater mask.

"Sort of," Deuce explained quickly, "These mirrors can only take you between here and the dorm. They're simpler in design."

"Huh… Are mirrors the most common form of travel in this… world?" Claire glanced around at the other doorways, wondering what was on the other side.

"No, we use cars and buses more. Other than teleportation, the mirror is the quickest since it doesn't require us to use magic," Deuce said.

"Come on, enough with all the questions!" Grim complained from Claire's shoulder and eagerly pointed to the mirror. "Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!"

Claire rolled her eyes, but didn't say more on the subject and followed the other two.

However, just before she reached out to the mirror with her hand, she gave pause. Something in the back of her head was trying to tell her something. Like a feeling that she couldn't quite shake off. Ignoring it, she took a deep breath and stepped through the mirror as the light blinded her.

When she managed to open her eyes, her mouth was hanging open as well.

"This is your dorm?!" she managed to sputter, taking in the bizarre sight. For a wild moment, she thought they were in some sort of medieval theme park.

The enormous dormitory that stood before them was a big red and white castle with diamond-patterned windows and giant red-and-white flags hanging from the towers. A white banner with the Heartslabyul crest hung in front of the heart-shaped gates. In the center stood a beautiful fountain with sparkling water.

"Wow! This is so much different from ours!" Grim said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Our dorm is still refurbishing," Claire retorted, secretly jealous at how much nicer this place was. It at least didn't look like it was haunted by ghosts or was going to collapse on itself like a house of cards.

The comparison to Ramshackle is rather depressing and laughable, Claire thought despondently as she looked around the beautiful dorm. Whoever the gardener was, they had done impressive work with the landscape. The thick rectangle hedges were neatly trimmed, and the red rose trees that lined along the brick road were clipped into heart shapes. The sight of the trees gave her pause, and a strange unease filled up inside her.

"Got to hurry and paint the roses red…" a voice echoed in her ears.

What?

Claire turned her head around wildly. Her skin was all prickly now. To her right were fifteen feet tall hedges that seemed to go on endless. At the entrance was a small sign that read "Rose Maze".

"Claire? What's wrong?" Grim asked from her shoulder. Claire ignored him and strained to listen, her feet now at the very entrance.

"Whoa, that was close," the voice continued from somewhere in the hedgerows. "If I don't hurry, then it's off with my head."

"Sounds like someone is in there," Grim noted, his ears perked up with interest now.

"Painting the roses red… Off with your head…" Claire mumbled in a stunned and horrified voice.

Those words! Her dream! Without stopping to think, she slipped into the maze.

"Claire!" Deuce yelled out, but she ignored him and continued to follow the voice.

"What is up with this place? A monster could get lost so easily," Grim said, staring at the green hedges that hovered over them like silent giants.

For a brief moment, Claire was turned around with the same never-ending pathways. The maze turned out to be more imposing than she anticipated, and she had to backtrack for a second before she found herself in a clearing with rose trees.

"What the heck," Grim sputtered in shock at the scenery. Claire's eyes widened at the bizarre yet familiar sight. The white rose bushes were dripping red, creating pools near the roots. Paint cans and thick brushes scattered the area.

It was an exact replica of her dreams.

Claire walked up tentatively to the closest flower and inspected carefully. The wet paint splattered on it was fresh, which meant that someone had been here just a second ago. She caught movement from the nearby rose tree and turned around wildly. She half-expected a large playing card to pop out, but it turned out to be another student with a paintbrush in hand. He seemed to be alone and was too busy working to have noticed her.

With his magic pen out, he would give a flick and turn one white rose red. In his other hand, he dunked the paintbrush frantically into the paint can on the ground before slathering the color onto a nearby white rose.

The front half of his orange wavy hair was pulled back and tied up like the top of a pumpkin. He wore the school uniform with a similar red waistcoat like Ace's and Deuce's though his sleeves were splattered with flecks of red. His pale face was covered with sweat as he wiped his forehead with the back of the sleeve of his uniform.

"I'm not cut out for this…" he muttered and stopped, spotting Claire for the first time. "Hello, you're not a Heartslabyul student. Do you need something?"

He put down the paintbrush and walked over towards her. Despite his exhaustion, his green eyes, high cheekbones, and the tiny incisor in the back of his mouth gave him an impish but charismatic look. He had on a pair of tiny silver earrings that flickered in the sunlight. Underneath his right eye was a small red diamond painted similar in style to Ace's red heart and Deuce's black spade. He walked to her with the confidence and slight arrogance of an upperclassman, and Claire immediately tensed with hesitation.

One thing Claire had learned early on was that this school wasn't exactly the friendliest to outsiders. Given her non-magic status, Claire was prepared for an unpleasant conversation.

"Oh, sorry," Claire said quietly, "I heard someone and thought…"

"Claire, there you are!" Deuce and Ace finally showed up out of breath with leaves stuck in their hair. They appeared to have gotten a lot more lost than she did.

"Whoa, what's going on here?" Ace said. He stared with his mouth open at the paint cans and half-painted flowers.

"Oh, this? I'm just painting the roses red," the guy said nonchalantly and grinned rather friendly at the entourage.

"Uh, why?" Deuce said.

"It's so nice to see such cute and fresh reactions," the student chuckled at their equally baffled faces, "You guys must be first-years – oh, wait a second. I know you two." He gave Ace and Deuce a once-over. "You two are the ones who broke that billion-madol chandelier yesterday."

"Man, we're never going to live that down," Ace mumbled, shaking his head. Deuce looked at his feet.

"And to top it off," the guy added, eyeing Ace's collar. "You went and burned our dorm's statue and ate Riddle's tarts." Ace immediately winced and had enough grace to blush. However, the upperclassman didn't sound reprimanding and looked rather enthusiastic.

"I can't believe I'm meeting the notorious trouble-making duo. Hey, hey, hey," he grinned, forgetting about his chores. "Let's take a quick selfie."

Before she could figure out what was going on, Claire found herself sandwiched between Ace and Deuce with Grim on top of her head. The guy quickly pulled out a red diamond-patterned phone from his pocket and held it high into the air.

"Say Royal Flush!" There was a 'snap' sound, and they were quickly blinded by a flash of light. He then ignored them now and quickly stared at the screen of his phone, tapping wildly as he digitally altered the lighting and added cute stickers to the background. "This looks great! Hey, can I put this on Magicam? Tell me your names, so I can tag you."

Rubbing their eyes, the first-years stared at each other, unsure what to make of this cheerful yet demanding guy. Deuce, the first to remember his manners, spoke first.

"I'm Deuce Spade."

"Ace."

"I'm the Great Grim!" Grim said, happy that someone found him worthy for a photo, "And this here is my henchman."

"I'm not your henchman," Claire snapped.

"Okay, okay," the guy nodded absentmindedly, as he thumbed furiously on the keypad, "There we go… anddddd uploaded! Thanks guys," he said quickly, slipping his phone back into his pocket, "Oh, sorry! Forgot to introduce myself. I'm Cater Diamond – third year!" He turned to Claire and winked before flashing a charming smile. "Feel free to call me Cater. Cay is fine, too!"

"Uhhh…" Claire wasn't sure addressing an upperclassman so casually was a good idea and went with, "Nice to meet you, Cater. I'm Claire."

"Claire? Oh, wait…" Cater's green eyes widened with realization. "I should've known when I first saw you. You're the dorm head for the Ramshackle place. Good for you. I can't imagine living there. That place is creeeeeepy – not even photogenic."

"This guy likes to run his mouth," Grim grumbled, offended.

Although she agreed with Grim, Claire was mildly surprised at Cater's response. She thought he would've been whipping his phone out again for photos and interrogating her on how she got into this school without magic or, worse. He appeared to be respecting her privacy at the very least, but her experience with Ace from yesterday had taught her that it was probably best if she remained on her guard.

"Oh wait!" Cater's green eyes widened again, this time with horrified realization, "I don't have time for this! I need to finish painting!" He quickly grabbed the paint cans and brush and hurried to the nearest white rose. "The party is in two days! It's off with my head if I'm late! Hey, wait a sec!"

He quickly turned to the group and gave a mischievous grin. "How about helping your dear old friend here?"

"Since when are we friends?" Grim questioned, frowning now at the idea of doing physical labor.

"Now, now, don't be like that," Cater said. His smile widened, revealing a dimple. "It wouldn't hurt to help me out."

"Why are you doing something so weird?" Ace asked, one eyebrow raised at the array state of the garden.

"The roses are more photogenic when you host a party... I guess?" Cater shrugged his shoulders, seeing the skeptical looks. "But I also need to change the flamingo colors for the croquet match after this, so I'm pretty busy."

"You guys have flamingoes? Live flamingoes?" Claire stared, wondering if that was even legal. She glanced around, expecting the long-legged pink umbrella birds to pop up out of the bushes.

"Changing the colors? Your chores are so weird!" Grim said, shaking his head.

"That's the weird part?" Claire said exasperatedly.

"Wait, you said there's going to be a party?" Deuce interrupted, turning to Cater. "Then the tart was going to be used for the dorm head's birthday party. No wonder why he's so mad." He gave a contempt look at Ace who replied with a scowl.

"Nope, it's not his birthday," Cater said, waving the reasoning off with his hand.

"It's not?!" Ace's eyes were wide with shock and confusion. "Then whose birthday is it?"

"It's no one's birthday."

"So, you're just having a party just because?" Claire said, her voice slightly inflected to express her disbelief.

"Tomorrow afternoon is our traditional 'Unbirthday Party'," Cater explained, "The dorm head chooses a random day during the school year when it is no one's birthday, and we all have a tea party."

"What the heck? A tea party?" Ace sputtered in bafflement. "How come we haven't heard anything about this?"

"There's no time to worry about it now!" Cater said, waving away the questions. "Look we talked enough. Let's just hurry up and get these roses red ASAP!" He gave the group a quick once over and nodded. "Okay, Grim and Deuce, you two can use your magic to change the color.

"Ace and Claire!" Cater picked up two cans of paint and brushes, "Since you two don't have magic, you can use these."

"Seriously?" Claire said dumbfounded by Cater's shameless attitude, but the upperclassman was already shoving paint buckets and brushes into their arms.

"Uh, how do you change colors with magic?" Deuce sputtered, already freaking out.

"I've never done something like that before," Grim said flatly, seeing this as a waste of time.

"Don't worry about the details." Cater waved his hand airily. "We'll figure out as we go. You and Deuce can work with me. Claire and Ace – you guys go over to that tree. You can use the ladder over there as well. All right! Let's get started!"

Author's Notes

New character! Meet Cater Diamond - a friendly, social media guru who clearly likes to throw manual labor on random first years. XD

Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week.

-JD