The Pevensie siblings were seen as odd in school; they were so alike and yet so different. They were all known for different traits by students and staff.
It would be unfair to say that Peter Pevensie's teachers didn't like him. He was a teenager, and to some, that would be enough to condemn him in their eyes. He was different from his classmates though; more mature. Some teachers liked to gossip about their students, and Peter Pevensie was a favourite discussion topic in the staff room.
His English teacher liked to gossip about his in-depth analysis of poems and novels, and his imagination when it came to writing his own work. She'd often gush over his work, saying that it was what she'd expect from university students, not from a student his age. In equal measure, she'd complain about the one flaw all his teachers had noticed.
Peter's demeanour and attitude was the one thing that his teachers griped about. It wasn't that he was disruptive or disrespectful; it was that he just never seemed present in their classes. Sure, he was paying enough attention to the class to be able to answer questions when called on and to contribute to discussions. But his attitude about class was what really bothered the teachers.
He acted like he was humouring the teachers by showing up, like he had much better and much more important things to be doing. Although he was physically present he was so distant. It didn't help that he seemed to have perfected the skill of listening to what was being said without actually paying attention. It made him almost unapproachable to the other students - they didn't want to bother him because surely they were paltry to him.
That was how he seemed to his teachers; his peers had a completely different view of him. He was one of those people who were effortlessly popular, but he was genuine about it. He wouldn't pretend to be friends with someone because they were also popular, and in fact, made a habit of talking to people who were somewhat outcast. He was sociable with his friends, easygoing and easy to get along with, but had a stubborn streak a mile wide when he thought he was right. He could blather on about historical battles for hours, easily dissecting them and their strategies as his friends listened and jotted frantic notes because they were sure it would be coming up in their next essay.
If his friends had to say that there was a 'leader' of their group, it would be a unanimous decision that it was Peter. He was captivating and charismatic, and when he spoke it was like they had to listen. Not because they were forced to, but because he unconsciously had such a compelling presence. That's not to say that they agreed with everything he said, because they were his friends, not simpering fanatics, but Peter wasn't the type to get angry over disagreements. If someone's views contradicted his own, he didn't try to change them.
Unless they were hateful in any way: then they would unleash a lecture from hell. It felt worse than your parents telling you that they weren't mad, just disappointed. And it's because if his friends did hold any kind of hateful or belittling views, he truly was disappointed in them for their narrow-minded perspectives. He appeared regal when he was ranting, like he was standing up for his people as though he was King of all the land, and just couldn't comprehend why some thought his citizens weren't worthy of respect or kindness. He usually had a prominent air of authority but when he was disappointed it exuded from him. It was like he had to hold himself back from declaring a judgement on him, as someone in a position of power would.
Even with his friends, away from sometimes overbearing teachers, it seemed like he still wasn't fully himself. Like he was holding back an integral part of himself. A part that only his siblings could access.
The only people he really came to life with were his siblings, which was something noticed by students and teachers alike. It was so odd to see him so animated with them because it drew attention to how stunning he was. Not just in his looks, but he was popular with the female students and it was plain as day to see that he would grow up to be handsome. It was like his personality emerged; it was rare to walk past the Pevensie siblings and not see them all animated in a discussion or laughing together. It was even in his physicality as he was often seen to be gesturing or reaching out to gently punch his brother or smooth Lucy's hair.
Peter wasn't the only Pevensie sibling that was noticed to be so detached from everything - Edmund was similar. Different, though in the way that he would happily engage if he felt there was an injustice of some sort occurring. Although Edmund was often found with bullied students, teachers soon grew to realise that rather than being the bully, as it seemed Edmund would be becoming, he was growing to a young man with a strong moral code.
Granted, this did get him in some trouble as he often started, and finished, fights with bullies, it was very hard to punish him for objectively doing the right thing. When a teacher would waltz into the staff room complaining about breaking up another fight, some would tsk that he was using the wrong methods. They'd condescendingly say that his heart's in the right place, but his actions were unacceptable.
Edmund had had several notes from teachers sent home about it, but how could his mother rightfully punish him when he'd explain that yes, he did get into a fight but that a group were picking on a Jewish student, or pushing a younger girl? From her point of view, he was standing up for people who needed help, and there was nothing wrong with that.
She did wonder that he'd never come home with bruises after these fights, though.
Outside of his fights and short conversations with various bullied students, Edmund was content with sitting by himself with a book in hand. He had friends that he talked to in classes, but he wasn't particularly close to any of them. Edmund was quiet, and some would assume, shy. He wasn't; he just preferred his own company, and the company of his siblings over other people.
He reasoned that they'd never be able to understand him, so why try? It was perhaps a childish view to hold, but Edmund was a pre-teen for the second time, so he felt entitled to acting childish every now and then. How could he ever explain that oh yeah, while he was in the country him and his siblings fell through a wardrobe and found a whole new world, which they were royalty in and that they grew up in?
So the Pevensie brothers had developed a bit of a reputation for themselves; Peter as introspective, charismatic and popular, and Edmund as a fierce defender of those who needed him, but otherwise a bit of a loner.
