Aqua made her way towards the homeroom and found Sora waiting for her. The personable youth had a grimace on his face, which was unnatural considering that Sora was rarely seen without some semblance of joy on face. Aqua had always wondered how someone could always be so positive, and yet the lack of it, gave Sora an unwelcoming presence. It was as unnatural as a fire burning in the middle of the ocean.
"Hey" The chocolate haired boy greeted Aqua with empty enthusiasm
"Hey" Aqua responded equally meek.
"Ven told me" Sora said his azure eyes staring into Aqua's own, dragging a sense of dread over her.
Shit Aqua thought to herself, a pit forming in her stomach.
"You're lucky to be alive" Sora said with sadness leaking from his voice.
"I know that" Aqua said staring at the ground, she couldn't look at his eyes any more it was like looking at a wounded animal. "I've already been approached by one of the numbers."
"Oh?"
"Yeah he gave me a card from some therapist, and apologized for their behavior"
"Do you think Ven-"
"Will get the same? Probably." Aqua cut him off, she wanted as little to do with this conversation as possible. "Kairi and Namine will likely probably get the same."
"Why didn't you want Ven talking about this? Don't you trust us?" Sora asked, his voice wrought with pain.
"That's not it at all!" Aqua yelped, bringing her eyes back to Sora's. "I didn't want to worry you or anyone else, that's all."
"Aqua, he's my brother, and with Seifer and Larxene always picking on him I'm always worried.''
Ven had been the target of bullying for years now. Each time he'd retaliate with some sort of prank. Seifer would always become violent after these pranks, but usually was stopped by Terra or Riku. These had always been the cycle, so Aqua had figured Sora had just grown accustomed to it the way the rest of them had.
"Look Sora, I'm just trying to look out for everyone."
"Aqua, we're your friends, I'm your friend. We can help. But only if you let us."
"And how would you help!?" Aqua snapped, "You weren't there!"
"But I'm here now." Sora said unmoved by the outburst "And I know the others would say the same. We can't turn back the clock, but we can be there for you."
Aqua attempted to protest but she could think of nothing to say. At that moment, the bell rang granting an escape from the conversation, as it was now 7 o'clock and the other students would soon be arriving.
"This conversation isn't over" Sora sighed.
Aqua knew that and yet the pit in her stomach grew, as Sora's words had made it a reality that this horrid nightmare would continue and that there was no way out.
Kairi had done as Aqua had said and kept quiet about what happened last night. She didn't want to talk it anyway. That meant it was real. So, Aqua telling them that Sora knew and wanted to talk about it, came as the sourest of notes. Yet the fact Sora knew, gave her some relief. Sora had always been there for her. He's the reason she met her other friends in the first place. There was solace in knowing that he was ready to help, that someone wanted to be there for her.
She allowed her mind to escape into her school work. It was on odd feeling. Finding an escape in schoolwork. The exasperating work and the boring lectures made her feel normal. Normal was what she needed now more than anything. Yet reality has a cruel way about bringing you back into its fold.
Mrs. Keys started her class with an announcement. The brunette woman had a voice that reminded Kairi of the violin she loved playing so much: Smooth and seamlessly flowing into a sweet harmony of noises, as if she sang every syllable." Everyone, today Mr. Luxord will run todays class."
With that the blonde gentleman, who had spent yesterday looming behind Mrs. Keys, stepped forward to the conductor's podium. "Thank you, Mrs. Keys." Luxord said with a sultry voice, "I'd rather we skip the formalities and get to the point."
Rather full of ourselves aren't we Kairi mused, taking a dislike to the music assistant.
"For those of you who read the syllabus know there was a semester project. Well that is no longer the case." Luxord continued
What? Kairi cocked her head with curiosity. Her thoughts echoed by the whispers of the students around her.
A smile crept its way across Mr. Luxord's face "The 4 individual assessments will also be removed"
At that statement, people made less of an effort to keep their comments quiet, confusion was replaced by joy, as students began to rejoice at their lessened work load.
"Instead you will do monthly group projects as groups of 4." With those words silence returned to the room. "More specifically, you will be required to create and preform a song for me every month."
Is this for real? Kairi couldn't help but wonder, there's gotta be a catch
No sooner did she think that did the catch snag everyone in the room. Raising his X marked hand in front of his face Mr. Luxord chuckled "Now no game is fun without winners and losers. So, the grades for this will entirely be competitive, specifically amongst the 30 of you only 4 will receive an A, 8 a B, and 12 a C"
"WHAT?!" Someone shouted expressing the sentiment of the class
"What about the remaining group of 6 students ?!" someone else asked.
That's right 30 isn't divisible by 4 Kairi deduced doing some quick math in her head
"Well, firstly their will be a single pair, and one group will be failed whilst the other will receive a D." Luxord smugly stated.
"But that's totally unfair!" Axel shouted standing up from his seat, his hair so read it seemed his head was on fire.
"Like I said, every game has winners and losers. This change is final. Rather than complain perhaps you should focus your energy on winning." The smug teacher responded, "Groups will be posted tomorrow, and you will be given class time once a week to work with your group, as for today we will continue a normal class.
Game? Our grades are a game to him?! Kairi was outraged as were the rest of her classmates. Most were readying to apply to college, so a drop in GPA was the last thing they needed. So, getting an A in the class becomes a probability for only 4 and that's if they win 5 months. Plus, there's further odds placed against the group of 2. If we could choose our groups that'd be one thing… The idea of being paired with either Seifer or Rai sent a chill up her spine. Thinking of those 2 her mind went back to last night, Rai's rough hand on her breast. She felt filthy and disgusted with herself for allowing him to place his hands on her.
"Hey" Xion leaning over whispering to Kairi, brought the latter back to reality. "Can he do that?"
"Apparently yes, otherwise Mrs. Keys would have said something." Kairi whispered back, obviously annoyed with the situation.
Mrs. Keys had been in the back of the room the entire time, smiling as if a third of her syllabus wasn't just upended by her assistant. She clearly wasn't going to save her students from this situation, if anything she seems rather happy with the scenario. Guess you never really know a person. Kairi thought moving Mrs. Keys down the list of her favorite teachers and placing Mr. Luxord at the bottom. Congrats Mr. Duns you are no longer the worst teacher at the school.
The remainder of the class went off without a hitch at least til Mr. Luxord opened his mouth again. "Kairi, Namine, Ventus, Aqua, and Kaleb I need to speak to all of you, so please stay everyone else you are dismissed."
Now what?
The rest of the students filed out with only Sora looking back at the 5 who remained, a concerned frown trapped on his face. Mr. Luxord stood at the conductor's podium looking as pompous as a child who had just gotten away with pinning a crime on their sibling. "Now on behalf of the numbers I'd like to apologize for the misbehavior of some of our younger members."
Misbehavior is that really what they're referring too sexual assault as?
"Now, Mrs. Kairi, Mrs. Namine, Mr. Ventus I extend to you the offer extended to Mrs. Aqua free of charge, and to use for however much you desire." Mr. Luxord said extending a set of 3 business cards to them. Kairi, Ven, and Namine reached out and took them knowing full well what they said as Aqua had shown them hers earlier.
"In addition, Seifer, Rai, and Larxene have been ordered to stay away from you, should they overstep and bother you at school simply report to me and they shall be dealt with." Mr. Luxord continued.
"Only at school?" The silver haired youth questioned.
"Yes Kaleb, what they do beyond that is beyond my influence"
So, his name is Kaleb, huh? Kairi thought He's perceptive.
"Any other questions?" Mr. Luxord asked
Kairi, Ven, Namine, and Aqua all shook their heads. Kaleb merely scoffed. Kairi could sense he wanted to say something else but wasn't going to. "Very well then" Mr. Luxord said, "you all may go now good day." He then bowed ever so slightly, it was a respectful but not submissive bow. As if he'd finished some performance and was truly grateful the audience had enjoyed themselves.
I can't get a read on this guy. He's pompous but that felt sincere like he really did all he could for us. Kairi's doubts about Mr. Luxord were immediately quashed when she allowed herself to be reminded of his edit to the syllabus. Douche. She affirmed for herself.
Sora was waiting for them outside the room. He stood there his arms folded leaning against the wall. "So, what did he want?" Kairi handed Sora the card he scanned it quickly, and back to her. "I see…"
Sora then shifted his attention to Kaleb who had silently made his way down the hall. Sora entered a brisk jog, meeting up with Kaleb rather quickly, and planting himself in his path.
"Move" Kaleb stated coldly, obviously in no mood to talk.
"Not until we talk" Sora gazed back at his peer, unmoved by his attitude.
Kaleb clenched his fist but seemed to relax it after a moment "Make it quick then" Kaleb sighed, seemingly surrendering to Sora.
Sora then motioned for the others to make their way over. They swiftly followed his que and were by his side in a moment.
"First of all, thank you" Sora said
Kaleb simply nodded. Kairi could tell he did not want to be having this talk.
"Secondly watch yourself around numbers" Sora cautioned
"I don't need you to tell me that" Kaleb snarled
"You clearly do" Sora countered "No one else would have stopped to help, but that's because they would've known better."
"They're digits there wasn't much risk." Kaleb commented. Digits was the slang for the young members of the numbers, and most checked behind them before saying it as the digits hated this slang; a reminder that they are not all powerful, not yet at least.
"They had a gun!"
"That wasn't loaded."
Aqua piped up this time "And how could you have known that?"
"I know the type of person who Seifer is." Kaleb responded, "He's a coward who hides behind the power of the numbers, but even he knows where the line in the sand is."
"Assuming a lot about him after you only met him yesterday." Aqua glared, as she knew what would be the case had the gun been loaded. The chill along her spine that came with the thought caused her to stand slightly more upright.
"I've been in the know about him for quite some time actually" Kaleb retorted, the mood on his face change, as if he'd regretted saying those words.
"And how's that?" Aqua asked.
Kaleb then let out a heavy sigh, and mumbled "Luxord told me"
So, there was more to that meeting I witnessed earlier. "Why would the new teacher be warning you? In case you hadn't noticed he's a pompous ass, not exactly the caring type."
"Now whose making assumptions about somebody they just met" Kaleb boasted a slight grin with this statement.
"Don't change the subject" Aqua snapped What is with this guy? One moment he doesn't want anything to do with us and the next he's teasing me.
"Luxord helped me out when I came to the islands, I kind of owe him but you are right he's an ass" The amusement left his face after this comment and returned to the dry look that Aqua had grown used to seeing. "Now can I go?"
"Yeah I just wanted to thank you, and to make sure you were ok" Sora responded
"Don't mention it and you need to worry about yourselves, not me." Kaleb said as he began to walk around them "After all, school has ended for the day and Luxord's protection with it"
So, a lot longer chapter than I anticipated, but hey interesting bit of content. On a side note Kaleb's profile will come a bit later as there's a few things that need to come from the story to really give perspective on who he is.
Seems to me like you just haven't thought it out that much.
No, Terra trust me this is gonna be good.