Twilight Academy

Author's Note: Sorry it took me soo long to update but I've been busy with personal problems and couldn't update. Thank you for the reviews and I hope you like this chapter and please review.

CHAPTER TWO

I gulped. "Yes?"

"Your friends with that girl named Namine?" He asked.

I nodded. "I am. She's one of my best friends." Why is wondering? Is he interested in her? I wondered.

"Did you know that she is entering in the contest?"

"Yes." I shifted, feeling really uncomfortable.

The air around us was quiet. The people around us were quiet and watchful, wondering what was going on.

Prince Seifer smirked. "I think she has the potential to succeed, don't you?"

I blinked and nodded. "I do."

"So you agree that she would make a great wife."

"Yes."

He laughed. I looked at him strangely, wondering why he was asking me this. I shifted again.

Prince Seifer nodded to his guards. He gave me one more look. "Your friend will have to get better by Friday. The contest starts at noon. You should be there to cheer her on."

He left.

I stood there, staring after him. I felt confused, angry and something else. I didn't know the name of the feeling but I felt it before. I sighed, remembering the name now. It was the feeling of dread.

"Rose…" Hayner put a hand on my shoulder. "You ok?" I hear the worry in his voice.

"It feels like I just got punched in the gut," I said. I could feel tears prickle at the edge of my eyes and I blinked them away. I sighed.

Hayner squeezed my shoulder gently. "Rose, just forget about him. It's not good to lose your heart to the royalty. It never ends well."

"I guess you're right. Let's go."

Training went smoothly after that. I knew I was only acting on autopilot but I couldn't concentrate. What Seifer said to me, it got on my nerves or what was left of them. Before I knew it, our training session was over with.

It was night and I was heading to my small apartment. I lived alone for as long as I could remember. I lived near the tower. I liked my small place. It belonged to me and I could call it my own. I had worked my butt off for it.

I sighed as I opened the door. I tossed my duffel bag and staff onto my love seat and headed into the kitchen. I grabbed a root beer out of the fridge, popped the top and took a sip. I felt drained. After dealing with the prince and Namine's growing interest in the contest I wasn't in a good mood.

I set my bottle down on the marble counter and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. The warm water ran down my tired body. After the shower, I got into my lavender pjs and sat down on the couch, sighing.

Ring. Ring.

"Hello." I picked up my phone. It was Olette. She was worried. "I'm Olette. Yes, I'll be fine." Silence. I sighed again. "Yeah I'm going Friday. I gotta support her or else Namine think she did something wrong or something happened." I nodded. "Yes I'm sure. I'll be fine. No worries." More silence as I listened to her. "Ok. Good night." I hung up.

Finishing my soda my thoughts strayed to the man that held my interest. I could see his face clearly in mind. I saw his blue eyes sparkle with mischief and the arrogant smirk on his handsome face. When his eyes crinkle, his scar was more visible but I thought that made him even more handsome.

I tossed my bottle in the trash and headed into my bedroom. My bedroom was small but cozy. I pulled down the covers of my twin bed and lay down. I shut my lamp off and closed my eyes.

That night I dreamt.

I was in the orphanage. I knew the place well. I was five-years-old. It was a week before I turned six. It was the day I met Master Splinter for the first time. It was the day that he would be checking out the kids for new recruits.

I was sitting on the windowsill, looking outside the window. I had my silver hair in a ponytail. I was minding my own business when I felt a sharp pain.

"Ow!"

I hear mean laughter and turned to see a group of kids my age standing behind me. The leader was a girl a year older me. She had blond hair and was laughing. "What are you going to do about it, freak?"

The kids continued to laugh.

My blood boiled and I knew my face was beat red. I had enough. I lunged at the girl and punched her in the nose. I heard a crack as bone hit bone. Blood gushed from the blonde's nose.

"Ow! Y-You!" she lunged at me. I ducked and tripped her. The blond went flying into the wall. She got up, staggered a little and went after me again.

"Amanda!"

The blond stopped and turned. She paled. "S-Sister!"

Sister Mary and an old man stood in the doorway. "What is the meaning of this?" Sister Mary demanded.

"Rose started it!"

"What? I did not," I argued. "Amanda started it!"

"I don't care you started it, both of you in my office now!"

We left the playroom and headed down the hallway. We stopped at the door, took a breath and we both went in. Sister Mary and the old man were there.

"Now I want to know the truth children," Sister Mary started calmly. "And no lies, either. Who started the fight?"
"It was Amanda," I stated. "I was looking out the window when she pulled my hair."

Sister Mary nodded and turned to Amanda. "What do you have to say Amanda?"

"Yeah so what if I pulled her hair? She's a freak!"

I jolted awake. It was always the same. I would always wake up at that part. I sighed. I hated my life in the orphanage. I was always picked on. I lay back down and went to sleep, not knowing what tomorrow would bring.

"Hey Rose!"

I turned and saw my friends. "Hey guys."

"You look tired Rose," Olette said with worry.

I smiled tiredly. "I didn't get much sleep last night."

"The same dream," Pence stated. I nodded. He sighed. Pence knew of my time in the orphanage better than anyone. He visited me often since I was there and saw what I had to go through.

"Yeah. I woke up where Amanda had called me a freak," I said.

Pence nodded. I read the look in his eyes. Those days at the orphanage may be over but I still got the "Freak" glare. I smiled at him reassuringly.

The bell rang. "We better go or else we'll get into trouble with the teachers," Hayner said.

I headed down the hallways. Lockers banged shut, kids called to their friends as they headed to classes. I was heading to Math class when I heard a yell.

I turned to see none other than Amanda Brigs, the girl who tortured me while I grew up in the orphanage. Amanda was standing over a kid that looked like he was new.

I sighed as I headed towards them.

"You little bastard!" Amanda snarled. "Do you have any idea of who I am?"

The kid shivered under her glare. "N-no ma'am. I'm sorry ma'am. It was an accident. I didn't mean to scratch your new boots."

Amanda shoved the kid and hard. The kid landed on the floor. I could see the kid was no older than nine-years-old. He had black hair that was cut short to the sides of his head. His blue eyes were wide in fear. Judging by the quality of his clothes, he was in the Low Class. His clothes were made of thin material.

"You little punk. You'll learn your place here." Amanda raised her fist to punch the boy.

I darted forward, grabbed her arm, twisted it behind her back and slammed her into the lockers.

"Touch the kid and you're going to lose your arm," I growled in Amanda's ear.

"You!"

I snickered. "Who did you think I was? Santa Clause?" I applied more pressure. "Still causing trouble I see. "

"Bitch. I should have known it was you Rose. You always had a weakness for the Lower Class," Amanda hissed in anger and in pain. "Why do you care for the Lower Class so much? They're weak. I bet that boy's mother is a good for nothing whore…Arg!"

I rammed my knee into her back. "Watch your mouth, Low Class." My voice was cold and unfeeling. "You act all high and mighty as if you belong in the High Class." I could hear her bones creak under the pressure. Amanda's breathing was slow and filled with pain.

"Unless you want me to break your arms I suggest you quit playing high and mighty or else." I jerked her back so hard I hear her cry in pain.

"Do I make myself clear?"

Amanda gurgled.

"I can't hear you." I jerked her arm again.

"Y-Yes!"

I nodded. "Good. Now get out of here and don't let me catch you bullying the kid again."

Amanda ran off, holding her hurt arm in her hand.

"You ok?" I asked, turning to the kid. I offered a smile.

"I am now," he said a little shakily. "Thank you for helping me."

"Your welcome. You're new aren't you?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"What's your name? I'm Rose by the way."

"Jeddah."

I smiled. "Jeddah, that's a nice name." He smiled.

"Where you going before Amanda started messing with you?" I asked.

"Math with Mr. Lambert."

I grinned. "So was I. We have the same teacher. Come on, I'll show you how to get there."

Jeddah smiled widely. "Thank you Rose."

The rest of the day went by in a blur. Jeddah turned out to be a nice kid. He was the oldest out of seven kids and did his best to look out for his younger brothers and sisters. Jeddah told me about his run in with Amanda. He told me that he ran into accidently and scratched her new boots. I told him not to worry about it and if he had any more problems with her to come get me.

Finally the bell rang for lunch.

"Over here!"

I smiled as I saw Hayner, Olette and Pence sitting at our usual table. I headed towards them.

"Hey what's up?" I asked sitting down next to Pence.

"Not much. I heard that you had a run in with Amanda," Pence said, taking a sip of his milk. "Your new friend, Jeddah, was telling us about it."

I nodded as I shoveled a fork full of my macaroni and cheese into my mouth. "I did. She won't be torturing kids for a while." I smirked at the last part. Pence shook his head. Olette and Hayner just laughed.

A shadow fell over me. I turned to see Amanda standing there. She had her arm in a sling.

I raised a brow.

"You are going to pay for this!"

To Be Continued…