THE FLAG

"Your mother called."

"And then she told me that my hair was sticking up! Why didn't she just tell me that in the first place?!" Freckles laughed wholeheartedly. She had been talking nonstop since we met in the hallway, I wasn't sure if this was her way of "proving herself" but I was glad she stopped talking about my brothers. On the other hand, people were paying more attention to me than usual, and I wasn't sure if it was because of all the new students this year or because not only was I in the cafeteria but someone was sitting with me. I sighed heavily, hoping nobody else would take it as an invitation for them to try.

The room suddenly broke out in squeals and barely hushed whispers of excitement. Even without looking up I knew who had just walked in.

"Why is everyone…? Oh! Is that them?!" Freckles suddenly nudged me with her elbow and I lazily looked up. Sebastian and Claude had just walked into the cafeteria, followed by their friends Angela Blanc and Ash Landers. I couldn't contain my snicker of amusement when I saw Grell hanging off Sebastian's arm and of course Victoria was hanging on to Claude's.

"They're just like celebrities… Everyone is staring at them in awe." Freckles mumbled sounding amazed.

I, personally, found it odd that no crazed fangirl had run up to them yet. Maybe there were rules about that in the cafeteria.

"I'm guessing the one with glasses is Claude and the more suave looking one is Sebastian… but who are those other people?" Freckles asked, turning her attention back to me.

"You've heard of Claude and Sebastian but not their royal cabinet?" I responded, absentmindedly fiddling with the straw in my drink.

"Not really… Someone might have said something about them but I'm not exaggerating when I say all everyone talks about is your brothers." I pointed towards the group with my straw, no harm in telling her who not to talk to.

"Okay...so the one hanging all over Claude is someone you should never ever talk to, that's Alexandrina Victoria, her parents own this school. But don't ever refer to her as Alexandrina." Freckles opened her mouth to question me. "Don't ask. Just don't. Anyways, the two similar looking people with the white hair are Angela Blanc and Ash Landers they're friends of Claude and Sebastian, but don't talk to them either. I mean you could- but they don't talk to anyone outside that group except for myself occasionally. And last and definitely least the guy- yes I know you're shocked- hanging off of Sebastian is Grell Sutcliff and he's literally in love with Sebastian. Unrequited, of course." I pointed to each individual with my straw. Freckles nodded in understanding.

"So… is Claude dating Victoria then?" She asked as we watched them sit at their table. I shrugged, it's not like I could answer that with a yes or no.

Sebastian happened to look up, and as he was sitting directly in my field of vision we met eyes. He waved at me and sent a curious glance towards Freckles. I didn't bother waving back, I tried to avoid communication with either of them at school.

"You don't sit with them?" Freckles asked, not noticing the exchange between Sebastian and I.

"No."

"Why not?" Her questions began to annoy me, so I sipped at my cherry coke instead of answering.

I'm sure she was still asking me things or babbling on about something but I began to tune her out, looking around the cafeteria lazily. The noise in here was starting to give me a headache, why do people feel the need to yell when they're sitting right next to each other?

A familiar blue head of hair caught my attention.

Why was it only now that I noticed him? He didn't seem like he was new to this school. I'm sure his blue hair would stand out in a crowd. So, why was it only now…?

As if to answer the question the boy turned around suddenly and caught my gaze. A faint blush dusted his cheeks and he looked away immediately. I frowned in confusion. Earlier he was able to hold my gaze steadily, what changed?

Better yet, why did I even care?

I huffed in annoyance and gathered my things.

"Where are you going?" Freckles asked, standing up with me. I had forgotten that she was even there.

Ignoring her still, I walked away from our table and out of the cafeteria and Freckles scrambled after me. As I went to throw away my trash I felt a stare coming from the same table as the blue haired boy but somehow I felt that it wasn't as innocent a stare and walked out of the cafeteria without looking back.

...

"So how was your day, Aria?" Sebastian asked, sinking into the plush couch. I pulled out a drink from the refrigerator and walked over to where he sat, sinking down on the couch next to him.

"Shitty. Aleistor swiped my schedule first thing in the morning so now he promises to wait for me after every class. And Mr. Spears is such a hardass. He lectured me about what I was wearing 'Come to school dressed properly next time, Miss Tamburlaine.' What's wrong with what I'm wearing?!"

"Ah, Aleistor? I haven't spoken to him in a while. Does he still hate me? And Claude and I told you to change this morning so don't even start." Sebastian commented airily, turning on the tv.

"He wouldn't be Aleistor Chamber if he didn't hate the two of you. Not sure what he sees in me though. Anyways, he told me to say hello for him."

"I'm not sure what he sees in you either." Sebastian joked, jabbing me in the ribs with his elbow. "Anyways, who were you sitting with at lunch today?"

"Yes, who were you sitting with at lunch today? What were you doing in the cafeteria anyways?" Claude asked, having returned from upstairs. I didn't like his tone of voice, he sounded as though he was accusing me of something.

"It was a girl. And I don't have a car, remember?" I snapped, narrowing my eyes. Some of the tension in the room died down.

"I've never seen her before." Claude replied without changing his accusatory tone.

"Aria, why don't you ever talk to us at school?" Sebastian whined, trying to lighten the mood.

"She's new. And why does it even matter?" I challenged, ignoring Sebastian.

Claude glared harshly at me. "And yet you wonder why we tell you the same thing every time. You just don't understand how dangerous it all is."

"I understand!" I yelled, standing up to face him. "One time! I messed up that one time! And you'll never let me forget it! Then you lecture me about being too unfriendly only to turn around and say I can't have any friends! What the hell do you want from me?!" I shouted, rage overcoming me.

It was always the same scene every time I talked to someone new.

I'd never really had any close friends. Nobody actually wanted to be friends with me, they just wanted a chance to talk to my brothers. I grew up without a fatherly figure to scare away my boyfriends, so Sebastian and Claude took on that job themselves. As if preserving my innocence was their goal.

Sebastian stepped between us looking exasperated.

"Calm down, both of you. Claude I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of this, we don't even know if this girl will stick around for long. I mean only so few people can tolerate Aria's attitude anyways."

Right, I thought bitterly, because my attitude is the problem here.

I glared at Sebastian, then turned and pushed Claude out of the way. This conversation was over as far as I was concerned.

"Aria." Claude called. Ignoring him, I began ascending the staircase.

"Your mother called." My foot paused above a step.

"What for?" I snapped, keeping my gaze on the steps.

"You ask as though she'd actually tell me. Just talk to her soon. She gets annoying when you go without speaking to her for a long time." I sighed and continued up the stairs.

I opened the door to my room, threw my bag against the wall and collapsed onto my bed.

Yawning tiredly, I fished my phone out of my back pocket and held it out in front of me. Hesitantly, I called my mother.

She answered on the second ring.

"Aria, sweetheart! How nice of you to give your own mother a call! I gave birth to you, you know? And you just go off and forget about me…" I rolled my eyes, sighing with irritation.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Oh, so that's what you called to say? No 'Hello, mother how are you?' Well at least that imbecile Claude can follow simple instructions."

"Mother. What do you want?" I repeated, growing irritated.

"Oh-yes that's right. You turn seventeen this year, my darling! We have to start planning your Welcoming ceremony! I've been planning for it since you were little but even still there's so much work to be done before this spring!" I groaned out loud.

"What was- Aria have you just groaned at me? Don't act like that, I know those two boys haven't been raising you as well as I would like but I would have hoped they would have at least told you how rude that was. Now, there are quite a few young gentlemen who have expressed their hopes of meeting you. Don't worry I haven't told them how special you are, we all know how dangerous that would be. However, because of that you will have to look your absolute best at the ceremony so I'll have to send someone to get your measurements so we can sew you the perfect gown! Now is there anything in particular that you would like for your ceremony?"

"How about not having it at all?"My mother began laughing hysterically.

"Oh my, Aria, you certainly have quite the sense of humor!" Her cheery voice had taken on a dangerous edge, as it tended to do whenever I said something she didn't like, and I decided it was in my best interest to actually think about her question. I have never wanted to not do something in my life as much as I didn't want to have this Welcoming ceremony but my mother would never take no for an answer.

"Well… are Claude and Sebastian allowed to come?"

"I suppose… as long as they behave themselves. I can't have them making a fool of themselves in your name. Oh! I know this is a bit cliché… but I was thinking that we would do a masquerade ball? Are you okay with that or do you hate it?"

"That's alright I guess."

"Okay, good, good! So, today was the first day back at school, correct?"

"Yes." I was surprised she had remembered.

"How was it?"

"Okay, I guess. A girl kept insisting on talking to me and even sat with me at lunch, which of course made Claude lecture me again. He will never ever let me forget about that one time."

"Oh the one time you…?"

"As if there is possibly any other thing I've done wrong mother." I snapped.

"Are you eating properly?"

"Yes."

"Then you should be fine, darling. Let me know if you need anything at all. I'm sorry that I can't be there for you, love. But now that I've figured out how to use this new-fangled technology- it really is amazing! Did you know I can play music anywhere at any time in an instant? I've been listening to Brahms all day on my cellular telephone!" I sighed and a hint of a smile forced its way onto my face.

"Yes, mother that is amazing."

"Isn't it?! Anyways, darling, you can call me whenever you need me and I swear to you I'll be there for you."

"I know, mother. Thank you."

"So! I'll have a seamstress come out to take your measurements soon, I'll let you know when I send them."

"Okay."

"Alright, darling, have a great week. Remember you can call me whenever you like. I know the time difference makes it hard for me to reach you but I'm always awake."

"Sure."

"I love you, Aria."

"Bye mother." I ended the call, and closed my eyes.

"Ugh...tired." I mumbled and rolled over promptly falling asleep.

...

"What did your mother want to talk about yesterday?" Sebastian asked in Claude's car the next day.

"She wanted to start planning my birthday party." I answered, staring out of the window.

"She's never wanted to do that before. Is there something special about you turning seventeen?" Claude questioned.

"Apparently."

"And what's so special about it?" Sebastian said, pushing me to elaborate.

"To her… side of the family, turning seventeen is the age that I'm to be welcomed into society. She said there are some guys interested in meeting me as well." The tension in the car rose just as I thought it would.

"And everyone coming is from her side of the family?" Claude asked tersely.

"Yes."

"So, are we allowed to come then?" Sebastian wondered.

"I asked her if you could. She said yes, but you guys need to be on your absolute best behavior." Sebastian chuckled.

"We're always on our best behavior!"

"Sure you are.

First, thank you all SO much for you continued support! Especially those of you who have followed and favorited the story! It really lets me know that you're interested and you want to keep reading and I plan to deliver! Who wants to write something that nobody cares about?

Secondly, my apologies for the formatting issues last chapter! This site tends to automatically take away line breaks and things like that not to mention the entire chapter was in bold, whoops! It's all fixed now.

Thirdly, omg what?! Angela and Ash are friends with Sebastian and Claude? Yes. I imagine them to be a lot more subdued, almost as they acted before their true identity was revealed. Two parts of the same subdued whole if you will. But I'll give more insight as to the strange relationships between certain characters at a later date.

And I almost forgot! Hopefully the odd way that I switch back and forth between the point of view isn't confusing! Let me know if it is! Aria is always in first person, then Ciel and Alois are always in third. Sometimes I go back and forth in the time like last chapter Alois and Ciel saw Aria sit with a girl and then I went to Aria's point of view and explained why and who that was etc etc.

See you all on the 29th! The Game begins next chapter!