The cafe isn't as crowded during the morning. Comparing it with lunch break, nothing interesting really happens. Sure, someone very clumsy always slips on a wet floor and spills their pasta. The latter will cause someone inattentive to fall as well, hence two birds down with one stone. Other than the accidents, recess is usually just a peaceful time wherein the students just hang out with their friends outside the cafe. And, again, nothing twitter-worthy will surface.
But, today's definitely different.
It began with a rumor mill that was, for once, something that actually happened. Unlike most gossips, this one was very accurate and detailed.
A Junior, followed by almost the entire school, alluded about it on their social media. Their circle of popular friends found the story romantic so, naturally, they decided to share and post about it themselves. The student body was discombobulated and curious as they read from their handheld devices. They started murmuring with their friends, wondering and taking wild guesses on who this 'new couple' could be. Possibilities are endless even though the school's population isn't exactly as high compared to public schools down the mountains.
All over HAA, from the cafe, to the gym, to the library, to the center ring, nearby the dorms, the field—basically everywhere, teens started asking Juniors and Seniors for answers since they are the ones who usually have full knowledge about stories circulating the campus. Someone finally caved in and started a trend that made the 'who' of the topic answered.
"Oh my gosh! Have you heard?!" A black haired Freshman practically hit the table's edge due to exhilaration. Her socks were a little muddy, her blouse was wrinkled, and her hair was disheveled. There were even some leaves that got caught at the tips of them. From the vibrancy of it, she obviously tried the confusing hedge maze in the East Wing.
"Whoa, slow down Vivi!" Giselle caught her friend's arm.
"I'm sorry, it's just huge guys" she panted. "Like, it's so fairytale like!"
"What are you talking about exactly?" friend number 3, Wilson, cut in.
"I heard it from a Senior hanging out in the fields, Jack is with the Elsa girl!" she informed them excitedly.
"Really?!" her friends exclaimed in unison.
A tall boy in PE uniform, holding a tray in his hands, passed by their table and overheard the two names. It caught his attention instantly. He inconspicuously neared them.
"Yeah, the entire class overheard Jack's display of concern for her after he caught her when she fell on stage" Vivi went on. "The cheerleaders were so joyful, you should've seen how excited they were for Elsa!"
"Wow...it's not even near a month and she already got Jack under her wing" Giselle remarked impressively.
"Come on, Gis" Wilson placed his hand on her shoulder, "Elsa's very pretty. It's no wonder"
"Yeah, and I heard some teachers talk about how good her performance is too" Vivi added.
"Are you an elephant or something? How are you hearing all of these?" Giselle stood up and finally took it upon herself to take the leaves off her friend's hair.
Vivi laughed, "I just have plenty of sources" she crossed her arms.
"By 'sources', do you mean Twitter and Instagram?" Wilson smiled mockingly.
"Shut up, Wil" Vivi rolled her eyes. Giselle laughed and sat back down.
The group continued on in a different topic, much to the lurker's dismay. He casually walked away from the table, gears started turning in his brain. He was unsure of how things will play out now, especially for Olivia. He knows that she has to be plotting something against the girl who stole her dream guy, then again, the Big Five won't let her lay a finger on an acquaintance of theirs. At the moment, the only thing he is sure of is that he's not happy about this.
Astrid walked on campus grounds, one hand securing the strap of her backpack in place, while the other had an open book. She raised her brow as she read the complex information about covalent bonds. If there was one thing she dislikes, it's studying when you can just be wrapped around your boyfriend's arms, talking about whatever comes up in mind.
She wasn't with Hiccup that day which is a very rare thing. They always spend the day together, which explains why everyone knows that they're in an intimate relationship. Her pretty physique and, sometimes, assertive way of talking made girls crushing on her boyfriend stay away. Astrid doesn't have a thing for Science, but if she can skip the atoms and just head straight to how perfect her chemistry with Hiccup is, then she's in.
"Hmm..." she was looking down the book the entire time and didn't even noticed her path. Her friend, Kristen, was up ahead and called the blonde's attention before she hit a Sophomore.
Astrid looked up, backed away from the blockage, and walked towards her, "Thanks roomie"
"Hey you!" Kristen smiled brightly, "I see you're studying while walking, tsk, very hazardous"
"I slept on it last night so..."
"I know what you mean. If it weren't for caffeine, I would've had it as my pillow too. Hmm, maybe that would boost up my IQ, don't you think?"
The girls laughed at the humor. Astrid nodded, "I think that would be possible"
"Enough brainy talk. Let's have a little chat" Kristen suggested.
"We talk every night, what is it that you haven't told me yet?"
"The latest news duh!" she exclaimed, "I heard your friend and your boyfriend's bestfriend are a thing now"
This caught Astrid's interest so much that she closed her book despite the fact that she'll take the quiz in two hours. She doesn't have to ask who Kristen's talking about, after all, Jack regularly updates her about his and Elsa's status. Not to mention how she and Hiccup caught them last night, seeing them dance is proof enough that they like each other even with words unsaid. She placed the book in her backpack and asked, "Heard from where?"
"Where have you been, girl? The whole school's talking about it!" Kristen exclaimed.
Earlier, while walking out of her class, she noticed a couple of social circles coming together, loudly whispering about a Junior accidentally slipping on stage and getting caught by a guy. And just any guy; a hot guy. Astrid thought it was just another false gossip and considered scrutinizing the topic's truthfulness, but with the Chemistry quiz she has, she decided to not mind it. Turns out, it was her closest friends that the people are busy chirping about and she has to know more.
"So...what about them?" Astrid shrugged and crossed her arms.
"Haven't Jack or Elsa told you anything? I mean, you guys are close"
"Not yet" she shook her head in reply.
"Well, they said that Elsa fell from stools during practice" Kristen started, "Good thing Jack was on stage with her or she might've had a broken bone. When Jack caught her, he got worried and they started being all sweet to each other. I guess it's already natural for them to act that way since they forgot about the lapel microphones still attached on their uniforms"
Astrid covered her mouth and stifled a laugh, "It echoed through the speakers?!"
Her roommate nodded, "Jack was probably so worried that it slipped out of his mind"
"I see" she nodded. Astrid understood why this is such a big deal to their peers. Jack has never been with any girl. Ever since Sophomore year, the start of his reign as Mr. Popular, not once did he get romantically involved with a girl...not even a made up rumor came up, which is surprising considering Olivia's gigantic crush on him and her reputation for being the gossip queen.
"Alright, well, thanks for telling me this" Astrid smiled at her friend.
"Oh, no problem. You know I always tell you everything" she winked.
"Right" Astrid waved her a goodbye before she started for the center ring; it's where Hiccup will most likely be in. That or the library. Either way, she has to ask and/or inform him about this.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III has always avoided the chain of gossips that often go around. He knows that it's just an evil thing that some girls do to get back at their nemesis. Usually, rumors are started by the Mojos. It's what makes them known and feared. Though a lot are accustomed with their false mouths and are aware that none of what they say is true, some people still believe in them because, hey, anything is possible. Plus the rumors the triplet-like sisters spread are close to the personality of their victim that it's most likely what they do when everyone turns their back on them. Like what happened to Jennifer for example.
This time, Hiccup didn't avoid it. While girls always talk about him and Jack, today's chatter has an unusual addition to it...Jack and a girl. Being the genius he is, Hiccup figured out who this girl is before he even overheard her name. Now all he has to do is find out what really happened.
Though the talks reached the apex of Hiccup's attention, he decided to wait until tonight when Jack himself would tell him everything in a fervent manner. That way, he won't be a hypocrite and gossip with someone about it. For now, he wants to chill in the center ring and just wait—
"Oww!" a playful yet hard smack came blowing onto his shoulder. He rubbed the spot and turned, only to see his beloved girlfriend settling in beside him.
"That was for not fetching me" Astrid smirked and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I told you, if I don't fetch you then that means I have to study!" Hiccup defended.
"What are you busy with now?"
Hiccup gestured to the table. His statistic book, calculator, and notes sprawled all over the marble top. "Don't wanna get a big fat F on my test"
Astrid rolled her eyes, "Come on, babe. You don't even get an A minus"
"And I want it to stay that way" he took one sheet of paper with his free hand and observed the words and numbers written on it even though Astrid's beauty already captured his focus.
Astrid looked up and kissed what she can reach from her position—his jaw. Immediately, her boyfriend's eyes lit up and his lips curved to a smile. He placed the paper down and looked down at her. "That's to make up for my hard blow" she smiled.
Hiccup snaked his arms around her waist, "Yeah? Do I get to apologize to you too?" he slowly leaned forward.
"You should" Astrid returned his movement, their lips merely centimeters apart.
"Sorry" Hiccup whispered in pure sincerity. Their pouted lips were about to connect when a clearing of throat interrupted them.
Truth be told, their public display of affection has always been a problem ever since their intimacy reached maximum level and most of their limitations were lifted off. The couple tried their best not to do anything that might land them in the principal's office. They were almost caught twice in the past, looking up at who's standing over them now made them anxious. Was it the Principal? The Assistant Principal? The Prefect? The list of employees goes on since they were about to kiss in the center of the school grounds!
The two looked up simultaneously and sighed in pure relief to see Maria Orson blocking the sunlight instead of some condescending adult who'll bombard them with lectures. This is the first, and probably only, time that they actually felt happy that a Mojo was standing close to them. But if she's here to tease them, that relief will dissipate in a second.
"I never thought I'd say this, but, Maria, I'm glad it's you" Hiccup let out another sigh.
Maria chuckled, "Wow"
"Yeah, let's not mention this to anyone"
"Some people are already seeing us, you know" the tan girl crossed her arms.
"Right, right" Hiccup nodded, "Well, can we help you?"
Astrid raised her brow, "I bet this is another prank that'll—
"Oh, haven't you heard?" Maria interrupted, the two looked at her in confusion. "I'm no longer a 'Mojo'" she smirked sassily, as if she won something big.
"What?!" the couple exclaimed in unison.
"Wait! You mean you left the group?!" Astrid exclaimed the question.
"Yeah" Maria nodded, "It's not like we went on an initiation and took a solemn oath that we shall never leave" she rolled her eyes.
"But, you are sisters. It never crossed my mind that you'll leave them" Hiccup added.
"Rethink that thought because I just did" she said quite proudly. Maria wanted to break her ties with the two even before they formed this social group that became well known in school. Knowing how mean Olivia is, Maria had a feeling this group will leave a bad mark on her reputation. Turns, out she's right. The only factor that really made her stay on her sister's side is their Father. But if she can turn back time, she would've never mingled with Olivia nor Jenna despite how they're blood related.
"So, you came here to..?"
"I came here to warn you" Maria said straightforwardly, having an honest expression on.
"About?"
She bent down, lowering to the two's level and whispered, "Olivia's planning something..."
Hiccstrid gestured her to go on, "It's something against Elsa. Something that may look familiar to what happened to Jennifer Nicholson...maybe even worse." Maria informed the two in a very low tone.
The couple turned to each other, having a conversation through their eyes. They're very alarmed about this. Ever since Day 1, Elsa's been on Olivia's black list albeit they have no connection of some sort. She may have departed from the "Mojo" group but Maria is still related to Olivia and Jenna by blood; that's something that cannot be undone.
On the other hand, from what Hiccup can remember, Maria is never fun and games. He knows she's still an untrustworthy person considering all the pranks she had let passed, but the look on her face says she's not playing around. She's not an actress either unlike her two sisters. Her coming to them- alone-must mean she really cut the ties between the three of them.
Maria came closer, "I know we're not exactly friends—
"We are NOT" Astrid snapped her head back to her direction.
She stopped and rolled her eyes at her, "But that doesn't mean I don't see the right from the wrong especially when it's against someone...even you." she said.
"Uh-huh." Astrid crossed her arms, says the girl who just let pranks come and go when she could've stopped them. "How do we know you really are telling us the truth and that this isn't another sick, twisted joke?" she added accusingly.
"I was never helping my sisters out with their diabolical pranks and their display of humiliating others, heck I tried stopping them!" Maria gestured to herself. "It's up to you if you wanna believe me or not"
"We appreciate your warning, but we already are keeping an eye on Elsa ever since those stupid fliers!"
"Just so you know, I had nothing to do with that either" she said, "When we became Juniors, I started staying as far away from them as possible"
"Okay, all that aside" Hiccup began, trying to tone down their unexpected conversation. He swept his arm out, "Why are you telling us this?"
Maria inhaled, "I'm on your side now. I don't care about being known, I never had. All of those talks about me planning to overthrow you guys were just rumors spread around by Olivia herself to make me seem like the mastermind behind everything. In reality, she's the one who plans it all, I'm just the outcast in the group. I didn't participate in any scheme in the past...unless someone I dislike is involved"
"Would we count in on those 'someone I dislike' category?" He asked.
"No. Us siblings don't go by 'all for one and one for all', just because Jenna despises Rapunzel doesn't mean I do too. It's just what my selfish sisters want everyone to believe"
"Just keep an eye out for Elsa." Maria advised before walking, almost skipping, away.
The power couple were left dumbfounded. Their mouths were slightly gaped, never did they think that a day will come when an enemy—their rival—would warn them about a threat that'll come to one of their friends. That's a first.
"What just happened..." Astrid asked rhetorically.
Even Hiccup's genius brain couldn't come up with a rational and exact answer. He was left shaking his head. Despite how serious her tone is, Hiccup still had second thoughts on what to believe. They were on hard grounds for a long time and trust is not an easy thing to give.
"Sis, you're...shaking" Jenna remarked, observing her sister from the other side of the kiosk.
Daunting stories about the place spread afar which made the West Wing the most unoccupied place in the academy. This side of the school is the exact opposite of the East Wing. Instead of a large, green, open field, a lounge and a greenhouse, the wing is dedicated for more dorms; ones that are mostly housing athletes and girls such as the Mojos—er, 'Ojo'. Three kiosks stand in front of the dorms, windowing the 3 buildings and blocking the narrow aisles in between.
Because of the nature of the said Wing, this is where the Orson sisters always hang out in. Its quiet ambiance and uncrowded surrounding avoids rumors about the talks they have while hanging in the kiosks. In addition, it's so close to their dorm and the air here seems colder.
"Liv!" Jenna rushed to her sister and grabbed her arm.
"What?!" Olivia easily slipped her arm out of her grasp and looked at her indignantly. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her face was red.
"Will you quit being jealous?!"
"I am NOT jealous!" Olivia defended, "I'm just irritated about this mill! Everywhere I went before we got here, their names never fail to pass through people's mouths!"
"You can't blame them. I have to admit, they do look—
Jenna stopped as soon as she saw her sister's bloodcurdling stare directed at her, "Impossible, right?" she stuttered nervously, "I can only imagine how the school disapproves of their fling!"
"You got at right! Jack and I look so much better together. Ha! I can even play Juliet better than the female dog if I'm given the chance" she snapped her fingers.
Jenna's mind became careen, thinking fast on what she could say to not make her 'Jelsa' shipper side obvious. She knows for a fact that Olivia's desperate desire to get Jack is a lost cause, he is clearly enamored with Elsa just as she is allured to him. Of course, as a caring sister, she still wanted to side with Olivia on this one to make her irritation vanish.
Instead of responding, Jenna took her phone from her pocket and decided to check Twitter. The tweets about the newly discovered couple hasn't stopped, not even lessened one bit. The cheerleaders were constantly updating their profiles hence the retweets and favorites by their other schoolmates.
"Jenna!" Olivia exclaimed in aggravation.
"Huh, what?" she looked up from her phone.
"Are you even listening?!" raising her brow down on her sister's glittery phone, she tried grabbing it but Jenna quickly evaded.
She turned her phone off and placed it back in her pocket, "I don't know what to tell you. If I say something, you might get angrier"
"Ugh! Jack and Elsa cannot happen!" she screamed, Jenna covered her ears as it echoed through. Olivia opened up her shoulder bag and took out a red stress ball, "I need a better stress-reliever, this ball can only hold so much" she sighed dramatically.
"What you need is someone on the inside" said a honeyed voice.
The sisters jumped in surprise and looked straight, to the path connecting the West Wing to the back field. Before their eyes, stood the guy whom they thought would never talk to them after all the shenanigans that happened last year. The guy that looks like a nice guy. The guy who can make a girl crush on him in a snap. The guy who is third to Jack and Hiccup.
As usual, his black headphones laid on his neck, his black hair's well combed, he was only wearing the school polo, blazer merely draped on his shoulder, his eyes were sparkling, and a witty smirk formed on his face.
"Whoa...you—why are you here?" Olivia stared at him.
His brown eyes turned a shade darker, "Just like you, I don't want Jelsa to happen"