A/N: Okay, here is chapter 2. It might seem slightly long, but that is just because I had to explain how the dorm system/competition worked. Hopefully now that I have most of the technical information about the school put of the way, I can concentrate more on character development. So if some of my characters seem a bit shallow right now, bear with me, they will be fully developed in the coming chapters. Also, if any of you have the chance, please go out and see the drama Hana Kimi-- I drew a lot of inpiration for this story from that drama and it is pretty great. Anyways, here is the chapter. Hope you enjoy!!
Why, Why Love
Chapter 2
Classes seemed to last forever, or at least that is how it seemed to Sam. The day dragged on, one teacher came and another left. The curriculum here really was advanced, but it seemed as though the pupils weren't really concerned with learning anything. They never seemed to be paying attention to anything that the teachers were saying, most of the time either joking with one another, or lost in their own worlds.
Sam couldn't help but periodically glancing over at Artemis. He always looked so bored, either staring out the window or reading one of the seemingly endless supply of books that he brought with him, but never paying attention to the classes or any of his classmates.
"Okay students, that is the end of classes for today"
Sam snapped back to reality at the teachers words. Over, she thought to herself, checking her watch. 2:30. Classes really were over!
Sam looked over next to her and saw Artemis packing up the mountain of books that he had piled up on his desk throughout the day. Okay, Sam, it is now or never, she said to herself, you traveled halfway across the globe to talk to this boy, you better not miss this opportunity.
Slowly Sam got out of her seat and walked over to Artemis. This boy was a genius. What in the world could she say to him? She decided to just be direct and frank with him. At least then there wouldn't be anyway that he couldn't understand the point she wanted to get across. She stopped in front of his desk, inhaling deeply.
Artemis looked up from his books, raising a single eyebrow at her. Beside them, a group of boys had gathered, looking on the scene with a mix of awe and anticipation.
"Look, the new boy is actually going up to talk to Artemis"
"Poor boy, doesn't he know anything? Who would be stupid enough to try to talk to Artemis?"
Sam smiled brightly at Artemis, gathering up the courage to say something.
"Hi, my name is Sam. I am a transfer student. I don't really know anybody here but I would like to be your friend" she said, regretting every single word as soon as they left her mouth. I would like to be your friend? What self-respecting guy would ever say that to one of his classmates?
Everybody in the room gasped as they waited for Artemis to say something.
Artemis just looked up at Sam, his face completely impassive. He stood up and swung his school bag over his shoulder. Sam had to crane her neck up to look at him.
"I knew Americans were tactless" Artemis said slowly "but I never knew that they were this bad. I don't know what you think of me, but I am not looking for that type of relationship". And with that, he turned and walked out of the classroom.
"That type of relationship?" Sam mumbled to herself. "What in the world did Artemis mean…unless…unless he thinks that I am a gay guy trying to hit on him!" She groaned loudly. It was only her first day here and she had probably already scared Artemis away. Why couldn't she act more manly?
"It's okay. He's like that to everyone"
Sam turned around and saw the boy who had been dribbling the soccer ball in the seat behind her all day. He was a good bit taller than her, maybe just a couple of inches shorter than Artemis, and had very expressive almond shaped eyes, and was very obviously of Asian decent. His hair was cut in a very messy fashion and dyed a shade of gold, making it look like some sort lion's mane. Usually such a thing would look absolutely ridiculous on a person, but it worked on this boy. All in all, he was a very attractive specimen of male—but then again, that was a requirement.
"Excuse me?" Sam said
"Artemis. He acts that way with everybody, very antisocial" the boy said. "By the way, I am Jin—Saint Bartlby's own Golden Right Foot!"
"Golden Right Foot?" Sam asked, confused.
"That's my nickname" Jin explained "because of my expertise at running and at football. My right foot can kick the ball with so much force that it will knock a person out. I'm captain of the team!"
"Oh, nice to meet you" Sam said, smiling at the boy "my name is Sam"
"Ah, Sam. Do you play any sports?" Jin asked. Sam shrugged
"No, no organized sports. I was on the track team when I was in America, though" she said. Jin's face broke out into a huge grin.
"Track team? Really? Me too. What did you run?"
"Um, the 100 meter" Sam said, looking around. Where had Artemis gone off to? Had he gone back to his room?
"What? What a coincidence. That is what I run. Here, come on, let's go race!" Jin said, eagerly leading Sam out of the room.
"What? Oh, okay" Sam said, following Jin out. She wanted to go find Artemis, but Jin seemed nice enough and it was always hard to make good friends. Plus, he seemed to be a veteran of the school, he could show her around.
Jin led Sam across the campus, chatting happily about his home, his family, and his hobbies. Sam nodded and tried to keep up with the boy who walked as fast as he talked.
"Here we are, this is the track field," Jin said, pointing to an expanse of land. There was a very neatly kept track and a variety of other track and field equipment, hurdles, long jump mats, things of that sort.
"Here, the track team is actually practicing now" Jin said, "let's go". Sam followed Jin to the track.
"Hey there Mark, this is a new student, Sam. Transferred from America. We want to have a 100 meter race!" Jin cried out to a boy who seemed to be the captain of the team.
"No problem, boys" Mark cried back, his voice very thick with his Irish accent "just get at the starting line, I'll time you"
"Wait, what? We are going to race right now?" Sam asked, surprised. She knew that Jin has said that he wanted to race, but she didn't actually think it was going to happen.
"Of course" Jin said "is there a problem?"
"What, oh, no…I just wasn't expecting to race…" Sam said.
"Oh, is it too hot? Is that the problem? You can take off your shirt if you want. Most people on the track team do" Jin said.
"WHAT? How could I take off my shirt?" Sam exclaimed. Jin looked at her, confused.
"You don't have to feel embarrassed about it" he said "we're all guys here. It's normal".
Sam blanched at his words. Of course it would be normal for guys to run without their shirts on. Buck up, Sam, you are almost giving yourself away far too often she thought to herself.
"Oh, no worries. I am not too hot at all. Uh…let's race, yes?" she asked, jogging over to the start line. Jin shrugged and jogged over with her. They both stood at the start line and looked up at Mark, who already had a timer and a flag in his hand.
"Okay blokes. On the count of three. One. Two. THREE"
As soon as the word 'three' left Mark's mouth, Sam started to run as fast as she could. She had always enjoyed track events and it really was the only thing that she was good at. She had never been a great student or great at art. But on the track, she felt like she was exceptional.
Before she knew it, the 100 meters were over. She stopped and knelt, slightly panting. She turned around to see how Jin had done and saw everybody staring at her with a look of awe. Mark came up to her and looked down.
"You beat the school record," he said in shock. He looked her up and down, causing Sam to feel a bit uncomfortable. "How can someone with such short legs run so fast?"
"I just like to run" Sam mumbled, backing away from Mark and accidently running into Jin.
"Sam, you were brilliant!!" Jin said. "I will be happy to share my title as Saint Bartlby's Golden Right Foot with you!"
"What, oh thanks" Sam said, looking back at Mark and the rest of the track team who had their phones out.
"What are they doing?" Sam whispered to Jin. Jin looked over at the crowd and smiled.
"Ah, just texting their friends telling them about your amazing time probably" he said.
"What? Seriously? Why? I don't want the whole school to know about it" she grumbled.
"Well that is just the way that things go here" Jin answered, "everyone knows about everything that goes on"
"I don't know if I like that so much" Sam said, nervously. With a school like this, the chance of her secret getting out was much higher.
"Ah, it's not so bad. You get used to is after a while" Jin said "there are not too many kids in each form so you become like a big family anyway. Come on; let's go get something to eat. I'll show you were the dining hall is"
"Okay" Sam said, following him. She hadn't eaten in a while and her stomach was grumbling. Food did not sound like a bad idea at all. So, Sam and Jin left the track and started walking to the cafeteria, chatting lively. Sam felt good to have made a friend already, and Jin seemed eager to show the new students the ropes of the school.
The two entered back in the main campus of the school, walking past the Form 11 building and towards the dining. Suddenly a group of boys in various sports uniforms blocked their paths. In the front of them was a tall, muscular boy in a karate outfit. His hair was cropped short and his eyes were wild and slightly crazed.
"Sam Doroster" the boy in the karate uniform said, pointing a very long, very intimidating stick at her. Sam paled and backed away, not knowing what was going on.
"Yes" she answered, trying to sound as manly as possible.
"We heard that you beat the school record in the 100 meter dash" the boy continued. Sam nodded her head.
"We admire that and on behave of Dorm 1 I, Dorm Leader Mike, would to ask you to join our dorm. Your skill in sports will definitely aid is in the inter-dorm competition, " he said.
"Inter-dorm competition?" Sam asked.
"We always have little different competitions between the three dorms" Jin answered "the winning dorm in each competition gets different prizes"
"And with your skill you will surely help us win all of the prizes!" Mike added.
"Oh, well, I will surely think about joining your dorm" Sam said, trying to pacify the crazed looking leader.
"Think about it? NOT GOOD ENOUGH!"
Mike's sudden outburst caused Sam to be taken aback for a second.
"We will have you in Dorm 1 no matter what we have to do!" Mike shouted, pointing his stick at Sam once again. "AFTER HIM!"
Suddenly all of the boys standing behind Mike started to run towards Sam. She stood there for a few second, in absolute shock before Jin pushed her.
"Come on, we have to run" he said. Sam nodded numbly and started running away from the group of boys who were chasing her. Her and Jin ran down the corridors and ducked into an empty classroom.
"I think we will be safe in here" Jin whispered.
"THINK AGAIN" a highly dramatic voice said from the corner of the classroom. Jin and Sam turned around to find smoke billowing into the room from the back doorway. Sam heard Jin moan beside her
"Oh god, it's Oscar" he said.
"Oscar?" Sam whispered.
"YES, it is I, Oscar" the voice continued. From within the smoke a figure appeared. He was wearing the typical uniform, but he had also added a flowing, gold cape to it. Then, as the smoke started to clear, a group of boys, all wearing various colored capes appeared behind Oscar, one of them holding a large fog machine and another holding a sort of boom box.
"Um…hello?" Sam said, confused out of her mind.
"Hello, exchange student Sam" Oscar said. "Let me formally introduce myself". He clapped his hands and the boy with the boom box immediately starting playing sweet yet dramatic music. Oscar waltzed over to Sam and Jin, doing some sort of interpretive dance to the music. He twirled in front of them before stopping. With great aplomb, he produced a single red rose from somewhere within the folds of his cape and held it out to Sam. She reached out and took it cautiously.
"I am Oscar" he said "Dancer, performer, brilliant artist, and leader of Dorm 3"
"Another dorm leader?!?" Sam exclaimed.
"On behalf of Dorm 3, I would like to extend you an offer to join our dorm" he said "I know that the other two dorms have probably already tried to recruit you—but do not be fooled! Dorm 3 can offer you fame, fortune, and riches. All we ask for in exchange is your loyalty and use of your track skills"
"Oh well, I will think about it" Sam said quickly. Oscar bowed deeply to her.
"Do not make a mistake in your choice, exchange student Sam" he said dramatically. He snapped his fingers and one of the boys tuned on the fog machine. He waited there, still in his semi-bow state, until the fog was thick again. He then turned around, his cape floating around him, and disappeared once more into the fog. The rest of Dorm 3 followed after him.
Sam just started at Oscar's receding back with a mix of shock and awe. From outside the classroom she could still hear the screams and shouts of Mike and the rest of the boys from Dorm 1.
"What is going on here?" she asked.
"Don't worry about it" Jin said "every student that transfers here goes through this. The dorms are always looking for new members to help out in the competitions."
"Will Dorm 2 be like this as well?" Sam asked.
"Nah, we are a bit more relaxed when it comes to recruiting new students" Jin said.
"What is the difference between the three dorms?" Sam asked.
"Well the secondary school here is divided into three dorms—each housed in different buildings, though we share the same main common room and dining hall. Dorm 1 is full of athletes. Most of them are here on athletic scholarships and Mike, their dorm leader, is very strict about training them. Dorm 3 is known as the artistic dorm. Most of the students there are either into dance or theatre or music. Their dorm leader, Oscar, is very dramatic and often has wild adventures and schemes he recruits his dorm to help him with. Dorm 2 is a bit of a mix. We have athletes, artists, and people who don't belong in either group. We are usually the most laid back of all the groups, but when it comes to the competitions, we usually win" Jin explained.
"So I have to pick which dorm that I will be a part of?" Sam asked. Jin nodded.
"We have a space available in dorm 2 if you would like it" Jin said, hopefully "the guys in the dorm are all really nice and I am sure you will get along with them"
"Well, you are the most normal person I have met since coming here" Sam said "and I don't think I would like to be in either of the other two dorms…"
"So it's settled!" Jin said excitedly. "Come quickly, I'll show you the dining room and the dorm". He quickly pushed Sam out of the room and took her down a hall, careful to avoid running into Mike or any of the other people from Dorm 1.
"You said that you had a space open in dorm 2" Sam said as they walked towards the dining hall "does that mean I will get my own room?"
"Um…no, you have to share it with one other person" he said.
"Oh, who is it?" Sam asked.
"Nobody important" Jin answered quickly. Sam stopped and looked at him.
"Jin, this boy is going to be my roommate, I think I should know who he is," she said.
"Uh, well…promise me you won't change your mind once I tell you" Jin said
"Is he that bad?" asked Sam
"Just promise" Jin retorted.
"Fine, I promise" Sam answered. Jin exhaled deeply.
"We only have one space open. So you are going to have to room with…Artemis Fowl"
A/N: Alright, so there it was. What did you think of it? Again, your reviews would be much, much appreciated. Seriously, they are what keep me writing. So please review and make my day =) Gracias y besos