Chloe had it all figure out. The first part of her plan aptly titled 'Operation Kill Phil'—which has nothing to do with a literal killing of Philip Smoak, but she watched Kill Bill the night before and found the pun too good to pass up—was to get Lucifer into the team. Chloe acting as his personal assistant, goes where her boss goes. Thus allowing her to get close to the Aca-Decathlon team without needing to take the exams. And risk being rejected.
From there, it's all about getting to know Philip Smoak. To investigate if he truly has a motive to kill Ramon. Philip comes from the subset of people that could kill undetected. It's terrifyingly creepy and scary, just thinking about Philip or anyone from the Aca-Decathlon team is capable of being a serial killer.
Lucifer didn't even need audition for a spot. He's given a special pass. A spot on the team secured by his grade and name. All he did really, was to show his face at Philip. Philip offers his hand, they shake and Lucifer's a member.
[Smooth sailing, isn't it? Think again. She's going to regret this partnership with Lucifer Morningstar. Chloe can feel it in her guts.]
Philip Smoak isn't far off from the good-looking scale. An inch shy off the six feet mark. Slender but muscular built. Curly blonde hair and a pair of brown eyes. Wears his polo t-shirt tucked around his waist, his shoes are expensive suede and his pants are spotless clean.
Lucifer's still miles ahead in the handsome department—given that he wears tailored suit for goodness's sake. Despite the rather unfortunate and recent choice to dye his hair platinum blond. Not that it matters.
Philip carves a pleasant smile on his face. "And who is she?"
Before Chloe could reply, Lucifer interrupts, "No one of importance."
That son of a bitch.
Philip turns to Chloe, studying her for a moment. "Right. If you want to join the Academic Decathlon team, please leave your application here. And the exams will be administered shortly," Philip announces, all formal.
"Oh, she's not applying to be a member," interjects a familiar voice. "She's here as the 'study buddy'. You guys need an extra person to deal with the menial tasks while you prepare for the competition."
"Ah, Shelly. She comes with your recommendation?"
Shelly glances at Chloe, sneaks a fast wink at her. "Yeah. What do you say, Philip? You don't have a study buddy since I left."
Philip seems to consider Shelly's words. Then nods, "Fine. What's your name?"
"Chloe Decker," she supplies.
"Your first task to make sure Lucifer Morningstar gets what he wants. That should be easy, right?" Philip makes a shooing motion at her, then points at Lucifer. "Off you go."
She stalks off to find that bastard. Chloe's going to give him a piece of her mind. Finds him at the registration desk, chatting with Shelly. Catches snippets of their conversation.
"Did she send you here, Spera?" Lucifer questions, raising a brow at her.
Shelly shrugs and smirks. "I wish I could kiss and tell. But my lips are sealed. I'm sorry."
"Are you going to childmind me, then?"
Shelly snorts. "You? Nope. You can take care of yourself. I'm here to make sure someone gets the girl into the team. I have to fly. I'm needed elsewhere."
By the time she reaches the desk, Shelly already left. Lucifer's standing by the desk, overlooking the applications. Chloe latches at his forearm, yanking him to a corner.
"What the freaking hell, Lucifer?" Chloe screeches, "You're supposed to stick to the script, remember? When anyone ask, I'm your PA. We went over this three times!"
"I agreed to assist you in all of your plans to catch the villain, except declaring you as my personal assistant. If there is such position, it's not yours," he counters, his voice monotonous and cold. His icy electric blue eyes glowering at her.
Chloe won't lie. His reply freezes her tongue, twists her frustration into dread. Punches the air out from her lungs. The awareness of him towering over her frame serves to breed terror in her veins. She releases her grip of his forearm.
"N-next time, when you don't agree to some part of my plans, t-tell me. So I can work something out to your liking," she retorts, hoping he wouldn't notice the slight tremble in her voice.
"Now, you're in the team as you wanted. Shouldn't you endear yourself to Philip if you want to learn the true him?" Lucifer says.
"I'm not the only one who has to do the sucking up to him," she fires back, "You're supposed to be his new best friend."
For a fleeting moment or two, Chloe's desire to clout him with a frying pan returns.
But when he does that thing—half of his face curling into a playful smile. "As a matter of fact, I believe I'm on the path to becoming one," he replies, in a deep and smooth like silk voice. That sexy British accent.
Her anger disappears quickly than a train losing its steam. And her knees almost buckle a little. She rolls her eyes.
"Whatever."
Like she said, the minute Lucifer derailed her from being his PA, the further she slides down the proximity scale to Philip.
The status of a "study buddy" has Chloe running around the club—fetching test papers, checking out heavy textbooks, preparing coffee—with no time to chat with the other members.
Fortunately, that doesn't stop Chloe from gathering the necessary information about them. She has to at least know what they like, so she doesn't blow her chances with them. But when she's there in the room, she's practically invisible to them. Until the moment of need arises and then everybody knows her name.
The newest recruit via the old fashion way—multitude exams done and graded—is German exchange student, Ludwig Hasse. The only one who actually smiles at Chloe. Always on his tablet, reading comics. Doesn't talk much. When he does, it's in German.
The most senior members, aside from Philip, are couple Mark Milligan and Gina Godfrey. Chloe tends to find them in two moods; either kissing each other on the verge of having sex on the study table or they barely look at each other, too focus on studying.
Laura Chang has earphones on. She tends to hum and sometimes outright sings as she studies. When she's not hitting the books, she's consumed with arts and crafts.
Dinesh Vickneswaran seems to be always missing from the study table. Instead, he hovers around the refreshment table, searching for snacks. He rarely talks, since he's too busy munching on food.
Chloe's amazed by their collective ability to devour the refreshment in matter of minutes.
This is the third time Chloe refills the bowl with potato chips. Dinesh's already at the table, eyeing the food with interest. He's alone. Away from the group. Chloe could use this precious moment to subtly conduct an interview.
"You're Dinesh, right?"
Dinesh's head bobs up and down. "And you're the new study buddy," he states, oblivious to Chloe.
"You know Gordon Kaluta?"
Another nod. "Birdbrain Gordon," Dinesh murmurs. A soft chuckle escapes from his lips.
"So, you've been with them before Gordon."
Dinesh makes a non-committal noise, nodding. His eyes darting intensely from the potato chips to tuna sandwiches.
"Dinesh, there you are," Lucifer chimes in, raising his hand high. Dinesh tears his attention from the food to Lucifer. A smile forms on Dinesh's face. Chloe's all forgotten. She's invisible.
"I'm told you have an extensive collection of books on Mesopotamian epics."
Dinesh nods, enthusiastic. "I do," he replies, then frowns, "But it's in my locker. Most of it. I have a few on my desk."
"Then, what are you waiting for, Decker?"
"Huh?" Chloe blurts out, puzzled.
Lucifer tips his chin at the door. One dark brow cockily raised, a smirk resting on his lips. "Didn't you hear Dinesh? His books are in his lockers. As a 'buddy', you're bound—"
"—to gather all the necessary study materials, regardless of my current location," Chloe hisses. She could practically recite the stupid study buddy oath with her eyes close. Lucifer never fails to remind her of her oath.
She stomps out from the study hall, the official club room, towards Dinesh's locker. In her hands, are his locker's combination, the couple's reading list and Laura's hook-up note to the locker next to Dinesh's.
[Stupid oath—it's not even a cool oath. Stupid rules—what kind of club that have not-too bright students as slaves, Chloe certainly feels like one. Stupid Lucifer—for ruining her plans. The things she do for justice.]
