Chapter 2: Friends and specialists
Once I entered the portal, in a split second, there I was! In front of the Alfea gate. I was so speechless. I only read articles about it as a myth and now I'm here. Then I told myself. If Alfea was true, then it means so is red fountain! And then there's cloud tower of course but still! Red fountain! Home of the heroes of the Omega Dimension! Before I could continue my day dreaming Bloom cut me off.
" Welcome to Alfea Jane. Ok so here is your schedule and the key to your locker. The things you need for classes are already there so no need to fuss. So I'll be seeing you in the mess hall ok? Bye!" she said as all the other Winx fairies said their farewells to me. I replied by waving my hand. With my schedule and locker key with me I went straight inside and found a bunch of girls gathered near, what looks like, an announcement board. I too checked it out. Posted on them were room assignments. As I got closer and closer I finally found my room wing and number so I head straight for it.
Along the hallways I was looking through an Alfea brochure that came along with my schedule. I was about to get to the part where how Alfea opens the new school year when I bumped into someone. "OW!" we said in unison.
"Oh my I'm so sorry!" A girl said helping my up. When I looked at her she was about my height, her brown hair was in a ponytail and her skin was as fair tanned as mine. "No. I..it's okay."
"I'm so glad I didn't fracture you. That would have been nasty." She said in a slight british accent. "By the way I'm Tia. Fairy of snow and you are?" she said holding out a hand
"Jane. Fairy of the four elements." I replied. I was about to shake her hand when suddenly she used it to close her mouth.
"Gasp! No way! You're the guardian fairy of the four elements?" I nodded. "Wicked cool!" I just giggled at her reaction. "So whats your room?"
I quickly took out the brochure where I wrote my room coordinates. "umm. West wing, room 5. You?"
"SAME! Omigod we're roomies! Lets get going then!" Tia said dragging me with her. Apparently the section I was about to read in the brochure, Tia knew all about it so on the way to the dorms she went on an on about the "Grand Opening Ball" she said in this event students from red fountain are invited to Alfea for an opening ball. Usually it would be destroyed by the witchy students of cloud tower but ever since Ravenwood (wizards school for boys that I made by myself) was built, they too had a ball with the guys there so no one interrupted each others balls. After a few minutes we finally arrived at out dorm. It seemed very familiar to me only I'm not quite sure why. At first we thought that the door was locked but as Tia turned the knob, it opened. As we went in we weren't the only ones inside. There were three girls already inside. One was a brunette. "Oh hello! I am Sao. Fairy of Weather" She was tall, very white and her face was Asian. The other was a redhead and her hair was like Cleopatra. "Morning. I'm Ry. Fairy of Sand." Even her looks resembled the ole Cleo. The last was a blonde. "Elo maits! Name's Anne. Fairy of Constellations and you two are?" She had an Australian accent and her hair was wicked wavy. "I'm Tia Fairy of Snowand this is Jane. Fairy of the four elements."
"Wow." They said in unison. "I know right." Tina said.
"So which one of you three has the key to the room?" I asked.
"All of us do. We own this dorm for now so only we can have access to it. Your hand is they key. The knob to the door only detects our hands and only five girls per room so this is it."
"Wow." I said "Cool."
"So has anyone decided on who's sleeping where?" Tia asked.
"Nah. We wanted everyone to be here so it would be fair." answered Ry. Everyone nodded in agreement. So as we went through the whole dorm we already made our choices. Anne took the biggest room since she was the only one who wanted it. (weird huh) Ry and Sao shared a room and Tia and I shared another. When everyone gathered to the common room it hit me. "Girls! Omigod! Do you know who used to stay in this room?" the looked at each other confused. "The Winx Club! They were the ones who use to own this room!"
"How'd you know?" Tia asked. "Well. Listen carefully. "Anne's room has a huge bed with curtains around it and candle light with a huge wardrobe. Who in the Winx club would love this room? Stella! In Ry and Sao's room. It's a mix of purple and red with a touch of music and technology. Tecna and Musa! In our room, just plain ole beds but there are a lot of plants. Bloom and Flora's room and I remember Layla sleeping in a pull out bed in Stella's room!" I explained excitedly and it seems that the girls were amazed too. Then the whole time we were talking and fixing our rooms we didn't realize that we were almost late for the opening ceremony. And so run we did down the halls and of course we made sure the room was locked before we left. Then in the mess hall everyone was gathered already and only table left was somewhere in the corner. Then Headmistress Faragonda stood up and tapped the mic making all the murmurs disappear.
"Good morning students and welcome to the Alfea college for fairies. I am your headmistress Faragonda…." So as she went on with the speech she introduced the teachers the staff and some rules and guidelines then the most awaited topic came. "So as you all may have heard, it is a tradition here in Alfea that we hold a welcome ball and just like any other tradition, it happens yearly and of course you will be partnered with the gentlemen of the Red Fountain school for specialists." Murmur everywhere started. "This will be held tomorrow night right here in the mess hall! And the theme for this year will be 'Masque de Solieil' for short a masquerade ball. As of now all of you have free time until then to prepare for the ball and after the ball we will resume with proper school schedules so that is all, have a good day everyone." And with that, everyone headed back to their dormitories talking about the ball.
"My gosh girls! We have to get going and buy the things we need for tomorrow!" Anne fussed.
"Alright then lets get going" Sao replied and before I knew it, we were at Magix Mall shopping.
There is another reason why I think that my new friends and I were assigned to the winx room. It's because we have the same qualities as the winx. Now that we're in the mall, Anne reminded me of Stella. She is a real fashion icon. Every shop we go to, she would easily get confused on what to get. Either the dress at the last shop or the dress in this shop and so. Once we were all done, we went back to Alfea. In the dorms we started comparing dresses.
Sao got a long, puffed sleeved, knee length fit dress. It was red and had a design of cherry blossoms on it. Her mask was also red with pink swirls and flowers going around. Cleo got a silk white, off shoulder, body tight maxi dress. It had a gold, V like accent in front and from the tip of the V, a see through trail flowed down. Her mask was golden with crystals going around. Anne got an orange dress that was tight to her knees then it was followed by see through ruffles. She got a yellow mask with multi-coloured ribbons going down from the side. Tia got a pink flowy dress and the straps that go over her shoulders and the X straps under her chest were all in light green. Her mask was held in one side and was also light green. I got an aqua tube dress with a black ribbon in my waist the dress was until my knee then it trailed a meter to my back. It also had a few crystals on it. My mask was black with aqua patterns on it.
"Masks on?" Anne asked as we placed our masks on our faces. "Ok! Let's go!"
At the ball
As we arrived we were amazed on how the mess hall changed. The lights were beautiful, the place was decorated with flowers and silk worm cloth all over the ceiling. After a while we realized it was quiet. We looked around and people were staring at us. "What's going on?" I asked. Anne held my shoulder and whispered excitedly, "I can read minds and all I can understand is that people are jealous of us because we have the prettiest gowns here." Then I looked around nervously. "Uum.. should we start the party? Hehe.." and just like that, music started playing and everyone was back to normal.
After a few minutes, the music stopped and Headmistress Faragonda approached the podium with a man behind her. "Students. This is the moment we've all been waiting for but first lets give applause to the Red Fountain head, Mr. Saladin." She then turned the podium over to this short man with long white hair. "Good evening girls. On behalf of the red fountain students I am honoured to be here and without further a due allow me to welcome in, my students of Red Fountain." Just then the doors open (think of it as in the movies where, when the doors open everyone looks at the doors slowly.) and a group of guys wearing tuxedoes and all. They were walking so swiftly that obviously every girl in the room was drooling. Except for me. I was laughing at their faces, specially Anne's. "Well. Shall we start the ball?" Professor Saladin said. Then the music played again and the boys scattered. A few were going to our direction but I was too shy so I told them I would just get a drink and head off to the refreshments table. I got a glass of punch and went out to the garden.
Anne POV
"Ok then." I said as Jane left us for the refreshments table just as five guys approached us. "Hello girls." One said. He had brown eyes and hair. He took my hand and gave it a peck. "And who might this lovely lady be?" I was obviously blushing. "I'm Anne." "Hi Anne. I'm Ken." I smiled. The other boys who were with ken approached my other friends too.
Then I noticed a friend of their who was alone behind ken. I got curious. "Say Ken, who's that behind you?" Ken looked back. He smiled and grabbed his arm and brought him in front of me . "Anne. Meet Jake." He was just Ken's height. He had black-ish hair and he was lean and seemingly quiet. He smiled. "Jake here may seem quiet but he can actually make sense when comforting a friend." Then it hit me. "You know Jake," I started "I do have a friend who needs comforting right now. She just left for some punch. Maybe you could use your comforting powers over her." I smiled. Jake thought for a minute. He smiled then walked towards the refreshments table. I was smiling deviously at him. Ken looked at me, confused. "Just what do you think you're doing?" he asked laughing. I looked at him. "You'll see." I said crossing my arms.
Jake POV
It's been a long time since I interacted with girls. Maybe that's why I couldn't speak up earlier. Maybe some time alone and a drink would refresh me. I took a glass of punch and head for the garden. With just one step outside I could already feel the cold breeze. I was a few steps out in the garden when I had the feeling that I wasn't alone. I was looking around when I saw a blue figure not to far from where I was standing. I got curious and came a little closer and thought, maybe she's Anne's friend.
Jane POV
I was walking through some flower beds going towards the fountain when I noticed the colours of the flowers. I looked up and it was a clear sky. No wonder. Then I suddenly felt a presence of someone within the area. I turned around and no ones there. I looked back at the direction to the fountain the shrugged.
"You know, you shouldn't be out here alone. Not right now at least." A male voice said. I quickly turned around finding a boy in front of me. I nearly shrieked of shock. Instead, I sighed.
"You scared me." I said. He just chuckled. "My name is Jake." He said holding out a hand.
"Jane. What brings you here?" I replied shaking it. "Well I'm not so good with crowds so I wandered off myself."
"Well. Same here." He smiled. "While we're her, why don't we get to know each other? It is an interaction." I nod. He came by my side and we started walking towards the fountain. We walked around the fountain and found a garden canopy so we leaned against the railing and continued chatting. "So, four elements huh. Must be hard to control." He said
"Yeah but that's why I'm here in Alfea isn't it" I said giggling. He blushed, "right." Then there was silence. I guess it lasted for just a minute then a strong breeze hit us. I should know because I was wearing a tube and it was freezing. I put my cup down and rubbed my arms.
Jake POV
After the short silence I felt a cold breeze through my face. Then when I looked at Jane, she was rubbing her arms. I smiled and took off my coat and placed it on her. "There. Hope it would keep you warm for now."
Jane POV
"Thanks." I replied to Jake who just gave me his coat. I think I was blushing like crazy because he chuckled a bit. A few second later, someone shouted "Hey Jake! Come over here! We're gonna give the gifts!"
"Shall we go in?" He asked extending his elbow. "What's this?" I asked giggling, "A new way of high fives?" He chuckled again. "No silly. Take my arm and let's go in." "Oh." So I hooked my arm with his and he led me through the flower beds all the way to the mess hall.
When we entered I immediately saw my friends giving me an 'ooohhh' look and I can feel that even Jakes friends, who were with my friends, were doing the same. "Say Jake, who is that with you." He immediately removed his hand but introduced me. "Oh uh. Jane, this is Ken. That's Harv, Trey and that's Rick." He said as he pointed to a Brown head, Blonde, Red head, and Black head. "Hi." I said shyly. "Ok guys. Ready?" I gathered with the girls as the boys took out a little red velvet box. The girls and I looked at each other confused. Each boy went to an individual girl. Then opened the box. Each box had a color that represented our gowns. Of course I got an Aqua. It was a gold base with a huge, clay like textured lotus. It was surrounded by 12 aqua gems, like a clock. "Oh wow." I smiled. "This is the locket I'm giving specially for you. It can be a necklace, ring, bracelet, even a hippie band but when you open it," when he opened the locket it had a picture of what looked like a prom picture. Me and Jake side by side. On the other side was encrusted with the words 'paire parfaite' i didn't know what it meant but it was French. That's good enough. He closed the locket and wore it around my neck. It matched perfectly on my gown. "Thank you." He smiled. "And now students," Ms. Faragonda announced, "the ceremonial pair dance." Just then 'Can I have this dance – HSM 3' played and Jake held out a hand, "May I have this dance?" I took his hand and he led me to the dance floor. I've never dance like this my whole life. It's like I was on cloud nine and as I look in Jake's eyes, my night just got better.
As the dance finished we escorted the boys to the gate and said our farewells. "So. I'll see you around."
"yeah. Sure." I said as I waved Jake goodbye. He was half way to his levabike and I was almost back inside when,
"JANE!" I turned around seeing Jake run for me. "Jake. What is it?" he was panting, "Can i… uh.. have your number?" I giggled and shook my head "sure." Then I snapped my fingers. "Well?" he asked. "I gave it to you. Once you touch your phone, you'll type it down immediately. No need to worry."
"Oh. Okay. Good night. See you soon." He said running off to his levabike. I waved bye too and watched as he and the boys flew off back to red fountain. I turned and headed back to the dorm while holding my pendant I heard a voice, ' I wont forget this night Jane and I wont forget you.' I smiled and whispered,
"I wont forget you too."