AN: You know, I'm starting to wonder if I should be writing at the top or the bottom of these chapters...
Rythian looked up to see the new girl, Echo, standing in front of him and facing the class. Instantly, he drew out his headphones and watched bewildered as she promptly moved his bag onto the floor beside him and sat herself down, looking at Ridgedog expectantly. He looked very concerned and the class was a picture of shock. Rythian would have laughed if he had any idea what was going on.
"Are you sure you want to sit there Echo? Wouldn't you prefer to sit with your... Um... Relative?" Ridgedog asked hesitantly as Kim smiled her 'I-am-going-to-kill-you' smile at Echo and Rythian. Rythian forced himself not to shudder and looked at Echo in utter confusion.
Echo pulled a face. "No sir; she smells." She said simply, causing the class to erupt into laughter and become momentarily distracted as Echo pulled out her pencil case and notebook, setting them neatly on her desk and looking up expectantly at Ridgedog, who visibly faltered and gave up, turning his attention to the board.
"I know we have lost half the lesson, but still. Some important notices..."
As Rythian pulled his books towards him, which Echo noted was curiously on the same page as when she had introduced herself, she reached out and put a hand on it. He looked up at her in surprise.
"I'm really sorry to ask this, but could I see that? I don't think I have that science book..." She explained, smiling at him. Rythian didn't know how to respond and simply let go of the book, watching as Echo placed it evenly between them.
"Thanks!" She said happily and, checking it was the right edition, immediately starting to take notes on the title and subjects in contained. A quick glance at Rythian told her he was still watching her. She ignored him, however, and eventually he turned his attention to the board. After a few minutes, however, she realised that Rythian was merely writing in a notebook just to the right of his book, making hand gestures to himself. Echo stared at him until Rythian was forced to turn his attention to her.
"You should really be paying attention to the board or something..." Rythian whispered in a low voice as Echo started slightly. She hadn't expected his voice to be so... Interesting.
"Hypocrite." She whispered back, causing the fabric on the lower half of his face to crease slightly; Echo guessed he was smiling so she grinned at him, nodding towards his notebook. She vaguely heard Ridgedog insist on a science quiz on modules, which caused a series of groans from the class.
Instantly the crease went and Rythian closed his notebook, placing it carefully into his bag as he opened his workbook. Echo's eyes widened as the level of detail in his notes; her attention was drawn to a certain heading when Rythian tapped it with the end of his pencil. It read, in very elegant handwriting, Modules.
Echo looked at him, stunned. "Why have you already done the quiz?" She asked in a demanding tone. Rythian raised his eyebrow at her and pointedly looked at the board, where Ridgedog was just finishing off the questions and instructing everyone to finish the answers in silence.
Echo was not put off however, reaching into her bag and taking out a small notepad. Instantly, she began to write on it, Rythian desperately trying to ignore her as he read through the questions on the board, double checking them with the answers he already knew were right.
A small cough drew his attention as a notepad came into his view. Wordlessly, Rythian pulled it over to him and read what was there.
You know, I don't think normal people would have written the answers in advance to the questions being asked.
Rythian smiled to himself slightly as he decided whether or not to reply. However, Echo was impatiently tapping her pencil and Rythian knew she wouldn't work unless he replied. He took the pencil from her and wrote a few words before passing it back to Echo. Echo read it eagerly, her face falling slightly as she saw what was written there.
I never claimed to be normal. Also you are impatient and should be taking notes; Ridgedog always uses the questions from the book for anything he does so if you miss a lesson it's easy to catch up... Or get ahead.
Echo frowned in annoyance. Scrawling back a quick reply, she thrust it at Rythian before sulking, starting to answer the questions from the book. Rythian hadn't meant to reply again but glancing at the reply made him chuckle slightly, causing Echo to look up in surprise.
You sound like Kim. No fun.
Instead of writing something and passing it back, Rythian decided to put it in the centre of them first, allowing them to write without having to pass it between them. He was curious to why she had chosen to sit next to him; surely Lewis had told her the rumours? He had put his headphones on and lost himself in the music until the point where Echo had sat next to him.
You look like Kim. She never mentioned a twin. The others would have teased her if she had.
Echo frowned slightly, trying to keep her smile in place. It seemed she wouldn't just be learning information about Rythian. Her pencil snapped and she frowned at it before Rythian carefully placed his pencil next to her; instantly, Echo picked it up and continued writing.
Cousins, actually. And I'm nothing like her.
Shame. I think Kim is great.
Echo narrowly avoided widening her eyes at Rythian's response, writing back as neutrally as she could manage, trying to seem uninterested and writing short replies.
Well, she is a pain.
She is a pain to those who she values as her friend; you should feel honoured. I'm sorry, is there a point to this conversation?
Rythian had grown slightly impatient with her short replies. Why was she doing this?
What do you mean?
Well, you intentionally sat next to me and now you're talking about random topics. I can't help wonder what the point of this actually is.
I believe it's called "socialising" :)
Oh no, you use those emojis too? Kim uses them all the time...
It displays my emotions :( you have upset me therefore I am sad :'(
I apologise wholeheartedly. Please either make your point or turn you attention back to the board. I won't reply unless you do one of the two.
Echo paused before sighing. She drew the pad away from Rythian, taking her time and writing a lengthy paragraph. When she finally finished, she pushed it back in the middle, leaving the pencil slightly above her wave of writing.
Kim and I... Don't get on too well. Well enough on public to not make a scene but... She treats me like a child and she and I can be very stubborn. I'm more the adventurous type, a free spirit :S however, one of the guys (Lewis, I think?) mentioned you and some story and one look on Kim's stubborn face sent me over the edge. I don't want to talk to them or her, and I don't care for any stupid stories. You're the only one here who seems willing to not treat me like a new person, so therefore I am sitting with you and you are stuck with me forever. Yay for you :P
Rythian resisted the urge to slam his head onto the desk. She was going to stay with him? That was impossible, he needed to stay on his own in class and especially outside of it. Even now he could feel himself opening up to this person... Arguably though, she was new and if she didn't like Kim or the others he was in no danger of saying anything she might say to them...
I'm apologise in advance for this but... You can't sit with me. Or be friends with me. I'm not very well liked and people will hate you for it. So please do yourself a favour and don't associate yourself with me. Also... Maybe give Lewis and the others another chance. They are great guys... they can just be... Seriously misled at times.
Echo mentally clapped. Already, a clue!
What do you mean by 'seriously misled'?
Look, it doesn't matter. Please just leave me alone, alright? I know I'm being rude but it's for your own good. Ask Ridgedog next lesson to change places, he won't question it. You could sit with Kim and the others, I promise you that within school they're reasonably sane people.
Echo seemed to really consider his words and Rythian felt a stab of relief along with regret. It was so nice talking to someone who believed he was innocent... But he couldn't drag her into this. She had only just got here after all, and impressions were a key part of making new friends. He should know. He watched as she wrote something down before passing it back, holding onto the pencil. When Rythian motioned for it, she shook her head, motioning to the pad. Confused, Rythian read the words and felt his shoulders sag.
Fine, a compromise. I'll be all nice to Kim and the others and I'll leave you alone outside of learning time... BUT I still get to sit next to you. You're a very interesting character after all!
P.S. Holding your pencil hostage until you nod in agreement. 0:)
Rythian sighed, shaking his head at Echo. She frowned and then grinned, sticking out her tongue and edging the pencil slowly towards it. Rythian's eyes widened. She wouldn't...
Echo smiled as Rythian frantically nodded, motioning for his pencil back. Echo stuck her tongue back in her mouth before allowing Rythian to snatch it from her, looking at her as she continued to smile sweetly. He wrote something down on it before passing it back to her, keeping his pencil and drawing his hoodie over his head again, studying his workbook.
Echo realised he wasn't going to reply and was momentarily worried that she had taken it a step too far. However, she smiled as she saw the words written beneath her last line, and was content of having made a good enough start to this mysterious character and their road to friendship to direct her attention back to the board:
You really do remind me of Kim.