As much as I miss writing in Emily's POV and Emily in general, writing her like this is so much fun.

Year Two: The Emily Stark Protocol

[11:29 AM]

[Group Message for Student Living on the Eighth Floor of Edison Residence]

Emergency meeting in the kitchen at around 3:30. At least one person from each dorm must attend.

-o-

Edison Residence - 15:27 PM

James and Daniel exit the elevator on their floor since they were both available to attend. Within the common wing, they see a lot of the neighbouring boys surrounding the kitchen. Wow, people actually listened to the emergency meeting. Daniel and James scoot closer to the front. They expect to see their RA since they assumed he'd review new rules or maybe a drill. But to everyone's surprise, it's Keith.

"Hi, Keith!" James exclaims, waving dramatically over his head.

Keith narrows his eyes in annoyance. He gives a quick wave back that resembled a swipe and James cheers at the recognition. Keith focuses back on trying to get everyone's attention to the meeting but they're chatting amongst themselves. When he's unable to do so, James whistled loudly which makes the entire room silence. James smiles at Keith and grabs Daniel's phone so he'll pay attention too (the boy was texting his fiancée so James sends her a quick brb). Keith is stunned for a moment before clearing his throat and starting.

"As some of you have probably noticed," Keith says, pointing to their floor's coffee machine. "The busted coffee machine we've inherited from our upper years which they inherited from their upper years and so on has now been fixed. You might be thinking that its legacy is over but it's only been enhanced for future generations to use."

The kitchen atmosphere fills with sounds of curiosity. Boys ask the one next to them if they have any idea about this. Nobody does. Even if they used the machine, they didn't notice that it was fixed because why would they? It's been busted since, well, forever. James and Daniel glance at each other and shrug.

"At the early hours of this very morning," Keith continues, "this coffee machine has been blessed by our goddess, Emily Stark."

Most boys don't believe it because why would Emily Stark be here, of all places, especially when there's a paparazzi photo of her landing in Italy. But it can't be a coincidence that the decade-long busted machine just started working. James knows that Emily was in their dorm with Daniel so he definitely believes it. He's just playing along with everyone's shock with some gasps and no way! expressions. Daniel laughs nervously, honestly unsure of how to react. They should've gotten a hotel. If he plays along with James's act, he'll be incredibly fake and everyone would know. If they even spare him a look.

"She could've bought us a new one but she worked her magic instead," Keith points out. "The coffee it makes is holy now."

Daniel puts up a hand, clearing his throat. "So, is that the point of this emergency meeting?"

Keith points at Daniel and his heart stops for a moment. They're onto him. If there weren't so many people, Daniel would make a run for it like he did when his engagement was revealed to the world. Nobody knew he was the mystery fiancé but it still scares him that it could all come out at any given moment. Like now. Emily was spotted here, not that far from his dorm. It was only Keith who interacted with her but some other boys chimed in that they thought they saw her in the parking lot, exiting the elevator, and at any other point but didn't believe it at the time because, as mentioned, why would she be here?.

"Thanks, Daniel, that reminds me." Keith picks up their dorm rules and guidelines book. Every dorm had one and it was usually hidden in the back of closets or somewhere in a cabinet, dresser. or behind someone's mattress. Nobody remembered they had one until finding it while packing to leave at the end of the year. "The Director of the Sci-Tech updated this and we're all supposed to pick one up. It's one per dorm. You bring your old one to the main desk and exchange it for the new one. They would prefer it if you did it at some point today."

"What's the difference?" Someone in the back asks. "More prohibited items?"

Everyone laughs because that list is ridiculous and often ignored and/or disobeyed. That is, until it's time for a surprise dorm inspection then they quickly throw those things out the window.

Keith flips open the book to one of the first pages. He holds it out for everyone to see, moving it up and down so those in the front and back can get a glimpse.

"There's a new drill called The Emily Stark Protocol," Keith reads. James has to hold back his laughter and Daniel's unsure what that means. "The book says that if she's on campus, we're to address her as Ms. Stark or Emily Stark. We don't have the pleasure of being her friends. Don't approach like a crazed fanatic, keep a minimum distance of ten feet. If you're caught in an elevator with her, get off at the next floor and take the next one. Don't speak unless spoken to."

As the list goes on, James is almost failing at keeping the laughter in. This list was so ridiculous that he loves it. He wants to run back to his dorm, find their old guideline book just to get the new one, and have a laugh over that list. What makes this better is, not only is he skipping an Operations lecture on piloting techniques for this emergency meeting, but the other guys on their floor are listening attentively. He glances at Daniel and sees the subtle yet mortified expression.

"So, who's going to break it to Emily Stark that we can't be friends anymore?" James whispers to Daniel.

"Emily's spotted and they reprint our entire manual in a few hours," Daniel whispers back. "It's almost been twelve hours since she left. They already wrote up all these rules, got approval from the top, and now there's a whole new manual after years of it being the same."

"Matches the coffee machine." James smiles despite Daniel's annoyance. "What? She's a powerful lady. You, of all people, know that. She just shows up and the rules are changed."

"According to our RA," Keith continues once the boys have dialled it down again, "this addition to the manual got approved by the Director of Sci-Tech right away. Usually, they let it go under testing but they just printed this one without a second thought."

Daniel suddenly realizes a possibility why that's the case takes his phone back from James. As Keith continues talking, Daniel quickly sends James an explanation text that he reads the moment he gets it.

Daniel: Emily has at least six-figures of Academy money in her hands that she still has to redistribute. Sci-Tech is so eyeing it.

James: That powerful bitch. She'd make them beg for it.

James: Is it bad that I want to watch?

Daniel: Not at all.

-o-

Sci-Tech Lecture Room - 15:50 PM

"So, Keith is in love with Emily," James says as he and Daniel walk to their next class.

"Who isn't in this program?" Daniel responds rhetorically. It was a common fact since first year.

"Me, but I'm in love with her platonically so you have a point."

"But why bring up Keith, of all people?"

"Because I want to adopt Keith as my child. It'd be weird if he had a crush on his godmother like that."

Daniel stops walking for a second to process that statement. Nope, no comprehension. In one ear and out the other. " … no."

James shrugs. "Fine, I'll raise him on my own."

They spot Keith heading to a different classroom, When Keith looks over at them, James, as per usual, waves excitedly at him with a Hi Keith! Keith purposely ignores him before heading inside the classroom. James's jaw drops open in a horrified shock. How dare he be ignored by his future adopted child like that? It doesn't help that Daniel's laughing beside him.

"The bad influences around here…"

-o-

It's been thirty minutes in the lecture on oscillations and waves but it's felt like thirty years. Listening to this professor talk was like watching paint dry. It got to the point where it hurt to blink because the moment the eyes shut, they would black out and go to sleep. Some already have. James couldn't even go on his phone without zoning out because of the dulling lecture as background noise. Why did he even come to class? Daniel ended up drawing black holes on his notepad and getting dizzy in them.

And, at some point, the professor notices how lethargic the class is.

He sighs. "I was so close to having Emily Stark in this class…"

That set of words woke everyone right up, even Daniel and James. The professor has no idea why everyone's suddenly alert and staring at him as if a godsend. Daniel and James don't even have to look at each other to know what's building within the rows of students. Silence says the things people struggle to verbalize. There were no words for anyone. A small fraction of this class went to the meeting on Keith's floor so there can't be anything coincidental about the coffee machine and their professor's revelation.

"Emily Stark almost attended the Academy?!" is screamed in many variations within the room. Someone falls on the floor and it seems like they fainted.

Amid the chaos, James pulls out his phone. It'd be easier to talk to Daniel this way without anyone eavesdropping. And it's not like they could hear each other over the chaos.

James: Should've gotten a hotel room.

Daniel: Shut up.

James: Now they'll have to reprint the rulebooks again.

"Sir, do you know Emily Stark's fiancé?" A student asks.

The professor shoots the kid a dirty look and shakes his head. "No, and that's not my business. I pity the poor kid if he's a student here."

James holds back a laugh and Daniel's eyes widen. He knows his professor means well because imagine being the mystery fiancé in an environment where everyone's crazed over the future bride? It's impossible, but Daniel gives himself credit for making it this long.

He looks down at his phone when it turns on.

James: At least someone supports you.

Daniel: I hate you.

James: Seriously. I will pay for your hotel room. It'll let me bring my girl over more ;).

-o-

Edison Residence - 2:40 AM

James walks into his dorm after a late lab session (and a visit to Angela's room). He has his phone to his ear and is about to turn on the light but doesn't have to since Daniel's still awake. Daniel turns around in his chair, closing his textbook as James lights up. He points at his phone excitedly, mouthing something that Daniel can't read.

"Do you know people there?" James asks, putting his phone on speaker. He closes their door as he walks closer to Daniel.

Emily: I'm familiar with most of my classmates and neighbours in residence because we're all the same - business tycoon kids. And we all have the same kidnapping insurance.

Daniel smiles at the sound of her voice, despite the concerning words, before giving James a face.

"Are you sure you should be calling her here?" Daniel asks him.

Not only could anyone be listening but their neighbours could be asleep or studying. And now wasn't good timing because of their Emily-eccentric day. But it's not like Emily was in the same timeline as them. She's in Milan where it's early in the morning for her. She just woke up while the boys are about to either pull an all-nighter or call it a night.

Emily: Hey, babe. You don't want to talk?

"He's having a day," James responds. "Thank god - oh, shit, I can no longer say I don't go to your school anymore!"

Emily gasps and Daniel smiles, mostly at James's defeat. He's shocked he only realized now that he can't say that anymore.

Emily: But I can!

She clears her throat and James narrows his eyes.

Emily: Thank god I don't go to your school.

"I said it better," James argues. Daniel would disagree but he has a bias.

Emily: Well, now you can't say it so I win by default.

"Speaking of your victories around here, you left outfits, shoes, and accessories in our closets."

Emily: I want to pack light for when I visit.

They know that's not true. She'll still show up here with at least a full suitcase.

Daniel stands up and takes James's phone. He turns off the speaker and holds it to his ear before leaning against the frame of the bunk bed. James lets him continue the call as he unwinds from his day.

"How was your exam?" Daniel asks.

Emily: Splendid. How was your morning coffee?

Daniel could hear the chipper in her voice. He knows what she wants him to bring up. He thought James would've mentioned it already. "I feel spiritually awoken."

Emily: Odd word choice but I'll take it.

"You need to stay away from the the Academy."

Emily: Babe, I just fixed your coffee machine.

"You should've just bought us a new one with the scholarship money."

Emily: I love you but I can't hear you. I'm too far from the Academy!

Daniel smiles as he hears her laugh before she hangs up.