He nodded and shook my hand lightly,
“It’s very nice to meet you Equila.” He said with the slightest accent to the end of my name.
I smiled and nodded back to him as we causally removed our hands from one another.
“You too.” I said with a very insecure smile as I wondered what my hair and face must look like, I was almost sure I looked like I had been through a hurricane with how I had run.
He turned back to the lecture and I felt my cheeks threatened to balm in a rosy hue, but my own self-loathing was much to potent as I wished I could slap my own face.
You too? That’s all you could get out was you too? When has a boy acted more gentlemanly than half the boys you had ever met in your life, Quil?!
My ears started to listen once again to the speech though my eyes kept glancing back to Keten. He watched in a calm but confidently lazy posture, I had no idea how he could pull it off as I felt awkward just sitting straight with my face turned to the speaker and my hands fidgeting in my lap, as if unsure what they were doing after the warmth of his touch.
“And now, a few rules of this fine institution.”
My attention was turned at those words. My father had enough rules for me to float a battle ship and then some. I figured there would be some here, so for the moment my mind was turned from the boy only a person sized space away from me to Principal Septum’s words.
“This list is not one written but one that will be enforced.” the words sounded suddenly like the jail I had originally assumed La’ket to be as my lips held in a soft frown.
“There will be only two offences of tardiness to classes before you must work a week helping around the school.”
I felt my face pale at the thought; I was easily already late on my first day, did that count against me? Would Livina tell Principal Septum?!
My thoughts were turned back as my hand held to the Skyjump bracelet on my wrist for comfort.
“Your behavior will be of the uttermost respect to your teachers and classmates, in your dorms and in classes. If you are found being otherwise, there can and will be consequences.”
For that I felt calm, I rarely liked to be in an argument other than when it was with my father about things like being left at a strange school or a radio station I didn’t like.
“The last and most important note here is that the atrium is only for student’s use who have met their grades completely and who have no outstanding compliant. Your right to be in the atrium is the highest honor you as students can gain. Think of it as your challenge for the next few months. If you prove worthy of the right, you may see and wander the grounds, but only by your outstanding work will you qualify.”
I felt as if a sharp dagger had just pierced my lovely bubble of belief in the world around me. One moment the world seemed lovely and my year full of promise. Now I felt a heavy fear of never seeing the inside of the atrium.
Brow creasing, I suddenly realized why Jean had said soon enough, not once school started.
Looking down to the bracelet around my wrist as the principal spoke of keeping the school as clean as we could my father’s words graced my thoughts,
“Because you’re a Skyjump and that means you were born with the ability to do hard things.”
Looking up I felt as if I could still feel his hand firmly placed on my shoulder as I put a hand where his had been not so long ago. I felt strangely forgotten as if in another lifetime altogether as I sat there.
An itch in my spine told me instantly that someone was watching me. I glanced to the side to find Keten watching me and smiling as he realized I was looking over at him.
I turned my face away after our glance in hopes my face was not crimson, but the heat was less than comforting and I can’t believe that I had blushed like a little school girl at a simple glance!
Pull yourself together Quil, there will be boys who look or glance at you and you can’t act as childish as this. Yet as I glanced aside there was a way about Keten that seemed very different from boys I had met that made me want to roll my eyes or shake my head, he seemed kinder... Somehow.
“The grounds outside are not free to roam.”
My attention was caught immediately as if I had been dreaming the whole speech and just woke up from the crack of a whip.
“The doors at the front of the building after today will be locked to all but staff and parents, this is to both keep you safe as well as keep mischief from happening.” He said as my ears seemed to replay the words while a boy in front of me, with a slight tinge of silver to his short hair, scoffed that pranks would still happen.
The weight that before felt harsh to attain the right into the atrium suddenly became like the last key out of the cell I was now locked in.
I had been right all along, I realized as principal Septum finished. A soft pang stung my heart, my Eden was gone as fast as I had found it and all because I knew the truth about the cell I was caged in. It no longer felt so magical.
“I know these things sound harsh but this is the way of La’ket and we know you each have something to bring to the table, I hope this semester will challenge and engage you and may you all succeed to the best of your abilities and potential.”
I felt his words should have comforted me, but I still felt like running back to my room and taking my guitar from its case and trying to ease the ache in my chest at the thought of not being able to run free for at least a month.
If torture was what my father had had in mind for me here, he had found it.
“Now, you are all dismissed to your classes, if you do not have your schedule, check with my assistant or any of the available faculty. Have a wonderful day.”
After the speech had finished, the roar of the students rose as they stood starting to disperse with the volume.
I suddenly felt like a child among adults as the older girls moved with grace, while groups of teens spoke with one another and everyone looked completely capable of knowing where they were going.
“What’s your next class, Equila?” The voice startled me as I turned to find Keten.
He may have only moved an inch closer but that inch made me feel as if he sat right next to me.
My lips fumbled until at last I put a hand to the back of my head, looking around at the great exodus of teens and away from the dark-haired boy who seemed casually genuine.
“I honestly don’t know.” I said with a soft sigh and a half-hearted laugh.
Glancing over to Keten I expected a remark about how forgetful girls were and yet he looked to me with a kind smile.
“Well then, maybe I can help you find where you’re supposed to be. Didn’t you get a schedule though?” he asked kindly as his hair swayed over his right eye.
Looking back to my hands I suddenly realized it was atop my books back in my bed room. I had not even glanced at it before I fell to my bed the night before.
“I left it and my books in my room and didn’t even glance at it.” I said putting my hand to my brow as my wild hair swayed.
Keten grinned and I turned to him as he started to stand. Picking up his bag and slinging it around his shoulder he motioned with his head to the doors as I caught a few glances from students passing by, making me feel all the more tense and stupid.
“C’mon I’ll help you find your class then, miss forgetful.” He said with a kind chuckle.
My eyes hardened towards him and before I could speak I thought of all the disappointments that had been given to me today. Keten winked as I stood a step below him.
The flare of words was gone in a second at such a move he reached his hand down and took mine, he nodded to me and started up the step.
“I’m just joking, my first day here was last year and I was lost for an hour before I found my class and even then, I was warned to never be late again.” he said, with a grin that struck me as slightly devilish.
We came to the doors and he let go of my hand, opening the door as I walked through and into the crowd of people rangi
ng from thirteen to eighteen, I felt stuck in a herd of all too many smells and people.
Coming into the hall, Keten grabbed my arm as I was pushed along with the crowd and smiled as he shook his head to me and pointed down the hall.
“Did you plan to lose me or something?” he asked, shaking his head as he let go of my arm and we started walking again into the crowd.
Shrugging my shoulders a slightly crooked smile lighted on my lips,
“Or something, I think.” I called over the noise and he nodded as we continued the rest of our journey through the masses in silence or as close to it as you could come with shoes clattering and people talking all around you.
I did notice as we walked that everyone was dressed very formal, glancing down I realized my jeans, sneakers and undone wild hair probably made me stick out like a spot of white on a black tapestry.
“Over here, I think I saw Jean walk this way.” he veered into a room that was being filled with students.
Along the walls were heads of animals hung and my stomach turned slowly as I tried to keep up with Keten at the sight.
We came to the front of the class where a large desk sat with stacks of paper and books on it as a spindly-looking man with sharp eyes and an even sharper nose looked over with his balding head glistening as he spoke to Jean.
“Jean?” Keten asked and she looked up from her conversation with the spindly man who eyed us both over as she smiled.
“Ah, my favorite cousin, what can I do?” Jean asked with a smile as she folder her arms.
I felt like a slap had been crossed over my features yet no sting was left as Keten turned aside to me and nodded.
“This is Equila and she misplaced her schedule, do you think you could help us find what class she is supposed to be in?” he asked as he held the side of his satchel and stood with confidence.
I glanced to Jean who nodded to me and motioned to the door.
“We are already acquainted and yes I can…” Before she could finish, the spindly man at his desk motioned and stood up.
“She is in my class, if she is Equila Deshion.” He said in a voice that fit his posture and look to a tee.
Jean turned to us with a smile and a curt nod.
“Well then, we know what her first class is.” she said and motioned to me with a smile, “I will bring you another schedule and leave it outside in the door’s mail holder alright?” she asked.
I nodded, stunned by the turn of events as I wondered what this dark room with one large widow at the side would hold. As the animal heads looked down at the class made my skin crawl.
“I’ll take you with me as you should be in mage teachings, yes?” Jean asked, putting a light hand to her cousin’s arm.
He nodded as she turned and started walking, though Keten stayed a moment nodding to me.
“See, it all worked out.” he said with a wink.
I smiled and nodded feeling a soft thumping in my chest of my own racing heartbeat.
“Thank you.” I said managing a full two words to escape my lips.
He nodded and smiled softer as his eyes caught mine.
“I hope we will cross paths again, Equila.” He said, his voice catching the last letters of my name in a lovely curve.
I felt I should say something more, anything; but my mind faltered and before I knew it he was out the door and a sudden strained voice echoed off the rooms walls.
“Quiet down everyone and be seated.” the squinty eyed teacher said behind me.
Suddenly I snapped out of my daze and for the first time I noticed how large the class was and how half the girls in the room looked from me to the door with either glares or interest at Keten leaving. I had to be mistaken though, right?
Not wanting to address the answer to that question or how long they had been watching me and Keten, I rushed to the back of the class, my eyes held to the ground that in this room was a deep dark wood lathered in varnish to shine.
Coming to the back of the room I took the last seat available, removing my bag and putting it beside me as I brought my hands awkwardly before me on my desk.
I glanced around as the spindly teacher walked out to the front of his desk as two boys in front of me chatted about sports and some fencing team I had no clue about, while a girl a few seats over conversed about her trip to an island with her family.
“Silence!”
The room fell silent and I was grateful no more eyes glanced to me as I pursed my lips, I just needed to be calm and collected I told myself.
Taking a deep breath, I looked back up as I caught one glance from a girl with Skyjumping gloves, the same girl from the competition in Zeppelin! The glance she gave me felt more like a threat as the teacher spoke about keeping his rules in class in his grating voice.
Trying to turn my attention away from her I looked to the front of the class and knew when it was over I would run for the door to not be caught by her. For now I would try and listen to the spindly teacher as he eyed over the class.
“I’m Professor Deplen, in my Class of Developed Sciences we will study the behavior of animals, the science of…”
My mind left the rest of his words behind as I realized my father must have picked this class. Then again, he would have picked all of them.
Glancing behind me I realized that a boar’s snout was only a small jump above me, in my mind I realized I could jump to it and use it to climb to the humanoid face with long hair and lion teeth as well as big cats ears.
It was funny how my mind worked to figure out a path for Skyju…
“Ahem.” A voice said that I knew would get on my nerves.
My head whipped back to the front of the class to find all the students looking over at me as the teacher tilted his head.
“So what do you think would be the answer, Miss Deshion?” The teacher asked, his beady eyes twitching as he watched me.
My face paled and I raked my brain for what he had said but all I heard in my mind was the thoughts I had seconds before about climbing.
“Ah, could I get the question again?” I asked, my voice faltering as I tried to keep calm, while internally I screamed and wished I could fade into nonexistence.
The teacher squinted harder making him seem even less like a man and more like a lizard as his thin-haired head created an ugly halo.
Swiveling on one heel he walked back to his desk and pulled a white board from the back wall as if it had been there all along under the cement.
“Miss Deshion, you will learn you get one chance in my class, best pay attention.” he said only to me as a few of my new classmates glanced back at me and a dark grin was shot my way by the girl from the Skyjump competition.
I felt as if life itself could not have been more meaningless, why did this day have to keep rising to lovely heights just to drop me down when I think I might stand a chance of staying up? And to top it all off, what were the odds the girl from the Skyjump competition would be here? In my same class?!
“So now, who can tell me what a horse’s ears do when it feels threatened?”
My lips opened and I felt helpless as half the students raised their hands, had I honestly missed a question I intuitively knew?
“Yes, Miss Gregham.” He said in a shrill voice pointing in the general area of students to my right.
“It would lay it’s ears back.” The girl with the Skyjump gloves said confidently in a jerky tone.
“Correct, Miss Gregham, it…”
My mind yet again faded as I glanced at her as she was congratulated by the friends around her, dressed in the same modern silver attire.
Turning my face back to the front of the room I glanced at the window as our teacher wrote on the board. I suddenly realized how incredible that little valley my father had stopped us at only a day ago was with its peaceful waterfall and lush valley compared to being trapped inside a cement box.
Chapter 9
“Classes, Glares and Books- Oh my.”
When Mr. Deplen’s class
ended I felt I had only heard about half of his lecture which consisted of animal’s reactions and how human’s reactions differ.
I booked it out of the room before the girl from the competition could catch me.
Thankfully I made it out, bumping into three people before reaching the hall and I felt relieved the moment I was in the open. Having grabbed the paper outside the door, I started down the hall as if a monster was pursuing me.
I had no intention of meeting up with that snob of a girl again and by the way she glared at me, like a viper ready to strike, I was in no mood to fight a snake today. I had enough to deal with already.
Turning down another hall I found myself by the library and slipped in, glancing behind me. The paper in my hand was slightly wrinkled by my firm grasp.
Standing in the quiet room it suddenly felt larger and the soft noise outside felt miles away as teens passed by talking and laughing while I stood enjoying a few moments out of the crowds.
Taking a calming breath, I closed my eyes.
“It will all be fine.” I said, my words feeling as lifeless as my ambition for a good year at this school I was trapped in...
A sudden glimpse of Keten entered in my mind. When he had smiled it made my mind slow and with a soft smile I forgot where I was.
A sharp bang made me jump as I realized it was from a bag hitting one of the four dark wood doors lining the hall. Shaking my head, I put a hand to my skull.
“I just have a few more classes, that’s all I have to make it through.” I said, remembering my father’s wise words from when I was little.
“When you are stuck between many things, just take on one thing at a time, your load will be lessened but you will be able to carry the world if you’re not looking at it all in one glance.” His words now felt distant as if a whisper within my mind.
A soft sigh escaped my lips as I moved the page in my hand before me, smoothing out it’s crumpled middle I found it read in fine print a time schedule and daily routine.
Sky Jump Page 8