Scholars | c.s

6

"So.. Why'd you come here?" He asks.
"Well, I didn't really want to come here at the start if I'm being honest. My parents kind of decided amongst themselves that I should and that I needed sometime to get away from everything. Plus I get the grades so it was like, why not. It makes them look good, it occupies me, everything's good." I pause for a moment. "But if it were up to me ideally, I'd be out with my grandparents in Oregon. Their place is amazing."

I didn't realise how much I'd been talking and kind of assumed Cole had zoned out somewhere between getting away and my grandparents but when I looked up at him, he was staring right back at me.

"Wow, you talk a lot. Remind me to never try and make conversation again." He laughs. "I could kind of tell you're not really from here. Your accent is just about as confused as your hair." he says nodding at my black roots.

"Shutup," I nudge him. "So anyway, could you maybe break all of this down for me? How do you all know each other? It's like we're all in first year and there was some summer school I missed out on or something. I don't get it." And I really didn't, I wasn't getting anything out of Fliss and I was still sort of walking on eggshells around Cole but it was worth a try.

Cole hesitates before opening his mouth and then stopping himself. "It's a really long story Valentina. Like really long. Ridiculously long. Plus we're here now," He says pointing at the bus stop sign that I didn't even realise we'd arrived at.

"Oh. Right." I reply dryly.
He sighs, "I'm sure someone will tell you soon, but it's just not my place too. I'm sorry."

Was that a genuine apology? The magic of long walks and Wilko trips eh?

********
I turn my key in the door and stop for a moment to internally groan as I hear murmurs from inside the room. I just wanted a nap.

"Look who decided to show her face!" Khayla greets me sitting on Fliss's bed in a sports bra and shorts.
"Well what the hell happened to you?" Fliss asked with a tub of sorbet in one hand and a spoon in the other. "We were about to arrange a search party." She adds.
"Yep, you both look super worried." I murmur.
"We left you in safe hands." Khayla replies.
"Anyway, Raph came by about 5 minutes ago, he said that you should stop by the common room when you're back." She adds
Fliss blatantly rolls her eyes.

"Ugh do I have to?" I groan.
"I don't know," she says stealing some of Fliss's sorbet, "It seemed important."

I make a deal out of dragging my feet to the common room in a bid to be as slow as possible whilst hoping Raphael had left before I arrived. But just my luck I think as I find him sitting there in a suit jacket holding a plastic bag. He seems okay I guess and he's not bad to look at, but him and Fliss obviously have a very weird relationship and I haven't worked out whether I like him or not.

"Soo?" I say as I walk in.
"Good to see you too."
I burst out laughing. "Sorry it's just the suit. I can't take you seriously"
"Everyone looks better in a suit. Anyway we haven't properly caught up yet, so" He nods to two wine glasses on the table he's sitting near that I hadn't noticed before and proceeds to take a bottle of Prosecco out of the plastic bag.
"Drink with me."

I manage to fight back a little smile. "I can't. I'm pretty sure Fliss had something planned."
"You owe me one?" He pleads pulling a chair out from under the table.
"Fine. Just one." I say sitting down.

He pops the bottle open and pours me a glass in silence before sitting down opposite me.
"How was panty shopping?" I ask taking a sip.
"Boring. You were missed."
"Boring, really? I find it hard to believe you'd ever get bored when you and Fliss are together arguing every second."
"It got tedious after the first year." he chuckles.

"What is up with that anyway? Why are you repeating your freshers week for the second time and don't tell me it's a long story or whatever because if it really is, summarise."
"It's not that long," he laughs, "shit happened. We all had to restart our courses."
But what could've happened? The more I hear about this whole situation the less sense it begins to make.
"Is that even allowed?"
"It is when Fliss's father is a governor and she's the whole reason why." He says taking a drink.
"But wha-"
"Too many questions Valentina."

I say no more and continue drinking from my glass.
"I have a lot of questions about you though. I can't really work out what it is.
Maybe I'm just tired of everyone else here but you intrigue me."
"Well you creep me out." I joke
"I'm making an impression one way or another."
I snigger a bit and put my near empty glass down.
"Wait let me top you up?" Raph offers.
I stand up from my seat and give him a small
smile.
"I'll see you later."

A/N
I love summer because it means I have all the time in the day to write, I just wish I'd started earlier <3 don't forget to vote and comment if you're enjoying xxxx