Sebastian meets the new girl, Violet, on the train back to their boarding school. Sebastian is hyper, boisterous and the class clown, the antithesis of cold and aloof Violet. Yet, the pair becomes friends and navigate the school year, attempting to...
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Sebastian Radcliffe was about to make the biggest gamble of his life. Worse than the time he bet he could steal Daisy Llewellyn's knickers, worse even, than when he tried to steal Miss Smith's. If the others knew what he was about to do, they would have eagerly bet all their allowances that he'd fail. That's probably why he didn't tell them. But despite the butterflies and the adrenaline and everything telling him not to, he was going to do it anyway.
It wasn't too difficult to get to. Her second-floor window was situated next to a rooftop, so it was only a matter of climbing up a drainpipe to the rooftop and then climbing a bit more across to the left before you could pull yourself up on her tiny ledge, barely big enough for half his arse. But he'd done it. And suddenly, gently at first but then more urgently, he was knocking on her window.
There was a lot of hesitation on her side of the room. She'd probably assume it was a bird at first. He started banging and soon enough, the curtains were open in one furious swoop and she was staring, properly shocked, out at him.
He smiled widely as he saw her dressed in a pale blue nightgown, a tiny bunny embroidered onto the pocket, and thick white socks. He motioned for her to open the window and put his finger on his lips so she wouldn't scream.
'Juliet, Juliet, let down your hair.' He sang her and she looked like she was fighting the urge to laugh and shout and maybe push him off.
'Oh... my God.'
But he had already let himself in. He pulled himself into the room and stood, taking it all in. This year he had one of the better, larger rooms, so he'd made fun of the others for their shittier ones. Violet also had one of the shittier rooms as it was barely big enough for the both of them. But he didn't want to make fun; it was as adorable as she was.
Her room was covered floor to ceiling with books. They lined up the shelf of her desk as well as being spread in piles on the desk itself and the floor, between empty tea cups. She'd put a couple of pink scarfs over the bright yellow light so the room was bathed in a baby pink wash, like a sunset. Her duvet was also pink with little blue and green and white flowers. On her bed was a half open book and a little white bunny rabbit teddy. The wall had posters of books- 'Lolita', 'Tender is the Night', 'Pride and Prejudice' as well as, and he'd never have guessed, a blue 'The Smiths' poster.
'You're coming with me.'
'What on earth are you doing here. You absolutely cannot be in here.'
She stood rooted to the spot, arms covering herself, but Sebastian was on his knees on the floor, pulling out the drawers under her bed.
'You're going to come out with me tonight.'
'Oh my God Sebastian. We'll get expelled!'
'It's alright,' he told her, pulling out jumpers and thermals, 'It's midnight on a Thursday, none of the staff are about. Come on, we do it all the time.'
'Sophie said you were opposite her. I'm in her room all the time, don't worry. Funny though, yours is a bit more sophisticated a climb, I'll tell you that for nothing.'
He was tossing things onto the bed for her to wear. He went to the small wardrobe and pulled out her coat and a pair of boots.
'Come on, Violet. It's so fun. I want you to see for yourself. And look, don't worry, we barely ever get caught.'
She stared at him but something in her eyes told him she was thinking. Before she could change her mind, he brought over the smaller jumper and popped in right over her head. Automatically, she put her arms through it. Then he passed her the bigger jumper and tossed her the tights.
'Wrap up, it's freezing out. 'S alright though because we have fags and we'll run around a bit, warm us up,' he told her reassuringly. She still looked incredulous, but she had put the tights on under the nightie and he was helping her step into her boots.
'You're insane Sebastian.' She said as he stood up and they stared at each other. It would have been a nice moment, he thought, to kiss her, but he didn't want to push his luck further.
He stuffed her into her coat and did up all her buttons. Then he was wrapping a scarf around her neck and asking if she was ready. He switched off the lamp and went first out the window.
'Be careful ok and just follow where I put my feet.'
He went painfully slowly in fear she might lose her footing and fall. It's easier with the light obviously but he didn't want to risk a teacher. Eventually, and taking every opportunity he could to grasp her wrist or arm for help, they made it to the ground. He suspected if he hadn't crammed her into so many clothes, she wouldn't be a bad climber.
They were creeping around the corner to the back of Warwick building when Violet asked why they did this.
'Because we're boisterous, remember?' and then he thought properly for a second. 'It's hard, you know, boarding school. All locked up like this and barely ever seeing the real world. Where things don't just revolve around all these idiots,' he said motioning to Warwick. 'I just get so sick of listening to all the rules, over and over, and never being able to just do whatever the fuck it is I want to do.'
'That's fair.'
'Oh,' he looked up and laughed breathily. 'Sorry, I mean to get worked up there.'
'It's ok. I get it, I do.'
'I'm just... I'll never get used to having no freedom. And I'll never be able to just accept it either. Hence...' he trailed off.
'Sebastian?'
'Yeah?'
'I could almost accuse you of having depth.'
'Depth.'
'Almost.' And they laughed together. Sebastian thought it sounded quite nice, so much so maybe even she'd have to admit it.
'Well, well, well, I didn't know we were bringing dates.' It was Ben.
He was sat with the others, all of them smoking, sat in a circle behind the sports equipment shed. Sophie smiled kindly at them and motioned to Violet to come sit next to her. She offered her a fag and, surprisingly, she took it. Quickly, Sebastian sat down opposite her and lit it for her. His eyes widened beyond belief as he leaned over, the opposite side of her parted lips. He was staring down the cigarette at her but her eyes were lowered and her shoulders a little tense until it was lit and she sat back, more relaxed.
'That's interesting. Not as sweet as she seems then.' Said Charlie, watching Violet take an expert drag. She held in the smoke and released it after a moment slowly, her lips pouting as the smoke leaked out her mouth and into the frosted air. She didn't comment though.
'What brings you here, Adler?' JJ asked delicately.
'Someone knocked on my window.'
'No fucking way,' and the group all turned to Sebastian and laughed hysterically. Even Violet smiled.
'Well I'll be damned.'
'Did anyone bring any liquor?'
'I'm sans liquor since the other week.' Sebastian answered and the others laughed at the memory of his hangover.
They smoked and the others carried on the conversation. Sophie discussed plans to get Blake and Byron together, her new obsession this year. Despite hanging around boys and being generally cynical about school and her peers, Sophie was a devoted romantic. She loved gossip and playing match maker and pretending, when the boys weren't around to make fun, she was in a Jane Austen novel. Charlie was discussing what he'd do with his winnings from his latest bet with JJ.
'I'm thinking... Champagne on the roof.'
'Alright, Wilde, calm down.' JJ said sullenly. JJ was in no way a good loser.
'He's more of a Lord Wotton, wouldn't you say?' Violet said quietly and JJ laughed. Both looked at each other then, both looking horrified that he'd laughed. Then she gave him a half smile.
'It's alright. That means you get to be Dorian Grey.'
'Yeah and I should say so too.' He mumbled, smiling.
'Do you know who Sebastian is?'
'Oh God.' He said chuckling.
'He's Ernest' and they both laughed pleasantly. Charlie and Sophie looked pleased as Sebastian gawped.
'Who's Ernest? What does that mean? What movie are we talking about again?' but his questions only made the others grin more.
The cigarettes started to lose their effect as the others grew cold.
'Come on, Soph, come for a run.' said Charlie, pulling Sophie up. She shot off before he could say 'go' and he huffed and sprinted after her. JJ and Ben ran off too but Violet looked in wonder, still sat down.
'They're running down to the field. That's in front of the house, won't they be seen?'
'It's past midnight, Violet,' Sebastian chuckled and he pulled her up. His stomach did a somersault as he grasped her hand and he decided not to let go. He pulled her with him and they both started running to the front of the building and down onto the field. She had let go of his hand at this point but he was chasing after her, watching her slightly ahead, tipping her head back. He couldn't hear anything but the wind whipping past them, it felt like they were running a hundred miles an hour. All six of them were running around the field like mad men, chasing each other and racing and laughing despite how out of breath they all were. It didn't feel like exercise though, it felt good. It felt like they could go all night.
Violet would later find out this game they played, chasing each other around, was what they liked to call 'tag for mental people.'
But as Sebastian said earlier, they didn't get caught out at night on the grounds most of the time. But sometimes, they did.
They had been so hyped up from the constant chasing and thrill that they'd been louder than usual. There is something too deliciously exciting about showing someone new your lifestyle. They were all sharing this secret night with Violet, all showing off and it felt good. They were all showing off, asking for attention, and they'd shrieked and shouted a bit. Violet pointed up to Warwick house, as they all stared in horror at the office lights going on.
'Shit!' yelled Ben.
'Split up you wankers!' Charlie shouted through his laughs. 'See you on the other side!'
Quickly, Sebastian grabbed hold of Violet's hand and pulled her back up towards the tennis courts. The others scattered in every other direction, eagerly swallowed up by the dark as steams of light from the building came towards them.
