Elaine walked back to the dorm alone after handing the piece of paper to another guy on their team whose name she couldn’t even remember, leaving the noise and mirth behind her.
She hadn’t bothered looking for June, first, because she wasn’t in the mood, and second, because she was slightly pissed at her.
She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the game.
She wondered why Allan always said such strange things to her, and why she did nothing but comply.
“I should have read it before giving it away,” she muttered to herself.
Maybe then she wouldn’t be dying of curiosity now.
“Did he know what was written there? That’s impossible.”
“Weird,” she concluded.
Back outside, the lights glowed brighter, and the atmosphere remained lively.
The wind was soft, the weather pleasant.
“Where did you go?” Gwen asked Allan from where she sat, watching him approach.
Ignoring her question, Allan lowered himself onto the leveled grass.
“How was the game?” he asked instead.
Gwen scoffed.
“That’s not my concern,” she replied sharply.
It was obvious she was annoyed.
Sighing softly, Allan finally answered.
His tone was light as his eyes drifted toward the students gathered nearby, friends laughing and eating together, couples holding hands and kissing.
“Since you’re so concerned, I needed space away from the noise.”
It wasn’t a lie.
That was how he had found Elaine in the first place.
“I know,” Gwen stated.
That made Allan look at her with narrowed eyes before shifting his attention back to the ongoing merriment.
A comfortable silence settled between them before Gwen broke it.
“Why do you think the riddle game was chosen?” she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Compared to her seriousness, Allan remained relaxed and nonchalant.
He shrugged lazily.
“For fun.”
His tone made it obvious he wasn’t interested in the topic, so he changed it instead.
“June Bradford is your friend, right?” he asked.
“Yes,” Gwen answered immediately, waiting for him to continue.
But that was all he said.
Nothing more.
Elaine nearly flew out of bed the next morning as the dorm alarm blared loudly through the building.
It was 7:30 a.m.
She felt like she was about to have a heart attack from how loud it was.
“God, why is this so loud?” she groaned, covering her ears.
The alarm continued ringing for two full minutes.
“What is wrong with this school?” she muttered in frustration.
She quickly gathered everything she needed and headed to the girls’ bathhouse.
When she had visited the previous day, it had been nearly empty, but now it was crowded and somewhat suffocating.
She couldn’t deny it was slightly embarrassing, but also strangely fun at the same time, especially listening to the gossip the girls shared around her.
She even spotted the girl who had planned to ask Allan out, and she couldn’t help wondering whether she had done it already. Find the original chapter at g.com.
After finishing, Elaine returned to her room and pulled out her uniform.
Excitement bubbled inside her until another thought struck.
What if it isn’t my size?
What if it’s too small?
Or worse, too big?
“No, that can’t happen,” she muttered.
With crossed fingers, she tried it on.
It fit perfectly.
Standing before the mirror, she took in her reflection, a green-and-black tartan skirt stopping above her knees, a white long-sleeved shirt, a black jacket embroidered with the school badge, and a neatly tied black tie.
“I look stunning,” she squealed.
This was officially the best thing that had happened to her since arriving at Herbert Wilbur.
She tied her straight black hair into a high ponytail, carefully smoothed her baby hairs with edge control, and added clear lip gloss to her pale pink lips.
She took extra care getting ready because first impressions mattered.
“Elaine, you got this.” she told herself.
She waited in the room for June for a while, but as usual, June never showed up.
Eventually, Elaine headed to the crowded dining hall alone.
She couldn’t deny it, Herbert Wilbur looked even more prestigious with the students dressed in uniform.
Inside, she spotted June seated beside Gwen, an empty seat waiting next to her.
For some reason, Elaine wanted to sit elsewhere, but June waved enthusiastically for her to join them, and she couldn’t refuse.
“I saved a seat for you,” June stated proudly.
“Thanks,” Elaine muttered stiffly as she sat down.
“I would’ve come to get you, but Gwen wanted to head straight to the dining hall, so I followed her,” June explained, though Elaine wasn’t sure why it mattered.
“It’s okay,” she replied, feeling oddly guarded.
Maybe it was because of last night.
She wasn’t sure.
“Where were you last night?” June suddenly asked.
“Uh…?” Elaine blinked.
Wasn’t she supposed to be the one asking questions?
“After we split up, I didn’t see you again. Not even after the game ended.”
“Um… I got lost,” Elaine answered, narrowing her eyes slightly at June.
“Really?” June burst out laughing.
Elaine frowned in confusion.
What was funny about her getting lost?
“Sorry,” June said quickly, though she still looked amused.
“How did you find your way back?”
“Someone helped me,” Elaine answered, immediately thinking of Allan and his strange warnings.
Gwen looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself at the last second.
“If I’d known you weren’t familiar with the place, I wouldn’t have suggested we split up,” June admitted.
Like I didn’t arrive here two days ago, Elaine thought, smiling politely.
“No worries. Next time we’ll stick together,” June assured.
Elaine smiled back, though deep down she already knew there wouldn’t be a next time.
“I should head to class now,” Gwen said in her usual aloof tone as she gathered her things.
“I have things to do,” Gwen replied before walking away.
That was when Elaine truly noticed Gwen in her uniform.
One word came to mind.
Gorgeous.
Maybe it was the unnaturally white hair framing her like a halo, or how perfectly the uniform fit her figure.
Especially her slightly curved legs.
Allan would definitely like her.
Elaine thought before immediately forcing the thought away.
Her gaze drifted toward the entrance just in time to catch Allan leaving with another guy who had light brown hair.
Maybe she was overthinking it, but Gwen seemed to follow after Allan from a distance.
Elaine had noticed the same thing at the chapel.
“But that’s only twice,” she convinced herself.
“It can’t possibly mean anything.”
“June,” Elaine asked carefully, “is there something going on between Gwen and Allan?”
June paused thoughtfully.
The question must have sounded absurd because she slowly turned fully toward Elaine.
But before she could answer, another girl nearby spoke instead.
“No.”
Her voice was firm.
“Gwen just keeps hovering around him. For how many years has it been now?” the girl mused mockingly before scoffing.
“She really doesn’t know when to give up.”
“Shut up,” June snapped sharply.
The sudden harshness in her tone drew attention to their table and silenced the girl instantly.
“Don’t talk about her like that. Especially behind her back.”
Elaine stared at June in shock, particularly at the sharpness in her voice.
“Gwen and Allan are friends,” June continued coldly.
“And you’re just jealous because you could never, even in your wildest imagination, get as close to him as Gwen is.”
The girl rolled her eyes.
“Aren’t you tired of being Gwen’s lapdog?” she mocked.
“You’re always around her. No one even knows your name in this school because you’re constantly hiding behind Gwen’s shadow. Doesn’t it get exhausting?”
“That’s enough,” Elaine cut in firmly.
Both girls turned toward her.
“Thanks for answering my question,” Elaine continued evenly, “but I never asked you.”
Her eyes remained fixed on the girl without wavering.
The girl slowly scanned Elaine from head to toe.
“Pretty face,” she began, her tone edged with warning.
“You know nothing about this place. It’s better if you keep your head down.”
The threat in her voice completely flew over Elaine’s head.
“June, let’s go,” Elaine interrupted, gathering her things.
That earned her a full glare, which she ignored completely as she walked away with June.
“Humans,” the girl clicked her tongue in disgust.