SWNOVELS Chapter 32
Blaise
I’m astounded to realize I’ve been here for a month and a half as I wake up to an overcast slightly chilly October first. My phone pings indicating an incoming notification and I pick it up from my nightstand so I can view it. Assembly to begin at 8:30a.m. Attendance is mandatory. ~Dean Knight~
As it is 7:45 now, I glance over to Clover’s bed and see she is still sound asleep. “Clover, hey Clove! Wake up, we’ve got an assembly we must attend. The Dean says it is mandatory.” I hear her groan but she begins to rouse from her bed and so I hurry into my closet to grab an oversized cream-colored sweater and then go to my side of the dresser to grab black leggings and undergarments before making my way into the bathroom to do my morning routine of getting ready for the day.
Clover hops into the restroom as I’m slipping on my brown ankle high chunk heeled boots. As she walks back into the room, I see she is smiling excitedly as she twists her bouncy curls into a messy bun. “What’s got you smiling like a goofy clown?” I can’t help but laugh as she bounds over to me.
Flopping on my bed she says, “I just realized what this assembly is for...” she trails off like I should know what she’s implying but I only arch my brows in question. “She’s gathering everyone to discuss the Harvest Ball that will be held the last weekend of October.” What in the hell is a Harvest Ball; I think to myself. Clover gives a chuckle and pushes herself off my bed.
Stretching her hand out to me she pulls me up, “come on B, let’s go to the auditorium. The Dean can explain it way better than I ever could.” Pushing my bottom lip out into a little pout because I want to know now, I follow her out of our room like a petulant child and out of the dorm building.
Walking into the auditorium Clover and I look around the room for available seats. Someone shouts Clover’s name just as the twins shout out my name. Agreeing to meet up after the assembly, she and I go our separate ways. The guys are sitting in the center section of chairs in nearly the same spot as the first time I had seen them in here. The only difference this time is the fact that they aren’t surrounded by a gaggle of girls and Morgan is nowhere in sight which causes a smirk to spread across my lips.
Joining them, I sit in the empty seat that separates Carden and Braeden. As Dean Knight proceeds to cross the stage, standing behind the podium positioned in the center, a shiver travels up my spine just as a shadow falls over me. Glancing over my shoulder I see Nox towering overhead, offering me a most charming smile. Sitting down right behind me I feel his hand on my shoulder giving it a quick squeeze just as the Dean begins to speak.
“Good morning, everyone. I do apologize for the early morning disruption but as there are only three weeks remaining before the Harvest Moon, and therefore the Harvest Ball, I felt that we should gather and begin to discuss what events will take place over the next few weeks ending with the S.C.D. arriving and hosting our annual Fall Festivities.” Murmurs and whispering can be heard throughout the auditorium causing curiosity to bubble up inside of me.
Before I can ask any of the guys why the students seem to be so unsettled Ms. Knight continues; “I know many of you are questioning why the S.C.D. would be willing to host this event when they’ve never offered such services before, but my advice is to not look a gift horse in the mouth. I do expect everyone to be on their best behavior when they are here but that should not deter us from the fun time we shall have. As for the events beginning Monday...” Even though the Dean continues to speak I tune her out. My intuition is on high alert screaming, telling me that the S.C.D. had ulterior motives for coming to the University and I decide I am going to figure out why.
After we are released from the assembly, I walk outside just as a gentle breeze kicks up catching colorful leaves in its dance causing them to swirl and drift about our feet as they slowly make their descent to the ground which in turn causes a small smile to grace my lips for the beauty that is Mother Nature.
With a quick glance over my shoulder, I see that all three of my guys are following close behind me. Spotting an empty bench, I march over to the wrought iron slatted contraption and sit down. The guys look at me questioningly and as Carden runs a hand through his light brown hair he asks, “Blaise, shouldn’t we be heading to class?”
Nodding I respond, “we will in a minute, but I have a question that I want to ask, and I’d rather not have others nearby.” They all give a nod and I quickly as my question; “has the S.C.D. ever hosted this Ball before?” My eyes bounce from Nox who simply shrugs causing his black leather jacket to bunch up around his biceps and shoulders to Braeden and Carden who both shake their heads no. “So why now?” As I voice the question another thought occurs to me. “Have either of you two spoke to your dad about my parents’ mission before their passing?”
Carden shakes his head no causing strands of his hair to fall in his eyes just as Braeden says, “I sent dad a text asking if he could send us the files about the mission. He didn’t really give a yes or no answer, but I figured he was probably busy and didn’t have the time to give a response.”
When I open my mouth to voice my next thought Carden chimes in, “you don’t think our ‘little investigation’ is the reason why they are coming here, do you?” It’s my turn to shrug my shoulders as I really don’t have an answer though that is exactly what my intuition is telling for why the S.C.D. would suddenly be so willing to host an event they had never taken interest in before now.
“Would it be such a far-fetched idea to think such a thing?” I look at each of them and have to force the laugh down that wants to bubble out of me. The expressions on their faces are identical, one brow arched and a frown tugging down their lips as they ponder my question with curiosity flashing in their eyes.
Ever the logical one, Braeden suggest we get to class and that we can talk more in depth about my question once classes are done for the day. Each of us utter a sigh of agreement and then begin to make our way to the academia building. As we make our way along the sidewalk, I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket. Continuing to walk on ward, I pull it out and unlock the screen only to see that I’ve received a text notification. Curiously I click the icon and see that even though Nox is still walking behind me, he had sent the text. Pinching my eyebrows together in confusion I click on his message:
Meet me in the library at lunch – without the Bobbsey twins. ~N~
Um, uh, okay...
I can hear Nox chuckle behind me at my obvious confusion by his text, but I continue to make my way to the brick building in front of us. Once we are inside, we say goodbye and head to our perspective classes rooms accordingly.