4 Ella Brooks

Ella Brooks was a loner from start. She was a shy girl who came from an average family, her father was a corporate worker who manufactured formations for a major company and her mother was a normal housewife. She was a beautiful young lady with dark hairs that went down to her waist. She had lovely eyes which were of a similar dark shade of her hairs. Her skin was pale but still suited her. Ella was not one of the outcasts as her grades were one of the best in her class, her combat prowess wasn't good and that was one of the reasons for her being an average student despite her great grades.

Today, Ella was one of the worst. She was an outcast. She avoided outcasts as she believed in following the norms of society, and according to everyone around her, outcasts were useless people who were nothing but a weight on society. She understood what this meant, she was up for the treatment that she didn't even want the worst of her enemies to get. Right now, with visible panic in her eyes stood at a corner in the train and as the sounds of the track running over by the train seemed to grow louder and louder, panic in Ella's eyes grew.

She knew what she did and how things are going to turn out, yet she didn't want to accept it. How could she? Despite her talent, her hard work and everything she did until now, she was going to turn into an outcast. She couldn't accept it. Ella thought of what happened again and again as she walked past the school grounds full of whispers.

"Hey, did you hear about Ella Brooks?" "Of course. She is the talk of the academy right now.". "But some people are saying that it was not her fault." "There are rumours that she slept with some of the teachers for the grades". Countless whispers stalked Ella as she ran across the crowds, almost lost in the glares that were thrown at her but little did she knew, worse was waiting for her.

Meanwhile, Eric and Robert were in the restroom. Eric was washing his face while shirtless and a smaller portal stood next to him. "I must say I wasn't expecting something like that from you," Said Eric splashing more water at himself. "I am feared for my quick wit," he said brushing his nose and puffing his chest. "Yeah sure…" Eric replied mockingly as he pulled out a towel from the portal and started rubbing his face.

"What the heck! Those are some convenient abilities!" Robert said as he saw Eric throw the towel back inside the portal and pulling out a shirt. "It really is" Eric replied. The conversation was suddenly interrupted by the door suddenly opened with a bang and as Eric and Robert turned around to see who it was they were shocked to see a girl. Her breathing was heavy and there were tears in her eyes, and her face turned red as she noticed she ran into the boys' restroom.

Covering her eyes with her hands while she herself turned crimson she screamed: "I-I am sorry!". Robert screamed and covered his chest with his hands. 'Why are you surprised, you are clothed…' Eric thought as he looked at Robert. Before he could ask the girl what the reasons were for her to rush into the boys' restroom, she turned around and ran outside. Still red from the encounter. Eric silently watched as the girl ran away wondering what could have happened. "What was her deal?" asked Robert. "We will know soon enough" Eric replied as both of them left the restroom.

Eric munched on his lunch with an irritated expression. Next to him sat Robert, with a smile on his face and delight in his eyes. "Again… Why the hell are you here?" Eric asked Robert glaring at Robert with disgust. "We are friends, aren't we? I wanted to have lunch with a friend. This is so fun" Robert said still keeping the happy expression. "I am not your friend. Get lost." Eric said with disgust. "Oh, you are such a good friend! This melon bread is something amazing!" Robert replied while patting Eric's back.

"Why am I stuck with this dork…" Eric sighed while Robert told him about the glorious taste of the melon bread he was eating first time in his life. Through the corner of his eyes, Eric noticed Ella sitting alone eating her lunch. The look on her face clearly showed her sadness. By now Eric had already learned about everything that happened through the rumours that were going around. "Ella Brooks eh," he thought out loud as he ate the last piece of bread and started walking away.

Other than Robert something else was also irritating him today. It was the glares he got due to Robert hanging out around him all day. The shock was apparent and he had guessed it but Robert didn't seem to have noticed. 'That idiot' Eric thought to himself as a vein almost popped on his forehead. Apparently, Robert has been following Eric almost the whole day. He sat with him in class, he became his training partner in gym, he even followed him to the toilet. Not only the students but even the teachers were shocked.

"Let's go, friend!" Robert said as he followed Eric. "Shut up will ya! You stupid hog" Eric shouted at Robert. "Don't be so harsh friend," Robert said with a smirk. Eric knew Robert was smarter than he looked or acted, his actions had reasons and he knew exactly what Robert had in mind

"Friend Eric wait for me!" Robert said with a smile spread across his cheeks. The 'friend' part was said in a tone higher than the rest of the sentence. Now that Eric looked at it, the smile was eerie. "You creep!" Eric said as he hurried away from Robert at a faster pace. "Friend Eric your speed is something I must say," Robert said, again putting more effort into the friend part. 'This bastard… He is trying to spread this across the academy' Eric thought to himself as he started running.

"I said wait, you little-" Robert said as Eric started running. "NEVER! You muscle brain!" Eric replied as he hurried off into the distance. "Tch" Robert clicked his tongue as Eric ran off. "Everyone shall know of our friendship, friend Eric" Robert spoke as he turned around and walked away.

Apart from the two, there was a third watching the whole thing unfold. Ella Brooks was simply eating her lunch alone away from a place where she would not cause any attention to fall on herself. Watching the whole scene unfold in front of her eyes, Ella was dumbstruck and as Robert's eyes met hers, she was afraid beyond all and as a creepy smile came on Robert's face she almost screamed. "Hey there I wanted to-" before Robert could finish Ella, whose face by now was pale stood up and screamed "I am very sorry senior!" and ran away.

"What's up with her?" Robert was left wondering as he too walked away from the place. "I definitely caught the eye of some weird people… They weren't normal…" Ella spoke while breathing heavy. She was almost out of breath and right now cursing her luck. "Out of everyone why did it had to be them," she thought out loud still trying to catch her breath.