1. Morning newspaper, creamy affogato, & the taste of bitter regret.

Chapter song: rUN tHE FaDE - 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, Eyedress

Julius Loriana was your typical teenage boy, barely scraping by in the soul-sucking grind known as high school. Having attended over five different schools in the past two years, the very thought of sitting through classes left him with angry red patches on his skin.

Though he was an academic prodigy with a conventionally attractive face by his standards, Julius remained blissfully unaware of his many talents. Instead, he draped himself in a cloak of self-deprecation and loathing. Now, he found himself facing yet another crossroad: a new school, and this time it was a private one, which required having to wear a uniform. 

The news hit him two weeks ago while he was savoring his freshly squeezed orange juice.

"We're moving to Avondale," his father announced nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the morning paper.

Julius nearly choked on his juice, staring at his father in disbelief. "Huh?"

"You heard your father, sweetheart. We're moving next week. Get your stuff ready," his mother chimed in, enjoying her affogato.

"D-Did you just say Avondale? As in one of the richest cities in Lacadea?" Julius asked incredulously.

"That's right," his father replied, still engrossed in the newspaper.

Julius rolled his eyes. Why his dad preferred the newspaper over a perfectly functional tablet with a built-in newsletter was beyond him. What really annoyed him was how his parents always seemed to drop these life-altering bombs at the last minute. He didn't even have time to mentally prepare for yet another move.

"Avondale is three hours away from here," Julius said, already knowing the answer. "Will I have to change schools again?"

The pointed look his father gave him confirmed his worst fears.

Julius sighed loudly as he finished his juice, which now tasted like bitter regret. After a tasteless breakfast, he retreated to his room, immediately put on his headphones and pulled out his phone to look up Avondale and his new school.

Avondale lived up to its reputation as the city for the elite. With only two high schools, Saint Ambracia Academy (an all-girls school) and East Laurence Preparatory School (an all-boys school), it was a city where the wealthy and ambitious sent their children to prepare for the best colleges and universities. Julius would be attending East Laurence in two weeks. The school had a prestigious reputation, but the thought of starting over again made him anxious.

Used to the constant shifting, Julius had never had the chance to build lasting relationships or leave a mark. Though he managed to make one friend who stuck by him through his moves, he was always known as the smart new kid who was about to leave. He couldn't fault his father, who was simply trying to provide for the family, but he wished they could find a place to settle down and finish a school year. He resolved to keep a low profile and focus on his studies, just as he had before.

*

Five days before his debut at his new school, his mother told him his uniform had arrived and he needed to try it on for any necessary adjustments. The uniform was unlike what he expected—black, gray, and white, including a white dress shirt, a sweater vest, a blazer with gold designs on its collar, and black trousers. It came with cardigans, a tie, white socks, and black loafers. It looked charming and dignified, and surprisingly, it suited Julius quite well.

His mother stepped back to examine him and nodded approvingly. "You look very handsome in a blazer. I don't know why you don't wear them more often," she said, brushing the sleeves.

"That's because I have nowhere to wear them," Julius thought but didn't say aloud.

"You were just thinking about how you have nowhere to wear them, weren't you?" his mother said.

Julius' eyes widened. "What are you, a witch?"

His mother looked at him in surprise and slapped his arm. "Julius Loriana, how dare you call your mother a witch?" She delivered a slap.

"Ow, mom!"

"Get out of those clothes before you wrinkle them. I'll ask Petra to take them to the cleaners the day before school," she said, leaving his room.

Julius watched her leave and slumped onto his bed.

They had only moved a week ago, and he was still struggling to adjust. The mansion they now lived in and the spacious room he'd been given were overwhelming.

As he looked around his new bedroom, he felt like an imposter in a stranger's bed. All he could do was sigh and hope his first day wouldn't be a disaster.