Chapter Four: Morning

Alexis; to help, defend

*

I was the first one up in the morning and made some pancakes. I didn't know how many to make, so I just kept going until someone came into the kitchen; Estelle. I had made twenty pancakes at that point.

Estelle yawned as rested her head on the countertop. "The sun woke me up…" she complained.

I smiled, "The sun tends to do that." It was a very golden morning; the sunshine sapped from the tall trees that surrounded the house. "Are you usually the first up?"

"Not always by choice," Estelle admitted. She sat up and in a posh over the top voice said, "A Princess must be pristine, wake early to perform her royal duties and maintain elegance and grace within all social settings." After dictating those words, she slumped back on the counter. "Bull for that crap. I don't need to wake up at 7:30 in the morning when classes start at 9:00." She sat up and sighed, "Pancakes?"

"Go nuts," I offered pushing a small plate of them towards her.

"Can't eat nuts," she commented.

I looked at her. "Why? Are you allergic?"

She nodded. "Yep, fun fact for you."

"Is it bad?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I can be around nuts, I just can't eat them, and I get rashes when I touch them." While Estelle spoke she scratched her arms as if by instinct, suggesting to me, she's had a problem with nuts in the past. I took a mental note of that.

"Guess you'll have to double-check some of the sweets you eat," I stated.

She shrugged and said how she's managed to survive so far. "Only if I eat like solid nut foods that my reactions are bad." She yawned again, "Why are you even conscious?" she asked, "I'm usually the first up."

"I've always been an early bird," I explained. And I was, I liked to get certain things over and done with before I went to school or before I started my day. My Dad often had to leave for work early as well, so I usually made breakfast since he woke me. My internal alarm clock had therefore blessed, or cursed, me with an early bird alarm clock.

She nodded at my explanation as she picked up a pancake with her hands. "Got any siblings?"

I shook my head. "You?"

"The only daughter," she said with a mouthful of pancake.

"Estelle!" someone called.

The voice echoed through the hallway in a yell that made my ears tremble. Estelle reacted somewhat violently, spitting out what was in her mouth, hiding it under a pancake, straightening her posture and picking up a fork.

Riley, the advisor, walked in. She too was dressed and seemed as alert as a woman could be, she still called out to Estelle even when she was in sight. "Your Highness, you know you're not supposed to eat until you've washed up for the morning," she explained, her movements were fidgety and stressed.

Estelle sighed and nodded. "My apologies, Miss Simmons. I just thought I'd keep our new dorm student company in the morning, as I did hear him wake up," she fibbed. Her way with words and tone even surprised me to what she was like twenty seconds ago.

"Majesty, you know your parents would rather you not be in the lone company of a man, especially in your pyjamas still." Her last words were more of a hiss, almost accusing as she glared at me.

"I won't tell them if you don't, Simmons," Estelle informed.

Riley seemed very forceful with making Estelle go back to her room and change. Estelle nodded and agreed to go once she had finished the pancakes. "I would appreciate it if you could find my tie. I've misplaced it I'm afraid," she confessed.

Simmons seemed more apprehensive about leaving her alone with me, which I found somewhat ironic as I was the dorm guard, but she agreed to look for the princess' tie. The moment Simmons had disappeared, Estelle's demeanour changed to a much more casual and tired stance.

"Why is she so against you being by yourself with guys?" I asked rinsing out the frying pan.

She went back to using her hands. "And as a princess, I need to maintain a reputation of purity and innocence. She was quite frightened yesterday when I answered the door in my nightgown, especially when it was you. You should feel privileged peasant; you've seen more of a princess' skin in one day than any suitors my parents have tried to marry me off too."

I raised an eyebrow, "How old are you?"

Riley Simmons' voice rang down to Estelle, letting her know she had found the tie. Estelle smiled and stood up, "That's me." She pushed the plate back to me and left the room.

I placed her plate aside and started eating my own. Mia was the next to wander in after about ten minutes. She looked at me, taking a moment to acknowledge me, before sitting at the dining table. Mia's White Winter Prep School girl's blouse was as white as snow, and her navy blue skirt elegantly pressed. She was only wearing white socks, no shoes and her hair looked un-brushed. She sat there in silence as I grabbed some pancakes and placed them before her with utensils. She watched this and waited for me to sit down before she started eating.

I watched her for a moment, waiting for her to perhaps say something to me, but she remained silent, eating peacefully. I decided to attempt speaking, "How'd I go with the pancakes?" I asked.

Her eyes flickered up to me, only holding for milliseconds before looking back down to her plate. She didn't offer any words; just a thumbs up. "When I first met you at Windmill Hill I'll admit I wasn't expecting to see you here too," I informed.

She put her fork down whenever I spoke, paying attention to my words. She nodded at my statement, agreeing with me. "Ava told me you're a prodigy in writing, is that true?"

She nodded.

"So you're in the same classes as everyone else here?"

She shook her head and pointed downwards. "A year below?"

She nodded, she picked up the fork again to continue eating. We ate in silence until we heard someone walking. Mia was sitting on her legs, she got into a kneeling position and started shaking her hips, prompting the bell on her hips to ring. The walking ceased for a moment, only to continue but away from us.

"Who was that?" I asked.

Mia looked at me and shrugged but continued eating. I couldn't tell if she was passive or if she genuinely didn't know. I finished my pancakes before her and took my plate to the sink to rinse. Seconds after I started she walked up to the sink beside me. She was half a head taller than the counter, her arms having to reach to get the plate under the running water.

Ava told me Mia was eleven, but she looked much shorter and younger than that. "Are you sure you're eleven?" I asked.

She nodded as she hopped on her toes so she could wash the plate. I shooed her away, saying I would do it. She walked back over to the dining room and sat down. I packed away the dishes, and by the time I turned around, she was out of the dining room again.

I started stacking the remaining pancakes on some plates and left the kitchen to get ready for school.

I didn't cross anyone on my way to my room, but I passed some of their bedrooms and heard muffled speaking. The door had been left ajar, prompting my curiosity to approach and nudge the door open so I could see.

It was Bonnie's voice.

Her back turned to me but she was talking to Mia, Fritz sat on the bed next to them as Bonnie brushed Mia's messy bush of hair. "You really ought to learn how to do this yourself, Mia," she commented running the comb through her pale locks, "What are you going to do when I'm not here?"

Mia slapped Bonnie's knee from behind. Bonnie chuckled, "I'm not going anywhere, but still."

It was a very peaceful setting. Bonnie seemed to have a more golden colour scheme, very bright and open one. Her windows were open, making the room brighter as it rebound off her mirrors. The extra light giving her golden sheets and cream rug under her bed and surrounding furniture an ethereal look. There wasn't a whole lot in Bonnie's room from what I saw; I assumed it to be so she didn't run into anything with her wheelchair.

Not wanting to be found out, or disturb them, I started to back away from the doorway. The floorboards made a creak under my weight. Fritz's attention spiked a hiss as he went to approach the noise.

Bonnie and Mia turned to face the door as well, milliseconds from seeing me run down the hallway.

"Wait here," Bonnie urged turning in her wheelchair to approach the door. She pulled open the door and rolled into the hallway. "Ava? Ava, is that you?" she called. I was hiding next to a pot plant by her door, one proper look and she would've spotted me.

Serves you right for eavesdropping, I thought.

Bonnie pushed herself forwards, in my line of sight, but a blessed voice saved me.

"What's up, Bon?" Ava asked coming out from one of the rooms. She had a toothbrush in her hand and was still in her pyjamas. Had she already eaten?

"Were you just by my room?" Bonnie asked.

Ava approached brushing her teeth but shook her head. "No. You guys nearly ready? We need to get down to the school early, remember?"

"Why?"

Mia walked out to stand next to Bonnie; Fritz attached to her ankle.

"Because it's the start of the year! Greetings, socialisation, people, so many people!" Ava seemed to be trying to sell the idea of it, ideas both Bonnie and Mia seemed to dislike. "I dunno, the school wants the kids there early for the meet and greet, new teachers and everything. Don't be late." Ava started walking back down the hallway.

Bonnie groaned loudly and rolled back into her room. Mia stayed for a moment before following. I slumped and sighed with relief when they disappeared and went to stand up, but something landed on my head. I yelped in surprise and got to my feet, snatching whatever fell on my head; Fritz.

Mia stood on the other side of the pot plant, still reaching out from where she dropped Fritz on my head. I scoffed slightly, but she gave me no indication of an apology or even a-ha out of triumph.

She collected Fritz again and walked back into Bonnie's room as if it had never happened.

I heaved a sigh, my hand resting on my chest as I turned and walked down to my room to get ready. The uniform for the boys wasn't too much different to that of the girls. We weren't allowed to wear skirts, an actual school rule, so boys wore either long navy pants or boys shorts of the same colour. We wear a white button-up shirt as well, but that was where the similarities ended. I managed to find the tie I merely tossed into the closet the day before.

I never could tie ties very well, I knew how to tie bow ties oddly enough, but neckties were just an awkward means of choking myself. My clothing was soon socially acceptable. I picked up the black backpack I had for my bike and packed my school books in it. I had to tell the school in advance what type of classes I wished to take. I wasn't exactly dumb, but I indeed wasn't the brightest. I took the necessary courses in English and Mathematics, but I also took up PE, biology, tech class, food tech and they even offered psychology classes which sounded interesting.

I got my scholarship based on my physical skill in sports, but due to reasons, I haven't done sports in a while. Much to the mercy of White Winter Prep, they still took me despite that limitation.

The mere thought of that made me feel short of breath.

Remembering I have PE today I made sure to wear my shorts. I checked my watch; 7:45. I wondered how early we had to be to get to school, on my bike it takes me about ten minutes to get to the school if I could find it that is.

I started walking down the stairwell into the front room before the front door. I didn't seem to be the only one, the twins were there, sitting on some lounges tying their shoes.

"Hello," I greeted.

They both looked up at the same time, each pair of blue eyes throwing me off. They looked so feminine, yet I knew one was a boy, it was confusing me to look at the two of them.

"Good morning," they greeted in unison.

They went back to tie their shoes. One had greater difficulty than the other. "Need help… Amia?" I went out on the limb with this.

They looked up at me with a smirk. "No, I'm fine," the other twin informed, "Amada may need your help."

Amada chuckled, "I'm fine too."

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment but accepted that and shook my head. "How does everybody get to school?" I asked.

"Depends who you ask," Amia informed.

"Sometimes we walk."

"I know Bonnie rolls."

"Estelle sometimes gives us lifts in her car."

"Only when Riley isn't there."

"Mia somehow gets there."

"I think Ava and Robyn ride bikes."

"It just depends on what you do."

I nodded. "Well… how do you guys get there?" I asked.

"We walk," Amada informed.

"It's not too far." They stood up together.

They were both wearing skirts. "Amada, why are you wearing a skirt?" I asked looking at him.

They exchanged a giggle, and Amada sighed, "I'm Amia," they assured, "It's required girls wear skirts."

I looked at the other twin. When did the two switch?

"Then why are you wearing a skirt?"

Amada shrugged, "Just to confuse teachers and such."

The other twin rolled their eyes.

They each suddenly approached me, "Also, something we need to explain; all the students think we're both girls, we would appreciate it if they kept it this way."

I stared at them, "Why would you want to be a girl Amada?"

"They're much more comfortable," he explained, "And nicer…sometimes."

"Now if you'll excuse us." The twins linked arms and were out the door. I watched them go, still slightly confused about those two. I didn't know whether I believed them or not, it made more sense for them to be just a pair of girls.

"They're pulling my leg…" I mumbled pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Never understood that expression," Ava said. I looked up to see her jumping down the steps, setting off several rings and dings from the bell on her wrist, I was half worried she'd slip altogether and go tumbling. She managed to land at the bottom step, "And present!" she announced holding her arms up like a gymnast.

"You're a strange one, Ava," I informed.

"And you can't tie a tie, Lawson," she countered approaching me. She undid my tie and retied it, hers much more comfortable than the way I had tied it. "Why is it guys are incapable of tying ties?"

I raised an eyebrow, "What kind of guys have you hung out with?" I countered.

There was a bell chime, this one sounded deliberate, causing both of us to look up to see Robyn. Dressed in the school uniform she rung the bell as she ran down the stairs, she seemed excited about something. She was frantically ringing it to express this. Ava turned to her and jumped up and down frantically at the same time. She was giggling with Robyn.

The two seemed happy, and I was clueless as to why.

As it turned out, neither did Ava. "Why are we so happy?" she asked.

Robyn read her lips and started signing frantically. I lost any form of structure to her quick gestures, almost telling a story. Ava seemed surprised by the news and started signing back, speaking at the same time. "Robyn, do you think that's a good idea? At the start of the term?"

I was out of context.

Robyn signed back; her excitement turned to a frown.

"Robyn…"

Robyn closed her eyes, covering them with her hands. Ava didn't yell to grab her attention; she rang her bell in her face. It was an unattractive sound that made even me cringe.

Robyn started almost violently signing, Ava following on, the two signing at each other. Robyn soon stomped on the ground, snatched the bag she had tossed down here, and stomped out. Ava stood there in silence, and her hands closed into fists.

"Umm… what just happened?" I attempted to ask.

Ava turned to face me, her face screwed into a scowl. "Some serious stalking is going to commence…" Without explanation, she walked past me, so close that her hair managed to hit me on the way past.

Why was living with girls so confusing?

I went through a mental roll call in my head. But from what the twins told me there wasn't exactly much I could do about transportation to school if anything they would probably know better than me.

So I went out the back door to the garage, grabbed my bike and started my day to school.