How it happened

Author's POV

Alexander stared at Ean and winked at her when he noticed her staring at him, but immediately he did, she ignored him and moved her gaze towards Xavier.

Now, Alexander was completely sure he had made the wrong decision. Why had he even mentioned going to school to Xavier?!

"I knew it, all girls liked this boy, but he wouldn't even spare them a glance. The worst part is, they don't look away from him and keep building castles on air.", Alexander thought in frustration.

Alexander turned moody when he realized, he might not be able to achieve his objective as long as Xavier was around.

After their introductions, the teacher dismissed them and went out of the class, then another teacher came in, and sternly told them to have a seat.

"It seems there's something wrong with the female teachers of our school", Alexander clicked his tongue whilst following Xavier's lead.

But Xavier suddenly stopped right in front of Alexander, glanced at Aidan who had been following his movements with his eyes, and returned Xavier's gaze.

Xavier smiled softly, his thoughts were unknown as he sat down on the seat right next to Aidan, with a relaxed expression on his face.

Ean who had been staring at Xavier didn't even spare him a glance, when he sat down.

And instead paid attention to the teacher who had just walked in with a strict look on her face. The frown on Ean's face slowly turned into a smile, and Alexander who had been watching her, had an idea of why she was smiling.

He went to the seat behind Ean and started thinking about his journey so far.

He had come to Arcane High, because he was hoping to have some high school experience, make friends, have a girlfriend, get into complicated relationships and fight over meaningless things.

But it turned out that reality was very different than he had imagined.

"This school sucks", Alexander muttered in displeasure.

He had thought it would be great, if he went to an actual school. One where girls wouldn't get close to him because of his family name, or guys wanting to be his friend because of how much he had or his status.

He even went to the extent of going to another country, not just to go to school, but also to escape his family and their expectations of him.

That was why he came to another school, in another country, where no one knew him. But since he knew someone there, it wasn't much of a big deal and it was even more convenient.

He didn't even understand why he had settled on such a school. It wasn't famous from where he was from, in fact he had never even heard about it before.

***

During a visit to Xavier's place, Alexander had brought up his reason for coming over to Arin island.

"You came here to school?", Xavier asked whilst reviewing some documents. He had glasses on, which he tapped every now and then. He was dressed in a casual outfit, and the indifference and boredom on his face couldn't be more profound.

Alexander sometimes felt nervous when talking to this abnormal friend of his, but he cheered himself up by thinking, "We're all human, everyone is the same. There are no deities among us".

Glancing at Xavier tapping on his glasses again, he started to wonder why he was wearing glasses.

'Doesn't he have good eyesight?'

He was about to get lost in his thoughts when Xavier turned to look at him. He returned the gaze and asked with his eyes, "What is it?"

Xavier shook his head and the glasses fell, he glanced at the glasses on the table before replying Alexander, "Why do you want to go to school? Weren't you homeschooled?".

"You don't understand! It's not the same. Going to school and being homeschooled doesn't give the same feel!", Alexander gesticulated whilst exaggerating his words.

He clearly had a point to make, that Xavier was not allowing him to make.

Xavier shut up and patiently waited for Alexander's explanation. He had no idea why he would want to go to school again, when he had already gone before.

"Xavier, you know what's happening at home. You know what kind of childhood and school experience I had, right?", Alexander spoke calmly with a solemn aura around him.

"Yeah…", Xavier slowly replied.

"I was lonely. It was very lonely. I missed out on the best years of my life, because of that bastard's appearance", Alexander wasn't looking as gentle as he usually did, and there was an air of vengeance surrounding him.

Xavier calmly watched Alexander reminisce about terrible memories. There was not a displaced emotion or expression on his face. He was bored, very bored. But he carefully listened to Alexander talk about his goals, because he wanted to show he cared, even if there was no point in doing so.

After all, he didn't need any friends, especially someone like Alexander. But then, having him around was somewhat comforting, and his parents liked him as well.

Alexander snapped out of it, when he noticed the silence and Xavier's ambiguous stare.

"Anyways, I decided going to school would be the most effective way to win back some lost things.", he concluded simply.

"So why are you telling me all this?", Xavier asked quietly.

"I just want you to know. And I thought if I'm going to do this, why don't I go all out? Plus, the main reason I came all the way over to Arin island was because you lived here, and I wanted to be around one of my friends", Alexander didn't know how to reply to Xavier, so he randomly told him facts.

"Good for you then. Don't worry I'll try to pick you up from school everyday", Xavier said whilst reviewing the files he had been holding for a while.

"Really-", Alexander was cut short by a dignified sounding voice which was full of authority, and was quite pleasing to the ears.

"School? You're going to school?", The owner of the voice asked softly, and their voice gradually became louder as they came into view.

It was Mrs Austin. She was a middle aged woman with thick black hair, and green eyes. The smile on her face was quite wide, and her features greatly resembled Xavier's.

She gently approached Xavier who had long retracted any boredom on his face, and instead appeared aloof.

Alexander on the other hand, quickly stood up to greet her.

"Auntie! You're around?!", Alexander enthusiastically called out, but got a knock on the head.

"Haven't I told you not to call me auntie?! Mom! Say mom, not auntie!", She said with feigned anger.

Alexander laughed cheekily whilst moving his gaze elsewhere, then he spoke while rubbing his hurting head. "Aunt- uh I can't do that…", Alexander became nervous again.

He didn't know or understand why he was always nervous around this family, he glanced at them while waiting for Mrs Austin's reply.

'They really look alike. Xavier just looks more vivid than his mom.' , he heard Mrs Austin sigh before speaking.

"Alright then you can address me as Mrs Austin, just don't call me aunty, it makes me sound old", she said in defeat.

"Xavier, Xan is going to school? Why?", Mrs Austin asked her son, with a hidden motive.

Xavier didn't want to reply but thought it over, 'One word should do, right?'.

"Ask Alexa-.", Xavier was interrupted by Alexander who came to answer the question himself.

"Aun- Mrs Austin I'm going there to make friends and have a high school experience!", Alexander responded with excitement in his voice.

"Friends?", Mrs Austin said thoughtfully and looked down at Xavier, who was still sitting down and nodding to himself. There was a lost expression on her face, as the look in her eyes dulled.

'I almost said two words, Thank God Alexander interrupted me', Xavier was a little bit happy at the outcome, but his mother's voice dampened his spirits.

"Xavier, you should go too", Mrs Austin said lightly, while holding the chair in front of her.

Her smile had widened once more, and her grip on the chair tightened.

"What?!", Alexander asked in shock and reacted quite normally. He imagined Xavier going to school, and shivered.

'Would he make it? No! Would they survive?', Alexander was confused and did not understand Mrs Austin's reasoning.

"Why?", But Xavier, the party involved asked calmly, because he didn't think it would be possible. After all, he was already so old.

"What do you mean, why?!", Mrs Austin's warm and affectionate voice turned cold, as she spoke with authority.

Xavier didn't even blink an eye at her change in demeanor, but calmly answered her, "I don't think there's a reason for me to join Alexander in school. I'm assisting Dad with the company, busy with that bridge project and I'm… Ninete-"

"I want you to go, so you have no choice but to go.", Mrs Austin quickly interrupted Xavier. There was a little bit of urgency in her voice, but both boys dismissed it, and she smiled in relief.

Then she continued when she had gotten their attention, "You can accompany Alexander, make some friends, meet new people, have freedom and good memories".

Xavier silently watched her and listened to her speak, he didn't look any different from how he usually did, but something in her words had managed to get his attention.