Chapter4- The encounter

The long awaited day was finally here. The three cousins got up early and got ready one by one, in their most wondrous normal citizen's attire. Judith wore an ankle length black skirt, with a white cotton frilly blouse, a black bow tie, loose hair and a black hat, finally to finish the look she paired the outfit with brown heeled boots. The outfit well complimented the womanly curves, making her charm irresistible. Mathilda wore a dark blue slim trousers with braces, a caribbean blue frilly shirt, a dark blue bow tie, and black leather shoes, and to finish the look she wore her hair into space buns. Mathilda had this tomboy yet cute and feminine vibe, her cuteness was killer. Sophia wore an ankle length pumpkin coloured chiffon skirt, a beige frilly knit sweater, brown heeled boots, pumpkin coloured bow tie around the knit sweater's collar and finally to finish the look she wore her hair into a pony tail. Sophia is more of the pure virtuous and lady like type, however in mannerism she is also quite the tomboy some times; depending on the situation.

"Wow, I thought thee were statues, what are you doing wasting your time in front of the mirror? I mean I get that thee art pretty and soft, but at least look at the clock, get going to University already." Said Peter to the three cousins who were posing in front of the mirror. The poses were exceptional, except that of Sophia who stood still like a square robot since she has always been the shy one concerning these matters. "Soft? Oh my God Peter, how did you know we were soft to the touch?" asked Judith, "Well God made you rough? My room is right next to yours, and the walls aren't that thick, you were singing your lungs out, you thought I wouldn't hear? I thought my eardrums would explode.... sarcasm aside, it was a nice song, pretty hardcore but nice." responded Peter while packing his rucksack and getting ready for school too. His uniform was a dark green short, a white shirt, a black fleeced blazer and a black bow tie, knee white socks and brown leather shoes. They all had breakfast then left the Evergarden's family hotel, even Gilbert left for work, leaving only aunty Wynter, Molly, Holly, Draco and the other maids and butlers there. Sebastian was to drive the carriage which will take the kids to school while Gilbert rode his own horse to work.

The three cousins finally reached their destination after thirty minutes. Sebastian had already dropped Peter to school. "Good day to thee young ladies." Sebastian wished them before leaving. "Thanks for the ride Sebastian!" called the girls after him while waving him goodbye. "Wow this is it girls, we're finally here, the top university of Leisenburg; the University of Red-Lanterns!" exclaimed Sophia all excited. The architecture was breath taking, it looked so majestic and Victorian. The girls applied to study Graphic Design there as they liked the arts and they had come to learn communication skills as well so the king of Leiden would not allow them to be stuck up with studies like law or medicine for the time being; although princess Sophia wanted to study both Medicine and law, her goal was to become a senior international lawyer and a general surgeon. Judith wants to simply be a Graphic Designer and Mathilda wants to be an Art Director.

The lecturers gathered the new students into the assembly hall. The University's director gave a speech, talked about the rules and regulations of the establishment, introduced the lecturers of all the different departments and finally asked the head of each departments to take their students to their respective classes. Each departments occupy one specific block of the establishment; for example the Graphic Design department is located in Block R to the north.

The head of department of Graphic Design was Mister Phantomhive. He then asked the students to be seated, introduced himself, introduced the other lecturers; Mrs. Adelaide, Mrs. Norton, and Mr. Harries. He then made a speech on attitude, on the field of study and work, then asked each students to introduce themselves. The class; that is Higher National Diploma Graphic Design Year one or HNDGD 1 for short had a total of 29 students. During the introductions, despite how quiet they are, Judith and Mathilda introduced themselves loud and clear enough for everyone to hear but when it was Sophia's turn she started shaking, she tried her best but only Mr. Phantomhive who was standing in front of her, Judith and Mathilda who were adjacent to her both sides and a few more kids who were seated in the same row. Her face turned red and she suddenly had the urge to urinate but had to hold it until Mr. Phantomhive announced it was break time. The other kids made friends rapidly and already formed their social groups. The three cousins sat under the shade of the large almond tree, still unable to socialised, they decided to socialise between themselves. They talked, giggled and laughed. It was finally time to go back to the assembly hall where there were quite a few social talks . The day ended with the director coming to give another speech. The next day, there was more social talks in the assembly hall. Each time The girls arrived at the gate or the girls talking among theselves under the almond tree, there was this group of four boys from their class who always stared at them for three seconds. "Who are they and what's their problem?" asked Sophia. "I don't know but they look like lost primates." said Judith, "Well the one with pierced ears looks pretty handsome..." said Mathilda all shy. "What? Art thou serious?" asked Judith and Sophia in unison and Mathilda nodded while still looking down and playing with her cup of coffee.

A week had passed and the three cousins still haven't made any friends. Sophia finally suggested trying to socialise with the group of four boys who used to stare at them for three seconds, and the others nodded. They then rose from their seats and turned around, not seeing one of the four boys coming to them. Mathilda lost her footing and was about to fall but the boy catched her in his arms. "Hey careful. I'm Hayden Bougainvillea. Pleased to meet you." said the boy with pierced ears who cought Mathilda. "I-I'm Mathilda de... I mean Mathilda Evergarden!" said Mathilda standing upright again; all flustered. Judith gave an elbow punch to Sophia and winked. "Kyaaa a cockroach, that's a cockroach!" screamed Sophia upon seeing a cockroach crawling under her feet. "Not today stupid cockroach since I have finally mastered my ultimate technique for killing your species; METAL SAVATTE BEAM!!!!" screamed Sophia while giving an artistic kick on the cockroach. 'damn human, at least you could have let me seen under your skirt before killing me, I would have died a happy cockroach *sob*' thought the cockroach, breathing it's last breath. after the kick landed on the insect Sophia lost her balance and another member of that group cought her before she could reach the ground and pulled her close to his chest then waited for Sophia's standing and posture to stabilise before letting go. "I'm Alexander Bougainvillea. Pleased to meet you" said the tall boy. "A-ah ah right well pleased to m-meet you too. I-I-I-I-I am Sophia Evergarden." said Sophia who's face flushed red, then looked down at her feet. "Hello. Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am William Bougainvillea." said another one of them to Judith while bowing. Judith showed her respects too through proper etiquettes and greeted him politely. 'Damn we forgot the etiquettes' thought Mathilda and Sophia. the fourth boy introduced himself as Arthur and a fifth boy had joined and introduced himself as Lucas. "Oh by the way Sophia, this metal savatte beam technique of yours to crush a cockroach is quite interesting, would you mind teaching me?" asked Alexander as he chuckled, Sophia then flushed red again couldn't even respond which made Alexander chuckle even more. Since then the three cousins started hanging out with this gang of five boys. The boys named their gang 'the baseless base' and baptized the three cousins as members of the gang too.