A Boy Named Xander

"Cayden, yes... the Headmaster wants me to escort these ladies to the dorms but I can not leave me station unattended." Xander said bluntly. Cayden looked at the girls and then at the Headmaster. "Good day Headmaster." He said as he bowed but the Headmaster ignored him. "Gregory let's get going, I dare say we have better things to do then to loiter around all day." Gregory nodded his head as he took a quick peak at the boy who was still in a bowing position.

Ariana was shocked and turned to the Headmaster. "Sir? Is it customary to keep paying your respect until you have acknowledged the person?"

The Headmaster froze, he looked at Ariana and she could clearly see the disdain shinning in his eyes. "I only acknowledge people worthy of being acknowledged." He replied coolly.

Ariana stood her ground and glared back at the Headmaster. "So a living person is not worth acknowledgment? A person being born is not their fault, their fault lies in how they choose to live and if that person is outstanding then what fault is there to find?" Ariana retorted.

The Headmaster's eyes started to glow an ominous purple as part of his face darkened. "Are you challenging my authority?" He asked in a low tone that would have sent chills down any normal person's spine but Ariana dared to take a step forward. She placed a gentle hand on top of the young man's back and stood her ground. "I would never dream of disrespectfully challenging your authority, just questioning your criteria on worthiness."

Veins started to pop everywhere on the Headmaster, most noticeably on his clenched hands. "I will ignore your rude behavior only this time and ask you something simple... Do you by chance know this young man?" The Headmaster asked with a strained voice.

Ariana stood proudly and raised her chin. "I-?!" She started to say but was pushed down to the ground by the young man. His beautiful grey eyes that closely resembled silver stared daggers in her direction as he straightened his back.

He then narrowed his gaze as he stared down at Ariana, showing his arrogance and disgust on his face. "Xander, I don't like wasting my time nor being touched by some unknown creature. The Headmaster gave you an order and you're still here, get out already." Cayden said with a dark and icy tone.

Suddenly a loud sound echoed throughout the building followed by a crash. The Headmaster backhanded the young man and sent him flying across the floor. He slid as he made contact on the floor and crashed into some stand alone shelves.

"How dare you raise your head in my presence!" The Headmaster growled. Ariana gasped as she tried to scramble to get up but Gregory placed a firm hand onto her shoulder and covered her mouth. She moved her watery eyes to his face and Gregory spoke with his eyes. "Shut up or you'll make things worse."

Gregory released Ariana. He then straightened his clothes while Edlyn moved in to hide Ariana within her embrace. "Headmaster... if you're done taking care of the trash I would like to move our itinerary along. I don't want to waste a single second more on remedial things." Gregory said indifferently.

The Headmaster spun around to Gregory and was completely overjoyed. "Good on you! Let's move things along and I hope this serves all of you all a lesson... don't question me... alright back to what you were doing!" He said with a chipper tone at the end. He made sure to send a warning glare towards the girls direction.

Ariana made contact with his gaze and refused to let the issue go but Edlyn's trembling body made her give up the fight today. The Headmaster and Gregory walked by the girls slowly. Ariana bit down on her tongue, stopping herself from saying something and waited until they could no longer hear their footsteps echoing within the building. Ariana quickly broke out of Edlyn's embrace and rushed over to the young man, named Cayden.

She stretched out a trembling hand and tried to brush back the young man's golden hair from his face. The young man caught her hand and shoved her back. He started to rise and Ariana could see his entire face. Though he was older and his child like face was now replaced. He looked more handsome, mature and it didn't stop her from instantly recognized him as her first crush in this world. "Cayden..." She whispered under her breath as her eyes started to water.

Cayden stood up and dusted off his royal blue, guards uniform. He ignored Ariana and started to clean up the toppled over shelves and books. Ariana moved to help him with the clean up but Cayden turned and gave her a distasteful face. "What do you think you're doing young Miss?"  Ariana flinched when she heard his strong voice, sneering at her actions. "It's my fault that..."

Cayden let out a dark laugh. "You think that because you stood up to the Headmaster for me now you owe me? Or is it that I owe you? Ha! Your kind always think so highly of themselves, don't you?!"

Ariana could feel her temper rising and she glared right back at Cayden. "Your kind?! Your kind! That's funny... because my kind is a commoner, my kind knows what it means to be looked down on... my kind knows the difference of right and wrong... so tell me, is kindness something to be looked down on? Is justice just a fleeting dream? Or is every type of bred suppose to look the other way when someone of power commands it?!" Ariana shouted.

The guards started to whisper around the two and Cayden gritted his teeth. "Your kind as in women! Females! All two faced b*tches! I never asked for your superficial kindness! You did this to satisfy your own selfish desires!" Cayden shouted back. Ariana's heart hurt but she refused to react. "You," She started but Cayden shook his head.

"No you! Don't pretend you're just a commoner! Anyone looking closely at your clothes can tell you come from money!" Cayden shouted. "Besides, this Academy is for the nobles of society other then the one commoner that was emitted this year, she'll not be arriving for another two days... so how much money did you pay to get you and your friend in early? It must have been your entire fortune and more probably a good shag from your mother as well." Cayden said with a scoff.

Ariana started to laugh loudly at Cayden remarks as she stood up. "Of Course! Money, power, a loose mother why not? Not the fact that I and my friend are under my first cousin's ward but you wouldn't know that now would you?! Instead you make up your own lies so that you can make barriers around yourself..." Ariana said as she looked down at Cayden with a darkened face.

"Fine. I'll play along and let you have your way... Yes, my good sir, you're right! Tattered rags made up of the finest materials can never really hide someone's worth. You have good eyes, to be able to recognize the value in them but then again why wouldn't you know about my situation Cay-?!" Ariana continued with a mockingly enthusiastic tone but was cut off by Cayden again.

"Enough! Stop with this nonsense! Why must you pretend I know you?! Xander take these two young ladies to their rooms already! There presence is not needed or wanted." Cayden commanded. Ariana's jaw dropped. She stood her ground and glared at Cayden. She was ready to start another argument but Edlyn grabbed her hand and shook her head no.

Ariana gritted her teeth. "Good! Everything is good! Yes, so... ha... Sir Xander if you could be so kind as to direct us to our dorms. Our things should be delivered later on and I hope that this fellow would personally deliver it along with an apology."

Xander stepped forward and looked from Ariana to Cayden. With an indifferent face he did a small bow. "Yes my lady." Then straightened up his back and started to walk away. "Please follow me this way." He called out. Ariana quickly followed Xander and towed Edlyn behind her, leaving Cayden to clean up his mess.

Edlyn tugged at Ariana's hand. Ariana quickly released her, turn around and watched as her friend brought up her hands. "It's okay now we are away from the other guards." Ariana wasn't sure why Edlyn would mention that and looked at her with confusion. "Ya their behind us now so why does it matter?" Edlyn pulled out and handkerchief and pressed it into Ariana's hands.

Ariana looked at the handkerchief and then slowly moved her own hand to her cheeks. Tears were already streaming down her face, she froze in place. Her body was being more honest then her head and it was infuriating. "Ha... haha...ha, my body is playing tricks on me." Ariana said with an awkward laugh. She then looked at Edlyn who stood perfectly still and Xander who sensed something wrong. He kept his gaze forward keeping his back to the girls.

"So what if Cayden treated me that way right?! It means nothing, it doesn't hurt... just like him not writing back to me doesn't hurt... him not recognizing me doesn't hurt too... his actions are nothing! I'm independent now... I have you now Edlyn so I'm not lonely... not lonely at all..." She tried to convince herself but bigger tears kept spilling out. "I'm perfectly fine..." She said as her voice creaked.

Edlyn tapped on Xander's back, he slowly turned around, he had no idea how to react and he definitely didn't know what to do as Edlyn started searching though his uniform's pockets. Edlyn's face lit up when she found what she was looking for and started to scribbled words furiously. She then shoved the blue parchment into Xander's face and waited.

"You want me to call Cayden?" He said as if questioning her sanity. Edlyn furrowed her brows, she started searching his pockets again and Xander couldn't help but freeze in place. Edlyn couldn't find what she was looking for and started to undress Xander instead. She pulled off his royal blue, lapel coat with the silver trim and buttons. She brought it in front of her and started to shake it violently.

Little wrapped pieces of candy fell out and nothing else. When she couldn't find what she wanted she threw the coat to the ground completely frustrated. She then walked up to Xander and started to search his white, button up, dress shirt. She started patting his left pectoral seeing if the pocket on his shirt hand anything hidden.

She hesitated for a bit and felt something lean and firm in the area. She patted it a few more times and decided to stick her hand in the pocket. Nothing was there. She stood on her tip toes and tried to look inside. Still nothing was there. She then tried to squeeze the area and felt that something was off.

She moved her hands to the button and started to undo them. She opened up the shirt and turned slightly pink. Before her was a lean, well toned body. She awkwardly looked up and saw Xander's bright red face.

Ariana had stopped crying when she noticed Edlyn shaking the coat. She picked up a piece of wrapped candy and watched as Edlyn man handled the young man. When she saw Edlyn's confused face and tried to look into his shirt pocket, she decided to make herself comfortable on the ground, unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth. She nearly choked on the strawberry flavoured candy when Edlyn opened up his shirt. She quickly got up and tried to explain the situation.

After multiple awkward apologies, grabbing Xander's coat, dusting it off, giving it back to him and more apologies. They waited for Xander to get dressed before they started walking towards the dorms. "So your friend is a mute." He said as they started walking. "Yes... she was just looking for some writing paper... she didn't want to waste your magic paper... she didn't know if it was valuable." Ariana explained.

"Interesting, so she communicates with her hands." He said as he walked along side them. Ariana was conveniently in the middle while Edlyn signed beside her. "She is mute but not deaf. She has great hearing but not a lot of people know how to sign and she became somewhat of an introvert." Ariana said them looked at Edlyn. She quickly brought up her hands, she elegantly and effortlessly moved them as if it was as natural as water flowing down a calm stream while Ariana translated her movements.

"Hello my name is Edlyn Abela, first year, 15 years old. I apology again for my rude behavior and hope that you can forgive me." Xander watched her move her hands and something flashed for a split second in his eyes.

"Well Ms. Abela, as an introvert what does one do to occupy time?" Xander asked. Edlyn smiled and brought up her hands. "Imagination is the key to kill time. Along with sharpening ones mind of course! I may lack in proper lady etiquette but I scored in the top 3% in the entrance exam." She signed then pointed at her ribbon.

"Ahh, I too am in the top 3%." He said as he pointed to his own tie. "How wonderful! Then do you have any other redeeming qualities?" Edlyn signed, Ariana translated and Xander laughed. His laugh was pure and clear, making one feel at ease.

"Why would I have to redeem myself? I study because that is what is expected of me, nothing more." Xander explained flatly. Edlyn started to pout and brought up her hands again. "There is more to life then studying! I should know I'm a reformed introvert!" Xander started to laugh again. "Are you?"

Edlyn started to get mad but Ariana had to stop translating she couldn't hold back her laughter. "I can tell you my friend is indeed a reformed introvert! We have crashed tea parties, had fun around town, she helped my sister-in-law take care of her baby and she interacts with people regularly."

Xander looked surprised and peaked at Edlyn. Her soft, pink curls hugged her face, her light blue eyes displayed a high intelligence but her pouting face made her look innocent and childish.

"So you like babies?" Xander asked. Edlyn looked up and locked eyes with Xander. Ariana felt like a third wheel and stepped back just far enough so she could still translate. "I found out recently that I do! That's what I mean go out and try things you'll never know what you like or are good at until you try!"

"I also like dancing, eating cake, oh! Ariana makes the best strawberry shortcake, pancakes, cheesecake, turn overs, really any sweet you can think of she's great at making it! Oh and food! I love food! Especially Ariana's food!"

"Oh, oh, oh! I love reading books, any book, every book! They take you to magical places and you can learn so much too! Oh and art! I absolutely love art! More then anything else in the world! Painting, drawing, needle point, knitting, crocheting, I want try more at the Academy! I think I would die if I couldn't do art, or get my hands into something artsy! I love art more than anything, art is the best!"

Xander turned a bright shade of red again and picked up his pace. They were now nearly a giant white building with a bright blue roof. Xander practically ran to the royal blue doors and waited for Ariana and Edlyn catch up. He then knocked on the door rapidly and waited for the door to open. Ms. Hadley opened the door. "Xander?" She said then spotted the girls.

"The Headmaster has asked me to escort these two ladies here. I have accomplished my task, good day." He said before he tried to run away but Edlyn grabbed his sleeve. He hesitated and stopped in his tracks to watch Edlyn communicate with her hands.

Xander looked at Ariana and waited for her to translate. "She wants you to introduce yourself. It's the polite thing to do." Xander moved his gaze to Edlyn and instantly flushed when he saw her sparkling eyes. "I will be starting my third year in two days... my tie will turn to gold." He said as he awkwardly pointed to his silver tie.

"So... me... 3% ha.... Cayden is my room mate and friend... I only know how to study... spent my vacation here to get work hours added to my marks...." Xander said as he stumbled along with his words. Ariana rolled her eyes.

"Your full name! What is your full name!" She groaned as Xander flushed a deeper pink. "I will be turning 17 in 8 weeks, that's June 23rd... and... and my... m-my n-name... my name is Xander... Xander Art." Xander concluded as his face became redder.

Edlyn turned to stone as Xander averted his gaze. He quickly bowed and excused himself before he raced off. Ariana started to laugh as she held her sides. Ms. Hadley looked at her quizzically but Ariana could barely breath.

"Oh my G*d Edlyn! Oh my G*d! You have really set the bar high!" She said as she gasped for air. Edlyn started to crack and Ms. Hadley patiently waited for Ariana to calm down. "I don't understand what just happened. Xander is such a calm an indifferent child... but this... this was wow."

Ariana finally stood up and wiped her tears away with Edlyn's handkerchief. "Basically Edlyn man handled the poor boy then confessed her love for him without knowing!" Ariana explained before she burst out into another laughing fit. Edlyn crumbled and poor Ms. Hadley had to comfort the girl until Ariana could no longer laugh.

After everything had calmed down Ariana and Edlyn were Brought to their rooms, they saw that school issued night gowns were laying neatly on top of their beds. They were excited that they were room mates but deflated when they find out it was actually four girls per room. After they got changed and settled in for the night Ariana couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned and Edlyn couldn't take it.

She got out of bed and shook her friend until she sat up. Ariana turned on her bed side lamp and looked up at Edlyn. "Sorry I can't sleep." She mumbled and Edlyn signed her worry. "Yes Cayden is part of it but... Edlyn what if I said I needed your help?" Edlyn was caught of guard and sat down on Ariana's bed. She nodded her head. "Anything." She signed. "What if I told you I'm not normal?" Ariana sighed. Edlyn tilted her head. "Of course you're not but I still love you."

Ariana laughed but the smile didn't last. "Edlyn I need to tell you everything..."