Under the Same Sky [BOYXBOY]

CHAPTER 9

There had been a flurry of activities for the past few weeks as both students and staff of Lumière International High School prepared for the interhouse competitions until finally, the week dawned.

A fever of excitement seized everyone in the school as they all readied themselves that morning. Some students and even a few teachers cast bets on which house would emerge the victor. The strong favourite was Aquila, which had been the winner for two years running.

Noel hadn't been left out of the excited fever and as he painted his face in the Scorpius house colours, he chippered away pleasantly.

'My first interhouse games, I'm so excited I could scream!'

'Don't,' Jayden replied with a scowl.

'Why are you in a dark mood today? It's literally impossible to be in such a mood today of all days. Imagine it, the cutthroat competition, the bloodlust, the adrenalin pumping through everyone as they sit on the edge of their seats, the nail biting as they hope their house doesn't lose, the excited roar of thousands of voices as their house wins a competition. It's heaven,' he finished with a sigh.

'Oh, joy.'

'Don't be sarcastic,' Noel chastened as he moved to dye his hair. 'So what's the problem with you?'

'Nothing.'

'It can't be nothing.'

Jayden chose to ignore him and turned back to his book, which he read as he lay on his favourite couch. After a while, Noel stood in front of the door and looked askance at him.

'You coming?'

'No,' he answered, not looking up from his book.

Noel opened his mouth to speak but closed it after a second thought. He looked at him one last time with worry before stepping out and closing the door silently behind him.

The roar of the crowds was so loud, it could be heard all the way in the dorms. After the third eruption, Jayden tossed his book aside, giving it up as a lost cause. Picking his music player and his earphones, he left the dorms for a walk to clear his head.

He made sure to avoid the fields where the competitions were taking place, and as he walked across the grounds, he let the music carry him as it always had to a place free of all burdens.

He stuck his hand in his grey hoodie and let his feet carry him wherever it wished. He soon passed the boathouse and came to stand before the still azure lake. He stood, watching the clouds glide effortlessly in its crystal surface and the small ripples that formed erratically on its surface.

He turned his face to allow it to be caressed by the cool gentle breeze that blew across the grounds and his rough haphazard thoughts were soon smoothened and carried away.

The sun was mild in its intensity and as he raised his face to be kissed by its warm rays, he felt a load lift from his shoulders. He sighed in contentment but that contentment was sadly not to last.

A voice he recognized all too well cut across like the perfect stillness like a knife.

'Jayden! Hey, over here!'

Samuel jogged up excitedly to him with a bright smile on his face. He was donned in a tracksuit and trainers in his house colours and had a bag slung over his shoulder.

'What are you doing over here all by yourself? Everyone is at the soccer match at Pitch 4.'

Jayden just glared at him.

'It's a shame I have to miss the game but I have to check if everything is ready for the boat race later in the day.'

Jayden turned around and begun to walk away but Samuel just trudged after him, his task completely forgotten.