Jealousy | A Rosewood Chronicles FanFiction

Part 5 - The First Day

"Good morning Kate." Aric said, sitting next to Kate during breakfast.

"Good morning Aric." She mimicked with a smile."How was your first night at Rosewood?"

"It was okay." he replied.

"Raphael didn't host any back to school parties?" Kate smirked; she was joking, but she wouldn't have been surprised if he had.

"No. We just talked and stuff. I think we could be friends." he said, a genuine smile creeping onto his lips instead of his normal smirk.

"What, never had a friend before?" Kate asked and the moment it escaped her lips she knew it was the wrong thing to say. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine, I..." he stopped as soon as Raphael, Binah, Jamie, Lottie and Ellie came into the hall and spotted them sat at a table.

"Good morning!" Binah said cheerfully, taking a seat. "I trust you all slept well?"

"How's Percy?" Kate asked Jamie as he sat down.

"Fine." he replied monotonously, but Kate could tell he was hiding something; so had Lottie, it seemed, for they shared a look which Jamie noticed and immediately looked away from them both. "Anyway, if you'll excuse me and Lottie we're...going on a run." Jamie said hesitantly, aware of the others in the room.

"Oh, maybe I'll come, I..." Raphael started, but Jamie interrupted.

"Sorry Raphael, we have something we have to do alone." He said abruptly and Raphael looked taken aback and glanced to Kate who shrugged. Jamie was tense and they could all tell.

The first proper day was free of lessons, so the students were left to their own devices all day. Binah said she was going to the library, whilst Kate had no idea what Ellie was up to.

Kate and Aric made their way down the path which connected all three houses, the hall, classrooms and sports pitches.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on with Jamie!?" They suddenly heard a voice from halfway down the path, then fast footsteps like they were running. "I mean, I don't know what happened over the summer but all of a sudden he's like a different person! Can't get two words out of him since we've come back." Raphael began walking next to them. "Is it something I did?"

"God Raphael, have you not worked out that Jamie's in a mood practically all day every day? And just because he doesn't want to hang out with you doesn't mean he doesn't want to be friends with you anymore."

"Ok, well, do you want to hang out?"

"No sorry I'm busy."

Raphael nearly burst out laughing but it was clear he didn't actually find it funny. "I can't believe it. Anastacia doesn't speak to me anymore, no one will tell me anything about what went on over the summer-"

"Relax, Raphael. Nothing happened." Kate replied.

"Yeah, you keep saying that but it's obvious that something did. And what is Jamie doing with Lottie this morning? They never hang out!"

"Actually," Kate said, stopping. "I'd quite like to know that myself."

They crept down to the track where they'd seen Jamie and Lottie heading; voices carrying in the breeze, the Partizan was yelling to Lottie who was just finishing a lap of the track. Kate caught a glimpse of them through the metal mesh fencing that surrounded the training area.

"Huh. Guess they're running."

"What? No way." Raphael said, looking through the fence. Kate could see the genuine hurt cross his face for a brief moment, but within a flash it was gone, replaced with a blank expression. Kate had forgotten that Jamie and Raphael had originally bonded over a love for cross-country.

Without saying a word, he turned around and headed back towards the path, Kate and Aric staring after him. When he realized no one was following, he spun around. "Are you coming?"

"Sorry, I said I'd give Aric a tour."

"Fine. Guess I'll see you later then." He said sulkily.

"Yeah, see you."

_____________________________

That evening, Jamie, Kate and Lottie made their way down to Conch house. Ellie was busy catching up on some fencing practice even though it was the first day of term, so they had thought it a good time to speak to Anastacia about Saskia. Saskia hadn't said a word all summer - no light had been shed on Leviathan or their future plans, or why Saskia tried to kidnap Lottie in the first place. All she'd said was 'I want to speak to my master, Anastacia Alcroft'. Their best hope was to convince Anastacia to talk to her Partizan in order for Saskia to start talking.

But as they strolled aimlessly up to Conch house, they were discussing their electives: a programme of courses and activities to bring out the best in students, allowing them to pursue interests that they were passionate about.

"Not gonna lie Lottie, your elective sounds...kind of boring." Kate joked as Lottie rolled her eyes, already having received this reaction from Ellie that morning.

"Well, I think Royal history is a very responsible choice. You should be taking notes, Kate." he said, stone cold, before adding with a tiny smile. "What's yours again?"

"Ugh, for the last time, why is it so bad that I picked tennis I like it."

"It's just so random!" Lottie giggled and Jamie smiled.

"Besides, I always used to beat you." he said flatly.

"Too bad you're not taking it as an elective are you. Anyway, I would have chosen skating if it was an option. They can't exactly wait all year until the lake freezes over. At least I won't fall asleep in my elective though."

"Royal history is not boring!" Lottie retaliated. "It's like unravelling a mystery; i'll be studying real life fairy tales." She said with a smile.

Eventually, they arrived at Conch House. Unlike Ivy House, which was decorated beautifully with cosy interior pieces, Conch House was bold: red roses surrounded the house which was modern and filled with dark oak furniture.

As soon as they walked in the door, they were surrounded by students in red blazers, and suddenly Kate felt very out of place in her purple blazer.

"Anastacia!" Lottie exclaimed, eyeing Anastacia sitting on one of the tables near the window on her phone, obviously trying to act like she didn't hear Lottie's call. But she did. She shifted awkwardly in her seat as the three of them made their way over to her.

Jamie wasted no time. "Anastacia." He said. "We need you to tell us everything you know about Leviathan, about Saskia, everything."

Her face remained blank and she said nothing at first, but Jamie's persistant glare seemed to be making her uncomfortable. "No." She said flatly, and she turned back to her phone.