𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆 𝑿 𝒁𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒔!

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐀𝐔 - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏

"Oh class president, Am I too bad for you?"

The loud school bell rang silencing idle chit-chat throughout the room. All of the students were in their seats except for one. A single empty desk sat empty in the back waiting for someone. The door slid open with a thud and a tall orange-haired boy hurried through it carrying an over-shoulder bag. His hair was messy and his uniform wasn't quite straightened due to his untied tie that hung around his neck. "Childe, late again?" Mrs. Lisa said clicking her tongue. Childe, catching his breath sat in his seat and slammed his head against his table. "I'm so sorry ma'am my little brother never wakes up on time, I have to drive him to school every day." Childe pleaded. "Oh? Well in that case you will not be marked late."

Childe sighed as the class went on, taking notes and drawing little doodles in the margins of his paper. He was still a good student, but his reputation not so much. He was affiliated with Signora and Scaramouche, and the three of them were called 'the fatui' around the school. They would commonly pull pranks on other students but were never blamed for it. Many people tried to get members of the fatui in trouble but due to their performances grade-wise, the teachers never believed them.

The bell finally rang and Childe's History class was over. Making his way through the halls, he searched for Signora and Scaramouche. "Over here ginger" Looking to his right, there were the members of the fatui. "Damn, you look rough. Teucer ran you late I assume?" Signora said twiddling with thin strands of her white-blonde hair. "Yeah, he always does. I should just leave him at home honestly." Running his hands through his orange hair, he fixed his bed head and had Signora tie his tie. "Apparently the student president election is starting Friday," Scaramouche said looking at a handout he received from a council member. "Oh yeah there's supposed to be some cuties running for president I saw girls in the library looking at the videos," Signora added.

"We can watch them at lunch maybe we'll get you a girlfriend Scaramouche" Childe snickered being punched by Scara. "Fuck off, I don't want a girlfriend." Signora raised an eyebrow about the two boys bickering over such a simple topic. "Means you want a boyfriend then?" Scaramouche's face turned bright red and kicked Childe right in the crotch. Signora trying to hold in her laughter quickly ran to the next class trying to hide the fact shes friends with these children. "That was so uncalled for," The ginger said on his knees in clear pain grabbing attention from girls walking by. "Hi Scara! Wanna walk to class together?" A soft voice rang through the crowds earning attention from Scara. His face turned a little red but he tried to hide it as best as he could.

A boy that was a medium height stepped through the crowds with a sweet smile on his face. He had white hair and one bright red streak that was pulled back into a small side ponytail. "Uhm hi, Kazuha-" "Oh what happened here?" Kazuha said eyeing Childe who was practically dying on the floor. "He kic-" "Oh nothing, he's just having stomach issues. Someone is a little lactose intolerant." Grabbing Kazuha's arm Scara quickly walked away before Kazuha could say anything. "IM NOT EVEN LACTOSE INTOLERANT???" Childe screamed after Scaramouche.

The pain finally resided and Childe picked back up his shoulder bag and slowly walked to class. The Math was quite the same but better. Graph paper was way better to doodle on. He found himself drawing little pictures of narwhals and zoning out once in a while. Before he knew it, Lunch had arrived. Childe made his way to the fatui's signature lunch spot; a circular table outside in the very corner away from everyone. It was the perfect spot for people watching and sniffing out new drama. Usually, before he went and found Signora and Scaramouche he would reserve their table by putting his stuff there but this time; there was already someone sitting there.

He had long dark brown hair that was golden at the tips. A gem-shaped hairpin pulled his hair back into a neat ponytail. He was wearing reading glasses and his stuff was scattered over the table that Childe was going to sit at. He looked very focused he didn't even glance at Childe who was practically leaning over his shoulder. "Um excuse me?" Childe said giving the other boy a poke. The brown-haired boy jumped a little and glanced at Childe. "Oh sorry, Was this your table?" his voice was quite deep and stared — wide-eyed for a moment. "I've been so focused I suppose I lost track of time. Running for student president isn't easy I guess."

"Oh, you're running for student president?" Childe questioned, looking over his shoulder at all the scattered work that the boy had laid out. "I've heard that many girls have been simping over the candidates~" The brown-haired boy's eyes widened at the comment and quickly returned to his calm and composed nature. "Ahem, well that's interesting, do you know who else is running for class president?" He said picking up his scattered things and shoving them in his brown and gold backpack with a small dragon keychain. "Mmm, I'm not sure, I have some friends that might know."

"Ah, well then I'll be off since this is your table." The boy said putting his backpack on and grabbing his bento lunch. "Where do you usually sit?" Childe said putting his stuff on one of the chairs. "Oh- hmm. One of those benches I suppose. And sometimes I sit with Venti and Xiao but Venti is a little irritating." He sighed putting his hand on his forehead "If you would like you can sit with me! I'm sure Signora and Scaramouche won't mind-" "Did someone just say my name?" Signora said walking towards the table with Scaramouche ever so elegantly. "Oh hi Signora I was just talking about you" the ginger chuckled a little bit. "Talking about me?" She inquired "In a good way promise" he laughed.

"Oh! I just realized I never got your name" Childe said asking the brown-haired boy. "Ah yes, I am Zhongli, and you?" "I'm Tartaglia or Childe usually only Childe." the ginger boy smiled. "This is Signora and Scaramouche" Zhongli gave a little wave and gently smiled. "You are rather calm Mr. Zhongli," Scaramouche said giving him a glare. "You don't know who we are?" "I'm not very familiar with you so, no." Zhongli glared at Scaramouche in a polite manner. "Ah, ignore him he's like a small child" Signora sighed. The silence was almost impenetrable until a certain someone broke it.

"Oh- Did I come at a bad time???" Kazuha said his face a little pink from the embarrassment. "No, not at all" Signora grinned grabbing Scaramouche by the shoulder and shoving him in Kazuha's direction to catch him. "Signora you little bitc-" "BYE SCARAMOUCHE NO ONE LIKE YOU ANYWAYS" Childe laughed as Scaramouche was being dragged away by Kazuha while holding up the middle finger with one of his hands.

"So- where were we?" Childe said scratching his head peering back at pissed Scara. Signora raised a finger and pointed it directly at Zhongli. "Who are you exactly? And you don't even know the fatui?" She sighed raising an eyebrow. "I am Zhongli." He said with a calm face. "He's running for class president," Childe added. Signora looked at Zhongli up and down and nodded. "Definitely knows how to iron his clothes" she laughed at Childe. "No wonder all the girls were fangirling in the library he's quite the cutie." Trying to hide his embarrassment Childe covered his face. Zhongli just stood there in shock fake coughing himself out of the situation. "Well I should be going, I will sit with you another day Childe". The silence was once again present and Zhongli swiftly made his exit.

Signora's smile grew as Zhongli got farther and farther away, her smile slowly turning into a laugh. Zhongli was quite far away but could still be somewhat seen through a clear window in the cafeteria next to Venti, Xiao, and Hu Tao. "BWHAHWHWAWHAWH CHILDE YOU ARE SUCH A LOSER" Signora laughed almost hacking up a lung. "HOW AM I A LOSER????" Childe said defensively putting a hand on his chest. Signora's loud laugh turned into an almost silent giggle. "You like him don't you?" She said giving Childe a wink. "WHAT? NO? I LITERALLY JUST MET HIM MA'AM" Signora raised her hand and ran towards Childe. "YOU LITTLE LYING BIC-"

(1,450 words)

 Stay tuned for Part 2 <3