The Mask He Wears

Chapter 2

Rain continued to hammer down on the school roof as Miles picked at the lunch that was served. Apparently, it was taco day, a fact that made every student groan. Miles could see why, the "taco" was a completely unrecognizable cylindrical mass of gross smelling meat. He hoped Francisca was having a better day at their new house. she was likely having a tantrum that she could not yet go to school. 

"Hi! I'm Esther. Can I sit here?"

Miles shot up in his seat and stared at the girl looking back at him expectantly.

"You may do as you wish."

"Ok...thanks." She plopped down across from him. "You're Miles, right?"

"Your sources have proved themselves reliable."

"Yeah, they usually do." She sat there awkwardly, picking at her food.

Her accent was cute, southern, like everyone else's. Her words hummed melodically, dancing throughout her conversations as she spoke. She wiped a strand of wavy blonde hair out of her face and stared at her lunch tray.

"Ugh, taco day is the worst, but I heard tomorrow is fish sticks, so that's good. I bet the food was better at your old school huh?"

"Are you trying to subtlety ask if I went to a "preppy" school?"

"No, but I can if you want.... So was the food better?"

"If you must know, the meals were prepared by a famous chef who just happened to fall out of public favor, and so came to our school."

"Cool.... Some of the kids say you're pretty smart. What's your best subject?" She took a bite of taco and grimaced.

"So, she's trying to size me up." Miles thought.

"Government and Debate."

"Funny, I would have thought English would have been your strong point." Her head cocked to the side, causing a lock of hair to fall forward from behind her ear.

"You asked for my strongest subject, although you didn't take into account the fact that I could excel at most subjects and therefore just named my favorites."

"I suppose, although, I assumed that you would answer only based on the question given."

Miles rolled his eyes in annoyance, so she could match logic with logic.

"And I suppose you are the valedictorian of this class?"

"And what if I am?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Just know that Miles Edgeworth doesn't get second place on anything. I will have the highest grades within a week."

She scoffed and slammed her fist on the table. "We'll see about that!"

Esther picked up her lunch tray, then stood up and walked away. Man, that guy was annoying, and she was just trying to be nice to him since he was sitting alone. Well, that would be the last time she did that!

Miles threw his plate away and stormed off to his locker. He would beat that girl at everything no matter how hard it would be.

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Esther looked back at Miles, who was diligently working on an English assignment. He looked content, true he was all alone, but still. She sighed as her conscious began to fight with her. To go or not to go, he hadn't responded well to her advances during lunch, but maybe he had just been having a hard time and a friend was sure to make his first day easier. Esther slipped up out of her seat and walked to where he was sitting. Slinging her bag over the back of the chair, she sat down.