Helheim

CHAPTER 3

Monday had come and gone by, almost killing me. Tuesday was more relaxed in my schedule. I only had two classes before I had to head to my cultural extracurricular and then to ballet again, which I was not so sure I would be able to survive.

The art classrooms were on the second floor with big windows facing the gardens on the back of the school which stretch out to eventually blend with the forest and the mountains. I sat in the back of the classroom on the only table available close to a sink stained all over with paint.

I didn't really know what to do, I had no brushes, nor a canvas, nor any idea if I had to bring something, and everybody seemed to be working already, wearing headphones deeply concentrated in their respective art. Everything would have been in silence if it was not for a couple of girls sitting in the front of the classroom who were talking to one another; one had this high pitched voice and a high ponytail and the other had long black hair and a round face, I had seen them both during Sundays dinner and last night too, they both sat with, what I had come to name, The Seven. They were talking about some party they were attending to next Friday, but they stopped and turned to look at her smiling, when she walked in; Kaden Volkova. The Russian girl sat next to them with her back towards me, and immediately a group of five boys approached them. She talked to all of them smiling, and now, up close I understood what Kacey meant, her brown almond eyes almost closed when she smiled, she did look Asiatic, but then again, her presence gave the room a different vibe, she was towering, magnetic, elegant, and as beautiful as Amelie, she looked like a porcelain doll, an intimidating one.

I regretted my sit, I was curious and wished I had seated closer to them. But the guys eventually left them alone. And as her friends went back to their respective work, Kaden proceeded to put her headphones on, and took out of a briefcase a half done painting of what I could tell was a lake surrounded by mountains and a sunset in the back.

The teacher walked in shortly after.

-Good morning everyone- she greeted us. Everybody answered in a muffled tone, without truly acknowledging her, but it did not seem to bother her that the whole class was way to absorbed with their work, it actually made her smile wider and proudly. She scanned the room until her eyes landed on me, she opened her mouth in o, and then proceeded to speak again –Class I need you to pay attention! -

This time my classmates did stop what they were doing, Oh no, I realized what she was about to do, but had nowhere to hide.

-We have a new student with us- she said pointing in my direction while everybody turned around to see me. –Her name is Sophia Walton, I hope you give her a warm welcoming-

-Hi...-I whispered to embarrassed to do anything else.

I noticed Kaden eyeing me intensely, our gaze met, and her cold stare made me shudder a little, she was definitely scary. Although my body didn't receive the signal because I could feel my cheeks burning red. She eventually turned away and kept painting.

-Willow! - the teacher called.

-Yes Ms. Hafner? - asked the black haired girl next to Kaden.

-Sophia will need some type of guide while she gets use to the dynamic of the class, would you care to explain to her everything she needs to know? -

-Sure Ms. Hafner- she accepted, stood up, picked up her things, and whispered something to her friends. Kaden turned to glare at me again before shaking her head in response and putting her headphones back on. On the other hand, the girl with the ponytail, stood up with her things too. Where they going to sit with me? Why did Kaden stay behind? Did she not like me? I have not even said hi yet.

-Alooo- greeted Willow smiling and taking sit in front of me- I'm Willow Graham, and this is Summer Lowell-

-Hello...-I answered shyly while the girl with the ponytail sat next to me- I'm Sophia, but you can call me Soph or Sophi if you want-