Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter One

The second week of Year Eleven started under a sweltering haze. By the time Lila Moloney dragged herself to English, she was already wishing for the week to be over.

'It's way too hot to be productive,' she thought with a sigh, fanning herself with her right hand, using her left to move her long, thick black hair from the middle of her back to her shoulder. It didn't help that her new uniform felt scratchy against her skin. She readjusted her white blouse and navy button-on tie, attempting to at least look a little presentable. After all, her class also contained Asher Wagner, the long-running Dux of her cohort.

It wasn't as though she wanted to impress him in any way – but, next to his incredibly prim and proper appearance, with his perfectly ironed uniform and impeccably set hair, she always felt that she should at try to measure up to Forestglade College's strict uniform regime. He'd been the poster child for all facets of pride the College held – excellent grades, flawless attendance, and even exemplary skills on the soccer field. It was hard not to feel inadequate next to him, even though their interactions over the years were few and far between. It had been that way since Lila had first met Asher, especially since his crisp, neat and tidy appearance was almost a rule at this point.

Pursing her lips, Lila unzipped her emerald plaid skirt pocket and checked the time on her phone. It was nearing 8.20am, but Ms Shard was nowhere to be seen. In fact, she was rather alone outside the Language Block this morning. Had the sticky humidity driven away her classmates? Or had she misread her new timetable?

Panic began to settle in her chest as she pulled her laden bookbag to her front, searching for her printed timetable. As soon as she shoved her hand into her bookbag, however, she spotted him approach. Except... there was something incredibly wrong with his appearance.

Asher's golden-brown eyes rested on her for a moment before sliding to the still-locked door of their English classroom. His hair was tousled, his tie askew and uniform creased beyond belief. He looked taller somehow – had he been that way last week? Lila couldn't remember. Was she noticing this now because they were the only two out here?

"Oh, good, there are some students today," Ms Shard's shrill voice tore Lila's attention from Asher. Their teacher hobbled her way to the classroom, her silver glasses slipping down her heavily lined face, laptop bag slung over her right shoulder. She unlocked the door, admitting both Lila and Asher, before fussing about by the projector, plugging in cords and turning on screens.

It seemed as though Ms Shard's emergence summoned the rest of Lila's classmates, who filed in with various states of sleepiness and complaints a few seconds after Lila sat in her seat towards the front.

Ms Shard promptly began the roll call, before diving into this morning's lecture. Lila absentmindedly traced circles upon her notebook, only half paying attention. Asher's 180-degree shift in his appearance... perhaps it was the way he'd stood outside, his face devoid of any particular emotion, or his drastically dishevelled looks, that gave Lila pause. He was... different. And, not only was it needlessly distracting, it was distinctly disturbing.

Surely there was a reason for this. His methodical meticulousness wouldn't let him just forget to dress himself properly – right?

"... your pairs have already been assigned," Ms Shard's piercing voice cut through Lila's musings. "Once I've read out your pairs, please sit together. It's difficult to complete a project between two when you're not."

'Well, that much's clear,' Lila thought, already resigned to her fate. She hoped her partner would at least pitch in some effort to their project and was at least decently competent. Having been at Forestglade College since the second grade, she didn't cling to this wish with any real hope – most of her classmates seemed to be cruising through high school without much care in the world, despite the absurd amount of money their parents paid for the privilege.