Star Crossed Haters [EDITING]

Traitor (Part I)

*Dan's pov* 

A pair of familiar faces emerge from the door. Green hair, and blue eyes. Kurin takes Aay to student services, a pair of scowls. I harshly dry the remnants of the tears. Aay clutches a tissue to his nose, stained with scarlet liquid. A pang of guilt stabs at my heart, but I push it aside. I stare them down, matching their scowls. The door swings open, and I recoil. My heart accelerates. 

"Dan. I am thoroughly disappointed in your atrocious behaviour. Such violent acts in this school are NOT tolerated, you hear me? Just because you and Magnus succeeded in our victory, you are no more special than anyone else, thus meaning the rules still apply, even to YOU," Storm pauses "You are going to the faculty, where they will decide a suitable punishment." 

I open my mouth to protest- 

"Save it for the faculty." I have no choice but to follow and accept my fate. 

I battle a wave of nausea. My heart palpitates and I swallow down the bile. In front of me looms the door to the faculty's room. Storm pushes open the door, and I walk in, the floor suddenly so interesting. 

"What brings you two here?" Philomena questions, staring straight at us while her fingers remain on the keyboard. Blue light illuminates her face, her skin appearing even more pale and ghostly. The same light casts a silhouette on the wall. I shudder. 

"Dan has caused some trouble." Philomena slams the laptop down and rests her chin in her hand. 

"Elaborate." 

"Not you, Calloway," She points a bony finger at me, "Him."

I inhale, breath shaky. She removes her glasses and places them on the top of her head. 

I retell her the story. I punched Aay in the jaw because he brought up Magnus, I offered him my hand, but he refused and I clawed at his face, so he slapped me, said I'm not the person he thought he was. . .

"And then?" Philomena pushed

"And then," I feel disgusted at my actions, "I kicked him." 

 Something in Philomena shifts, her lips drawn in a tight line, and her eyes dull. 

"Kicked him? Where?" 

"In the nose," I add, recoiling at the mental image of his blood.

"Well, I am disgusted at such poor behaviour! Such violent acts are not tolerated within this academy. You are a disgrace to this school! Any order provoking you is NOT an excuse!" She barks, spit flying. "I am disappointed, Kouzo. I thought you were above such petty things." She sighs, "Your punishment will be decided by the end of the day," She puts her glasses back on. A feeling of dread sinks in. "You may not return to the lesson." 

I rush out and into my dorm. I collapse onto my bed. 

"Wah!" I drop onto the floor and the back of my legs throb.

"We have found the traitor." Storm purrs and smirks, "Who knew it would be one of our star students? Come with me." Storm instructs

"Wha-?" I get dragged with Storm before I could process the information. 

"I have found the traitor." Storm declares as the grand doors swing open. 

Haavik howls, "What a plot twist! Dan Kouzo, our traitor! Brave, bravo!" He claps and descends into a cascade of giggles. Kravitz tuts and ducks her head. Philomena swivels on her chair and slams the palm of her hand against the big red button. The alarm sounds again, and the faculty gather into a single file line. I follow them as they step onto the podium. We await for the panicked students to file in. Everything happens too fast for me to process. 

"We have discovered the traitor!" Storm bellows 

The academy gasped in unison. 

"And it is none other than. . ." 

The academy goes silent, waiting for the traitor's name. 

"Dan Kouzo!" They chime, storm gripping my fist and holding my arm up. Silence dawns on the academy. They erupt into choruses of boos and jests. I search for Kurin, Aay and Riot. I'm met with a trio of grimaces. 

"Boo!" They chorus, elongating the 'oo' 

"Traitor!" This is a joke, right??? 

"You're a good-for-nothing disgrace!" 

"What? I - I didn't do anything, I swear!" I splutter, I raise my hands in the air.

"That's what they all say," Kravitz mumbles from the back 

"Oh, really, then what is. . . This?" Storm raises a crown to the light, bedazzling gems shimmering. The students admire it in its sunbathed glory. 

"The crown from the heist-" 

"That was discovered in your room." I pinch my cheek, and it throbs. My stomach knots. 

"But. . . But that's not mine! I would never betray this academy, never! I wouldn't do something like that, please, you have to believe me!" I plead, clutching my fists together

"Sorry, I'm afraid the evidence is stacked against you. Unless you have something to prove your 'innocence'? " 

"Kurin! Riot! Yay! Please, you know I wouldn't do something like this!" They refuse to make eye contact with me. It's like they don't even want to acknowledge that I exist.

"Crystal Blue?" 

"People can change, Dan." She responds. 

This. 

Is. 

Real. 

I have been framed. 

"And what do you suppose we do with him?" Philomena asks lips curled in a taunting smile. 

"Expel him!" Come several shouts

"Wipe his memory and give him a normal life!" 

"Kill him!" Kill me??? 

"Democracy, students. All in favour of his expulsion, raise your hands," Haavik suggests. A handful of hands are raised. "All in favour of wiping his memory and giving him a normal life?" A bunch of hands shoot up, more than the first. 

"Killing him?" One hand shoots up, belonging to a green-haired boy. I swallow the bile. Aay wants me dead? 

"Wiping his memory and giving him a normal life, it is." Haavik declares 

"Boo!" Philomena holds up a hand. 

"Would you like to meet the same fate?" Silence. 

"You will be escorted at midnight. Be thankful to your peers despite your treacherous behaviour."