Closer to perfection (academic rivals)

Chapter 2 ♡

(Sorry this took so long to upload, i was on holiday ^^! I hope you enjoy this chapter :D.)

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H E A T H E R
I peer through the window as the train came to a halt.
The crisp sun burnt leaves swirl in the air as the trees are tanning in the sweltering summer heat.  Pretty. Despite the obvious arrival of autumn, the air remains warm with only occasional bursts of fickle wind to cool us down.
I glance at my reflection through the tinted window. Ew. Trickles of sweat slid down my greasy-looking forehead. I need to make a mental note to look for a new sun stick on YesStyle that isn't over 5 quid.

As soon as the train driver lets us know that we can get off, I grab Hailey and Emma with our luggage before rushing out of the train.
"If we get there before everyone else we can find out about the competition they're holding this year!" I tell them, running with my suitcase bouncing against my waist.
"BRO NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE COMPETITION WE WANT TO TRY THE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE FIRST," Emma complains.
"Can we put down these fat suitcases down first?" Hailey exclaims, whining as her bulging suitcase scrapes the floors.
I grin. Hailey and Emma should care more about their academics. How are they going to become rich and famous when they're older? Although they do have their parents to provide for them.

I slow down to a "ladylike" pace before walking into the auditorium, where Mr Kennedy and Mr Smith are standing on the stage, expecting a crowd of Year 11s to walk in. Which they do a few seconds after.
A miniature statue of gold resembling a tea pot, with two handles at the sides of a cup, stands, bathed in the soft afternoon sunlight. A trophy. It needs to be mine this year. I'm sick of winning medals I spent buckets full of effort into achieving whilst Caelan probably thrusts away each trophy he's given in some cupboard.

Speaking of Caelan, there he is on the stage with Mr Kennedy and Mr Smith. The sound of clapping and speaking is filtered and blurred but I can clearly make out Caelan's figure. His brows look furrowed in deep concentration, as if he's looking for someone in the crowd. His eyes frantically scan the audience before settling on mine. Huh? I look away in embarrassment, before glancing back at him, but he's already focused on a conversation with sirs. I bet all my YesStyle points that he was making sure that I'm here to witness his praise from some of our teachers. Classic.
If the stifling heat of early September was affecting us, then it surely had no influence on Caelan. His dark hair gently rustles as though there's a light breeze running through his unbrushed waves. His features remain smooth and perfect,marked on his porcelain face.

"Now, a round of applause for Heather!"
I hand Hailey and Emma my suitcase before responding to Mr Smith's signal to come up onto the stage. I smile as I step onto the stage, waving at the audience and shaking Mr Murphy and Mr Smith's hands.
"I know year 10 was stressful for all of us, but I hope we can enjoy this year to its fullest," Caelan starts his speech. "We're close to college now and I hope you enjoy your final year of school, although obviously some of you might be staying here for college!"
The audience of students claps and laughs. His speech isn't even that funny- I can guarantee most people laughing are just desperate girls!
I prepare myself for my speech, clapping for Caelan and flashing him a very friendly smile.
"Yes, just as Caelan said, year 11 is indeed our final year of school before college. It's quite sad to leave our childhood years behind, but we must move on from when we were edgy teenagers in school!" I force a laugh. An eruption of laughter in the audience follows and a wave of relief washes over me, saved from an awkward silence.
"I hope you can settle in for this year! Thank you, the student council"

I smile my one of my very friendly smiles at Caelan, but he only laughs. Rude! The crowd grows smaller and smaller as everyone is dismissed, until there's no more students. I step off the stage to get my suitcase from my friends.
"Can you guys wait for me outside?"
Hailey and Emma nod, eyeing me and Caelan before leaving the auditorium giggling. I need to have a conversation with them after this.

Oh yeah, Caelan. I turn to him.
"Heather, good luck this year." He says staring into my eyes.
My heart skips a beat. I disguise my fluster with a weak laugh.
"I won't need it. But I do wish you the same. I hope you won't feel bad when I steal all of your awards this year."
He raises his eyebrow.
"We'll see about that."

And that is how the start of this year began.