Beneath The Surface

Maybe/Possibility

Amber trembled as she crossed the stone bridge, she kept on tightening her dark hair into a ponytail over and over again, indicating she was nervous. Amber's friend Kai went over to her and Evelyn, walking slightly faster, so they could cross the bridge together.
Why? Because, only a few meters above the student's heads, giant monsters with long necks loomed above. The monsters were entirely made out of water but still were very life-like. As they crossed, following Principal Williams, the monsters wailed and screeched, staring at them until one suddenly came crashing down as though trying to attack. Amber closed her eyes, bracing for her  and the other student's death.
      Then she heard a bang. The monster had crashed onto some invisible barrier. Surrounding the school was another identical force field that prevented intruders from entering. Principal Williams looked back at the fearful students.
         "Scared?" She asked with a little smile on her face.
They continued crossing the bridge. Amber still felt quite uncomfortable with all the monsters watching her and the students cross. Amber was still wondering why  she had to go to this school. Her parents had told her it was to strengthen her power of enhanced speed and telling the future through visions. After they successfully crossed, the giant door opened. The inside was huge! It looked like a giant castle with pillars and balconies with students wearing pink and gray uniforms everywhere. Directly across from the main entrance was a symmetrical door that Amber guessed led to the food court.
There were also two halls left and right of the front entrance.
        The whole school or, perhaps palace was made of stone the color of pink with gold details on arches and pillars. The roof was maybe forty to fifty feet high, and above them hung a giant glass chandelier. Right above the door to the canteen was a balcony with two curved staircases leading up. Directly above the Dining hall door was a smaller door that probably led to a private quarters.
         "Now students," said Principal Williams, sneaking up on the group from behind. "Now hurry up, don't be delayed! I'm giving you a tour of the Academy!" Principal Williams walked toward the right hallway as the students followed her.
"Here we have History, Anthropology, Computer science, Engineering, Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, and other classes that mimic college majors but simplified for 6th through 12th grade." She said, raising an arm towards the hall.
The hall was also pink. Amber noticed that the classrooms all
looked like little cottages. There was a white door and a window on the wall, they even had a white roof! The students got to explore and look into all the classrooms looking at their stuff through the windows. After they toured the left hall which was Education, Art, Art History, Music, Communications, Finance, Mathematics, Language arts, Economics, Astronomy, and the Library."

✧

As Amber was looking around and exploring the Library, she accidentally bumped into another student.
"Ow" said the student.
Amber turned around. "Sorry, " she quickly said.
"It's fine, I was too busy looking around too." said the student.
"I'm Jayden by the way" he said, extending a hand.
"Amber," Amber said, shaking it. That's when Amber realized something.
Jayden and Evelyn look so similar to each other, I would have thought they were twins! Jayden had similar blonde hair and blue eyes to Evelyn but not the exact same. Jayden's hair was slightly darker and his eyes were more of a muted blue than icy blue. Plus,
his fashion style was more of an 'Hoodie Kid' style than Evelyn' 'Oversized' style.
"So, you're a gifted student?" Jayden asked, looking curious.
"Yeah I guess. I'm not very good at controlling my gifts though," Amber said, rocking on her heels.
"Oh!" Jayden suddenly exclaimed. "You know Evelyn?" he asked.
"Not really," replied Amber.
"I heard that she has the ability to control water, and she's really good at it. If you two become friends, maybe she'll help you with your gift!" Jayden suggested.
"That's actually a good idea!" Amber agreed. "You know, you'd be really good friends with my friend Kai! Would you like me to introduce you to him?"
"Umm, ok I guess! It's just, I didn't have a lot of friends back in my old school." He said looking kind of embarrassed.
"It's fine, technically, you have one friend at Ixtal now." Amber smiled. Jayden smiled back.
"Ok now, let's go find Kai. I bet he's on the second floor looking at the fiction section."
✧

"You like sports? That's cool! "said Jayden as he chatted with Kai.
"Yeah, what do you like?" Replied Kai.
Wow, They really became friends fast!  Thought Amber.
"5 more minutes until we leave to see the dorms, kids!" Rang Principal William's voice from the first floor.
Amber decided to explore the giant library. Shelves lined with more shelves on the first floor with a clearing in the middle. In the clearing there were some comfortable couches and tables along with the main attraction, a giant oak tree. It was the type you'd see outside of Suburban houses in Texas, giant, and a ton of leaves. The light was directly above the tree so if you sat under it, there'd be tiny spots of golden light shining through. Amber walked  around the tree, wondering why this library didn't look like the rest of the school. Here, instead of rose quartz and pink walls, there's wood shelves and books-  She noticed someone reading on a couch over in the little clearing. Amber walked over to realize it was Evelyn.
"Hi," Evelyn suddenly said, turning to face Amber.
"Uh- Hi," Amber replied quickly. "So, umm," Amber hesitated to think if she should ask. They stared at each other for a while.
"Umm, can you teach me to control my gift better, because I heard you were really good at controlling your power." Amber said suddenly.
Evelyn looked quite startled but agreed to help. "Once we settle into
our dorms, I'll teach you some important things about power control." Evelyn said, smiling slightly. She also seemed excited to share something in common with someone new.
"Alright kids! Off to the dorms!" Principal Williams said, stealthily stepping out from behind some shelves. Amber and Evelyn talked the whole way back to the center area, as they made their way up the stairs to the dorms, and as Principal
Williams asked them to choose people to dorm with.
"Hey Amber," said Kai walking over to her with Jayden.
"Sup, are you two rooming together?" Amber asked.
"Yep!" Announced Jayden enthusiastically.
"If we can, we're gonna stay up all night watching movies and anime, with popcorn!" Kai said.
"I like popcorn," Amber said.
"So are you going to room with someone? You seem like pretty good friends with that girl wearing the cloud sweater already." asked Kai.
"I don't know yet," Amber replied. "I think I'll ask her later." Amber resolved.

✧

After Amber asked Evelyn to room with her, it seemed that
everyone else had also decided.
"Has everyone chosen to either dorm by themselves or find a roommate?" Principal Williams asked.
"Yes," the students said in unison.
"Now come tell me your decisions and I will assign you your dorms."
Each student either in groups or alone. The kids went up and told their decisions to Principal Williams as she jotted them down on a paper.
"Are you two rooming together?" asked Principal Williams.
"Yes," Amber replied.
"Okay so, the gifted student dorms are actually over there on the other side of the balcony."  Principal Williams said pointing across.
"So once the other students are settled in, I'll let you decide which room style you want. Does that sound ok?" Principal Williams asked.
Amber and Evelyn both nodded in agreement.

✧

   "What do you think Principal Williams meant by 'pick your room style?" Evelyn thought out loud as they were waiting in the school cafe for Principal Williams. Amber had gotten some hot (more like warm)
chocolate to welcome the season of fall, and Evelyn had gotten some cheesecake.
I don't know," replied Amber, sipping her hot chocolate. "There you are, girls," Principal Williams said walking into the cafe.
"Hello Principal Williams," said Evelyn, greeting her. "So, girls, ready to pick your dorm?" asked Principal Williams. "Yes!" the girls said in unison.
They went up to the gifted dorms and chose their room style.

✧
  
"So, what do you think? I personally like the Modern dorms and the Cozy ones." said Amber.
"Yeah, I like the Cozy one too. Let's get that one!" replied Evelyn as they looked at images of Ixtal dorms on a digi-screen.
"You want the Cozy dorm?" Principal Williams had somehow snuck up on them again.
"Umm, Yes," said Amber.
"Ok, right this way." said Principal Williams.
They walked to a door in the gifted student dorm area. "If you need anything or want food to be delivered to your door, then just call room service." Principal Williams said, handing them the keys to their dorm.
"Got it," said Amber, taking them. "I have to go now, also here–" She handed them an envelope lined with gold on the sides, then left.
"I wonder what our room is gonna look like," Evelyn thought as Amber unlocked the door.
The door then clicked open and she opened the door. "OH. GODS." Amber suddenly said as she started into the room.
"What happened?" Asked Evelyn also taking a look.
"OH MY–" she said after one glance.