𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍, 𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐬

twenty.

       MAE WAS pouring a third year a glass of wine. It was their dinner to celebrate their graduation and the first years were serving. They were all wearing white uniforms and had been divided into groups to prepare the meal, Mae was in charge of dessert with Felice, Sara and Michaela but as it was only the beginning of the dinner at the moment, they participated in the service with others.

      As she brought the empty bottle back to the kitchen, she passed Henry who was bringing two plates. They shared a smile and Mae couldn't help but think how handsome he looked in his white uniform.

      When she returned to the main room, she saw August had climbed into his chair and was sipping his drink while the other third years were singing and banging on the table.

      Mae walked over Fedrika and Felice. "Wasn't he supposed to be at Wilhelm's birthday party?"

      "He came back a few minutes ago. I'm not sure Willie really wanted him to be there." Felice replied.

      A few moments later, the girls slipped into the kitchen to prepare desserts. Sara joined them a little later and they started making the filling.

      "You're really good at this. I didn't know that you enjoyed cooking." Sara told Felice, who indeed seemed very comfortable with it.

      "Thanks. Yeah, I really enjoy it. I always thought that I would become a chef when I was a kid."

      "Girls, are you ready to serve?" the headmistress interrupted their conversation. "You have to minutes."

      "Oh, okay, sure."

      "These ones are good, maybe put some on this one." Mae recommanded to Sara.

      "Sure." Sara grabbed a few mint leaves to scatter over the pieces of cake.

      A hand rested on Mae's waist as Henry appeared next to her, placing a kiss on her cheek before turning to the plates. "Which ones are ready to be served?"

      "You can take these ones." she replied as she grabbed two of them.

      Felice grabbed two others plates and handed them to Alexander. The boys took the plates and walked away. "Thanks."

      The three girls were chatting normally and for a few moments, Mae thought that they and Sara might be friends again. That was until later that evening, Fedrika came to tell them that she had just seen August and Sara kissing.

★

      They spent the next morning preparing banners and decorations for the graduation ceremony. After that, they had classes normally but the weather was so nice that Mrs. Ramirez had decided to teach outside. All the students were seated in a circle on the grass. Mae was sitting cross-legged and was gently stroking Henry's hair, who had his head resting in her lap.

      "Ramirez? Could I have a word?" Mrs. Hamilton walked over them.

      "Yeah, sure." the teacher stood up and handed the sheet she was reading to Sara. "Sara, can you continue?"

      Sara started reading but everyone was turning over the two women, trying to hear what they were saying.

      "Is there some kind of drama?" Fedrika asked as they all were staring at their teacher.

      Mrs. Ramirez walked back to them. "I'm afraid I'm gonna have to stop the lesson. Uh, in fact, the entire day is canceled. The Board of Education has made a decision. They've banned Hillerska from operating."

      "What?"

      "Why?"

      "I'm just as shocked as you are." Mrs. Ramirez told them. "What I want you to do right now is to go back to your student dorms. There, you will get more information."

      Everyone stood up, in shock. People started reading acticles online and accusing each other.

      "'Hillerska has received several warnings over the last ten years and it has become evident to us that they haven't acted forcefully enough to stop systemic abuse'." Stella read out loud once they got back to the common room. "How is it not forceful enough? They've taken away everything fun! 'Many of the current students testify that'."

      "Why are you looking at me?" Felice said.

      "Because you've been interviewed and refuse to talk about it!" Stella exclaimed.

      "Just tell us word for word, what did you say?" Fedrika asked her.

      "It wasn't me! They said 'several' and how they had warning for ten years! I haven't said anything!" Felice defended herself.

      "You're being so defensive all the time! Can we go through something?" Fedrika told her.

      "I haven't said anything!"

      "Guys, she's not the only one who talked to the inspectors, they're not shutting down the school for just one reason." Mae tried to calm them down.

      "You're always taking her side!" Stella yelled.

      "I'm not taking anyone's side, I'm just saying there are a lot of factors—"

      "Why can't she just tell us what she said?" Fedrika interrupted.

      "Because there's nothing to say!" Felice replied.

      The housemistress clapped her hands to make everyone shut up. "We have been allowed to keep the school open until the end of the term, but the way it looks right now, we won't be opening again this autumn. This also means that you will have to empty your rooms, take all your personal belongings home for the summer, and say goodbye to your schoolmates. I'm really sorry."

      Everyone was dead silent now. Mae left the room and took her phone out of her pocket to call her mother.

      "Hello?"

      "Have you heard the news? About the school?" Mae asked her.

      "Yes, I just saw it."

      "What am I going to do?"

      "Well, you're going to get your things and we're going to send you back to the school you were at at the beginning of the year I guess." her mother replied.

      Mae had no desire to return to that school. I mean, at least she would be around Elisa again but she was her only friend there. Here in Hillerska, Mae was finally part of a group. She met so many amazing people, she had a sport scholarship, and she had Henry. She just couldn't bring herself to leave all that behind her.