ILLICIT AFFAIRS | WLW

So High School

The first week of the semester passed by quicker than Blair had hoped. Aside from those overseen by Ms. Kingsley, the introductory lectures alleviated many of her concerns and worries that she harboured about her ability to succeed in navigating the course. However, Catherine's attitude remained as dismissive throughout the remainder of the week's lectures as it had been on that fateful Monday morning.

Although she had the companions of both Ann and Thomas for 'Cultural Transitions in Society', and both women attended 'Advanced Italian', Blair found herself isolated in her 'Encountering Contemporary Spain' module, without familiar faces to seek solace from under Catherine Kingsley's stern gaze and sharp scrutiny.

In anticipation of the impending baseline exams, and the potential of failing, Blair dedicated her late afternoons and sometimes evenings to rigorous study sessions in the library, inquisitively navigating the materials of the syllabus coursebooks. Despite their uncomfortable first interaction, Blair was determined to make a favourable, or simply better, impression upon her lecturer, even if she privately criticised and fostered less-than-flattering opinions about Kingsley's testing methods so early into the term; a sure scheme to inaugurate failure.

As the weekend drew to a close and the upcoming tests loomed on the horizon, Blair was gripped by an unsettling feeling that gnawed at her gut – a nagging and apprehensive intuition hinting that something of great importance was on the verge of happening. Whether it would be for better or worse was something she couldn't yet quite ascertain, but it was a significant sensation regardless that she couldn't shake off.

Following a particularly arduous Monday morning and afternoon, filled with the baselines tests of both the Spanish and Italian languages, Blair found herself sleeping entirely through the evening. While she had anticipated a more demanding workload in her second year, she hadn't quite anticipated the complexity of Ms. Kingsley's exams – a testament to the intricacy of her teachings as a whole. Some areas covered material she hadn't even heard of or mentioned on the handout she provided, intended to be taught as part of the year's later curriculum. A cunning move on behalf of her lecture, she mused.

Now with Tuesday morning creeping in, a gentle nudge and the sound of her name stirred the young blonde from her slumber. Initially resenting the morning's resistance, she begrudgingly rose from her bed at the reminder of today's impended tests from Ann.

"Come on Bee, you don't want to end up on Ms. Kingsley's bad side by being late," Ann urged softly, standing by the door with her arms folded.

Blair replied with frustration as she made her way to the wardrobe, "I'm up!" She rifled through her clothes to choose an outfit that would match the gravity of the day and its challenged. Opting for a classy ensemble, one that would instil a sense of empowerment and bolster her confidence to navigate through the final, daunting test.

After attending to her hygiene routine, Anderson changed into a cream-hues knit sweater, which she stylishly draped around her shoulders. The piece gracefully complemented her sleek black tank top, which was tastefully tucked into her high-waisted black trousers. The trousers themselves flowed with a wide-leg, gracefully moving in her stride. She balanced the elegance of her outfit with the casual charm of pristine white sneakers, while a black shoulder bag slouched on her arm.

Choosing to skip breakfast, a worry that the indulgent of food may cause the bubbling nerves in her abdomen to worsen, Blair gathered the final of her belongings, following in step of Ann's lead towards the campus.

"You nervous?" Ann inquired softly, to which her friend responded with a simple, courteous nod. The previous day's exams had left Blair exhausted yet determined to face today's challenge head – on.