Keepers of Time

Chapter II

Rose City High School                                                                                                                                                   October 2023

All the lights dimmed, and the crowd fell silent while excitement and anticipation thrummed through them. The Homecoming queen will finally be announced, though Chad failed to see what about this pathetic guise at school politics could coax such rowdiness and unrest, he stood there watching solemnly from the sidelines. From where he stood, this dance was basically a social upstanding that justifies worshipping another human being for the shallow reason of how sexy they looked in a slutty dress. The males could finally, without elderly chatisement, stare openly at a female's thighs and juicy ass and said female can finally drop the pretenses of disdain towards the unholy display of a men's most primordial desires.

It was disgusting, this undignified tradition of wanton self-display, but it was also undeniably hilarious to watch the unease and nervousness that wifted through the candidates for the title. Each of them tried so hard to act as if they couldn't give a fuck if they were chosen but he could still see it in the way they tugged subconsiously at their sleeves or hems, constantly reapplying their lipstick and make-up that they cared very, effing much.

Chad shook his head and chuckled as he took another sip of his drink.

"What's so funny, man?" some rough, unfamiliar voice said somewhere behind him.

Chad shrugged, not bothering to look who said it, "This dance, bruv. It's so stupid. it's funny."

"Hmm," the person hummed thoughtfully, "If it's so stupid, what are you doin' here?"

Chad thought about it for a moment and then answered the man, "It's entertaining," he looked around briefly, "Ridiculously so," he added.

The man made another humming noise before adding, "You people watch often?"

Chad paused again, "Yes," he admitted, "But I try not to be obvious about it," and this time, he did look at his new companion. He frowned at him for there was something unsettling about him; he was shorter than him but not by much, he was ripped though with his muscles bulging out from his all-too-realistic armour made of gold, there was something unearthly in his stormy grey eyes with a sort authoritative air that was hard to ignore and his pointy ears, dude!
They were so well-made that it seemed almost real. The dude left no crumbs!

Not to mention, there was something that drew Chad to him, a sort of kinship that was hard to explain. The man must have sensed it too, for he looked up at him, narrowing his freaky gaze at him suspiciously.

Chad licked his lips nervously, "Do I know you, my dude?"

The man arched his brow slowly as if he was contemplating his question deeply, "No," he said finally, "I'm Cai, by the way."

Chad watched him in confusion, "What kind of name is that?"

"One you'll do well to forget," the weird man said with a wink, then rudely grabbing his unfinished drink, he walked off. Chad continued to watch as Cai disappeared into the crowd, wondering at this weird encounter, then finally shrugging of his unease. There is no need to dwell.

o0o

Aubrey walked calmly into the spotlight, watching approvingly as everyone immediately quieted down. She held the mic confidently to her lips, and she then began her speech.

"Welcome, Rose City High! Did everyone see how we crashed Muir last night!" this was rewarded with a rowdy shout, Aubrey grinned, "Bet they're running with their tails between their legs and crying for their mama, huh?" This time, she was rewarded with a collective boo.