Blue Skies Academy

Chapter 10

My plans to talk to my history professor vanish the second the next week begins. It was the last week before the Midsummer festival, and I have never seen such agitation in my life. Except perhaps in the mornings before leaving for the holidays. Students and teachers alike run up and down the corridors, arms full of cardboard boxes overflowing with flowers, garlands, string lights, and whatnot. Installations of the fair have started, and construction workers flood our cafeteria at lunchtime, being allowed free food.

"I am tired of this circus." I am sitting next to Sarah at one of the tables in the dining hall. Fabiana is, as per usual, complaining. Her red locks are carefully tied up in a high ponytail and held together by a burnt ivory velvet ribbon. "How can they allow such charades in this school?"

"The people need a place to eat at, Fab."

"I know, April. But I need a functioning school." She eyes a passing worker as if she could saw off his head.

"I think we should dull the murderous intents..." Sarah attempts to diffuse the situation.

Fabiana stands up with a grunt, picks up her tray, and walks off.

"That went well." I say.

April sighs. "Happens every year." Her blue eyes glint with slight concern. "She will calm down after all this frenzy tones down. The week before midsummer is stressful for everyone."

We grab our trays, and I rush to chew off the last few pieces of apple in my bowl before following the two girls.

We stop by the lockers. I scan the hallways for any sign of the small, bitter person, that is Mrs. Henrig, but do not manage to spot her. I feel my frustration growing. It has been four days since her threats, or advice, or warnings, God knows. I turned over the whole school, every office, every classroom. It is like she vanished. I stopped going outside at night, instead rolling over and over in my bed, trying to decipher any hidden message that I may have missed in those words, and clue that is evading me. But nothing makes sense. Not her words, not my questions, not even my surges of energy who have since almost disappeared. We walk Sarah to her art class, and I then head with April to our combat lessons. But even as I dodge punches and get chastised by Mrs. Sillion for some faulty footing, my brain can't seem to focus on anything more than what it's already been focusing on for the last few nights. I move to a bench and drown the remaining water from my bottle. The wind blows softly around me, helping me cool down. April is next to me, sprawled on the bench.

"Hey, I know that our search about Rodof being ineffectual is bothering you, but you can't let it eat you up. Just think about how much fun we will have this weekend! The after-party is something like a ball and worth all the sweat and tears we've shed this week. So do not beat yourself up." I give her a small smile, grateful for her attempt at distraction. She grins back. "Did you order your dress yet?"

"What? What dress?" I frown in confusion.

"Kamari. You can not be serious. You do not expect to attend the party in your uniform or jeans, do you?" She sees my sheepish and slightly confused gaze. "Not to worry, Sarah and I are going to the tailor later today. Tag along!"

The tailor... the only thing remotely close to a tailor that I have been to is the fabric store down the street from my apartment. The corners of my mouth slightly raise at the thought. It is time I made use of the funds Mr. De LaRoche put at my disposal.

***

A bell rings as we walk through the shop's glass doors. A strong smell of detergent and wool and so much more fills my nostrils. The number of colors on display is colossal: reds and blues, pinks and purples, greens and yellows, turquoises, vermilions, ambers, pastels, blacks and whites and grays. It feels like walking through a rainbow, through a cloud of multicolored cotton candy from fairs, through the chalk drawings in front of kindergartens. I'm snapped back to reality by some women who hush us further in the shop. I'm sat atop a small wooden stool, arms spread as I'm being measured from all angles. April and Sarah are in the same situation on either side of me.

"And what colors do we have in mind, ladies?" A man asks. His beard is combed neatly in two spirals, and he has a heavy accent that I can't identify. His posture is impeccable.

"My usual." April grins.

He nods. A short, curt, but polite nod. "As for you, Miss Leman?"

"Pastel pink would be nice." Sha answers softly.

The man scribbles down on his small notebook. "And for you, Miss... De Verre?" he asks after looking for my name on a list he carefully folds and puts back in the pocket next to his chest.

I look down at myself. "I don't want anything flashy... but not washed up either."

He gives another nod. "So... Avocado green, pastel pink, and dark royal blue gowns. They will be delivered to your rooms the day before the Midsummer festival." He clicks his pen, shuts his notebook, and leaves.

"We're getting full-on gowns for this?" I frown.

"We're not going to the tailor for old, worn-out shorts. Midsummer is a pretty big deal around here, and we like to celebrate it accordingly. After all, if we have the riches to do it, we might as well."

I think about April words. Of course. These are the rich people we're talking about. Their kids. Of course, they like to gloat. And I'm starting to perceive the whole party ordeal as more of a showing off their money rather than just having simple fun.

***

I ignore the turmoil in my stomach and focus on twisting the elastic at my wrist. We had received our dresses just the evening prior; they were beautiful, no doubt. But I replayed April's words in my head. She's not one to gloat about things. Not her. However, most of the people here are. I had to dig up information on most of the people here during my second week, at De LaRoche's request. The students here aren't just mere high schoolers. They're some of the most influential and renowned children out there! This was about wealth. And what the heck did I know about wealth?! I blink twice. Before worrying about what rich people's etiquette is like, I can at least enjoy the fair. I put on some flared jeans and a tank top. At least here I didn't need any fancy attire. I grin at April as she walks past me, grabbing her crossbody bag and nudging me out the door. As we got to the field, I realized why the whole week had been hectic; the landscape before us was spectacular. Fairy lights left all dark corners illuminated, colored flowers dangled down from every post, arcade games and stalls were spread all over the place, carousels and a giant Ferris wheel bringing a lively feel to the scenery. I didn't believe that such extravagance was possible for a school festival, yet here we were.

April must have noticed my slightly agape mouth and laughed. "If I had known that it would shock you so much, I would've brought some tape to stick that jaw back together." She laughs. "Aren't you supposed to be rich? I know you've been homeschooled before, but don't tell me you've never been to a fair!"

"What?" I snap out of my daze. "No, I mean yes, of course I've been to a fair before. There used to be one almost every month back home." And that was no lie. I recall the memories of my younger self running between the stands and eating weirdly shaped cotton candy with my parents... back before all our fights and the constant pressure to do better had started. I smile softly. They weren't here with me now, but I wanted them to be as happy as they were in those days. I wanted them to be proud. And for that, I had to succeed at protecting Dominic, I had to keep fighting. I take April's arm and head towards the crowd of people already forming lines in front of all the attractions. I had kept an eye on Dominic throughout the week, even though all that mess. I can do it again and again if that means making my parents proud, making me worth their love. We reach Sarah, Fabiana, and her group of minions; let the games begin.