The Originals

Chapter Twenty-Two: Orchid Gray

"You gotta' be kidding me," Saira whispered. They were huddled next to each other's desks, due to yet another desk change, in Professor Yarwood's class, with Madeleine Xing standing at the front of the classroom. "What the hell is happening today?"

"This is going to shit," Orchid said, slightly mortified.

"Hello, students." Madeleine offered a small smile. She wore a gray dress with a black leather jacket. As Saira would say, Madeleine's style was immaculate. "I'm taking time out of my junior and senior history lectures to come tell you the history of how Silverleaf Academy came to be—"

Suddenly, Stoll Finnegan barged in, looking dishevelled as ever. His collar was open and his curls looked like a hot mess. Not that kind of hot mess, Orchid reminded herself. "I-I'm here!"

There was silence before Professor Yarwood broke it. "Mr. Finnegan, your English class starts at 8:00 PM on Zoom." There was laughter and Sam looked absolutely embarrassed, flustered. Orchid silently glared daggers at all the students until the laughter stopped abruptly.

"This is my pupil, Stoll, who will be joining us since even cleaners need to know the history of Silverleaf Academy," Madeleine explained, gesturing to an empty desk next to Orchid. "Take a seat, Stoll."

"Thanks," he mumbled, sliding into the desk next to mine. They avoided eye contact and pretended they didn't know each other. Professor Yarwood went to the back of the room, sipping on a mug of cold coffee as Madeleine took to the stage.

Madeleine walked smoothly across the front of the room, the gray dress swishing behind her. "The academy was founded by Bill Johnston, who was also known as a famous gothic literature novelist, in the early 1900s. At first, it was a boys-only academy before becoming co-ed in 1950.

"Bill Johnston wasn't the richest man in the world, but he single-handedly created this amazing school. Of course, Silverleaf had hit some hard times, but we, as a unity, banded together and stuck it out."

Before Madeleine could go on, Stoll raised his hand. Orchid arched an eyebrow, curious. I didn't know Stoll was one for history, she thought. "Yes, Stoll?"

"Respectively, Madeleine—Professor Xing—that's not true and we both know it. Bill Johnston wasn't just the founder, there were two other founders of our school, Samuel Anders and Maya Bell."

Orchid held her breath as she glanced at Madeleine. To her shock, the professor wasn't angry but rather gave a huge toothy smile. Her pale lips were pressed together before saying, "That is the true history of Silverleaf Academy, founded by Bill Johnston, Samuel Anders, and Maya Bell. Remember that for the rest of your academic years—"

"That's enough, Professor Xing!" Professor Yarwood gasped, looking scandalized. He was red in the face as he ushered Madeleine out of the classroom. He slammed the door, gasping loudly. He spun around, huffing. "That bloody woman is speaking of such lies—" He rounded onto Stoll. "How dare you interrupt Professor Xing's lecture?"

Oh God, this really is going to shit.

"You kicked Madeleine out." There was a hush of oooh's and Orchid stifled back a laugh. While it was evident that Stoll never went to classes in person, she wasn't expecting him to stand up to Yarwood on his first day.

"You dare talk back to your professor?" Yarwood snarled.

Stoll shrugged simply. "Maybe if you stop saying dare dramatically, I wouldn't have to fight the urge to 'talk back' in your words." Orchid slapped her forehead while giggling, and Saira rolled her eyes, swearing under her breath.

It was safe to know that Stoll was kicked out of class and came back ten minutes later. Stupid, foolish boy, Orchid had a big smile on her face. "You're an idiot, Finnegan," Saira hissed once Stoll took his seat again.

"Yarwood was unreasonable."

"You're unreasonable." Orchid shook her head. With Madeleine's history lecture on pause, Professor Yarwood told them to continue to work on their Azure Eyes of Blood project, which Saira dreaded.

"It's horrible," she grumbled loudly.

At the end of class, when everyone was filing out of the door, and a distracted Professor Yarwood was facing the whiteboard, Orchid caught sight of Stoll. His hands reached out to nick a rusty, but certainly valuable pin forgotten on Yarwood's many shelves. Not now, not here, Orchid wanted to say.

"Stoll," she hissed quietly. "No, don't—"

"Stoll Finnegan!" Professor Asher's shrill voice shrieked. She was holding a stack of papers, presumably for Yarwood, by the doorframe, looking appalled. "He's stealing!" she screeched. Yarwood suddenly whipped around and Orchid flinched.

Stoll winced as his hands were already wrapped around the pin. No, no, Orchid thought desperately as Professor Asher marched up to Stoll. She snatched the pin away and berated him as Professor Yarwood rushed over. Not Stoll.

He was finally caught in the act.