A Beautiful Nightmare

2

I rose out of my chair, my legs automatically carrying me to the boy.

"Hey, you're Robin?" he asked. His voice was deep and smooth. I nodded. "I've got your uniform. But I'm kinda late for assembly right now so can you change in the nurse's station later- it's always empty - and then, we can head to lessons together."

"Sure."

A few minutes later, I found myself staring at his broad back as he led me wherever this assembly was. The hallways were lined with artwork made by students from the past. Some dated back to the 90s. There was a 3D portrait painted out of paper mache. Eye paintings were also common. But one caught my eye. It was from 2002. There was a boy with blue hair poised graciously on a swing hanging from the branches of a large oak. He had distinct features, a pointed nose and sharp catlike orange eyes. His ears were hidden under his curly hair streaming down to the nape of his neck.

"Just take a seat at the front and wait for me after everyone leaves. We have some lessons together so I'll take you to your first one," he whispered as he we paused behind two large oak doors.

He pushed them open with a loud creak. Behind it, a large crowd was seated in a hall almost like a theatre with seats ascending upwards. The walls were lined with paintings again but this time, they were of a more sincere nature, more ancient in large, gold frames. Each portrait consisted of a person posed with a black graduates cap and a gown in front of an intricate backdrop. One consisted of golden curtains and a window through which the forests surrounding Woodward could be seen.

But I didn't have much time to scan them properly because a silence had fallen upon the hall and each face was staring down at us. I quickly rushed to one of the empty seats at the front, as instructed.

I listened as the headmaster reminded the students of dress codes and school rules. He was short, plump man who seemed a little overdressed in his 3-piece suit compared to the other teachers but it suited him. The last time I spoke to him was through a video call in Portland. He asked me if I was violin player because apparently I looked like one. He was odd. But the man was comfortable within his own skin so much that you didn't find his oddness too off-putting.

"And lastly," he announced after what seemed like an unending stretch of time. "I will hand over to our prefect Cole."

I saw the boy who escorted me earlier move towards the stage from the side where he was previously standing.

"Cole..." I muttered to myself. Could this be...

"Hi guys, I promise this will be quick," he announced with a casual yet form voice. "I just wanted to share our plans for bonfire night next week. We will be arranging a bonfire on school grounds, as it is every year. We would like a few more volunteers to help out with the arrangements. So if you can, please do come forward and let me know. Other than that, I hope you guys enjoy your week. And thank you for listening."

The hall erupted into applause and a few cheers and the students began to leave the halls through the oak doors.

"You guys do a Bonfire night?"  I asked as Cole approached me.

"Yeah, we arrange it at the school every year. The whole town shows up. We also have fireworks. You should come," he said.

I found the nurse's station was a small room with a bed and a small cupboard. The smell of supplements filled the air. I noticed that Cole had laid out different sizes of uniform for me. I quickly tried them on, eager to get out of the suffocating room. Lucky for me, my first guess at a size worked and I rushed out with my belongings.