The Night Tournaments

10 - Claude

My family was going out to eat at a famous pizza restaurant this evening, and I was really looking forward to it (my stomach was already starting to rumble). I couldn't believe that we were already halfway through the second week of school - time had flown by so quickly.

I whistled a tune as I shouldered my backpack and turned a corner - and that was when I completely smashed into someone approaching from the opposite side.

"Ack, sorry sorry sorry," I said in a rush before even looking at the person's face. But when I did, I froze in place - the guy in front of me had pale blond hair and crystal-blue eyes, and even though his head was probably throbbing with pain right now, his smug expression didn't show it.

"At least you had enough manners to apologize," the guy sneered, using his fingers to restyle his hair. "What's your name?"

"I'm, um, Claude," I answered nervously. For some reason, everything about this dude was putting me on edge. Besides, why did my name even matter in this situation?

"Interesting. I'm Felix," the guy told me, smirking. That was a pretty cool name, but . . . wait.

. . . Was this the same Felix that Bree and Flynn had been complaining about ever since the first day of school? The Felix Wainscott?!

"Do you . . . know Bree and Flynn?" I cautiously inquired.

"Oh, those two? Of course I know them - we presented a Science project together just yesterday," Felix replied, shrugging. Then, he squinted at me. "But the question is, how do you know them?"

"Me? I'm one of their best friends," I said, crossing my arms. There was something about Felix Wainscott that just rubbed me the wrong way . . . but maybe it was just me. It wasn't like he had made me suffer through a week-long Science project, like he had done to Bree and Flynn.

"One of their best friends, you say?" he echoed, something flashing across his eyes. He definitely looked like he was up to something - but I had no way of knowing what it was. "Well, the truth is, I kind of want to become closer with them, too, and so does Beatrix Elsher - the other new kid. So . . . what do you say? Would it really kill you to be willing to befriend me?" He suddenly swung his arm around my shoulders, giving me what was probably meant to be a friendly smile, and I stiffened.

"Wait . . . I don't get it. From what I heard, you and Beatrix put Bree and Flynn through a lot because you both delayed finishing the Science project," I said defensively, raising an eyebrow at Felix.

"Oh, did we?" he responded mockingly, removing his arm from my shoulders to stroke his sharp chin. "I can't seem to recall."

"Well, regardless . . . it's not up to me to decide whether you can become friends with Bree and Flynn or not," I told him, hesitating. "I mean, I'm the kind of person who can befriend just about anybody, so you shouldn't have a problem with me. Those two, on the other hand . . ."

"They're a little bit hard to get through to, am I right?" Felix finished, chuckling.

That is what I was thinking, but it's not exactly like you're any easier to interact with, either, I thought, slightly bitterly.

"Well, it's time for me to take the jolly ride home now! See you soon, Claude!" Felix called abruptly, patting me on the shoulder. Then, he smugly strode away without giving me time to respond.

Huh. What a strange guy, I observed, shaking my head and walking away in the opposite direction.

I was just about to exit the school building when I spotted a girl with long black hair standing in front of her locker, staring at something. I didn't know who she was, but I wondered what she was looking at.