Crestwood Academy for Young Ladies - Forced Fem Fantasy

Chapter Seventeen: Art of Small Talk

The past day and a half had gone by without much incident. Classes had been relatively normal, though the strain of adjusting to the new routines was evident on everyone's faces. Aaron had been notably distant, still sour about the situation. He barely spoke to the other guys, keeping to himself during breaks and meals, only engaging in brief, reluctant conversation when absolutely necessary.

Now, they were seated in Ms. Abbot's Etiquette Basics class, a session focused on social etiquette—greetings, introductions, conversation, and non-verbal communication. Ms. Abbot was as strict as ever, her sharp gaze sweeping over the class as they practiced their posture and polite smiles.

"Ladies, today we will be focusing on the art of social small talk," Ms. Abbot began in her crisp voice. "This is an essential skill for any woman of class. Whether at a dinner party, a charity event, or even just mingling at a social gathering, the ability to hold a proper conversation is a reflection of your grace and poise."

She walked between the rows of desks, pausing near Aaron, who sat stiffly in his chair, clearly uninterested. "Ms. Alana," she said, her voice soft but commanding. "Would you care to demonstrate how one greets someone for the first time?"

Aaron stood up slowly, eyes darting to the others for a moment before he turned to Ms. Abbot. He offered a half-hearted smile and muttered a flat, "Hello."

Ms. Abbot's eyebrows shot up. "That is not a greeting befitting a lady of class. Stand straight, shoulders back, and give your full attention to the person you are addressing."

Aaron sighed inwardly but complied, standing up straighter and attempting the greeting again. This time, Ms. Abbot nodded slightly, though her disapproval was still evident in her eyes.

"Remember, ladies, confidence and approachability are key. Class, Miss Alana has shown us what not to do. She has failed to put in the required effort." she said as she moved on.

Aaron gritted his teeth, but he kept quiet, sinking back into his seat, wishing the whole ordeal would just end.

"Now, when engaging in small talk, one must always be mindful of the other person's interests. The goal is to make them feel comfortable while projecting elegance and charm," Ms. Abbot explained. She turned to the rest of the class. "Miss Maya," she called, addressing Marcus. "Would you kindly demonstrate for the class how to initiate a conversation?"

Marcus, stood up, offering a polite smile as he approached one of the other students. "Good afternoon. It's such a lovely day, isn't it?" he said, his tone light and friendly.

Ms. Abbot's eyes gleamed with approval. "Excellent, Miss Maya. Notice the pleasant opening, the focus on common ground. You've made the other person feel welcome and at ease." She turned to the class. "This is how it's done, ladies. Small talk is an art. You must be able to transition from one topic to another seamlessly, while always remaining poised."

The rest of the class continued with more examples, each student coming forward to practice not just their greetings but their conversational skills. Ms. Abbot drilled them on everything—how to start a conversation, how to transition between topics, and how to gracefully exit when the time came. Her critiques were relentless, and by the end of the class, everyone was exhausted.

Aaron had remained withdrawn the entire time, doing what was necessary to avoid being singled out again but never going beyond the bare minimum. Ms. Abbott noticed, but after her earlier remarks, she let it go, instead focusing her critiques on the others who seemed more engaged.

As the class drew to a close, Ms. Abbott gave her final instructions. "You'll all have plenty of opportunities to practice these skills at the upcoming social event next week. I expect nothing less than your best. Dismissed."

The boys rose from their seats, Aaron quietly groaning as he gathered his things. Dylan cast a glance at him, he still looked annoyed, but Dylan kept his thoughts to himself. They all filed out of the room, ready to head back to their dorms.

"Marcus, man, you killed it in there," Kyle said as they walked down the hall.

Marcus gave a modest shrug. "I just did what she asked. It's not like I had a choice."

"Yeah, well, Aaron's gonna get us all in trouble if he keeps slacking like that," Dylan muttered, glancing over at Aaron, who was trailing behind, clearly in no mood for conversation.

"Let him be," Marcus said quietly. "He's always been the dramatic one."

By the time they reached their hallway, they were ready to collapse. Aaron muttered something about needing to lie down, and the rest of them didn't protest, equally drained from the relentless pressure of Ms. Abbot's expectations.

However, they also knew there was no time to rest as Friday's were busy evenings. They had to get ready for dinner and then head to their extracurriculars.