College Pandemonium

Chapter 6

  

  Cheryl let out a relieved sigh as she entered the classroom the next day. As Elias and Lukina had predicted, the rumors about her had indeed stopped at once. She was able to walk through the hallways without the constant murmurs following her around, and she was more than grateful of that fact.

  The black-haired girl sat down at a random desk, pulling out her laptop and textbook. She looks up in surprise when a group of three girls approaches her.

  "M-Miss Cross?"

  "Yes?"

  "Um..." One of the females hesitated a bit, before blurting out: "We really enjoyed your performance yesterday! If you don't mind, would you please accept these?"

  Cheryl blinks confused for a moment, before smiling. "Sure, thank you. Are these cookies homemade?"

  "Y-yes," another of the three muttered. "We made it in our dorm kitchen..."

  The black-haired girl laughs. "Well, thank you again-"

  She was cut off by the bell, and the three girls jump, before turning and scurrying away. A sudden voice to Cheryl's left makes her jump.

  "Popular already, I see."

  "E-Ellie! You surprised me..." 

  The blond grins, his long hair-- or rather wig-- falling over his shoulders as he tilts his head to a side. "Girls in this academy can be quite scary, you know? They don't hesitate at the chance to share a bath with one of the student council members-- and soon, they'd absolutely love to take a shower with you." Elias's grin becomes more playful as Cheryl flushes bright red.

  "Don't tease her, Ellie," Lukina said from Cheryl's right. The black-haired girl tried to recall when the vice-president had gotten there. "Class is starting in a couple of minutes, do get ready."

  "Aww, you're no fun, Lukina," Elias pouts childishly as he reaches into his bag and pulls out his laptop. "In the first place, innocent little girls like Cheryl should be teased! The reactions are always so cute."

  Lukina sighs, propping her head up on her hand. "You have terrible personality, Ellie."

  Elias laughs, shooting Lukina a wink.

  "And you absolutely love that personality, don't you?"

  Cheryl stares at the two of them as they have their conversation, before leaning over to Lukina and whispering in her ear.

  "I've actually been wondering this for a while, but..." she pauses. "Are you and Elias actually dating?"

  Lukina stiffened immediately, before bristling and glaring at Cheryl, making her flinch.

  "Don't be ridiculous! Who'd want to date that gay bastard-" She suddenly stops, before covering her mouth with her hand, her cheeks flushed a light pink at the attention she had attracted.

  "E-excuse me," Lukina mutters, turning and facing straight forward, apparently waiting for the bell to ring. Cheryl stifles a giggle.

  "Ah! No fair! What were you guys whispering about?" Elias scoots closer over to Cheryl, making her flinch and move over to Lukina. "I want to know too!"

  "Ellie- come on-"

  The door of the classroom suddenly opened, and the professor entered the room. An immediately hush fell over the chattering students.

  "Please be seated. Today we will be learning..."

 ❀❀❀❀

  Cheryl sighed upon arriving back at her dorm room, exhausted. Elias certainly had not been kidding when he said that the girls and this academy could be overly aggressive. The young freshman had spent the entire morning walking around from class to class with large, giggling groups of students following her around like a loyal puppy. Heck, they even waited for her outside of the bathroom until she was finished!

  A snack would definitely do her some good. With a small groan, Cheryl uprooted herself from her spot on the couch and headed for the kitchen, pondering over what she should eat. Upon reaching the kitchen, however, she was surprised to see Elias standing over the stove, cooking.

  "Oh, Cheryl!" He exclaims upon seeing the young girl standing in the doorframe. "Did you want to get something to eat?"

  "...Why are you cooking?" The girl responds, ignoring his question, in a slightly cold tone. Lukina was not there, and frankly, she didn't quite trust Elias yet. 

  "The headmaster alerted us that there might be a lockdown today. Where's Lukina?"

  "Lockdown...?"

  "Yep. Apparently Tsubaki-- on of the rich girls in this school-- her grandparents were informed of an attempt of assassination. Well, of Tsubaki's parents, that is. They said that the killer was going for Tsubaki next, and to make sure that he gets apprehended. So we're going into a lockdown." Elias said all of this rather matter-of-factly while frying some vegetables in a pan. 

  "...I see," Cheryl replies, bothered by how calm the blond was. "Does this happen normally?"

  "Yeah, more or less." Elias turns off the fire, grabbing a plate out of the cabinets and pouring the vegetables out of the pan. "Probably two to three times a month. If we're lucky, it only happens once. That's why every month we receive a supply of food just in case."

  "And how long do lockdowns last?"

  "Probably around a day. If it's serious, it could go up to a week, but nothing that bad has ever happened before. We're all basically used to this by now. Where's Lukina?" He asks again.

  As if answering Elias's question, the door to the dorm room clicks open and Lukina's familiar voice floats in. 

  "I'm back..."

  "Lukina!"

  Elias excitedly runs over to the gray-haired girl, who cringes upon seeing him. "Could you make your omelettes today? Please?"

  "No. I told you that was only for breakfast."

  The blond immediately looks dejected, and sulkily turns back into the kitchen. Lukina greets Cheryl as she places her bag on one of the couches.

  "Oh, I forgot to inform you. For the lockdowns, we take turns cooking. Elias makes dinner, I make breakfast. You'll be making lunch..." She pauses, glancing up at the black-haired girl. "I'm assuming you can cook?"

  Cheryl pouts, crossing her arms over her chest. "Of course I can! How else do you think my mother and I have been getting by living in an apartment?"

  "Hmm..." Lukina sits down on a couch, pulling a book out of her bag. "From what I've seen, this lockdown seems quite serious this time. It might last up to three days at most."

  Cheryl freezes.

  "T-Three days? In here? With a boy?!"

  Elias laughs as he pops his head out of the kitchen. "Don't worry, Cheryl! Last time Lukina said that, the lockdown only lasted for one hour."

  The gray-haired girl suddenly blushes lightly, scowling and glaring at Elias.

  "Shut up."

  "...Sorry."