Arcanum

1.

I sat on the same table as usual at lunch, facing opposite Bennett. His hair was golden; his face is lit with that soft, beach-like tan. You'd think he was a God if you saw him. And you'd pray he'd never see you. But his casually harsh demeanour was broken by the fidgeting ball of blonde located in the usually vacant place beside him.

This was Brandon. Everyone knew him as Bennett's henchman. He had cool, steady eyes and kicked his feet up on the table. Bennett straightened and crossed his hands on the table. He leaned forwards and looked at me as if he was questioning every word he was saying. Like I was mud on the bottom of his perfect shoes.

"Alright Scarlett, this is how it's going to work."

"What?" I replied abruptly, crossing my arms. I had no intention of being polite to him.

Bennett sighed and looked sideways at Brandon, who was developing a smug grin. Then he turned back to me. He wouldn't have picked the last person on the planet if he had a choice. "Don't talk to me like that. The way things run around here is with me in the charge. So I suggest you shut up and suck up the attitude, sweetheart. That way we'll get things down and go back to lunch." His voice dropped to a mutter. "I don't want to have to do this anymore than you do."

I raised my eyebrow, a grin dancing across my face. I could have some fun with this. "So how much we talking?"

Bennett gave a sharp nod. Brandon looked around and when he was sure nobody else was watching he pulled something out from his pocket and slid it across the table. It was notes, many of them. All folded over. "You're on commission. That's thirty, and I can get any information you want. My sources get everywhere in this school. You want a file from the headmaster's office? I can get it."

I picked up the pile, recounting and fidgeting slightly with the money. More than I had ever had in my life. "So, name your deal."

Brandon swiped a photograph across the table. It showed a girl of our age, wearing a grey leotard. She was smiling directly into the camera. "You know who she is, everyone does. What I want you to find out is why, after six months, she broke up with me over the phone," said Bennett. His eyes sharpened. "And why she hasn't said a word to anyone since."

"So much drama over one break-up? Aren't you the desirable Bennett, one who every girl wants to get in the pants off; one who anyone would be lucky to be with; one who-"

Bennett looked irritated and shook his head. He began to stand up until Brandon pulled him back down. "They say Scarlett's the best," he hissed. "What other chance do we have?" Bennett sighed through his nose and stared at me, dead in the eye. No more jokes. For him it was business, and anything that got to Bennett meant everything.

"Is that it?" I asked, beginning to laugh bemusedly. Their glares got harder by the second. "Why do you even need me for this? What do you even need this for?"

"If this job is so easy, why don't you chop to it? My intentions are none of your concern, so if know what's best for you I suggest you stop asking questions and thank me."

"Okay, okay. Don't get your panties in a twist, darling," I replied, with a mocking voice, cringing straight afterwards as I saw Bennett's expression of hate deepen. I didn't want to screw things up but then again, I just couldn't help myself.

"Oh and as a side note: don't forget, I'm the one who makes the orders around here. Not you."

"If you say so, oh master of mine," I replied with a tinge of uncaring sarcasm, gazing off into the distance.

Brandon watched the two of them, his face settled in an amused grin. He elbowed Bennett and muttered something in his ear. In reply, Bennett nodded and faced me again with what closely resembled a smile."Laugh while you can, Scarlett. Just know that if you screw up, and if I find a single reason to doubt your loyalty, I'll have everyone in the world know about what you did behind the bike sheds with Noel Bobbin."