The School for Good and Evil: Another Story

2~Pink and Blue

The fairies urged Rose into the Theater of Tales and Rose could not help but gape at the room. On the Evers' side the walls and blue and pink benches were decorated with crystals and glass flowers. Across the silver aisle was the Nevers' side decorated crudely with beasts murdering and torturing others.

Rose wobbled into the room and paused beside a blue bench. All of the blue benches were empty and Rose wondered where the other boys were. All of the Nevers, boys and girls, were here. Only the girls, and Rose, of the Evers were in the room. Rose watched as girls filled up the pink benches and he glanced longingly at the blue bench in front of him.

Rose really wanted to take a seat in one of the blue benches, but Lily called to him. "Rose! Over here!" she gestured to a spot in between her and Mia. Hesitantly, Rose took the spot.

Right as I sat down the wet doors burst open and the rest of the Everboys came out in swordfight. Rose frowned looking at their light blue dress shirts and beige pants. Their boots, waistcoats, and thin ties tied around their neck. The bridge of Rose's nose burned red as he tried to hide his face in his hands in shame of the pink abomination he was wearing and his golden locks tumbled slightly in front of his face.

Elbows on knees and face in hands Rose didn't dare watch but he heard the clanging of swords and the swooning of the other girls. The elated screams increased and Rose glanced up to see the boys tossing roses out with a shout of "Milady."

Rose buried his face into his hands again. Then Rose felt something land on his lap. His eyes glanced out and spied a single rose sitting upon it. He felt the bridge of his nose burn.

Slowly, Rose lifted his head and spied a pale boy with hair black as ebony and skin not quite as white as snow, but it was close. And the pale boy paled even more as he stared at Rose. Rose gazed into the pale boy's rich brown eyes and the boy, named Raven, stared in horror into Rose's violet ones.

Mia snatched the rose from Rose's lap and gave the boy a wave fit of a princess. Raven snapped out of his trance and weakly returned Mia's wave before bashfully sitting down on one of the blue benches.

Rose ignored what just happened and returned his face to his palms as a two headed dog took the stage. This must be Pollux and Castor. Millicent had told Rose all about those two: Pollux with the cuddly face and kind disposition and Castor the slobbering one that could scare even the Nevers.

"Welcome to the School for Good and Evil," Pollux began before the other head butted in.

"WELCOME, YOU SNIVELING, NOSE WIPING SCUM," his voice boomed and everyone seemed to straighten in their seats. Except Rose.

"Castor, please, I'm trying to make this as short and sweet as I can. We missed breakfast today and the sooner we finish the sooner we eat." Castor looked ashamed and quieted down instantly.

Pollux then continued to rant on about the rules of the schools. Curfews, the Halfway Bridge, rules on failing, and how lunch would be hosted together as long as both sides got along. Rose half listened as his the bridge of his nose continued to burn. Halfway through the lecture, Lily placed a hand on his shoulder to console him.

The lecture ended and students got up and left for their schools. Sixty Neverboys and sixty Nevergirls slithered and creeped out of the hall through the east door and sixty Everboys and fifty-nine Evergirls left through the west doors. Rose, now alone, slowly stood up and wobbled out of the room. Once in the castle he spied Mia and Lily waiting for him at the base of the stairs and his nose burned again.

"Do you need help, Rose? We were a little rude when we first met."

"I'll be fine, I think. It's only five flights of stairs." Rose paused realizing that five flights in stairs seemed like a lot right now.

Mia folded her arms (still holding the rose from Raven) and tapped her foot impatiently. Lily spoke, "Are you sure? I doubt you have ever worn shoes like that before. Have you?"

"I should be fine. These are new to me, but I can manage."

Mia rolled her eyes, "Boys and asking for help." Mia hooked her arm through Rose's right arm and Lily hooked through Rose's left. "To walk more naturally, make sure to put your heel down first. Don't go too fast and take small steps. Keep your posture straight though," she firmly placed her hand on Rose's back to straighten it.

Together the three went up to the fifth floor. Slowly. Ever so slowly. And Rose's nose burned every step of the way. At the top Lily bid Rose good night and Rose returned the farewell. After an awkward pause Lily gently jabbed Mia in the gut. Mia sighed, "Good night, Rose." She then twirled around and flounced to the room she had forced herself into.

Lily turned to me, "I'm sorry about her."

"It's not your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for."

Lily absently nodded her head. "Well, I suppose I shall see you in class tomorrow. I think we have most of our classes together." She then did a quick curtsy and headed off to the room she had petitioned to join.

Rose closed the door to the room that he had to himself and collapsed onto the bed he had claimed leaving the pumps on the floor. A long exasperated sigh escaped from his lips with his face smothered by his pillow.

What was he doing here? In a dress? In heels? Perhaps he should have listened to his parents. Perhaps he should have never applied for the school. Perhaps he'd be back at the castle with Millicent and Briar Rose and Jack.

But he was here. In a dress. In heels. And then he broke down. He sobbed. He cried himself to sleep.