When Light became Dark (Old TDEC)

9 Sebastian: Deal

Hurrah for part 2: Sebastian. This is the longest section of the book, so sit back (patiently) and enjoy. :)

Reviews and votes would be wonderful, to show me just how excited you all are about me being back and writing the most exciting series of chapters yet (or so I believe). I have decided to enter this for the Watty Awards 2012, so every little piece of support counts.

(And if anyone is wondering why I mentioned Beethoven's 1st Symphony...well... I'm conducting it in the summer...)

Thank you,

Meepsta

9 Sebastian- Deal

The hardest thing in life, I found, was not the doing but the waiting for something to happen.

It was four in the afternoon in the lavender-scented receptionist's office, and my name was being checked on the school records. My dad had left quietly, not knowing what to say, and I had been briefed shortly on what was to be expected at Weymere. Sure, I had the commitment and the rule-abiding nature, but not staining the satin evening-dress would prove difficult. And I had the clothes fitting to look forward to before supper that evening; I had to look my best for the first appearance.

But for the moment, the pressing issue was that I had no idea of where I needed to go, or what everybody expected me to do. Being blind is something you cannot imagine until it happens, and it affects you in so many ways you never expect. Like when you try to phone your friend, you cannot remember whether the call button is on the left or the right, and when you go out to walk the dog, you do not notice that your miniskirt is twisted sideways. All these irritating things, nobody thinks about. They assume it's all about how you can't choose your favourite clothes, plaster yourself in makeup, look in the mirror, and check Facebook for the seventh time.

"Miss Finch, please proceed with your suitcase to the Antonio corridor. Leave your instrument here, and we will transfer it to the racks outside the auditorium." I narrowed my eyes in distaste; my cello felt as if it was part of me, and I hated to leave it behind. "Your house prefect will show you the way."

The receptionist exchanged a few hushed words with the prefect at the door, presumably gushing about my terrible disability, and sighing, I picked up my suitcase and trudged over.

"So your name's Melissa. It's pretty." I remained silent, surprised by the strange start of the conversation. The prefect's voice, a strange mix between rough and melodic, I was sure I recognised. "I thought I'd seen you before, and I see why now. Now that Miss Collins reminded me that you were blind."

Through my irritation, I felt it all click in my mind. If this prefect had met me before when I was blind, there was only one possibility of his identity: that he was the boy who I bumped into at the hospital. And, grasping at straws, the 'Sebastian' at the hospital with those long fingers... could be this Weymere scholar, Mr Howard?

"So you're the Sebastian Howard, then?" I smirked, holding out my right hand for him to shake. "Well met...for the second time, but pretend it's the first."

Sebastian let out a deep breath, impressed, or possibly a little annoyed. "So, by your wonderful powers of deduction, you've probably guessed that all the houses are named after composers. We're both in Antonio- as in Vivaldi- where all the scholars and a random selection of string players are housed."

We began to walk down the hallway, my suitcase bumping on the cobbles. "How many scholars are there?"

"Seven now. The string players are just me and you, unusually. Coralie is a senior flautist, and her boyfriend Joshua plays the clarinet. Dylan the trombonist is seven," he chuckled, "and extremely energetic. And finally, there are the two Chinese pianists: Lara and Clara Li. They're in the year below."

Sebastian opened a glass door, taking his arm with mine. I stiffened automatically. "May I? The steps are quite steep."

"Be my guide." I gave him a nervous smile, feeling almost sorry for him. "I'm not used to all this, so I'm sorry... I might be a bit of a burden for the first few days."

"No more than the fan-girls, I guarantee. Never can I go anywhere in this school without-" From the landing above, I heard the clacking of high-heels. Sebastian groaned, holding his head in his hands, and practically sunk into the wall. "Speak of the devil..."

"Sebbiee! My darling Sebbiee... is that you?" A whining voice screeched, as unpleasant as fingernails scraping on a blackboard. A slight girl draped in floaty net material cannoned into my guide, and in the process almost knocked me over. "And... who are you?"

"I'm not supposed to tell you much, but..." I ducked my head shyly, "I'm the new student, Melissa."

"You're new! A new student!" The girl cried in excitement, probably wondering how she could befriend me in the quickest manner. "I'm so pleased to meet you... I hope we can be the bestestist friends ever! My name's Carina. Carina Peace."

"And guess what? Melissa's a scholar too!" Sebastian added, wincing as I nudged him in the side. Surely he wouldn't have done that deliberately...

"Wow... happy days... wonderful days..." Carina fluttered away, whistling Beethoven's 1st Symphony. "See you at dinner, my Sebbiewebbie, and remember your promise!"

_____________________________________________________

"You get that... that all the time?" I gasped when she was out of my hearing. "That must get so annoying."

"Why didn't you just tell her to go away, if she annoyed you that quickly?"

"A, she's your fan-girl. And B, I' m going for the 'shy', 'good student' look." Sebastian stopped abruptly, making me tread on his foot. "Sorry... are we here?"

"The Antonio corridor, yes... but I was wondering..."

"Hm?"

"Look, can you do me a favour?" Sebastian said, slurring his words as if he was afraid someone would eavesdrop."You seem like a good girl, and believe me, I know a lot of bad ones. You don't like my fan-girls either, which is doubly strange. Well, I was thinking... you probably need a bit of help-"

"Sorry, but-"

"With getting a good stand at the academy-"

"No-"

Sebastian sighed. "And there I was, thinking it'd be easy. Look... I'll get you an easy time here, with lots of true friends and a place in the best music groups, if you'll help me with one thing."

"Is this blackmail?"

"No, well... yes," he said sheepishly, "but I don't mean it to be. I think we could help each other with this. Just help me escape from the fan-girls."

I grinned; within half an hour of being a student at Weymere, I had already become involved in a devilish plot. Who knew whether Sebastian Howard was honest, but I was strangely inclined to trust him. "Deal."