Privilege

Chapter 15

Niall shouldn’t be here; he doesn’t know how he wound up tangled and trapped in this situation. He was supposed to do his homework, train for lacrosse, and go to bed early. He was supposed to work hard in order to insure a place at Princeton would be waiting for him upon graduation- so, how the hell did he end up here?

Why is he sitting in the front row of folding chairs in the Great Room of Mitchell Hall and staring at the somber, unfeeling faces that hover over the long table before them. The gray faces that would decide his fate. Their fate. The fate of Privilege house.

Everyone is against them. Niall can feel it, right to the core of his bones-- this torturous sensation like some large rodent is kicking in his stomach, and gnawing greedily at his heart and lungs. As if the vociferous organ-muncher isn't enough, he is also in pain.

Real, physical pain: His lungs are raw from inhaling tons of smoke in the underground tunnel outside Gwendolyn Hall, the remnants of the charred building still billowing plumes into the air at the edge of Prescott Academy's campus. His face hurts as if it has been repeatedly and mercilessly slapped, while his head is being intermittently pierced by an invisible ice pick. His eyes are so dry and bloodshot that every time he blinks, his lids stick to them for one brief, excruciating moment before popping wide open again. He tries not to close them, but that just makes them drier. His backside has also seen better days, so even though he may not be in pain, he surely isn’t pleased with the soreness Harry has left him with at the moment.

This is his punishment, his atonement for last night; for sneaking out and going to the Legacy rather than staying home and doing his homework- and of course, for hooking up with his friend’s boyfriend.

The whole school has gathered to hear what will become of Privilege house. The anticipation in the air is so thick Niall can feel it’s warmth on his neck, the pressure nearly strangling. Or maybe that is just Amanda’s panicked breathing. Either way, his heart starts to pound as Headmistress Jensen finishes listing the grievances against Privilege house.

"These infractions are deplorable," she declares, lifting a page of stark white paper as she begins reading from it, "Hazing, initiation ceremonies, fighting, ignoring curfew on several occasions--"

Niall blinks in confusion, his brow creasing in bafflement because he sure as hell hasn’t taken part in any of those offenses. He glances at Zayn, his eyebrow raised in question as Zayn mouths, “Last year, you don’t want to know.”

And, oh, okay- as if that doesn’t make him even more curious.

"But that wasn't us. That was last year’s seniors," Danielle complains under her breath, and Niall has a feeling he should be grateful he wasn’t here last year.

But on the other hand, he finds it hardly fair that the administration is attempting to pin last year’s seniors’ indiscretions on them as well as their own faults. Niall just shakes his head- even the adults running this school are so warped and greedy; frankly, it terrifies him how ruthless the real world truly is.

"-Ignoring my strict mandate to remain on campus the evening of Sunday, October 31st," Mrs. Jensen continues, her voice growing even more judgmental as their list of misadventures comes to an end, "and, most intolerable- destruction of school property," she discloses, her voice coiled with rigid disapproval as she lays the paper down, lacing her fingers together on top of it.

The room is silent, anxiety levels through the roof as her lips move once more, “Destruction of one of the oldest, most cherished buildings on this campus," she reiterates, looking Louis dead in the eye.

Louis, undisputed leader of Privilege house, is sitting right next to Niall and appears to be a bit pale, but he doesn’t dare look away from the headmistress’ admonishing look; his eyes remain bold and focused while his chin is held high in defiance.