Leuthold Preparatory | ✓

Chapter Four

Regulations 

Noah found his uniform set out in neat piles inside his rolling suitcase. He didn't think he had time to put them all away, Liam was waiting outside of their door, he was humming a familiar tune but Noah couldn't place it as he put on his autumn uniform: beige trousers, white button-up, merlot blazer, and tie, before he put on his red loafers and went out of his door, his gaze lingering on the room across the hall before he looked Liam over again in the same uniform he had on.

"Do we have the same classes?" Noah asked Liam as he slowly descended the steps with Liam, feeling a need to wait for him on each step.

"We don't really have 'classes' at all," Liam explained, "As we are older—it is more that we have structured workshops and such things of that nature. We don't really have grades or anything of the sort."

Noah swallowed thickly, already hearing his parents complain about not getting progress reports and grade notes from his school. He would have to have the Headmaster explain why they didn't have grades, they might not even believe him then.

"Mostly you can do what you like when you like," Liam continued. "But you're not allowed to interrupt the teachers, break anything, or go anywhere when the building is supposed to be closed."

"Like the girls' dormitory?"

"Are you that sort?"

"Pardon?"

"The sort that wants to find their way into the girls' dormitory."

"What? No!" Noah replied quickly before catching himself, "I mean...It's fine and all, but no, I'm not going to do that." He sheepishly turned away, feeling his ears grow hot again.

"Some try it," Liam said calmly and Noah looked back at him, having expected some kind of teasing and felt relieved when he realized that Liam couldn't see his expression at all.

"I was speaking of things such as the pool and music building—or even the castle when we're supposed to be in our dorm," Liam explained calmly as they exited the foyer.

"Right," Noah said. "A girl I met earlier said she got into trouble for sneaking into the pool."

"You are a sociable person then?"

"What?"

"You have already made two friends after being here a short while."

"I don't think that counts as friendship." Noah ran a hand through his hair as he glanced around, there were students still milling about, some had rakes and things, laughing in the distance and seemingly carefree in their existence. "Besides, I'm not sociable."

"Is there something wrong with your face?"

"What?" Noah replied, looking back to him.

"Well, people avoid me because I am blind. I am told that some people are avoided because they are ugly."

"I'm not ugly...not really," Noah replied.

"Why are you uncertain?" Liam asked.

Noah paused for a long moment as they walked, he was careful to walk a step just behind Liam, not wanting to get in the way of the cane despite that Liam had it on the opposite side of him, hardly tapping the ground.

"I have been unable to see my entire life," Liam said when he didn't speak. "I guess it must be a sight thing."

"Must be." Noah agreed softly.

Noah knew that Liam was supposed to show him to his classes, where he was supposed to be and when, but he didn't ask any questions about the rooms they walked by in the castle. It seemed that, despite his eyesight, Liam knew where he was going. He talked a lot, Noah supposed it was better than awkward silence. Still, Noah couldn't think of a single thing to ask him, he wanted to point inside the rooms and ask what they were, but each doorway was labeled in German. Without eyesight, he wondered how he could describe them to Liam. It made him feel a bit useless as they continued onward, both trying to listen to Liam and memorize where he was--both he was failing at.