𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐘

Chapter 3: Never Doubt I Love

The bustling of students in the classroom quieted down when Aelin strolled inside five minutes late. She made her way to the back of the classroom, chin held high, staring down anyone who glanced her way.

She heard whispers, too many of them.

Isn't that Celaena Sardothien?

I heard she changed her name to Aelin...

Didn't she get expelled from her last school?

Rumor has it she set it on fire...                              

Clenching her fist, she sat on an empty chair and only then realised that the teacher was speaking to her.

"...Miss Galathynius, I presume you were lost?" Aelin dragged her eyes down to the teacher's desk and found the name plate, clean and shining.

Mr. Erawan.

"Not really," She answered casually. A couple of students cooed dramatically.

His golden eyes glowered at her for a few moments and she smirked back at him. His pale face turned red and he looked like he was about to explode.

Good.

Surprisingly he turned to the rest of the class that went dead silent and clapped his hands together, jolting a few students to straighten in their seats.

"As I was saying before I got rudely interrupted," He cast Aelin another glare but she was already busy doodling on her arm, "We will be introducing a new unit this semester. Anyone here familiar with Shakespeare?"

The class groaned.

Tragedy and romance, who knew those two would fit so well together?

"Doubt thou the stars are fire," Aelin glanced up from her inked skin and to her right. A boy her age sat in a chair, head resting on his arm, while he grinned at her and continued to whisper, "Doubt that the sun doth move— "

"Doubt truth to be a liar," She finished and was satisfied to find him in shock, "But never doubt I love."

Hamlet.

He chuckled and his white teeth was almost blinding, just like the rest of his perfect state. His raven-black hair was properly trimmed while his sapphire blue eyes glimmered under the light.

"You know Shakespeare?" Loverboy questioned, his ocean eyes were filled with curiosity.

Aelin shrugged, "I like to read."

Loverboy shook his head slightly and extended a hand under his table, away from the eyes of Erawan, "Allow me to introduce myself. Dorian Havilliard, pleasure."

"Aelin," She shook his hand and ignored how soft it was, compared to her rough palms. "Let me guess, you use that line to win over the hearts of innocent girls?"

It was more of a statement than a question, and Aelin raised her eyebrows, waiting.

Dorian let out a breathy laugh and elbowed a guy in front of him.

"It took you years to figure me out and the new kid manages to do it in a couple of seconds. I'm hurt Chaol, really."

The boy, apparently named Chaol, barely turned his head to them but Aelin could make out his strained features and set jaw. He looked extremely annoyed.

"If you both don't keep quiet you'll get detention," He sneered, "And I'd rather not spend my afternoon with you so leave me out of this."

Chaol turned his attention back to the teacher, his posture so stiff, trained for any sort of attack.

Aelin noticed how certain strands of his chestnut-brown hair ran down his neck and she was tempted to snip them off.

"That's how you know he likes you," Dorian murmured and something in Chaol softened at the sound of his best friend's voice.

Aelin glanced between the two of them suspiciously.

Maybe her stay in Rifthold Academy would be more interesting than she thought.