City of Shadows

The Silver City Academy

(Aurelia's POV)

I avoid looking at my brown hair. If I try, I can see it just at the edge of my field of vision. I don't like my new hair color. I suppose when you're used to having one hair color your entire life, any other color seems weird. But this isn't just weird it's awful. Not that there's anything wrong with brown hair, I just don't like it on me. I hate my new hair color just about as much as the uniform I'm wearing.

Today is my first day of school at the Silver City Academy. If I had to pick on word to describe this pace, it would be prestigious. I swear this place is just like every single prep school you've ever seen on tv. It's a tall four story brick building, with ivy climbing up the sides. There's even stairs that lead up to the front door, and big white pillars that form the entryway into the school. The students here live in the dorms, and are required to wear uniforms. The only plus side to this whole ordeal is that Jasper looks good in his school uniform. Wait no... Forget I said that. I am still mad at Jasper for being Vortex. I no longer have a crush on him, and under no circumstances think he's cute.

"This sucks." I mutter to Jasper as I tug at my skirt. I think that the skirt that came with my uniform is little too short for my liking.

"Ha, you think this sucks?" Jasper scoffs. "Imagine how I feel. I'm stuck with you."

I narrow my eyes at Jasper, "Don't say that like it's a bad thing."

"It is, and stop tugging at your uniform, you look like an idiot." Jasper comments.

I roll my eyes and keep walking down the hall. Our footsteps echoing down the hall, nearly in sync. I still don't really know what to think of Jasper. I guess he's still the same guy I knew, but he still seems different. He definitely talks to me more now, but he seems annoyed by my existence. I wonder, if he still finds me annoying, how much of his villain act was he actually faking? And does he really find me annoying, or is that just an act too?

"It's my uniform, I'll tug at it if I want to tug at it." I tell Jasper as we reach the first class of the day.

Jasper ignores me and heads to his desk. I take the first empty desk I can find, a few desks away from Jasper. Sadly, the second the teacher enters the room, I instantly get called out.

"Today we have a new student. Miss Aurelia Ray, will be joining our class." declares the teacher. Then he motions for me to stand up. I inhale sharply, then stand up. Everyone in the room is staring at me. I take note of my other classmates. Everyone in this school has some kind of tie to the Meta Alliance. I will have to learn as many names as possible. Luckily, the teacher decides to make everyone in the class say their name. That was both a good thing and a bad thing. It was bad in the sense that the whole task only seemed to irritate my new classmates. It was good in the sense that it gave me a chance to learn some names.

Learning names quickly has never been a strength of mine, but at least I manage to remember a small handful of names. I repeat the list in my head: Nathaniel Harrington, Nicolina Sinclair, Cameron Wescott, Courtney Wescott, and Monica Jacobs. None of the names sound familiar, but I'm certain that when given time, I'll learn more about them.

The rest of class seems to fly by quickly. The bell rings, flooding the room with it's high pitched cry. Time for the next class. I gather my stuff, and head into the hallway. So far the Silver City Academy seems like a normal school.

My next class is an art class. Jasper isn't in that class. I actually have more electives than some of the other students. Which is a good thing. Apparently Jasper was able to pull some strings, and now I don't have a gym class. It wouldn't have been a good thing for me to have to change in to gym clothes, the other girls in the locker room would instantly learn my secret.

I make my way towards the art room. I avoid making eye contact with any of the other students as I walk. I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to myself. However, just as I am almost to the art room, someone trips me.

"What's your deal new girl?" sneers an unfamiliar voice.

I gather my things and quickly get up, then I turn to face my attacker. I find a curvy girl with tan skin, and curly black hair glaring at me with eyes the color trees in the winter. Momentarily, I recall a past conversation with Jasper.

I remember it happened just after I had died my hair. Jasper was just casually sitting in a chair in the hideout, lounging as he were relaxing in his own home. Maybe he has been here before, I thought. Or maybe, he never gets to relax at home, and this is one of the rare moments in which he can relax.

"You're going to have to adopt a new persona." Jasper commented. "You can't just show up at a villain school and act like you. You're too nice, too shy, too much of everything that a villain is not."

"Ok, so what? Do you want me to be mean?" I asked him.

"No. You can't just start being mean. It won't be authentic. If you try to be mean it'll seem more like a sheltered kid trying to cuss for the first time." Jasper replied.

"Then what do you suggest I do?" I asked him, crossing my arms defensively.

"I've already thought it through, and the only villain type you might be able to pull off is being unemotional. You're already unemotional to an extent. Just.." He explains.

"Are you saying I'm unemotional? That's just rude." I replied, mildly offended. "I have emotions."

"All I'm saying is that other heroes like Star, or Blaze are much more emotional. All you'll have to do for this new persona is act like whatever other people say or do doesn't bother you. If someone tries to say hi to you, ignore don't respond. If you see someone crying, act like you could care less. If someone gets hurt, tell them to walk it off. Acting unemotional with make you seem fearless to an extent. I'm certain that you can pull it off." Jasper explains.

"So you want me to do my best impression of Vortex." I concluded with a smirk.

Jasper rolled his eyes, "No. You don't get to pretend to be me."

I glare at the girl who tripped me and tell her, "I'm sorry, but I never gave you permission to talk to me."

The girl shoves me and says, "I don't need your permission. Now tell me what your deal is? We don't just get new students mid semester. Either you know someone important or you blackmail a lot of people."

I act unfazed by her shoving me and say, "I don't care about your questions." Then I turn and walk into the art room. Oh, I really hope that was ok. I already feel guilty about being rude to her.

What have I gotten myself into, I think as I find a place to sit.

***
There, despite my busy schedule, I managed to update. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.

QOTC-

Any suggestions for minor villains?

Until next chapter -AureilliaSkyland