Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 3 - Arisa

I stood in a classroom full of strangers and waited to be assigned a seat. The desk by the far back, next to the window, looked like my best bet. There was another one in the middle of the room I considered, but it was too close to the other students. There were a couple of friendly faces that I wouldn't mind talking to; a dark-skinned girl with braided hair, and a boy with blonde highlights and a tanned complexion. I could sense the urgency in their eyes, their desperation to know who I was, and where I came from. I could also be completely wrong. They could be looking for a fresh face to pick on. That wouldn't end well for any of us.

My body tensed as I remembered Tomasia's warning. 'I advise you to avoid the rooftop. Don't go up there even if you're granted access. It won't end well.'

I would have never thought about going to the rooftop, but now I couldn't stop thinking about it. If I was granted access, what kind would it be? Was the door always open, or did I need a key to get inside? Honestly, if Tomasia didn't want me going up there then she shouldn't have said anything.

A frumpy woman walked out of the back room with a clipboard in hand. Her big eyes held my attention for an uncomfortable moment. "Let's get started," she said. "Arisa, did you want to say a few words and introduce yourself?"

"Sure," I replied, half heartedly.

The teacher nodded before addressing the room. "Good morning students!"

The students replied unenthusiastically. "Moooorning."

"As I'm sure you can tell, we have a new student joining us today," she said, gently touching my shoulder. "This is Arisa Hoffman and she is transferring from a public school across the Pond. I want all of you to be kind and welcoming."

"Public school babe!" a boy shouted from the back of the class. "You single?"

Half the class laughed while the other half called him a desperate idiot. He shrugged it off when I didn't humour him with a response.

"I said to be kind Mr. Carter," the teacher drawled.

I could feel my peers' gazes sticking to me, the same as before, but this time Tomasia wasn't around to deflect the attention. I smiled awkwardly to keep my composure. If it were any other day, I would have happily told the creep to shove a sock in it, but I had to behave. A, because I couldn't see him from my where I was standing, and b, because if my mom taught me anything, it was that first impressions mattered.

I was happy when the teacher escorted me to the empty seat by the window. At least one thing was going my way. It was the second desk from the last row, and a very good looking boy was sitting in front of me. His genuine smile assured me that he wasn't the tool who asked about my relationship status earlier.

"Mr. Matsunaga," the teacher spoke. "Would you mind supporting Ms. Hoffman through my class today?"

"Not at all, Mrs. Patterson," the boy replied.

I took a second to admire his East Asian features. His complexion was spotless and his brown almond eyes were bright, warm, and alluring. It was hard not to lose myself in them. I glanced up to appreciate the way his black hair fell over his forehead, and admire the way our school uniform fit his lean figure.

He spoke to me as soon as the teacher walked off. "I'm Hino," he said, leaning his elbow on my desk.

"Arisa."

His stare felt intense. I felt a little awkward about being analyzed by somebody I didn't know, so I distracted myself by inspecting the workbooks the teacher had arranged on my desk.

"What school did you come from?" Hino asked.

"Oakville High."

"Yikes."

"Thanks," I said, flipping through the pages. I knew it wasn't the best school in the district, but going there wasn't my call. It was my parents'. I took the awkward pause as an opportunity to change the subject. "So, Hino, do you know how I can get access to the rooftop?"

His gasp was quiet. "Are you a smoker, Arisa?"

"Am not," I said, catching his gaze. His eyes weren't warm and welcoming anymore, they were cold, still and solemn.

"Then there is no reason for you to go up there."

"Do I need a reason?" I persisted. "What if I told you my curiosity is insatiable?"

Hino turned his back on me. "Sounds serious."

The more he avoided my questions, the more suspicious his warning became. "You're the second person who's told me avoid the rooftop," I said.

"Then maybe you should listen."

"But it's starting to sound like a challenge," I teased.

He remained quiet.

"And I love a good challenge."