Guardian Ghost

Chapter 8: The student senator asking two favours

"Hey, Jem!"

"Oh. Hi, Yuelian." Jem waved as I approached him and sat down beside him. It was already lunch time at school, and my friend group was beginning to gather at our usual cafeteria table. As usual, the cafeteria was filled with the bustle and chatter of students in line to buy lunch, at tables animatedly talking with friends, or rushing in and out to get to other appointments. I was always one of the first to arrive at our spot since I always had a packed lunch (love you, Dad!); for the most part, the only person who ever arrived earlier than me was Jem.

Well, and now someone else.

"Did Allen go buy lunch?" I asked evenly while glancing around the room, using the opportunity to give a nod to Xiang who was standing across from me, in front of our table. He gave a small nod back. Surprisingly, Xiang had been relatively quiet the first half of the day, especially during classes. In fact, he seemed to listen as avidly as I did, as if he had really missed having a school environment. Books, school... I wonder if he also misses things like family and friends...

"Oh, Yuelian, I almost forgot." Jem's call brought me back to the present. "Kurt was looking for you. He wants his secretary to help out with something, apparently."

"Ah... He should have messaged me!"

"He did." Jem sighed. "You just didn't check your phone, like always."

"Oh, you're right..." I grinned sheepishly, having pulled out my phone to see the five new messages from Kurt. Skimming over the messages, I saw that he wanted me to meet him in the student council room. "Then I guess I'll get going! Jem, watch my stuff. It doesn't look like it'll take too long..."

"Kay."

With that, I jumped out of my seat and headed speedily out of the cafeteria. The hallways outside were relatively crowded, but as I crossed through the atrium towards the corridors with actual classrooms, the noise level died down to the odd laugh or murmur from some groups who decided to sit in the halls during lunch. Once I had bounded up the stairs to the third floor, I had reached a relatively empty part of the school.

"So who's Kurt?"

"He's a friend." I didn't even jump at Xiang's voice. It was strange to think he'd only just started tailing me earlier today and I was already used to it. Allen's right, I'm too trusting. "I think you'll like him. I know him well even though he isn't exactly part of my friend group. This year he was elected student senator."

"What's that?" Xiang kept pace with me like a normal human as we rounded a corner. We had arrived in the fanciest hallway of the school, with a mini-auditorium, three computer labs, and two meeting rooms. One of these was reserved for the student council when it wasn't being used for lectures.

"A student senator is part of the student council, a group of students who are elected by other students. They essentially organize and run most of the events within the school year."

"Oh, so like a class president?"

"Um..." I thought about it as I pushed open one of the beige doors. "I think the system's slightly different than in China." I remembered my dad saying he had been class president before, and my mom, and there was no way that would have been possible with the election system here. Actually... I thought hard.

"No."

"Huh, and I haven't even asked you to do anything yet!"

Ack! I suddenly didn't see Xiang by my side anymore. In his place, I was acutely aware of Kurt standing at the front of the small meeting room, behind its simple wooden podium. "Yuelian." He had a deep, calming voice that didn't completely suit his cuter features. I secretly thought he should really consider being a TV announcer or a radio-show host.

"Hey, Yuelian!" He chuckled as I blinked probably one too many times, having been appreciating his voice instead of actually listening. "You're really out of it today!"

"Sorry!" I walked into the room briskly, closing the door behind me. "I didn't sleep well yesterday." Not a lie...

"No way." Kurt grinned. "You didn't manage to get an impressive nine hours of sleep?"

"Fight me." I grinned back. "You're just jealous because you never manage that!"

"Right like always." Kurt gestured for me to come closer. "Sorry to call you all the way here. I just wanted you to go over the proposal I have for the school board." Now I was able to see the small stack of paper, clipped together neatly on the podium in front of him.

"Is this the one for school dances?" I asked, taking the pile and flipping through it quickly. "Like, to update rules about inviting DJs and stuff?"

"Yeah, that's it." He looked me straight in the eyes, still smiling. "You know which one's coming up, right?"

"The semi-formal." I rolled my eyes as an excuse to look away. Today was one of those days where I found Kurt's eyes distractingly pretty. "You know, I'm surprised I'm in student council even though I never actually attend any of their events."

"It's because as secretary, you take good notes."

I tried not to seem overly happy from the compliment. "Yeah, well, that was my campaign slogan!"

"Was it?" Kurt seemed amused all the same. "I seem to remember it being funnier?"

"Ugh, you mean cringier..."

"For some reason I can't remember..."

"You probably locked it out of your memories-good for you!" I wished I could forget "Take note of Yuelian and she'll take notes for you"... and the image of Allen yelling it left and right. I was back to the first page of the proposal. "I'll take this and look it over today. I have a self-study class after, so I can do it then."

"My hero."

I chuckled at Kurt's thanks. "No worries!"

"Hey, do you think you could do me another favour?"

"Probably? What do you need?"

"Reconsider about the dance." I felt my heartbeat accelerate in my chest. "I know it's still far and you don't like dances..."

Don't overthink it! "I mean, I like dancing. But the music at school dances these days..."

"Yeah, but still. Reconsider?"

"...Okay, I'll think about it." All the pounding was causing my chest to ache. "Is that all?"

"Yep, that's all from me." Kurt's eyes crinkled. "Thanks again."

"And I'm telling you, no worries!" As I placed my hand on the doorknob, I looked back one last time. "Make sure you eat something, too! Go meet up with your friends, you workaholic."

"Will do." I heard the smile in his voice as I closed the door behind me.

It made me feel so warm.