Snakes and Ladders

Chapter 26: The List

Emilia stared hard at the sheet in front of her, scanning her eyes for her name.
After countless others, she finally zoned in on hers.

Number 41 on the list.

Emilia pondered the number.

I mean, she didn't think overall the number she got handed to was particularly bad. There was roughly about five hundred students attending this school. In fact that was pretty damn good.

Emilia was content with her number.

As she examined the rest of the list, a muscular arm slyly wrapped around her neck, making her freeze in her tracks.

"Hey whatcha lookin at? Ooh the list I see!" Tony chirped enthusiastically beside her, the girl inhaling his strong scent of wildflowers due to the lack of space between them.

Emilia lightly punched his shoulder "Would you stop sneaking up on me like that? It's annoying" she huffed

A crazy grin spread across his face "Nah it's fun seeing you scared" Tony rubbed Emilia head, messing up her hair.

The girl just sighed as another person approached them casually.

"What are you two looking at?" Nikolai asked monotonously looking bored of the conversation he started already.

Tony moved to slide his other hand around Nikolai, but he quickly slapped it away, already anticipating it.

"Owww Nik your so mean!" Tony cried out, grasping his slightly red hand in pain.

"And you need to learn social distancing" Nik stated looking unapologetic.

Emilia meanwhile was watching the ordeal, fairly amused, but trying to withhold herself from laughing for fear of Nikolai Valentine's full fledged wrath.

The two were both glaring at each other, arms crossed like stubborn siblings in a fight.

"Ugh their doing it again Feb" She heard a high pitched voice call, Emilia turning to see both Eden Olivera and February Devereux strolling down the hallway towards them.

Emilia squinted her eyes in confusion.

Why was the Five crowding her so much lately?

She understood Tony because they were friends now, but she was pretty sure the rest either hated her or barely tolerated her in presence. Or a little bit of both.

After the camping trip, where the student Arabella Stortz has mysteriously vanished. She remembered looking with the other campers all around the woods for her to no avail. It's been two weeks since she's been gone and ever since then, the Five have interacted more with her than they had before, smothering her with constant company inside and outside of class. Even Eden and Nikolai surprisingly.

"Their such dorks" February laughed out, giggling.

"Agreed" Eden said before sashaying in front of them and Emilia to look at the stapled long list.

Her lips curled into a victorious grin, her pointer finger at the very top "Seems like I'm still number two on the list. Go figure" she stated smugly

The boys had shortly ended their stare off after Eden had pushed past them.

Tony rolled his eyes "We get it Ede your popular" using air quotations whilst Nik just blankly stared at her.

"Hmphh still more popular than you" She scorned

Tony put a hand over his forehead "Oh no! How will I live? I'm only merely number four" he proclaimed dramatically

Eden scowled at him.

Nik finally spoke "He might be lower on the list but he still has a better personality than you" he uttered abrasively

Eden's scowl faltered turning into a fearful frown as Nik addressed her.

"Plus" he continued "Your not number one. Tatum Beaumont is. So don't think you can waltz in and think your better than me or any of us" he gestured to Tony, February, and to Emilia's surprise, herself as well.

Eden was trying to withhold tears as she spoke "Your so heartless Nik. When did you become so vile?" She whispered softly

Nik scoffed "Your one to talk. The ultimate mean girl herself. How about you do everybody a favor and shut up? You did it once at camp so you certainly have the capability" he paused "It was nice..not having to hear you whine like you always do"

Emilia watched, torn.

Yeah Eden was a stick up self centered bitch and granted, Nikolai was making some valid points but he maybe could've phrased it better and had been less rude about it.

Just as she was about to say something, the last member of the group approached them.

"What the hell are you two going on about now?" Tatum sighed, the same air of superiority surrounding him.

Nik glanced at Tatum "Nothing. Was just shoving a stuck up little girl back into her place" he growled out roughly before storming past all of them.

Wowza! I can't believe how far this book has come in reads!!! 2.7k reads?!!!! Mind blown! Thank you so much to the people who have been sticking with me through this book. Lots of love don't forget to like, vote, or comment!

~Jaderunner