Stupid Tristan, leaving me alone in the forest and refusing to help me with this AAP thing.
Arg! Stupid Tristan and his stupid - kind of pretty - face.
It took about twenty minutes to trudge through the forest and make my way back to the school, I wasn't like stupid Tristan who could shift whenever he willed to.
There was no one on the school grounds when I got back. I guess they were all in class.
To be clear, I didn't come back to school because Tristan told me to. He is not the boss of me. I came back because quite frankly, I'm a goody two shoes.
And my goody two shoes feet led me straight to Headmaster Forbes office, I knew there would be repercussions to just running out during an assembly and I might as well face them now than wait for them to find me later.
I tapped my knuckles on the door to his office and I didn't even have to wait long before I heard him say; 'come in, Crystal.'
He must have known my scent. If anything, Headmaster Forbes probably knew all the students at Silvercrest Prep.
I turned the door knob and swung it open, and I was immediately met with ten pairs of eyes staring at me. Well, five pairs were staring, the other five - which belonged to Ms Marin, Bridget, Joshua, Courtney and Bea - were straight up glaring.
"Um..."
"Come in, Miss Swan, we were just talking about you." Headmaster Forbes spoke. There was no smile on his face but he didn't look upset in the least, just thoughtful.
The other AAP candidates were seated on a bench in the back. Only Allison had a somewhat friendly look on her face, Andre looked bored, like he had been here for too long and would rather be somewhere else.
"Thank you, Mr Tanner, you were right after all." Headmaster Forbes told the man in the chair in front of his desk.
It's only then that I realised it was in fact my favourite professor. He was seated beside May Nolan. Bridgette and Ms Marin were standing on either side of Headmaster Forbes, still not looking happy at all.
"If that will be all, sir, I have a class to get back to." Mr Tanner told Headmaster Forbes.
"Of course." The dark skinned man spoke with a nod. "You're excused."
Mr Tanner slid his chair back and got up. He offered me a small smile which I returned before exiting the room.
"Sit down, Miss Swan." Headmaster Forbes spoke, gesturing to the chair Mr Tanner had just gotten up from.
I complied, still looking around nervously.
"I suppose your little run earlier helped you calm down." He spoke, looking a little amused.
"Um... kind of." I replied with a light laugh.
Ms Marin's glare seemed to intensify.
"Er... sir, madams..." I looked around at all four adults, "there has to be a mistake here,"
"No kidding." I heard Courtney's familiar voice speak.
I didn't even turn around to acknowledge her.
"Ms Marin, will you please escort the rest of the candidates to their classes." Headmaster Forbes spoke.
"Except you, Josh, stay." Bridgette added.
Wait, what? Why was Joshua Melrose staying?
I would be much more comfortable if his judgemental eyes, which were so much like Tristan's, were not here to ridicule me. But it's not like he even knew about his brother and me. As far as I could tell, he hated me because his girlfriend hated me.
The rest of them got up and left, Ms Marin shooting me another glare in the process, I had no doubt in my mind that I would be hearing from her about my insolence later.
"Now, Miss Swan, What are these mistakes you speak of?" Headmaster Forbes continued.
I leaned forward. It was a bit easier to talk with less people in the room but I was still nervous "I shouldn't be a candidate, Headmaster Forbes, I didn't even apply for this program."
Headmaster Forbes shared a look with Bridgette before looking back at me.
"Yes, we're aware of that." He responded.
"Exactly, so maybe there was a mistake? Perhaps the spot was supposed to go to my cousin, Katherine Benson. She applied and she is more than qualified." I spoke, letting the words flow out quickly.
"There was no mistake." Bridgette spoke. "You were selected. Selections hardly ever happen without an application but I guess one of the elders chose you."
I didn't even know any of the elders personally. I didn't even realise any of them knew me!
"Well I don't think I can do this, I haven't taken any physical practical classes since I got here other than the minimum requirements and I barely pass those as it is!"
"Then you'll train and work hard like everyone else." Bridgette spoke sounding irritated, "you wouldn't be the first halfling to be selected for this program." She added.
Okay! That was a low blow. Roman had been the first halfling selected for the AAP and look how that turned out. She obviously thought I couldn't handle this. Hell I knew I couldn't handle this.
"What Bridgette is trying to say is that everyone has to start from somewhere. Trust me, none of us came into this program perfect." May spoke up for the first time since I had arrived. I turned to look at the beautiful lady beside me. She had been a senior when I just moved to Woodfell, I remember her name being called out during the first assembly I ever attended at Silvercrest prep. She was the second ever candidate to take on a permanent position in Alpha Tristan's apprenticeship program.
Kat has always been in awe of her, I know she would kill to be in my place right now. It should have been her.
I nodded and smiled at her. "Thanks but - "
"No buts." She spoke with a smile. She placed her hand on my shoulder. "Consider yourself lucky, the elders don't just choose anyone. There must be something impressive about you."
There really wasn't.
Whichever elder had put my name down must have a really sick sense of humour.
"We have to get going now." Bridgette told Headmaster Forbes.
He got up from his seat and shook Bridgette's hand. "It's always a pleasure receiving some of my old students. Especially when they're doing so well for themselves."
"Oh you flatter us, Headmaster Forbes." May spoke as she rose from her chair. She turned to look at me. "I expect to see you in my class tomorrow, Crystal Swan. I can't wait to see what you can do."
There was this glint in her eye as she spoke. She was really excited about this, huh?
Well, I can tell her now that all that's waiting for her is disappointment. I give it a week and she'll be begging me to quit.
"Well thank you again for coming, I'll walk you out." Headmaster Forbes spoke. "You two can get to your classes now." He nodded at me and Joshua who was still seated on the bench.
I got up as well and shot Bridgette a desperate look but she just ignored me. She straight up ignored me!
I grabbed her arm before she could walk away, "can we talk?" I whispered.
I was well aware that Joshua was eyeing us curiously, thankfully May and Headmaster Forbes kept walking immersed in some conversation about the good old days.
Bridgette looked at my arm like it was filth before roughly pulling away from me.
"Josh, fill Miss Swan in on everything we discussed after she left us." She ordered, not tearing her face from mine. Her blue eyes glared daggers at me.
Note to self; DO NOT touch Bridgette.
"Yes, Beta." Joshua replied from behind me.
Bridgette gave me one last deadly look before turning around to leave.
So much for asking her for help.
I turned to look at Joshua and shocker, he looked like someone had pissed in his cereal. Or... accidentally spilt water on him. I guess I really don't have much of a fan club here.
"Hey." I greeted awkwardly.
He just stared at me before pushing passed me. "The AAP handbook is in my locker." He spoke.
"Okay, I guess I'll just follow you then."
He didn't even turn around to acknowledge me.
I let out a sigh, he was so much like his brother.
I walked after Joshua, keeping a safe distance behind him. I was so grateful people were in their respective classes, the last thing I wanted were more stares and whispers. And here I thought Roman would be my biggest problem today.
"So, this AAP thing is crazy, right?" I spoke nervously, just trying to make conversation. The silence was killing me.
I knew me requesting a private audience with Bridgette must have seemed weird to him as well . The last thing I needed was for him to find out the truth and tell everyone. What would they say? 'No wonder she had gotten the candidacy?'
"Not so much, some of us actually worked for this." He spoke, still staring straight ahead.
I paused in my steps.
Well okay.
Of course I knew I didn't deserve this but he wasn't really one to talk.
"That's rich coming from the Alpha's little brother." I shot back.
I saw him stop. He slowly turned around with an angry look on his face.
Uh oh. Why did I have to open my big mouth?
"You don't know anything about me so why don't you just shut up." He spat.
I gulped. I wasn't Kat. I wasn't good in confrontations so obviously, I froze.
Hello brain, a comeback would be good right about now.
In the end, all I could let out was; "sorry."
Arg! Why was I the one apologising?
That's right, because I'm a wimp.
Joshua just spun around and kept walking. And of course, I followed because that's what wimpy girls with no back bones do.
Just as we approached what I presumed was his locker, a chestnut brown haired boy came into view, he was leaning against the aforementioned locker, typing away on his phone.
"What are you doing here?" Joshua asked his twin brother.
Micheal looked up and beamed at him. Then, taking me by complete surprise, once again, he beamed at me.
Or at least in my direction.
I turned around to make sure there was no one behind me before looking back at him in confusion.
He pushed himself off his locker and walked towards me.
"Hey, Crystal, right? I don't think we've officially met." He stretched out his hand. "I'm Micheal Melrose - Josh's brother, I mean obviously - but my friends call me Mikey."
Whaaaat?
Why was Micheal Melrose suddenly being so friendly? I hadn't even existed to him before today.
I furrowed my brows at him. "Um... I know who you are."
I had been here for just over four years after all.
Micheal's smile dropped when I didn't shake his hand or return the same enthusiasm he had shown me.
He actually looked disappointed.
But the friendly smile returned and he scratched the back of his head. "Right. Um... I just thought that since you'll be partnering with my brother that we might be friends." He spoke hopefully.
I looked at Joshua. He looked pissed.
"Partnering?" I asked.
He opened his locker and took out a small, thick, red book and all but shoved it at me.
"It's all in there. Each week we get partnered with one of the other candidates and I'm stuck with you this week." He spoke.
It wasn't exactly Christmas for me either.
I looked down at the book and in block white letters, the words; 'AAP CANDIDATE HANDBOOK' were written.
"He'll be like your crime fighting partner in crime. The Batman to your Robin or vice verse" Micheal spoke up with another bright smile on his face.
More like the Superman to my Batman or vice verse. Who was I kidding? I am definitely not cool enough to be Superman nor am I cool enough to be Batman.
But PS, Superman is way better than Batman.
Michael's smile immediately melted away when I just looked at him in more confusion.
"Or not." He muttered.
Joshua rolled his eyes before shutting his locker.
"Let's just go." He told him, giving him a 'why are you even talking to her' look.
Before he walked away, he gave me a steely look. "We meet everyday before school at 5.am to 8.am and after at 5.pm to 8.pm, don't be late. It will make both of us look bad." He spoke before walking away.
"Bye Crystal." Micheal mumbled before following his brother with his head hanging low.