THE HALL SEEMED even more spectacular than before, if that was even possible. I could feel myself holding my breath as my gaze settled upon the polished and refined furnishings around the room, and the immaculate white table cloths— each large enough to cover the entirety of the four tables. Every one and everything basked in the orange glow emanating from the chandeliers above us.

Miles and I sat where we had before, and awaited as everyone else settled and began to talk between each other. Despite having been here several days, and having been around these people on more than one occasion, I could feel people actively attempting to pretend we weren't there... like we were nothing. To say it didn't hurt that they'd constructed an opinion of us both on only our social standings and without knowing either of our names, would be a blatant lie. I refused to start something or dampen Miles's excitement, though, so clamped my lips together and listened to what he was saying.

"How's Harry?" I asked. "Is he still bothering you?"

It hadn't escaped my notice that the blonde boy had been taunting Miles whenever he saw him, whether it was discrete hand gestures or bumping into him a little too harshly on the stairs.

He reddened in humiliation, but waved it off. "Nah," he chuckled. "He's nothing. You should have seen the guys in my old school; they couldn't get enough of me and how 'soft' I was. Harry's nothing, absolutely nothing. In fact." I leant in as he lowered his voice. "The headlines that have been coming out recently just show I don't need to let him get to me."

"Headlines?" I asked, cluelessly.

Once again, I was completely oblivious to what was happening. I made a promise to myself that I would be more involved, even if some of the 'news' about a celebrity couple was mind numbingly ridiculous.

"Jolie, honestly," he sighed. "Pick up a newspaper or some shit. Or better yet, just look on Twitter."

"I have the oldest phone ever. It does calls and still has a keypad. I'm not going to be able to casually browse through Twitter anytime soon."

"Okay, Ill just be your source of the latest gossip. I'm a lot prettier than Twitter, anyway." I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, so there was this video, right, and it's basically a sex tape of Harry's dad and his secretary doing it on his desk."

"The guy who owns all the wifi pylons?"

"Yes, see you do know some stuff." I playfully hit his shoulder. "Nan thinks it was the girl, you know to get fame or whatever, but she's locked herself into her flat for the past two weeks."

"So what's your theory then?"

"He's a powerful man. And you know every powerful man had to have stepped on a few toes to get where they are. He obviously had enemies."

"What are you suggesting... revenge or blackmail?"

"Or as good as—"

The dark haired, dark skinned woman I recognised as our headmistress, Ms Kingsley, commanded the attention of us all without saying a word. Everyone just seemed to unanimously settle and direct their full attention to her.

"Welcome, students," she said in quite husky voice, like someone who had probably smoked cigarettes for a decade or so. It wasn't visible anywhere else on her, though, what with her perfectly white teeth and clear complexion. "I hope you have settled in well. I'd like to apologise for not being here to greet you myself, but I had... business to attend to.

"This period of your life may seem an ideal opportunity to have fun, even rebel a little, but I implore you to take full responsibility of your actions and spend your time wisely. I am aware of the businesses you plan to start or will soon inherit, and so your reputation must be pristine for you to be taken seriously. Please remember that.

"Now, you have had your briefing by a member of staff previously, and so I shan't keep you any longer. Remember you can come to me at any point in your stay here. Without further or do, enjoy."

At her last word, platters upon platters were brought into the room. Dressed smartly in colours coordinated to our uniforms, waiters put our plates down before us. Once everyone's was down, which happened almost immediately, we all began to tuck in.

Those around us seemed to block us out from their own conversations as they ate. I had to watch which knife and fork they used out of the various laid out on either side of me.

The food was like something out of a five star restaurant. It was incredible— melt in your mouth, drool worthy incredible.

The food Robert had brought me for breakfast had been good, no doubt, but this was something out of a fantasy.

Just as I had my eyes closed in bliss, withholding an embarrassing moan from how good it was, it happened. I knew I couldn't have one day, not even one day, without having to deal with something bad happening to me. It was unthinkable.

I heard the girls ingenuine "whoops," before I felt the liquid dripping onto my legs and sleeping into the material of my blazer and shirt.

I could have wrung her neck.

The girl who had done it— conveniently blonde haired and blue eyed like one of the villains out of some cliché, trying to copy Mean Girls film— sat smugly, a smirk on her face. Her friends around her giggled together, finding it ever so funny as I lurched up from my chair and drew all eyes. I probably would have tackled her right there, had I not been increasingly aware of those watching, especially the teachers.

Knowing I'd most likely strangle her if I stayed, I let my chair screech against the floor and stormed out.

I didn't know where I was going or how long I would walk for, only that I needed to desperately cool down and get cleaned up. I groaned as I looked down at my stained shirt, rubbing it a little too harshly, only to see the red wine stain spread further.

Because I was looking down and wasn't watching where I was going, I hadn't been paying attention to just what, or who, I was about to walk into.

Like every other time I'd been confronted with the blue eyed, frowning face of Archer Redwood, I'd crashed into him. I winced as I held my forehead, and could feel the bruise reforming on my behind, having just had it disappear since the last collision.

"Watch it," he gritted out, his hair seeming darker in the dimming light. I hardly noticed those accompanying him because of the intensity in which I glared up at him.

I realised, after a while, that it hadn't been Arched I'd bumped in to, but another.

His guard was quick to step in front of him, blocking the prince entirely.

I went to push myself up, feeling humiliated in front of the three of them and that ginormous bear of a man.

Prince Houman Safavi, direct heir to the throne, said something in his mother tongue, quiet enough so I didn't hear... not that I'd be able to understand it, anyway. The guard, though reluctant, seemed to follow his command and stepped aside.

I could hardly move out of shock as he held out a gloved hand.

Gingerly, I accepted it, letting him pull me up with surprising strength for someone I imagined just sat in a palace all day and spent money. He was quick to take his hand away, almost looking like he wanted to shake violently.

Archer looked at him and then his hand, a question in his stormy eyes. The prince ignored him.

Now closer, I could make out his slightly roguish hair, it tied back out of his face. Beneath dark eyebrows, lay eyes like mahogany, so deep and rich, they were almost too much to bear.

"Are you hurt?" He asked in perfect English, save for the slight accent dusting certain sounds.

"I'm fine," I said, and after a moment, "Thank you."

"Oh, Jolie darling!" A voice I recognised suddenly said, her long legs coming up behind them and floating towards me. "Whatever happened?"

"Oh," I said, remembering my hideously stained shirt, beginning to realise it was unsalvageable. I looked at Autumn. "Just a minor incident."

The girl with flames for hair and as she came closer, emeralds for eyes, who I now knew as Michelle Wolff joined the rest of them, completing The Elites.

Her gaze flitted between myself and the prince, darkening.

She righted herself immediately. "Run along, girl."

"I—"

"Shell," Autumn said. She didn't appear abashed by the scornful tone, but still looked as if wanting me to spontaneously combust. "Let's get you cleaned up, come on."

She turned on her heel, expecting me to follow. I kept my head up, but found myself avoiding eye contact with them all as they silently assessed me.

My arm brushed the dark haired, spanish billionaire ever so slightly.

Noah with his hands in his pockets and looking ever so naturally gorgeous, threw me a wink as I went. Despite myself, I could feel a blush rising. I shook my head.

No, I thought. Never again.

__________
a/n:
I'm finally back in the (y)u(c)k but there's good news: better uploading.. maybe. the only problem is my phone fell off the bed & now the screen is completely broken fml. it still works but I am piiiiiiiissed. I'll try and keep uploads consistent, but if I don't, that's probably the reason why:/

hope you liked this chapter! I really can't wait until we get more archer x jolie action ahhh but we gotta wait a tinsy bit. just hold tight & keep a look out for new chapters

love, rosie

btw thanks MrsSRidd1e this is mega cool, all the love<3