𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞

Chapter has been updated.

Xoxo

Love, KS♡

𝓚𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮

It was beautiful and much bigger than I expected it to be. The first thing I noticed about my dorm was the amount of natural light it received  through the glass balcony doors and the classic interior of the room decored with modern furniture. I was incredibly amazed by how pretty the dorm was that I explored the sheer size of it in a frenzy, opening the in-wall double doors to find a stunning walk-in closet on the other side and an adorable en-suite bathroom behind another but with golden fixtures. There was so much space, I even had my own private little living room in the centre of the place and a flat-screen on the wall just opposite the king-sized bed. It was all perfect and charming just the way I like it. 

I went to grab my phone out of my bag to text my sisters and found that Tamara had beat me to drop one in our group chat.  

𝗧EXT

Babe:

Anyone else got a killer view?

Right. I headed for the glass doors and pulled them open to be greeted by a light breeze and the sound of birds chirping in the distance. Wow.

Me:

I got the garden view. 

Guardian angel:

Lucky!

Me:

What did you get?

Guardian angel:

The lawn

Babe:

Same

Its kinda great though . . lots of green

Me:

Haha. Good for stress relief

Babe:

I'll need it if I'm next door to @Guardian angel

I chuckled. 

Guardian angel:

Funny

I shook my head at the two, although I always did find their endless bickering entertaining. Though, it was more like Tamara consistently getting on Soph's nerves because she likes to and Sophia just being done with her.  My favourite entertainment.

Another message came in. 

Maman:

All settled in?

Me:

Yup. Need to start unpacking. 

Maman:

Ok dear. Have a good rest.

Call me whenever you feel like it.

Want to hear all about your first day.

I simply replied back with three heart emojis and a "will do" followed by a "love you maman" before deciding that it was time for me start unpack. My things had already been carried to my room so I really got the easier job by just unloading all my clothes into the closet. 

Yet again, with the amount of outfits I brought . . this might be a challenge.

Three hours later

"You didn't show for tea. Are you - Kristi?", I heard Sophia call before the sound of her footsteps got louder and closer to the walk-in closet that I was currently in, specifically lying on the floor. "Oh God, what happened?"

"Isn't it obvious? I brought too many shoes and I gave up unpacking them."

"Isn't this a little too dramatic?"

"I'm not dead yet", I said. 

Sophia sighed, "You literally packed half of what I did."

"Want to get hired? I'll pay for your help right now."

Again, my sister sighed, "Well . . . it looks like you need it. But first, go eat what your butler helped bring up for you."

I pushed myself on my elbows. "What?"

"Your butler, Darell, he brought some food for you from the afternoon tea you missed. I was going to do it myself, but he insisted." 

I smiled, "I love my butler already", I said before leaving the closet to find a golden tray left for me on the coffee table. Sophia helped to pour me some tea while I was busy munching on probably the most delicious mini sandwich I've ever had in my life. "Thank you."

"So tell me what really happened", my sister ordered after taking a seat opposite me. 

"You've caught on to my sarcasm?", I asked, momentarily freezing and holding a macaron mid way to my mouth. 

"Its dry, so drink some tea", she said and I chuckled before taking a sip of out the filled tea cup. "What happened?"

I shrugged, "I saw a memory . . and it was enough to take my soul elsewhere."

.   .   .   .  .  .  . 

It was 6:10 pm. 

And dinner started at 6 pm. 

I was quick to roll myself off the couch and head for the closet while putting my hair up into a messy bun, not really caring much if it looked terrible. There was no chance I'd eat another meal with my hair getting in the way. I grabbed a loose cardigan, slipped on a pair of sneakers, because I refuse to wear heels again, and walked out of my dorm.

I checked to see the messages left for me while I was napping and saw one from Laurene. 

Mandu:

If you see a cute guy, snatch.

If you see a dick, call me 😘

Me:

You mean "dick" as in a person right?

Her reply was immediate. 

Mandu:

Both forms

I snorted. 

Me:

It'd be cool if you were here

Mandu:

I know right? Enjoy teen life without me

Me:

What do you mean?

You're my emergency text when I have something dirty to tell

Mandu:

Get a boyfriend babes

My fingers hovered over the keypad. 

Me:

Not happening anytime soon

"Guess we're both late", I looked up from my phone screen to find a really pretty girl in front of me with brown hair and chocolate eyes. I nearly blushed.

"Is there a strict time for us to have meals?"

"Not really. Late just means we show up after everyone else does", she casually said and I was already beginning to like her vibe. 

"I'm not really a fan of attention . ."

"That's too bad. You're pretty, so there's no way to avoid it", she sighed, " Unless you want to trade faces, I'm down", she grinned with a wink and I smiled too. 

"Never trade it for anyone's, gorgeous. You're stunning", I complimented. 

She tilted her head, looking at me thoughtfully, "You girl . . can flirt."

"Now who said I couldn't?",  I asked, confident, "I'm Kristine", I introduced after, smiling. 

"Ester", she smiled back. 

This was it. Maybe I really was going to make new friends . . . it's exciting. 

Out of nowhere, someone came and stormed right in between us, the force causing Ester to stumble backwards and me to stare at the person's back in disbelief. What an . .

"Perhaps mingle elsewhere than block doors."

 . . . Arse

Charles Harrison. 

He practically shoved the dining hall door open, nearly scaring the life out of the server on the other side of it, and arrogantly trampled inside with his grouch-of-an-attitude. 

"An . . arse", I muttered, still glaring at the now closed wooden door. When I finally turned to Ester, I found Xavier Valdéz standing right behind us, but he was looking at me. 

Nobody told he was this hot up close . . and handsome.

My face heated, hoping my hair was cooperating with me and wasn't that wild of a mess. He merely turned away from me, but not before I saw a smirk on his lips. The kind which belonged to a guy who knew his capability of seducing a women and was good at it. That pissed me off. 

"Ladies", he pardoned, keeping his head down as he walked pass us to enter the hall and I took that second mentally cursing myself for finding his voice attractive. To my surprise, he actually held the door open and I immediately looked to Ester, who gestured for me to just follow. I motioned for her to head in first and I went in after. 

"Thank you", I said, not meeting his eyes, and headed straight for the table we sat on earlier today, seeing that my sisters were there already. 

"You completely forgot to set an alarm didn't you?", Sophia asked me, already knowing. 

I tucked my chair in. "Maybe", I simply replied and straight away scooped a mouthful of the mashed potatoes Tamara had dropped onto my plate before stuffing it into my mouth. Oh my god . .  that's good mashed potatoes, I thought and for what could be the third time today, made eye contact with Ashton. I looked away and continued to eat normally.

"Ok someone's got to you . .", Sophia noticed. 

I threw on the napkin that I had forgotten to earlier, "I wonder who it was", I said, looking directly at Charles, who glared at me back, and stabbed a fork into my steak. 

Tamara muffled a laugh. She then leaned closer to me with a hand on my lap, "It's giving enemies to lovers."

"It's sure as hell not", I whispered in return, horrified, "I'm too good for such an arse." I heard a scoff and took extra care in not sending a glare across the table.  

"Think what you want", Tamara grinned and leaned back in her seat. I eyed her suspiciously before proceeding to eat my dinner, questioning if I'll ever be in a relationship if all I ever do is hate on every male I see. 

I really did mean the "not happening anytime soon." 

Dinner went by painfully slow, without an interaction shared amongst any of us, and I prayed that tomorrow will be different. First day is always awkward isn't it?

When dessert was served, rich chocolate mouse with mixed berries, something unexpected happened. 

"Madam", a butler came up to me with a card in his gloved hand, "From Sir Andrew Mason." My eyebrows crossed, but regardless I took it. 

"Are you sure this isn't for someone else?"

"He specifically said Kristine La Cartier."

I nodded, understanding. "Thank you."

"Whose Andrew Mason?", Tamara whispered-ask, suspicious. 

I flipped the card to find . . Can I have you for dessert?, written on the back of it. "Someone incredulous", I said, peering over my shoulder to meet eyes with a dashing brunette, who was faired skin, handsome and easily punchable with that smirk on his face. I then faced my mouse and pursed my lips. Dipping the tip of my finger into the chocolate sauce of my dessert , I decided to simply write the word NO over his crude message before handing it back to the butler. "Can you please pass this to him?"

The butler's mouth twitched. "Yes, ma'am."

I simply sucked the sauce off my finger and then wiped with my napkin. It would've been interesting to get with a posh boy that charming but he was a definite no for me and should be for every other girl.

"What did Mason just write you?", I looked across the table at Isabella, who had ask me the question and was looking at me curious.

"Uh . . something for later, but I won't be joining him", I straightforwardly replied with a tight smile. The girl beside Isabella clamped her lips shut, muffling a laugh from the looks of it, and it made mine curve upwards naturally. 

Isabella looked satisfied with my response. "You're probably the first girl to turn him down, I think his butler found it amusing too."

"Yeah, well I bet it's his looks that gets the girls lining up for him because he has nothing else to offer, flirting skills being one", I told and Tamara cracked a grin. 

Isabella contemplated, "His father being a duke could also be a reason."

"Well that didn't get me", I said with a triumphant grin and Isabella smiled. 

"He's got some nerve though, going straight for you -", the brunette started and I paused folding my napkin.

". . meaning?"

She stuttered, blue eyes widening,  "A. . as in . . . you're new and he went right for you on the first day, before school even started, like he's trying to show everyone he can get Kristine La Cartier."

I blinked. "Get . . me?"

Isabella closed her eyes. 

"What about me is so interesting to have?", I asked, really curious to know her answer as it differs among some. 

Her mouth opened, "Ah . . . You're pretty, smart, you have your own company and is literally the spitting image of the perfect girl", she described and I rubbed my lips together, unable to digest how highly she thought of me.  She sunk in her seat, "Sorry . . that's . .that's how I see you."

I smiled, "If you can speak of me that way, I hope you do so for yourself as well. It's a really good confidence boost."

The girl looked up at me, a little shock but then glad. "I'll take any advice from the girl who said life's inspiring", she grinned brilliantly. 

My own smile widened. "You watched the speech?"

"All ten minutes of it."

"I also like how you talked about not having to go far in life to reach the highest places, you just have to know it in your heart . . that you're already there. That was touching", IsabellaI inserted and it only made me happier I'ver never been a confident with public speaking, so hearing that my words had some impact meant a lot.

"Oooo and then like . . five minutes later you mentioned how a girl is a weapon in herself. Her femininity will be the blow she delivers and no man will see it coming. Now that . . was iconic. We loved it", the brunette smiled and I couldn't believe I didn't even know her name. Wait . . the blue eyes . . hair colour . . similar to Ashton's . . Lennox. Oh my god. 

Teressa Lennox.

That took too long to figure out. 

I smiled and looked at the both of them appreciatively, "Thank you, Teressa. Isabella." The two visually seemed surprised I knew their names but I just smiled along, "I did my research too." 

My phone started to vibrate on the table and I took that as a sign to leave. I looked to my sisters and they both nodded. The three of us started to get up.

"See you tomorrow", I smiled, specifically at Teressa and Isabella, before turning away from the table and heading for the door. 

𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓭 𝓟𝓞𝓥

"I didn't get to tell her how much of a fan I am", Isabella said, disappointed.

"You have the whole year", Teressa told her. 

"What speech were you guys talking about?", Ashton asked his sister after seeing Kristine walk out the dining hall doors. 

"The one she spoke on the #MeToo campaign earlier this year for women's rights, under MUN. You do know she's a UN Goodwill ambassador right?", Teressa replied, impressing them more, and for the hundredth time that day, the boys were left speechless. 

Isabella smirked, "All it takes is one impressive girl for the tables to turn."

And the tables did. 

𝓚𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮

"You know what", I began to say while slowing down my steps, "I think I could use a walk. Some fresh air sound nice."

"I'd join you, but I'm sleep deprived", Tamara chuckled and engulfed me in her arms. "Tomorrow's another day."

"As I always say", I smiled and bid her good night. 

"I would join you too, if I didn't know you want to be alone", Sophia softly said to me and all I did was hug her. 

 "I love you, Soph", I said, meaning it. 

"We love you too", she said and pecked me on the forehead, "Make sure to rest, please."

I nodded. "I'll see you two tomorrow . .  in uniforms."

"Can't wait for the suffocation", Tamara rolled her eyes and I snickered. 

"Loosen the tie. Love you both", I blew a kiss over my shoulder before walking the opposite direction from them.

As I strolled around the corridor, I took a glimpse down at the garden through the hall windows. A night walk out there really would be lovely, and I could use some of that fresh air. When I started making my way downstairs, I pulled out my phone to see if Laurene replied my last message. 

She did. 

Mandu:

You never know babes

Life is a mystery

And its driving all of us crazy

I paused on the staircase. 

"I saw a memory . . and it was enough to take my soul elsewhere."

Sophia instantly sat up in her seat, "What . . what did you see?"

"Just me . . and my parents. We were . . . happy. So happy it hurts to remember."

.  .   .  .  .  .  .

"What else? What else do you remember Kristi?"

I stopped stirring my tea, seeing my own life halting before my eyes, "My family dying."

Me:

I'm crazy to find out what the mystery even is

After stepping out into the academy's garden, I started to walk on the stone path. I dropped my head back and took advantage of the fresh air, loving how it felt on my skin and that it was all for me to breathe. I untied my hair, pushing it back and letting the wind do the rest. Breathing became a little easier then and I decided that maybe this garden would be my safe place. My place to go . . when I didn't know anything anymore. 

In the distance, I saw a stone bench and headed there to take a seat.

"Do you know what happened to them?"

"If I did, there wouldn't be a mystery and we need a mystery . . . to be driven a little mad.  A little mad to find out what happens next in the story."

I stared at the night sky, admiring all the stars, the moon, which illuminated the garden below, me including. 

"Mum . .dad . . if you're watching, tell me . . . . Just tell me if you are", I ended up saying, missing them more after seeing that memory of us; smiling, laughing, laying in the paddy fields and staring at the stars together. I smiled while looking up at them, tears already brimming in my eyes. Where did all of that go?, I wondered. 

It disappeared so far out of reach, I couldn't even cherish it, not even in memory. It was blurred, lost and gone. 

And it's not coming back.

We were too lost beyond our stars 

. . . to ever go back to how things were. 

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞

Chapter has been updated. Future chapters will be a little confusing, so apologies! Keep an eye out for "updated" notices. Thanks for reading.

Xoxo

Love, KS♡