The day after
– I already told you, this place is mine
She affirmed, hérése , her eyes shining with a spark
"There are rules to follow here. The deputy chief spoke to you kindly yesterday, but I think you misunderstood. You're not at home here. As soon as you cross this threshold, you're nobody. Your money means nothing anymore," Luc breathed, still staring at the two behind him.
The sous-chef on the desk and the chef on the chair
"You don't have a seat yet, so for the moment you have to follow the orders of your class superiors, understood?" Alex ordered.
Hérése : hum~, without paying them any further attention
SLAP!
A pat on the back of the neck
"I thought I warned you," the less-than-ordinary man murmured softly near my ear.
PAF!
I hit him back in the face.
– I'm a bit hard of hearing, and with your breath I might lose my sense of smell too
He stood up, holding his nose, and glared at me.
"Lower your eyes," he ordered.
Eyes turned towards us and the murmurs began to grow louder.
– so early
– This is going to end badly
– I don't care
– they will fight from the second day of school
– it's always them
– fight
– fight for the clan
"SHUT IT UP," ordered Luc
"FUCKING HELL, DOES THAT FUNNY YOU? HUH!, YOU BUNCH OF IDIOTS!" yelled the least ordinary one, his veins throbbing.
– Shut up, Jack.
To my great surprise, a guy showed up, nonchalant, bag under his butt, sleek uniform covered by a gray sweater and glasses. It was the second day of school, an hour after the bell, and that was his first sentence.
"Shut up, Jack"
But the whole class fell silent and sat up straight, as if they were all afraid of him.
"It's only the second day back at school and you haven't even bothered to ask for your timetable; you prefer to chat like kindergarteners and fight over a seat," the nonchalant boy continued.
"Sorry... Iréné," Jack murmured, "Mr. Iréné, we didn't know."
"HOOOOO! LEAVE US ALONE!" shouted a second intruder, gently pushing Irene out of the way and going back inside with a smile on her lips.
She was much worse. She was late and making a racket instead of keeping a low profile.
But where have I landed?
"Maëva!, hum~, stop bothering us and find yourself a seat," Iréné sighed, running a hand over his face.
– Yes, it's me, back just for you, Saint Maëva, the most hated girl in the whole elementary school
"Is now in middle school," called a voice from the back.
"That's a good start already," continued Maëva, not taking the comment seriously.
One could say that she had a sort of saintly appearance, an ankle-length skirt and a white turtleneck sweater under her sky-blue uniform and a handbag as a school bag, a sober and simple appearance without jewelry or makeup, the opposite of most of the girls in this class.
I ignored them and rested my head on my desk.
(I'm already tired, I just want the day to end, let us go home)
– Hmm? Do I have a table neighbor?
I just heard a voice in the distance, too busy thinking
Then a hand was placed on my head
– Hey!
TAP!
I slapped the back of his hand before I even got up.
Maëva
(Sorry)
Almost every guy around me glared at me, as if I'd just committed a crime against humanity, and was ready to jump down my throat.
But he was holding back in a strange way.
Maëva raised her hand and gave a simple, eyeless smile. A simple gesture that held their attention.
"Can I sit here?" she asked me.
"Go ahead," I reply simply and move aside slightly to let her in and sit at the back against the wall.
"Sorry, I don't really like this seat. Can I wait at the far end?" she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
A silence, then
The murmurs began to rise again
"Yet another one charmed by the 'angel,'" called the same voice from the back.
Everyone followed, especially the group of girls surrounding him.
– all the same
She plays the innocent girl as soon as there's a good-looking guy around.
– the Virgin Mary
"SILENCE!" finally demanded the sous-chef at the back of my row, still sitting on the desk with his big, shiny watch and his second-in-command who never spoke.
I turn to Maëva and look her up and down and sigh.
– This is the only free seat here
And I resume my position and rest my head on my desk.
"OK, that's fine, let me through," she breathed dryly.
I stood up and met Jack's murderous gaze. He was holding back from telling me the hard truths; I simply ignored him and left.
Pass by "Princess Saint", who settles in without further comment.
We didn't even have enough time to digest these arrivals before two more were added, just two new students, twins.
There were even some, like primary school students, ADÈLE and ANDRÉ, two new specimens in this shark-filled sea.
And for the first time, right after the bell signaled the first break, I saw more than half the class heading towards 6th B, our opposite class. I thought they hated each other? I heard that this year our class, A, was superior to B. So where did they go? Even the two quiet ones at the back had gone, leaving the class almost empty.
So, curious, I get up, pretending to head outside to take my break, but suddenly I am blocked by Irene, what does he want from me?
Respect the uniform you're wearing: no creases, no stains, and above all, take my collar and fold it back. Don't forget to pay for the badge to put on your shirt.
Then he walked away, readjusting his glasses.
(He's not in his right mind)
"Who is this guy?" I whispered to myself.
"I can tell you," Maëva whispered close to my ear.
– Hmm? And who are you?
She smiled delicately and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you serious? I already told you, and you've already forgotten?" she sighed, sounding slightly annoyed and confused.
– I'm supposed to remember that
Her eyes were very bright.
"It's no use," she murmured to herself, "so you want to know?" she said, more lively and electric.
– to know what?
"That you're in deep shit," she asserted with a forced smile.
"I don't think so," he shrugged.
– You don't even know the rules here, judging by your personality, but since I'm nice, I'll teach you, because you insist-
"Shhhhhh," Hérése interrupted, massaging her head. "I can't hear myself think anymore, and besides, I don't care about your rules, so thanks but no thanks."
And he goes back to lie down on his desk.