Chapter 12 - Part I

(Haruka)

#

Gym class held an unexpected surprise for us: a new gym teacher for the boys.

And new focus of interest for the girls.

I frowned, wondering if I’d missed the announcement during morning homeroom. However, Siobhan and Alistair both confirmed that no announcement had been made.

As surprising as that was, what surprised me more was the look of shock on Caprice’s face. When I asked her what was wrong, she shrugged it off in her faint way, and said it was nothing. But I could see the wheels turning behind her eyes, and when I looked over to the boys’ side of the gymnasium, I saw Caelum talking with the handsome new gym teacher.

Yes, I will admit he was good looking, and the girls around me readily agreed.

A quick glance at Ms. Karsen also confirmed her interest in the new addition to the teaching ranks. Her eyes wandered over to him every few seconds, and she appeared to be struggling not to stare.

Unfortunately for her, the girls chose capitalize on the opportunity and rib her about it.

Unfortunately for us, said ribbing landed the lot of us in hot water.

Blushing madly, Karsen declared today was a day for dodge ball.

To make matters worse, when deciding how to divide the girls into two teams, someone stupidly suggested flat chests should compete against big chests. While there was a concerted outcry at the idiocy of such a suggestion, I noticed the girls around me size each other up. Quite a few of those looks were aimed at my chest.

The buxom petite beauty, Éclair Faltome Lanfear, hid behind her friends, noticed they were way smaller than her, and hastily took refuge behind Siobhan who sported a solid Cee-cup bust.

“What are you doing, Éclair?” Siobhan complained upon finding the girl cowering behind her. But when the short girl looked up at her with moist eyes, Siobhan found herself at a loss for further words.

With a sour glare on her face, Alistair walked by the two girls, deliberately bumping Éclair aside. “Out of the way, Twin Peaks.”

“My name is Éclair,” the buxom girl whined.

Alistair turned back and leaned down into the petite beauty’s face. “Swimming classes start soon, Éclair. Will you be swimming the backstroke? I know all the boys are looking forward to seeing you in a one-piece swimsuit as you glide above the water.” Alistair made a ho-ho laugh, and added, “I’ll make sure to record you in action.”

Siobhan looked uncomfortable standing beside the two girls. “Hey, Alistair, I think you’re being a little cruel.”

Alistair straightened and shot Siobhan a glare that made the latter girl take a step back. “Really? I don’t know the meaning of the word cruel.”

Éclair balled her small hands into fists. “At least the boys will know where to look.”

Alistair turned her glare on the short girl. “You love the attention, don’t you?”

Éclair took a deep breath and pushed out her chest even more. “Hey, during swimming class, why don’t you go stand with the boys, Alistair? Nobody will notice the difference between you and them.”

Éclair ducked with millimeters to spare or Alistair’s punch would have bloodied her nose. Sometimes being short had its advantages.

However, she wasn’t prepared to avoid the dodge ball that flew toward her.

It crashed into her forehead with a loud smack, knocking her head back, and sending her to the ground. Éclair cried out in pain as her backside landed on the gym floor.

I watched the ball rebound and roll along the ground, coming to a stop at Caprice’s feet.

The girl picked it up, and began bouncing it on one palm, her expression calm and unreadable.

Alistair turned around in shock, and asked, “Was that you?”

“Friends stick together,” Caprice said. “And for the time being we are sisters in arms.”

Alistair’s mouth fell open and she had trouble closing it. “Yeah…I guess we are….”

I noticed the better endowed girls were beginning to back away from Caprice.

I also noticed Ms. Karsen wearing a furious expression as she marched toward the girl, bamboo sword in hand. “Steiner—drop the ball and go sit on the bench. Class is over for you! Don’t even think of moving from there! And I’m putting you on detention.”

Caprice started to reply but she was cut off by a loud crackle, hiss, and hum that filled the air as the public address system cleared its electronic throat. A few moments later, a familiar girl’s voice sounded loudly into the gymnasium.

“Attention. Attention. This is your esteemed Student Council Vice-President, Simone Alucard Raynar, with an important public service announcement.”

I looked up at the ceiling, one ear cocked into the air, feeling oddly uneasy.

“I want all you boys and girls to listen carefully.”

In the corner of my left eye, I glimpsed Caprice bounce the dodge ball one last time before clasping it tightly between her hands, with a surprisingly tense expression on her face.

“I would like to state for the record that as of this afternoon, I am officially off the market.” Clapping sounds came through speakers. “Yay! Hooray for me! Clap clap clap clap.”

I was dumbfounded as I realized what she meant by ‘off the market’.

“That’s right boys and girls. I, Simone Alucard Raynar, have a boyfriend. Yes, a real boyfriend, and he’s all mine. So let this be a warning to you girls, and I’m referring to you, Faint Smile.”

Alucard took a deep loud breath.

“Caelum Desanto afil Lanfear is mine. You hear me boys and girls? Caelum is mine. He is officially off the market as well.”

My heart clenched and my mouth grew dry. I was caught between disbelief and knowing I’d expected something like this sooner rather than later.

“I know that some of you girls have been expressing an interest him. After all, I can hear your gossip in the toilets. So I’m making it clear right now. Caelum belongs to me. He’s mine, and I’m all his. You hear that Caelum? I’m all yours, baby. Hold me tight. Love me tender. Love me sweet.”

Something exploded so loudly within our midst that a number of us girls screamed in fright. It took me a few moments to realize that Caprice had crushed the dodge ball flat, bursting it like a balloon in the process.

“And if you boys hurt my Caelum, I swear I will not go easy on you.”

I looked across the gym floor at where the guys from Class Two-Aye were staring aghast into the air, while others were slowly turning their attention on one particular boy.

Caelum raised his hands, and started pleading for mercy as he warily backed away from the guys.

“Hey, Faint Smile. I have an idea. Why don’t we double date?”

My heart jumped high in my chest and landed heavily in a daze.

The Countess knows? She knows about the date? How does she know? Who told her?

I turned fast toward Caprice in time to see anger explode across her face. This wasn’t the faint anger one might expect from her, but a full thermonuclear meltdown…whatever that means.

“That’s right. Let’s double date.” More loud clapping sounds. “Why don’t we make it this Saturday?”

Felicity, a slender elfin beauty muttered, “Double date?”

“Who’s she dating?”

“Could it be that boy from earlier this week?”

“You mean him? Seriously?”

“By the way, who is the Countess calling Faint Smile?”

“Don’t you know?”

“She’s talking about Steiner.”

“Caprice? You mean our Caprice Steiner?”

“You dummy, there’s only one Steiner in the whole school.”

The Countess pressed on, laughing happily. “That’s right, Faint Smile. Why don’t you and Crais Shepherd join Caelum and I on a double date. It’ll be fun.”

A number of my classmates whirled upon Caprice with amazement plastered on their faces.

“So it was Shepherd from Class Two-Dee!”

“Wow! You nabbed a hotty!”

“Way to go, girl! You scored big time!”

Siobhan cut in harshly and pointed at the ceiling. “Would you lot shut up. That idiot is still talking.”

Indeed, the Countess was rolling downhill without any brakes. “In fact, I have a great idea, so listen up boys and girls!” The girl took a deep audible breath that filled her lungs. “I’m going to treat all of you to an awesome experience!”

Silence descended upon us as everyone waited in anticipation.

“Let’s all go to Water Wilderness!”

A collective gasp rose into the air. “Water Wilderness….”

“…that place is awesome….”

“…I wanted to go with my boyfriend….”

“…damn, how lucky….”

“…yeah, lucky you have a boyfriend….”

I stared at Caprice, and saw her face become ashen.

“So let’s pick out our swimsuits this Friday. You’ll want to look your best for your date.”

Éclair whimpered, “She’s lost her mind. The Countess has lost her mind.”

Siobhan gaped. “What is wrong with that girl?”

I shook my head slowly. “I have no idea….”

Alistair snorted loudly and crossed her arms. “Oh, it’s pretty clear what’s going on.” She shot Caprice a knowing look. “That’s her declaration of war.”

Siobhan’s face contorted in confusion. “Ali, haven’t you been listening. Didn’t you hear her? The war is over. Pervert Desanto is her boyfriend.” She pointed across the gym floor. “Look, the guys are already giving chase.”

I looked where she pointed and saw Caelum fending off the eleven other boys of Class Two-Aye. He moved pretty well, dodging and ducking, jinking and juking to a silent tune, all while retreating with smooth steps. When I thought he’d be cornered, he’d slip out of the boys’ cordon with nimble footwork. Not once did he make contact with any of them. He simply avoided each attempt to grab, strike, or pin him down.

It was a masterful display of martial arts prowess that had me gaping in astonishment.

However, I wasn’t the only one overawed by his performance.

Most of the girls stood in a broad line, watching Caelum make a mockery of the guys trying to catch him.

To my right, Lumiere whispered loudly. “Wow…he’s amazing….”

Beside her, Chantel nodded absently. “Fast. So fast.”

“But smooth,” Siobhan pointed out. “It’s like he’s dancing with them.”

Éclair observed, “They haven’t touched him once.”

I sensed some of the girl were staring at me. “What?” I asked anxiously.

Cassandra, a tall brunette, asked me, “I heard he beat up six seniors who picked a fight with him. Is that true?”

My stomach twisted nervously. “I wouldn’t know,” I lied as sincerely as I could.

Chantel snorted while grinning broadly. “So he’s a delinquent. I like that.”

Farrah, a short blonde with pixie features, nodded quickly. “Yeah, beating up six seniors is pretty tough. And he’s only a Familiar.”

“With moves like those, I’m not surprised,” Alistair added.

Siobhan laughed. “Well, he’s going to be fending off a lot of the Countess’s admirers.”

I spared a sidelong glance at Caprice, and saw the girl watching Caelum through slightly narrowed eyes.

When I glanced around some more, I noticed Ms. Karsen was standing off to the left of the girls and studying Caelum’s movements with keen eyes, her bamboo sword slowly tapping against her shoulder.

One of the girls cried out, “Look, they all charged him.”

“Not fair!” Chantel cried out.

Farrah cupped her hands around her mouth. “Desanto—run!”

“Run, Pervert, run!”

“Yeah, run.”

“Don’t let them catch you, Pervert.”

Over the public address system, the sounds of loud banging could be heard.

“…open this door...I said open this door….”

“…she’s overridden the lock….”

“…damn it. Get security up here….”

The sounds of more frustrated banging.

“…Simone Alucard Raynar, come out quietly with your hands up….”

Then the sounds of furniture being moved.

“...hey, she’s blocking the doorway!”

The sounds of a girl’s harried breathing and the Countess was back on the air.

“Okay, this is probably going to be my final announcement as Vice-President before they take me away. So girls and guys listen careful.”

“What is it now?” Siobhan grumbled.

“I, Simone Alucard Raynar, invite twelve lucky boys and twelve lucky girls from Classes Two-Aye and Two-Dee to join Caelum and I on our double date this Saturday at Water World in Island Five. All expenses paid out of the generosity of my bountiful chest—I mean heart!”

Around me, my female classmates looked at each other.

“Did she say twelve girls?”

“From our two classes?”

“Now girls, listen up. If you wish to bring your boyfriends along, then I’ll need names and numbers as I need to make arrangements by this afternoon.”

The sounds of the door unlocking could be heard, as well as the sounds of furniture being pushed aside.

“…Security, arrest that girl….”

“…Alucard, don’t run away….”

The Countess spoke in a strained voice. “I need names and numbers by afternoon homeroom! You must send in your applications by then. The first twelve guys and twelve girls will gain free admission for them and their partners. That means your girlfriends and boyfriends get in for free.”

“…Alucard, stop resisting….”

“…surrender and move away from the furniture….”

“…have you seriously lost your mind­—?”

The transmission came to an abrupt end as though someone had pulled the plug on the power to the public address system.

Felicity crossed her arms and commented, “That does sound like a good offer.”

Chantel agreed. “Yeah, I really good offer.”

Almost in unison, my female classmates started running across the gym floor, making tracks for the change room.

Éclair wondered aloud, “Where’s everyone going?”

Siobhan started laughing. “To get their palm-slates so they can message the Countess and get into Water Wilderness for free.” She gave me a sidelong look. “What about you, Haruka? You’re not interested?”

I watched the guys, who only moments ago had been pinning Caelum down, now hastily run to the gym change room to get their slates, leaving behind an exhausted Caelum lying spread-eagled on the ground. The new gym teacher walked up to him, and began to speak to Caelum who struggled to prop himself up on his elbows.

Suddenly I remembered Caprice, and turned about to look for her, finding the girl staring at Caelum with a tortured look on her face. Then quietly, wordlessly, she began walking to benches.

My heart shifted uncomfortably as my chest grew tight. Taking a quick breath, I hurried after her.

Caprice sat on the lowest bench seat, and buried her face into her hands.

“Hey…Caprice….”

She shook her head faintly. “I’m fine….”

My chest grew tighter, and I almost did as she asked, but then something slithered in the back of my mind and found myself rooted to the ground in front of her. “Caprice, I’m sorry. I tried to warn you.”

She looked up at me. “Warn me?”

“That Caelum would hurt you.”

“Caelum didn’t hurt me,” she said softly. “And I won’t admit defeat.”

The slithering in the dark of my mind stopped then started again.

I swallowed and then asked, “What do you mean?”

“Caelum and the Countess don’t belong together,” she replied. “Sooner rather than later, he’ll realize that and they’ll break up.”

“But—”

“When that happens, I’ll be there for him.”

“Caprice—”

Her eyes shone with a hard light. “He doesn’t belong with her. He belongs with me.”

The slithering stopped abruptly, and my thoughts stumbled for a moment.

When Siobhan spoke up beside me on my right, I was startled enough to yelp.

“Are you sure about that?” the girl asked Caprice, while ignoring my surprised reaction.

Caprice nodded faintly. “Yes. I am. With all my heart.”

Alistair arrived at my left. “In that case, you should accept her challenge.”

A faint smile creased Caprice’s lips. “I intend to.”

I swallowed again and asked, “What about Shepherd?”

Caprice regarded me intently for a short while, and I felt uncomfortable under her silent scrutiny. “Crais Shepherd is not your concern,” she stated flatly.

I closed my mouth and swallowed, feeling the slithering fade away and stillness return to the back of my mind.

Alistair muttered softly. “That sounds cold….”

Siobhan crossed her arms. “In that case we need to find swimsuits.”

Alistair arched an eyebrow at me. “You are coming along, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, bring Duncan along,” Siobhan suggested with a sly smile.

I stared at the girls, including Caprice, who regarded me with a range of expressions from the arched to the faint to the mischievous.

Eventually I sighed, and slumped my shoulders. “Let’s go pick out swimsuits….”