The bell, a surprisingly melodic chime that echoed through the grand hallways, signaled the start of first period. Louisa and Ellie, thanks to Scarlet's guidance, managed to navigate their way to Advanced English Literature. The classroom was spacious, with large windows overlooking manicured gardens.
As they entered, the room was already filling up. Groups of students, many of whom Louisa and Ellie had seen in the main hall, were settling into desks, their conversations a low hum of familiarity. Jayden and his friends occupied a table near the back, their easy camaraderie evident. Cassia and Thea Devereux took seats closer to the front.
"Have you heard from Anya?" Thea murmured to Cassia, her brow slightly furrowed. "She's usually here early, holding court."
Cassia shrugged, her gaze sweeping across the room with an air of detached observation. "Anya's.... indisposed. She's still recovering from her.... eventful weekend."
There was a subtle, almost imperceptible, coolness in her tone that hinted at more than just a simple absence.
Louisa and Ellie found two empty desks near the middle of the room, a slight distance from each other. As Louisa sat down, she noticed Nicolas enter, looking a little flustered, his tie slightly askew. He scanned the room and, spotting Louisa and Ellie, made his way towards an empty desk beside Ellie.
"Morning," he murmured, adjusting his glasses. "That hall is a bit of a labyrinth."
"Tell me about it," Ellie replied with a wry grin. "We had a personal tour guide courtesy of Scarlet."
Just as Mr. Davies, a tall, slightly rumpled man with kind eyes, entered the classroom, Mateo Cowin strode in, his presence carrying a certain swagger. His eyes swept over the new arrivals, and when they landed on Louisa, a knowing, almost challenging smile played on his lips, a clear acknowledgment of the dramatic scene he'd likely witnessed at the welcome party. Jayden, noticing the interaction and Mateo's pointed look at Louisa, shot Mateo a brief, cool glance.
Mr. Davies cleared his throat.
"Welcome, everyone, to Advanced English Literature. For our returning students, welcome back. And for our new faces…" His gaze swept over Louisa, Ellie, and a few others.
"Welcome to Charterhouse. I trust you're all ready to delve into the complexities and beauty of the written word."
He began to outline the syllabus, his voice calm and engaging. Louisa found herself surprisingly engrossed, the initial anxieties of the morning starting to recede as the discussion turned to classic poetry.
Suddenly, a crisp, perfectly folded note landed on Louisa's desk. She glanced up to see Serena, sitting a few seats away with Chloe, offering a saccharine smile. Hesitantly, Louisa unfolded the note.
"New girl. Heard you're one of the 'special admissions.' Just a heads up, some of us (Kora says hi 😉) had to actually earn our place here. Don't get any ideas above your station. 😉"
Louisa's jaw tightened. She crumpled the note in her hand, her earlier sense of calm evaporating. She risked a glance at Ellie, who was focused on Mr. Davies. Deciding not to cause a scene, Louisa tried to refocus on the lesson, but the subtle jab had landed its mark.
A moment later, another note landed on Louisa's desk, this one smaller and folded differently. She cautiously opened it.
"Ignore them. They do that to anyone new who doesn't fit their mold. Just focus on the work. You belong here."
There was no name. Louisa's eyes scanned the room, trying to discern the sender. Her gaze landed on Scarlet, who was looking straight ahead at Mr. Davies, a faint, almost imperceptible, smile playing on her lips.
The class continued, but for Louisa, the initial excitement of learning was now tinged with the reality of the social undercurrents at Charterhouse.
The academic challenge was one thing; navigating the intricate web of privilege and prejudice was proving to be another entirely.