Introductions.

Damien looked around as he straightened and noticed a fine white limousine parked behind his black one. Hmmm, two obscenely rich kids attending this school, they must be pleased. He briefly wondered who the expensive automobile belonged to, when the white limo pulled up in front of him and out stepped none other than…

“You??” he blurted out in shock. It was that girl from the airport, the one who annoyed the heck out of him, the one whom he had been thinking about just moments before…

Taylor ignored him with a dignified iciness; well, she wouldn’t be acting that way if she hadn’t seen him earlier. She suspected she’d be gawking like a foolish baboon just as the boy in front of her was doing. More like one of Michelangelo’s masterpieces you mean, came a tiny voice from the back of her mind. She frowned. I can’t believe you’re having thoughts like that about that obnoxious arse, she scolded herself.

Damien managed to compose himself in a brief moment, and then he voiced his thoughts. “What are you doing here?”
The girl continued to pretend he didn’t exist. And it was starting to piss him off. His anger was well hidden behind a decorous façade however and he continued, “Oh right, forgive me. You know, when someone shows up in a striking vehicle such as yours, one would think that such person would have exceptional etiquette. But curse my memory; I seemed to have forgotten your rotten manners.”
“Why you little –” she began, when she was cut off by an excited voice.

This seemed to be another recurring event, he noted. Their arguments always seemed to be interrupted and it was a smidge annoying for they would never know who the winner of the argument was. He knew it would be him though, but it was always nice to be sure. They both turned to the large oak doors to find a short, plump woman decked from head to toe in plum purple; from the over-the-top plume hat that adorned her head right down to the plum purple pumps she wore on her feet.

“Why Mrs. Malden, how very nice to see you again,” said Damien, a charming grin plastered on his face. The woman, it appeared, was their principle.
“No, no, no, it’s my pleasure to see you back here, Mister Winters,” she replied with a genuine beam. Her voice was very high-pitched and reminded Taylor somewhat or a mouse doing the opera. “I see you two have become acquainted,” she added.
“Well, not exactly Mrs. Malden, we–” Taylor spoke up, when she was cut off yet again; this time by Damien who still had that ridiculous forced smile on his face.
“Oh, I was just introducing myself to the new girl, hoping to help her around,” he said to the principle. Turning to her he said, “My name is Damien Winters. Pleased to meet you. What might your gracious name be?”
Taylor caught on quick; he was sucking up to the principle. Despicable. Giving the boy a well-disguised glare she replied, “Taylor Smith. I’m new here.” “Obviously,” she added under her breath.
“Why, how very congenial of you Mister Winters,” said Mrs. Malden with a touch of pride. “And welcome to Her Majesty’s Academy of Art and Design, Miss Smith.”

Two can play that game, Mister Winters, she thought, plastering on a dazzling, award-winning smile. “Thank you so much Mrs. Malden, you are so very gracious.” Turning to the boy, Damien, it seemed, she looked at him almost coyly, “Yes, very congenial of him to make acquaintance with poor me, friendless on my first day. I really appreciate it, Mister Winters.” Damien nodded nonchalantly and he didn’t seem to be paying much attention to the conversation going on. There was a lacing of sarcasm coating her flattering words but whether Mrs. Malden noticed or not, she beamed enthusiastically and continued to titter like a mother hen of sorts.

“Oh, don’t feel that way Miss Smith. I assure you that everyone will be very amiable here at Her Majesty’s Academy of Art and Design. It is one of the important things we stress upon.”
Taylor smiled demurely and said, “Thank you, Mrs. Malden. I am much assured.”
The principle continued animatedly, “However, this is a large school and there are many instances where I’ve gotten lost. So, I think it is best that you should have a guide to help you get around the school for the first few weeks.”
All that was running through Taylor’s mind was, how does one get lost in one’s own school?? So she didn’t think when she answered, “Of course, that would be ideal.”
Principle Malden’s eyes lit up mischievously and it was then when the pair of newfound foes realized that they’d just been thrown to the lions – or more like at each other.
“Perfect. Mister Winters, you will be Miss Smith’s guide and aid her through her first few weeks here.”
And all the pair could do then was smile and nod.

~o~

Damien held open the large oak doors for Taylor in a gallant act of chivalry. Act being the imperative verb. Great, the chit has gotten us into this and now I have to be nice to her around Malden. Roughly the same thing was going through Taylor’s mind at that very moment. Great, now I have to actually be nice to this pompous braggart in front of the principle. She sighed audibly and moved further from him.

“Yes, because I’m positively teeming with germs,” Damien muttered dryly.
“Oh, I’m glad you noticed. Saves me the trouble to tell you to shower,” she replied in an all too sweet tone.
“Well considering I came into contact with you, I am going to have to wash myself.”
“So, you wouldn’t wash yourself otherwise? I’m glad I’m making you hygienic.”
“I didn’t say tha–”
“Aha, point to Taylor Smith.”
“You can’t just give yourself points like that. Since when were we keeping score?”
“Since now.”
“You are so immature.”
“Smith one, Winters none.”
“Grow up.”
“You know you’re playing this game too.”
“Am not.” It came out a slight bit too petulant sounding for Damien’s liking.
“Grow up,” she mimicked in quite a respectable fashion.
Damien somewhat growled in frustration and stalked off in the direction of the boys’ dormitories.
“Oh, but Mister Winters,” came a sickly sweet voice from behind.
“What,” he snapped. This girl would kill him with frustration.
“Why, that is no way to treat a lady. Especially one whom you’re supposed to be aiding. Orders from the principle. No?”
He turned back to her and gave her a charming flash of teeth, mockery clearly evident behind his pearly whites. “May I escort you to your dormitory then?”
“Oh, no thank you. I think I can manage,” she managed to choke out before dissolving into a fit of laughter. “And another point to Taylor Smith. My, you are terrible at this.”
“I am not playing your childish game!” He replied in measurable annoyance.
“You already have Winters. You already have.” And with that she left walking in the definitely right direction to the girls’ dorms.

~o~

Damien stood there fuming while he watched her fluidly carry herself up the meticulously polished marble steps that lead to the girls’ dormitories. With commandeering presence, he strode almost arrogantly towards boy’s dorms. He passed a group of fawning girls on his way, all tittering and giggling. One almost swooned. He couldn’t contain an irritated eye-roll at the blatant display of female affection towards him. Sickening, he thought, barely able to stop a grimace from forming on his perfectly sculpted face. He picked up his pace just incase one of the girls decided to be so forward as to actually talk to him. “Daaamiieennn.” Ugh, he groaned. Too late. Bugger, he knew that voice anywhere. Damien cringed noticeably, wondering how anybody could make his name sound so unappealing.

Nevertheless, he plastered a captivating smile on his face and turned around. “Why Annette, how very nice to see you again.” The twit virtually squealed. Hell. “Like ohmygod! You like remember my name!” Annette O’ Reilly turned to her band of twittering schoolgirls. “I told you girls, he loves me.” What the– Now that’s just a little bit worrying, thought Damien.

“Well, Annette. How do I put this. I don’t think that love is the appropriate word for this.”
“Oh nonsense. Did you miss me, sweetie pie? I know I sure missed you. Why didn’t you write all summer? I wrote yooouuu.”
“I’ve been… busy,” he said evasively. Annette O’ Reilly was a Year 10 girl who happened to have an unhealthy fixation with Damien. And he made his biggest and gravest mistake one day when he was feeling quite bored with life and decided to mess with the poor girl’s head by giving her a flirtatious wink and a compliment. Ever since then, she was convinced that the pair of them were meant to be together. For life. And then, what had been an infatuation turned to stalking and now bordered on full on obsession. It was very perturbing. Very perturbing indeed.
“Oh, it’s okay Damien. Like I just know you miss me, ya know? It’s like some psychic connection between us or something. Like how awesome is that?”
He pitied her. He really did. But right now he needed saving. Oh screw it. He would just make up some lie. “Right, I’ve got to go… somewhere. Bye.” And with that, he hurriedly stalked away from the gaggle of girls.

~o~

“Urrrghhhhhh. Bloody hell.” Damien groaned as he threw himself onto the first bed he saw.
“Oi, dude. That’s my bed you’re at,” came a voice from his left. Damien didn’t have to turn to know whose voice it was. For two reasons: one, the owner of the voice always and that meant ALWAYS took the first bed of the dorms every year. And two, the owner of the voice was none other than Damien’s best friend, Bryan Wu.

“Humour me,” said Damien miserably, groaning into the mattress.
“Let me guess, that Annette chick again?” replied Bryan, sounding all too amused.
“Not funny, tell me you know how to deal with stalkers like her.”
“Yes, because with you around, I am positively up to my brows with stalker chicks. Thanks, dude. You totally did me a favour by looking like that.”
“Ughhhh. Bugger off.” Damien shot a withering glance at his best friend.
Bryan held his hands up in mock surrender. “Chillax dude. I didn’t do nothing to you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey man, how’ve you been over the summer? I never thought you could get any browner.”
“Hey! Don’t diss the tan, man. It’s got the ladies lining up to get a slice of Wu pie.”
Damien chuckled. “You did not just say that.”
“Well, I’ve got to work on them pick up lines,” replied Bryan with a sheepish smile.
“You’ve got to work on every type of line,” said Damien dryly and was promptly hit on the head by a well-aimed book.
Damien sat up, rubbing his temple. “Bloody hell, Wu. That bloody hurt.”
“That was the point.” Bryan flashed a boyish grin at him. “So yeah. Summer? Kat and I went back to Kiwiland for the summer. To see the parentals you know. We catched up on some tanning and some surfing… The shit.” Bryan was at Her Majesty’s Academy of Art and Design on scholarship; he and his twin sister, Kathryn Wu were New Zealand born Chinese who had been at the school for all their high school life.
“Dude, you don’t need any more tanning.”
“Shhhh. I said don’t diss the tan.”
Damien grinned at him. “So how’s Kat?”
“You can ask her yourself. I promised her we’d be meeting for lunch. I’m warning you. She might want to tell you about every summer snog she’s had.” Bryan shuddered dramatically and imitated the act of sticking a finger down his throat. “She so needs a girl to talk to man.”
“What? You mean you’re not a girl?”
“Ha ha. SO funny, dude. Hurry up and get your lazy ass off my bed and start unpacking. You know how Kat gets when we’re late.”

“Mmmm,” Damien mumbled noncommittally and lifted himself off the considerably plush single bed and looked around, scouting for an ideal sleeping spot. Three of the eight beds already had bags on them. Looks like he was fairly early then. The dormitories at Her Majesty’s Academy of Art and Design were very large and accommodating; with eight sumptuously comfortable single beds sheeted with soft Egyptian cotton and off-white goose down comforters. Each bed had a large chest of drawers in front of it for clothes and personal belongings, a small polished oak side table and a matching oak working desk equipped with a small shelf for books. The walls were white at the beginning of the year but always artistically graffitied or painted by the end of it. Mrs. Malden allowed it as long as the students repainted the walls themselves before they left for the summer holidays. She said she felt it was necessary to give her students “the freedom of art”. The boys of the two dormitories on the floor shared one common bathroom, which was large enough and had enough showers and toilets so that nobody had to fight in the morning.

Her Majesty’s Academy of Art and Design was not a boarding school. It was a prestigious private art school that allowed 30 foreign students to board each year. That explained the luxury of the dorm rooms and the lack of them. Damien had come to the school on a whim, rebelling against his parents who had wanted to send him to a school in France that focused mainly on etiquette. Surprisingly, he found himself rather talented at art – painting in particular – and stayed on at the school.

He had picked the bed directly opposite Bryan’s. Placing the last of his clothes neatly into the chest of drawers, he stood up and brushed invisible dust off himself. “Kay, done. Let’s get down to the Cafeteria.”

~o~

Taylor climbed up the steps to the girls’ dormitory with cat-like grace and peeked into the dorm room that she had been assigned to. It was pretty much empty with some bags already set on certain beds. Well, it was nicer than she expected. Everything was pretty much spacious. She picked the second bed from the door and threw herself onto the inviting bed. Oh heaven. The bed was gloriously comfortable. Especially after she’s spent almost a day on a plane. She hadn’t slept in a bed for a day and a half. She could tell that the pillows and comforters were of quality. Taylor stretched contently in the luxurious bed and just lay there basking in the comfort that surrounded her.

She heard a faint brushing noise, very strange, almost like somebody was brushing their teeth. She propped herself up on her elbows and unconsciously gasped in astonishment. An Asian-looking girl, very tall and slender, athletically built, was standing with one foot against the wall watching Taylor. She had long beautiful black hair that almost reached down to her tailbone and looked like something from a L’Oreal advertisement. Her clothes were quite street, so to speak; with her metallic trucker hat, bright abstract printed zip-up hoodie over a dark green tank top, dark washed skinny jeans and bright red Chucks. And she was brushing her teeth.

“Why are you– ” she began to ask but the girl had straightened and left the room. Presumably to spit and gargle. Taylor stared after her in slight confusion. “Okay. American people are so absurd,” she said softly, mostly to herself and the walls.

Footsteps signified the return of the odd Asian girl and Taylor watched the door. “Aaah, minty fresh,” said the girl, flashing Taylor a dazzling smile.
“I’m sorry, but. Uhm. Why are you brushing your teeth at this time of the day? Or is that just normal here?”
“Strong Brit accent. English are you? Yes, don’t answer that. Stupid question. Hmm? The brushing? Oh yeah, we brush every two hours here. Very normal. You don’t? How strange.” She talked very quickly, as if she had too much to say and too little time to say it.
Taylor was beginning to feel confused when she caught the edge of friendly sarcasm in the girl’s reply. She smiled genuinely. She liked the already. “Yes. Very much English. My name’s Taylor Smith. I’m new at this school. And you are?”
“Oh my god. I can’t believe I’ve been so rude. Slap me already. Jesus. The name’s Kathryn Wu. Call me Kat. New are you? Welcome to MAD. I know that’s like not the exact abbreviation for Her Majesty’s Academy of Art and Design, but it’s shorter. And much more fun to say. Plus, good ammunition for bad jokes about our school.” The girl was like a whirlwind.
“Goodness. Nice to meet you Kat. It’s nice to make acquaintances on your first day.”
“Yeah. It is actually. Well, now you know me.” She smiled.
“That’s grand. Well, I was wondering. Your accent. You from America?”
“That’s a first. These American girls take one look at me and they know I’m foreign. I’m a Kiwi. Born and bred. And proud of it.” Another flash of teeth. “My brother and I, we’re here on scholarship. He’s into photography and I’m a dancer. What are you?”
“Well. I’m not sure exactly. I guess I dance quite a bit. But I’m also really into literature and stuff.”
“I guess that’s why you’re here. They help you find your thing here. I was stuck as a ballet dancer thanks to the parentals for 5 years before I came here and found hip hop.”
“I see. Well, yes. I guess I do hope I’ll find my thing here.” Taylor began unpacking her things neatly into the shelves and drawers when Kat’s stomach growled audibly.
“Oh my god. That was so embarrassing. You totally didn’t hear that.”
Taylor just couldn’t help the laughter bubbling from her throat. “You really should go and eat something. I’m getting rather hungry as well.”
“Say, wanna come with me? I’m supposed to meet my brother and his friend at the Caf later. I’ll introduce you.”
She smiled at the Chinese girl. “That would be lovely.” And completely didn’t expect it when Kat started laughing in fits of giggles.
“What did I do? Was it something I said?”
“That would be lovely.” Laughter. “I’m so,” she tried to manage between peals of laughter. “So sorry.” More laughter. “It’s just.” Kat took a deep breath. “Sorry. Oh my god. I’m like so unbelievably rude. It’s just, the whole lovely thing. Sounds so grandaunt-ish. I guess it’s normal in England. But I’m so gonna have get used to that. I’m sorry. Really ignore me.” She was quite flustered when she ended her mini speech.
Taylor was quite confused. “Oh.” And she too was overcome by an unexplainable fit of giggles. “Okay fine. That was rather old-ish. I just didn’t notice.” She placed the last of her clothing into the chest of drawers and straightened, brushing dust off herself. She knew there wasn’t really any dust, but it was a rather bad habit that made her seem oh so very spoilt. She really had to learn to cut it out. “Right then. I’m done. Let’s.”
“Oh how English! Yes. Let’s.” Kat giggled and linked arms with Taylor, dragging her down the dormitory steps right to the Cafeteria. Taylor smiled and decided that they would make pretty good friends.

~o~

The Cafeteria was very large to accommodate the multitude of students at Her Majesty’s Academy of Art and Design. It was partially indoors and outdoors and expanded over the grassy hills of the campus. The school was no doubt a big one, with a plethora of school grounds to wander and explore. The Cafeteria had a huge variety of food choice for every type of taste bud. Be it Asian, there was sushi, Chinese food, dim sum, Thai and Vietnamese food, Continental being Italian, Mexican, whatever you name it. It was there.

There were groups of people sprinkled around the Cafeteria; some on the long tables, some on the round ones and some on a picnic blanket on the grass. The number was quite scarce as it wasn’t exactly lunchtime, and it was a day before school actually began so not many people were around yet.

Kat and Taylor traipsed down to the food stalls amiably chattering on about nothing. Kat was prattling about which food was absolutely delicious and which wasn’t so. Taylor was contemplating what to eat. Taylor decided on the sushi, it was after all, her favourite food. “So what’re you having, Kat?”
“I have absolutely no idea. I never can choose. Hell, I need my brother.” She stood between the Italian and the Chinese take-away, one hand on her hip, the other over the back of her head in a rather casual ‘thinking style’. “Help me?” She turned on Taylor with large puppy-dog eyes causing Taylor to burst out laughing.
“You are so melodramatic. Well, it’s almost four. So I suggest something light. Go with the take-out.”
“Okay, sure thing. Tay, you’re a dream. It’s okay if I call you Tay right? Or do you prefer Taylor? Anything really.” A small worried crease appeared on Kat’s forehead.
“Anything’s fine. Really.” Kat never ceased to be able to make her laugh.

Waiting for Kat to pay, Taylor looked around the Cafeteria. A brief fleeting wonder crossed her mind; I wonder where that Winters boy is at. What in the– You did not just think that Taylor. She shuddered and mentally slapped herself.

“Right. Ready?” Came Kat’s voice from behind.
“Mhmm. Where to?”
“Right there.” Kat pointed to a nice spot of grass below a shady tree.

~o~

They sat down and made themselves comfortable. Taylor took a hungry mouthful of her salmon temaki roll. “Oh this is delicious.”
“Told you,” replied Kat with a knowing smirk. “So, how do you like the school so far?”
“Actually, this is pretty much all I’ve seen so far.”
“Oh right. Have you been assigned a ‘guide’ by Malden yet? That is one right pain in the ass. The whole guide thing, not Malden. Well she is quite. But she’s old. So who cares?”
Taylor suppressed a chuckle. “Well. Guide? Yes, I have actually. And mines a real right pain in the arse.”
“Oh really? Who could that be? I know a fair amount of assholes in our school.” She grinned.
Taylor laughed, Kat was definitely was too forward. That girl wouldn’t know subtle if it hit her in the face. She stared at her sushi and replied, “Him? His name is–” But she was interrupted by a male voice with the same unique accent as Kat. Must be the brother. Then she heard another voice. A very familiar male voice, very condescending and arrogant and extremely familiar. No, it couldn’t be. The school was humongous. She couldn’t be that unlucky.

Dreading what would come into view, she looked up and her bright blue eyes met a familiar pair of dark blue ones. “You??” They both said simultaneously yet again for the second time that day.
“Why can’t you leave me alone?” Taylor nearly shrieked.
“Excuse me? Are you under the impression that I am” – he stopped so give her an incredulous look – “stalking you?”
“Well it sure seems like it.”
“Please, I have better things to do with my time.”
“Yeah, probably like wanking or something,” she shot back scathingly.
“Woah, woah, woah. Hold up. You two know each other?” Kat interrupted.
“Unfortunately,” muttered Taylor.
“That’s FANTASTIC!”
This time, all eyes shifted to her.
“Fantastic? I don’t see how that can even come close to fantastic,” stated Damien.
“Something we can all agree on,” added Taylor.

But Kat was already happily introducing her brother to Taylor, who smiled at her apologetically and muttered, “Her head’s rather in the clouds, forgive her.”
Taylor couldn’t help smile at this. It was true. Kat was unbelievably optimistic. She had already reverted back to their previous topic.

“So, Tay here was telling me about the guide Malden assigned to her. Apparently he’s a real asshole so I was wondering who it was and she was about to tell me his name when Bryan here so nicely interrupted us. So Tay, what’s this asshole’s name?”
Taylor couldn’t contain her smirk as Kat was talking. “Oh? His name? Damien Winters.” She said this looking directly into Damien’s eyes, her tone icy with a hint of malice.
“Oh.” Kat suddenly became speechless, Bryan burst out laughing and was rolling around the grass and Damien just fumed and glared back at Taylor.

She was done with her sushi. Picking up her trash, Taylor walked to the nearest trashcan, brushing past Damien as she did so. “And another point to Taylor Smith.” And when she had gone quite a distance, she broke out into a wide smirk.