Heirs, 20
Heirs, 20:
(POV: Renata)
After saying goodbye to Lina, I follow the boys out of the house, and we make the entire journey in silence. It’s not too far from the Supreme’s mansion, so we walk calm.
“Are you tired already, Lena?” Rapha asks with a grin.
“No,” I reply with a shrug. “I can walk for miles and not get tired.”
“Of course,” Rapha mocks, and I roll my eyes. “If you want, we can take a car tomorrow. We’re walking today because we enjoy taking in this magnificent view,” he says. Opening his arms to showcase the forest.
“Speak for yourself,” Lucca grimaces. “I’m only walking because you make me. I’d prefer to go everywhere in the comfort of a car with the air conditioning on.”
“Our parents don’t let us drive,” Rapha reminds his brother. “Do you want to show up every day with Mom or Dad?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. “They already tease you; imagine if you arrived in a car with them. It would be a nightmare.”
“Why do they tease you, Lucca?” I ask curious.
He looks at me for a few seconds, and I imagine it must not be easy.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” I say, giving him a sweet smile.
Lucca looks away from me.
“Because I haven’t transformed into a wolf yet,” he answers soft.
“Neither have I,” Rapha says, and I’m confused. “But they don’t mock me because if they did, I’d beat them up. I’m different from him,” Rapha points an accusing finger at his brother. “He doesn’t fight back; he only takes it, and that annoys me!” he says with controlled anger.
Now I understand. Rapha solves everything with physical force, and the others are afraid, unlike Lucca. Who is more reserved, and they see him as an easy target.
“I’m not as good as you in hand-to-hand combat,” Lucca yells. “I couldn’t handle them.”
“You need to practice your fighting skills more. I’ll call you, and you run away,” Rapha says, visib tired of the topic.
“I’m more of an intellectual,” Lucca shrugs. “I promise to try harder.”
The rest of the way is in silence. The walk takes about thirty minutes, and we finally arrive at the so-called academy.
I hope nobody picks on me because I’ll be only like Rapha; I’ll fight back. Although I’ve never lived with anyone other than my mother, I’ll try to be as friendly and normal as possible.
The academy is huge, a two-story gray building, crowded with people in front. Some are hurrying in, others are chatting near the gate. And still others are scattered in the square in front.
“We managed to arrive ten minutes early,” Lucca comments.
“You have a problem with punctuality, don’t you?” I ask, staring at him, and he shrugs.
“Good morning,” a voice I don’t recognize says, and I turn in that direction. Two girls and a boy stop next to us.
“Hi, guys,” the boy says, shaking hands with Rapha and Lucca, then extending his hand to me for a hesitant handshake.
“Good morning,” the boys and I respond in unison.
“So, this is the forest girl?” a brunette girl asks, looking at me with a gentle expression.
“Forest girl?” I raise an eyebrow and glance at Rapha and Lucca.
“I mentioned the girl we found in the forest to Lucia,” Rapha says with a laugh. “But ‘forest girl’ could be a catchy nickname,” I pinch his arm, and he winces in pain.
“I’m Lena, and you?” I extend my hand in a friendly manner.
“I’m Lucia, nice to meet you. This is my brother Jonathan, and this is Isabella,” she introduces everyone.
“Pleasure to meet all you,” I say, smiling, trying not to show how nervous I am. It’s the first time I’m in a “group of friends.”
“Welcome, Lena,” the boy named Jonathan says, assessing me, and I respond with only a nod of the head.
We head inside the academy, and nobody speaks to me further. The only ones talking are Lucca and Lucia, but sudden Lucca stops talking and tries to move away. I grab his arm.
“You said you’d stay close to me,” I plead. “We’ve bare arrived, and you’re already abandoning me?”
“Sorry, Lena,” he says sad. “I only want to stay hidden for a while; it’s too early for them to start with their mean jokes,” he says and moves away. And I don’t stop him this time.
I watch him until he disappears into the crowd. I look at Rapha and notice he’s downcast about his brother distancing himself.
“Is he ashamed of me?” I ask anxious.
“No, Lena,” Rapha responds quick. “He only doesn’t want the idiots who bully him to see him with you right now. It’s always like this,” he says, taking a deep breath.
We head to the entrance of the academy, and when we’re all walking down the corridor, I’m abrupt stopped by a boy.
“Who are you with the bad smell?” he asks rude.
I roll my eyes; it seems I won’t go unnoticed here. Great, things couldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows, could they?
“Why should I answer you?” I ask, crossing my arms. The boy’s face starts to change color. He seems like the type who thinks he’s better than everyone and hates it when someone doesn’t do what he wants. Idiot, he’s got another thing coming with me.
He opens his mouth to say something but is interrupted.
“She’s with me, Edgar!” Rapha says, confronting the boy who instant steps aside, and I continue on my way.
“Don’t pay any attention to him, Lena,” Lúcia says with a sweet smile, looking like a little doll.
“If they pick a fight with you, only let us know, and Rapha and I will handle it,” Jonathan adds, winking at me. He’s quite handsome, but he doesn’t compare to Deniel.
“Are you more of a bookworm or an athlete?” Isabella addresses me direct for the first time.
“I like both,” I reply, shrugging.
“Alright, then your first class will be in the same room as Lucca. Since you’re new, your first class will be theoretical,” she explains. “Come on, I’ll take you to the room. When it’s over, I’ll come get you, and we’ll go to the practical classes,” she says while showing me the way to the room. I say goodbye to the group and follow her.
From the classroom door, I see Lucca sitting in the back row; the desk next to him is empty. Isabela says goodbye and leaves me alone. I enter the room and head straight to the back, sitting next to Lucca.
“If I had known we’d be in the same class, I would have come with you,”
I say, getting his attention.
“I’m sorry,” he says, looking at me. “I knew we’d have classes together, but I forgot to tell you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say calm, giving his shoulder a light push, and he smiles.
I watch the room fill with people, and everyone takes their seats. I’m getting very nervous; there are so many people I’ve never seen in my life.
“Good morning, class,” a man enters the room. “Today, we have a new student, Lena?”
“Here,” I raise my hand, and everyone turns to look at me.
“I’m Lukky, and I’ll be your instructor,” he says, and I give a forced smile. “Introduce yourself,” he encourages.This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.
“Good morning, my name is Lena. I’m fifteen years old, and I hope to get along with everyone,” I say quick and sit down.
“He’s Lucia and Jonathan’s dad,” Lucca whispers quiet.
I don’t comment, and the instructor begins the lesson, and I watch attentive.