#iknowitslate

Students flooded into the single set of double doors, weaving between the round tables that were packed so closely it was almost impossible to squeeze between them. Some students were resorting to walking across the tops of the tables in order to reach their tables, or, at least it seemed, the tables that they hoped to claim.

That was something Aelin had explained to her earlier: where you sat the first day of school was where you sat for the whole school year. Everything was fair game again come the following year, but until then you were stuck at where you sat.

Something Aelin hadn’t told her, though, was how crazy this lunchroom was.

Elide toke in the storm of students that were still pushing each other around to nab tables. Clueless freshman who had claimed the first tables they could find by the doors were being run over, constantly pushed against the tables and their backpacks being trampled on the floor.

Elide was no exception to this at the moment. With the lunch line set right next to the lunchroom doors she had nearly lost her backpack twice now, and her back felt slightly bruised from all the times people had run into her in the last five minutes alone.

When she finally managed to grab a lunch tray and the closest sandwich and drink she could reach, Elide rushed to the front of the line, hastily paid for her order, apologized for dropping her change everywhere and then gave the cashier all of it as an apology, and made her way out of the rush of students.

Elide was panting. Buying lunch had been more of a workout than gym class.

She looked over the room and then stopping when she saw Aelin, laughing at something a companion had said, sitting at one of the tables in the middle of the room.

Aelin turned and saw Elide, waving her over. Shimmying her way between students and the tightly packed tables, Elide finally reached Aelin’s table and sat down in between her and a girl with long white hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

“Sorry, I should have warned you” Aelin practically yelled at her over the deafening noise of the student’s conversations. “Lunch is pretty hectic. Always more so on the first day.” At this point she was screaming at Elide. “It’ll die down once everyone finds their seats for the year. I told you this morning, people can get pretty crazy about where they sit.”

“I hate that” grumbled the girl to Elide’s right, twirling a piece of white hair around with her fingers, “I hate how territorial these students are about their lunch tables.”

“Didn’t you practically threaten to skin someone alive when they tried sitting at our table last year Manon?” Exclaimed a black-haired boy on Manon’s right, giving her a mischievous grin. His eyes, Elide thought, looked like sapphires.

“I did no such thing, Dorian.” Manon replied, pursuing her blood red lips and moving her food around with her fork.

“Play nice you two!” Aelin shouted, snapping her fingers at them. “We have a new member.”

Manon, now realizing that Elide existed, slowly turned her head and looked Elide over. “New girl, is it?” Elide nodded her head and averted her eyes from Manon’s stare. Manon then flipped her ponytail back over her shoulder and brought her attention to the boy next to Dorian. “You should be happy, Chaol, someone’s taken over your ‘new kid’ status.”

The boy next to Dorian, sandy brown hair cut short against his scalp, was currently engrossed in a book. He only looked up slightly at Manon at the mention of his name, his chocolate eyes radiating annoyance. His gaze cut to Elide’s and he stood up a little straighter.

“You’re a Lochan, right?”  he asked, all of his attention on her.

Elide, who was currently attempting to bit into her sandwich, nodded.

“A Lochan?” Manon said, now looking at Elide with peaked interest. “Lochan’s are distant relatives of the Blackbeaks.”

“The Blackbeaks?” Elide said, racking her memory for any mention of it. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard the name.”

“My goodness!” exclaimed a girl that was standing behind Aelin, mock horror written across her face. It seemed she had just walked up to the table. “Someone doesn’t know who the Blackbeaks are? Manon, you must not be talking about yourself enough” she said, mischief glowing in her pine-green eyes.

“I think, Lysandra, you talk about yourself more than I do” Manon responded monotonously.

“Impossible” Lysandra responded, gasping at the accusation. Aelin let out a laugh as Lysandra leaned down to give Aelin a quick hug from behind and then sat down next to her.

“Elide, this is Lysandra, math genius extraordinaire.” Aelin said, gesturing to the girl to Aelin’s left. Lysandra leaned across the table and extended a manicured hand towards Elide.

“It is a pleasure to meet you” Lysandra said, giving Elide a soft smile.

“Don’t you have the same class as Aelin during fourth? Why are you ten minutes late?” Dorian asked, just as Elide finished shaking Lysandra’s hand.

The grin of mischief reappeared on Lysandra’s face in an instant, and Aelin only groaned.

“Well you see, I forgot my pencil pouch in Mr. A’s room during third period and I just needed it to get through the rest of the day.” Lysandra replied, drawing out Mr. A’s name particularly slow.

Manon echoed Aelin’s groan and Lysandra laughed at the group.

Dorian cleared his throat and looked away. “Forget I asked” he mumbled before turning to his food.

Elide, utterly confused, turned towards Aelin. “What do you mea-”

“She means she did a quickie with Aedion, Mr. A, right before lunch.” said a tall, generously built student that lightly pushed Lysandra over and sat down right next to Aelin. His hair was as white as Manon’s, cut choppily on the top of his head. Aelin turned towards him, her blue eyes meeting his green ones.

“But-but you’re a student, and he’s a teacher.” Elide asked, her eyes growing wide.

“And I’m also 18. And a senior” Lysandra replied, shutting Elide down before she could even start. Aelin ignored the conversation and leaned her forehead against the males. Still shocked, Elide turned away from Lysandra and back towards Aelin.

“And where have you been?” Aelin asked the boy, pouting her lips. “I hope you weren’t also doing a quickie with Aedion right before lunch.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it” He said, his voice rough as he leaned down to give Aelin a lingering kiss. “I had a football meeting” he replied when they finally parted.

“Gross” Manon replied, no emotion in her voice.

“For once, my cold-hearted friend, we agree on something” Lysandra replied, half-covering her eyes and fake gagging. Chaol expressed his discomfort aswell, but he was too caught up in his book to really notice.

Aelin glared at all of them and tugged on the male’s arm to bring his attention to Elide. “This is Elide Lochan” Aelin said. “And this” replied Aelin, gesturing to the boy besides her, “is Rowan Whitethorn.”

Rowan Whitethorn. The Rowan that Evalin must have been talking about at the counselor meeting this morning.

“Nice to meet you” Elide said, inclining her head.

“You as well” he replied, repeating her gesture.

“Well, Elide, you’ve met everyone that matters at this school” Aelin said, digging through her lunch pale and pulling out a container of fruit.

“Well, technically not everyone, I mean, If we’re counting the cadr-” Dorian started to say, but was interrupted abruptly by audio feedback.

“Hello students of Orynth high” rang out a voice from the front of the room. Everyone, including Aelin and the others at the table, turned their heads towards it.

It was her. Long black hair pinned perfectly, dark eyes surveying and assessing the room, and lips turned into a wicked grin.

Maeve.

Elide had only caught a glimpse of her during the end of gym class, had only witnessed a fraction of the pure confidence and ease that radiated off of her now. Being this close to that kind of, power, made Elide want to scurry into the corner, but at the same time she was completely entranced. Maeve seemed to have the same effect on others in the room too, their eyes trailed on Maeve’s every move as she set her free hand on her hip and held the microphone even closer to her mouth.

“For the lovely freshman out there” She said, her voice like honey, “and perhaps anyone new in town” Elide swore Maeve glanced at her just then, “My name is Maeve, and I was your class president last year and the year before.”

The whole room was silent, gazes completely fixated on her. Maeve’s grin turned into something, sweeter. More comforting.

“I’m a senior this year, and I just wanted to welcome all of you back to another year at one of the best public schools in the country, Orynth High!” She exclaimed.

The room, unsure how to react at first, eventually broke out in deafening applause, whooping and hollering “Go Bucks!” along with whistling loudly.

Maeve took it all in like a queen, giving everyone a smile and fluttering her lashes as people clapped.

“Now, now, fellow students, before you get back to your lunches, I have just one thing to say” Maeve began walking through the room now, weaving through the tables with expert ease. “As you know, we’re going to be having elections for the class officers in a few weeks” she started, turning to meet everyone’s gaze as she walked, “And I just wanted to let you all know that I will be running for president again this year.” There were a few claps at this announcement, but nothing compared to the enthusiastic applause that had occurred just moments before.

“I’ve been your president since I was a sophomore, and, my dears, I know how this school works. I know what you need. I know how to lead this school and make actions that will benefit this school as a whole. If you elect me as your president for a third year, I will continue to serve this great school just as I have done for the past two years!” Maeve had reached the center of the room now, right next to where Elide was sitting and gave a smile to everyone around her, except anyone at Elide’s table. “That’s it from me today” she said, beginning to walk back towards the front of the room. “It is the first day of school after all, and I would hate to postpone you all from eating your lovely lunches. I’ll be talking to you very soon dears, bye for now.” She ended with a slight incline of the head and swaggered towards a table in the front of the room. Everyone’s eyes tracked her movements until she had sat down at her table.

There were a few more moments of silence before conversation slowly resumed.

“I’ve had enough of her shit” Aelin suddenly exclaimed next to Elide, causing Elide to whip her head towards her.

“It’s only been one day of her shit. Not even.” Chaol replied, attention still fixed on his book.

“Chaol, for god sake, I know you only choose to read leisurely during school lunch, a tragedy, really, but you might want to pay attention for the next few minutes.” Aelin was currently moving her lunch aside and stepping up on top of the table.

“Aelin, what are yo-” exclaimed Rowan and Chaol. Rowan reached up to stop Aelin, but he was cut off as Aelin put two fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly.

The whole lunch room ceased conversation again, turning their attention towards Aelin who had now positioned herself in the center of their round table.

“Lovely speech, Maeve” yelled Aelin, making sure everyone in the room could hear her. “Very… thoughtful.”

Lysandra and Dorian snickered, and Manon, Elide thought, let the faintest of smiles dance on her lips.

“But I have another speech, if you all don’t mind me stealing another minute of your time.” Aelin turned in circles, making sure she faced every corner of the room.

“I will be running as class president as well” Aelin said. There were a few gasps at that, including ones from Rowan and Dorian. “For two years, as Maeve stated, she’s claimed to represent this school to the best of her ability, she’s claimed to make decisions in regard to the student body as a whole.” Aelin stopped her circling to look straight at Maeve as she continued, “But does giving over half of the decided school budget to the cheer-leading team every year represent the student body as a whole? Does approving the cut of several extracurricular activities in order to give the cheer-leading squad this allotted out of money benefit the student body as a whole?” Aelin kept her gaze locked on Maeve’s, letting a wicked smile show on her lips. “I. think. Not.” Aelin gritted out.

The students began murmuring at this, their eyes darting between Maeve and Aelin. At this point, Maeve’s stare was just as branding as Aelin’s, and it was obvious that neither girl planned to back down anytime soon.

But Aelin knew this, it seemed, because she suddenly broke her stare and turned her attention back to the students. Maeve seemed taken aback at the sudden break of connection, as if she was expecting to stare down Aelin for the rest of lunch.

“We are the Orynth High Bucks, right?” Aelin asked, searching the room for an answer. They were a few nods and shouts of confirmation. Students were growing more restless, not sure where to turn their eyes and talking quickly with one another.

“What’s our school motto again?!” Aelin practically yelled across the room, everyone’s quiet conversations cutting short. No one said a thing.

“Do I have to remind you? Do you know why we’re proud to be Bucks? Why every other school fears us and why every student wants to go here?” Students were getting slightly riled up, many nodding along with Aelin as she spoke, and urging her to go on.

“What’s our motto?” Aelin asked again, her voice taking everyone’s attention. Then a student, with rich dark skin and boxy white glasses, stood up abruptly and shouted:

“We Stand Strong!”

The majority of the students stood up then, screaming so loudly that Elide almost covered her ears:

“AND WE STAND TOGETHER!” There was cheering and whoops and hollers after that, students clapping and whistling, jumping up in their seats and not giving a damn that they were packed like sardines in a room that was way too small. Aelin whooped and hollered with them, laughing herself hoarse and spinning around the middle of the table again to meet everyone’s eyes.

“That’s it!” Aelin yelled, matching their enthusiasm. “And if you elect me as the class president, along with my team, we will stand strong. And we will stand together!” The students clapped at Aelin. Everyone at this point was standing, eyes locked on her as if she were the most important person in this room. Everyone except Maeve and the Cadre.

They were assessing the room, scowls set deep on their faces, especially on Remelle’s and Cairn’s. Fenrys looked slightly amused, leaning back in his chair and smiling slightly as he watched Aelin.

But there was one of them, the one with the shoulder length dark hair, that caught her attention. Everyone’s eyes were on Aelin’s. Except for him. He was looking at Maeve, whispering something in her ear as she gave Aelin a look that promised death.

After several minutes of applause, Aelin gave a deep bow and stepped down from the top of the table, helped by Rowan as he gently lowered her down to the floor.

“When were you planning on telling me that you’re running for school president.” Rowan growled as he sat back down in his seat.

“What do you mean?” Aelin asked innocently, giving him a quick wink. Rowan held her stare for another moment before sighing and shaking his head.

“You’re always making these plans and not telling anyone.” Rowan said, stabbing his fork in his food.

“Who says I even planned that?”

“You planned that.”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

“She planned it.” Interrupted Lysandra, her grin stretched ear to ear as she watched Aelin and Rowan argue.

Rowan raised an eyebrow at Aelin, reaching out his hand and tipping her chin back.

“You little minx, fireheart.” Aelin only grinned and leaned forward to capture his lips with hers. There was another audible gag from Manon and a low whistle from Dorian as the two deepened their kiss. Elide smiled, but turned her attention back to Maeve and the boy.

He was still whispering in her ear, but Maeve barely even seemed to notice, looking at her phone and almost leaning away from him as he spoke to her. Sensing Elide’s stare, he stopped speaking abruptly and slowly brought his gaze towards her.

His dark eyes bore into hers, challenging her it seemed. Elide kept it, willing that hidden strength to keep her eyes locked on his, as she realized that this was the boy she had run into this morning. And he held her gaze right back, cocking his head as if he were challenging her. She noticed, even from across the room, that there was some bruising around his left eye. Serves him right for being so rude this morn-

Aelin cleared her throat beside her.

Elide whipped her head away from the boy, meeting Aelin’s eyes and slightly uptilted lips. “So?” She asked, imploring Elide for some answer.

Elide blinked and looked down, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, what was your question?” Elide asked, her gaze meeting Aelin’s and then darting in another direction.

Chaol and Dorian chuckled from across the table. Aelin’s grin only grew slightly.

“I said, how would you like to run as my secretary?”

Elide’s mouth went dry.

She was at a loss for words, but she managed to croak out, “really? Are you sure your other friends don’t want to run with you or-”

“Lysandra is my treasurer, being the mathematical beauty that she is” Lysandra winked at Elide, “And Rowan is my vice president. I need someone who can relate to the people and who knows how to get things done and organized as my secretary. And if our first encounter during first period told me anything, it’s that you will speak for the people.”

Elide was at a loss for words.

“I-I would love to, but I’m sur-”

“Elide, say yes.”

“Aelin, are you sure-”

“Just say yes for god sake” blurted Manon, a look of exasperation on her face. Chaol laughed at her outburst, removing himself from his book for the time being, and Manon sent him a look promising a slow death.

Elide swallowed, but didn’t hesitate as she turned to Aelin and said, “Yes.”

Lysandra whistled and Dorian gave Elide a reassuring nod as the group began talking amongst themselves.

Smiling to herself, Elide finished off her lunch and spoke to the group for the rest of it. At the end of lunch, just as the bell rang, Elide risked a quick glance towards the cadre and more specifically the boy from this morning again, but found that everyone at the table was already gone.

“Before practice after school we’re meeting in the school library” Maeve said coolly, leading the group as they walked down the hallway. “I need to figure out how to bring Aelin down.”

“Not sure that’s gonna happen” tisked Fenrys as he typed something on his phone.

Maeve stopped walking and slowly turned towards him, daggers shooting from her eyes. Lorcan knew that look, and he quickly averted his eyes.

“She wouldn’t even be a problem if you had snatched the Lochan girl up before Aelin did.”

Fenrys looked up from his phone and rolled his eyes, “It’s the first day of school, Maeve, I can’t work my magic that quickly.” He scoffed.

Maeve’s composure stayed the same, but her eyes were growing darker by the second. Fenrys seemed to notice too; he cleared his throat and hastily put his phone away.

“The Lochan name has pull in this area. We need to get her on our side by whatever means necessary.” Maeve’s brows pinched together, deep in thought.

Lorcan wanted to kiss away the wrinkles in her brow as she thought, wanted to rub his thumb along her cheek and-

“Or” Maeve said, her eyes turning mischievous, her eyes seemingly growing darker by the second. “Or one of us gets close to her. One of us gets information out of her about Aelin’s campaign by befriending her.” Maeve looked between everyone in the group.

“Someone get in with her. Someone play nice with her. She’s new, there’s still time to get on her good side. So do you what you have to do,” Her eyes landed on Lorcan’s as she drawed in a breath, a wicked grin taking over her lips.