❛ Everyday, it's a-getting closer. Going faster than a rollercoaster. Love like yours will surely come my way. ❜

DEAD POETS SOCIETY
chapter two

"DRESS NICE. WE'LL go to the sanctuary soon," John told Eliza, handing over her suitcase, and the two split into their separate rooms.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza walked across the room to the spacious bed she would be taking rather than the Headmaster. She smiled. Never once had she had such a gigantic bed. It was a small mattress in the corner of a bare room or a cot made from blankets for most of her life.

⠀⠀⠀Never once did she complain, but this was something nice to have, even for only a short time.

⠀⠀⠀After imagining the good night's sleep she would be getting, Eliza lifted her suitcase and set it on her bed. She pulled out a simple dress with a white long-sleeved top and an emerald green skirt. Cinched in the middle was a gold belt to blend the two fabrics together.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza turned to the long mirror in the corner of the bedroom and smiled at how it fit. Her mother had bought her the dress just before she had died, not wanting to waste the little money that she had in passing. So, the two went out and bought the dress together. Eliza then pulled on her favorite gold chained necklace and combed through her hair once more before sitting on her bed, ready to leave.

⠀⠀⠀John knocked on his side of the bathroom door, waiting for her cheery "come in" before opening the door and smiling at his niece.

⠀⠀⠀"God, you look identical," he whispered, walking across the room and holding her at arm's length.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza knew how hard it was for her to lose her mother. It was devastating, chilling, and a little curious even. How could someone so young go through life without a mother? She had been around all of her life, and now she was just gone.

⠀⠀⠀Then, she would remember that the same could be said for her Uncle, who had lost his older sister. Someone who had also been there all of his life and had grown so accustomed to her being around. What the hell did he do when he picked up the phone to call his sister? Did he continue to dial the number and see if she would answer, or did he hang up the phone and wonder what she would say?

⠀⠀⠀These things would swarm her head until the twinkle in his eyes burned at the edges of his eyes, and a single tear fell down his cheek. He smiled at her sadly as she wiped the tear off his cheek, smiling just as she did.

⠀⠀⠀In the silence, John took Eliza's arm and led her to the sanctuary in content silence. A few students and their parents streamed inside, clustered by their cars as they preened their children.

⠀⠀⠀"I'll be just up there if you need me," John let Eliza know as he stopped in the middle of the sanctuary. "Sit where you'd like."

⠀⠀⠀The two branched off, Eliza taking a seat in one of the pews, sitting alone.

⠀⠀⠀It didn't take long for the sanctuary and the surrounding academy to be swarmed by parents and children. Eliza was thankful she had come in early, or else she'd feel awkward and intrusive to the surrounding people.

⠀⠀⠀Once the last few parents took their seats, the doors in the back clicked open, and a strangled sound of bagpipes filled the room. They all turned to look as a procession of boys made their way down the aisle.

⠀⠀⠀Three children took the front of the line, most likely the newest to Welton. The bagpiper came up behind them and a teacher behind him with a lit candle in hand. Then, after them, were four older boys of Welton carrying the Four Pillars that her Uncle John had told her about. For the life of her, Eliza could barely remember that conversation with him or much about Welton. It was just so dull, and hopefully, her Uncle could bring some life back into the school.

⠀⠀⠀So, Eliza read the banners as the boys walked past. First, a frosty redhead carried Tradition with a permanent scowl on his face. Honor followed him, held by a plain-looking boy. Then Discipline by a boy with a long face and combed hair. Then Excellence was carried by a boy with delicate features.

⠀⠀⠀They arrived at the end, where the procession split off into two sides, and Mr. Nolan took center stage.

⠀⠀⠀"Ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Nolan greeted kindly as he looked out into the crowd. His eyes scanned the audience, then stopped at his students that he knew well over the years. Finally, his tone turned demeaning as he said, "boys. The Light of Knowledge."

⠀⠀⠀The man with the candle moved ahead to the first-year students and set the first child's candle as the crowd clapped in acknowledgment.

⠀⠀⠀The boys standing up front moved back into the crowd, finding their families. Discipline walked down the aisle and to her pew, where a couple sat beside her, smiling at him proudly. He smiled and walked past them to sit beside his mother and Eliza as Mr. Nolan continued to drone on about the history of Welton.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza couldn't help but notice the kind boy with the long face look at her constantly, his fingers twitching like he wanted to say something, but nothing was uttered.

⠀⠀⠀"Do you want to ask me something?" Eliza asked, leaning towards Knox so that no one else could hear her.

⠀⠀⠀The kind boy laughed under his breath from getting caught and continued to watch the Headmaster if he was seen speaking while he was.

⠀⠀⠀"Uh, what're you doing here all alone?" he asked out of the corner of his mouth, slumping in his seat so that he was eye level with her.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza smiled at him, mimicking his posture as she crossed her arms. "My Uncle is the new English teacher," she explained, nodding her head slightly to the front.

⠀⠀⠀"Does your brother or nephew go here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

⠀⠀⠀"No, I'm just here for him," she explained. The boy opened his mouth to ask another question, but she only held a finger up to her lips as Mr. Nolan turned his head in their direction.

⠀⠀⠀The boy quieted until Mr. Nolan called for the names of the Four Pillars. The boys of Welton all stood to their feet and recited, "Tradition, honor, discipline, excellence," before returning to their seats.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza looked at the boy, stifling a laugh at the corny moment the school had forced all the boys into doing.

⠀⠀⠀"What was your name?" Discipline asked.

⠀⠀⠀Although his mother had turned to the two as they had progressively grown louder and more annoying. She shushed the two, and they both quieted in response.

⠀⠀⠀"As you know," Mr. Nolan was saying. "our beloved Mr. Portius of the English department retired last term. You will have the opportunity later to meet his replacement, Mr. John Keating, himself a graduate of this school and who, for the past several years, has been teaching at the highly regarded Chester School in London."

⠀⠀⠀John stood to his feet at the mention of his name and smiled pleasantly to the crowd as they clapped in unison.

⠀⠀⠀Another forty-five minutes of Mr. Nolan's agonizing speech and dreadfully long prayer. The room was finally dismissed to attend to their things before classes began the next day.

⠀⠀⠀"Finally, that's over with," the long-faced boy groaned. He smiled at Eliza as his parents stood and spoke with a couple in front of them. "I think Mr. Nolan's speeches get longer every year.

⠀⠀⠀"That's dreadful," Eliza sighed, turning to the boy, a small smile on her pink lips. "I'm Eliza, to answer your question. Eliza Keating."

⠀⠀⠀"Knox," he responded, shaking her hand firmly. "Knox Overstreet."

⠀⠀⠀"It's good to meet you, Knox. Are you excited for the school year?" she asked curiously, knowing what was coming for him.

⠀⠀⠀Knox groaned, as if her question was painful.

⠀⠀⠀"No, I've never taken more dreadful classes, and then once this term is over, it's off to college for an even more dreadful time."

⠀⠀⠀"You never know. Things may change this time," Eliza said with a shrug of her shoulders and a knowing smile that Knox had yet to notice.

⠀⠀⠀"Nothing changes around here," Knox assured her. "What about you? Where are you going?"

⠀⠀⠀Eliza laughed awkwardly, looking around at the swarm of people.

⠀⠀⠀"Okay, don't tell anyone," she asked him, holding her hands out in front of her. Knox nodded his head, leaning in closer to hear her. "I'll be going here."

⠀⠀⠀"What?" Knox asked, his eyes widening and his back straightened.

⠀⠀⠀"Well, not here, here," she explained, rolling her eyes. "I'm not a boy, but after special circumstances, they've allowed me to stay on campus. My Uncle will be homeschooling me."

⠀⠀⠀"But you'll be around?" Knox asked, his mother calling his name.

⠀⠀⠀"Yes, so I'll see you around, Overstreet," Eliza smiled, winking as he walked out of the pew.

⠀⠀⠀"See you around, Keating," he grinned back and jogged after his parents so that they could meet the new instructor and say their goodbyes.

⠀⠀⠀John was stuck on the stage talking to a few of the parents that had approached him before he made an escape and went to his niece.

⠀⠀⠀"Thankfully, it's over, but I still need to talk with the parents that want to introduce themselves and size me up," he explained, rolling his eyes dramatically. Still, the excitement was clear in his words. "Go off to your room and prepare for dinner. I shouldn't be longer than an hour."

⠀⠀⠀Eliza nodded her head, making her way out of the sanctuary and back towards the teacher's headquarters. On her way, she spotted Knox talking to a couple of the other Welton boys. She caught his eye as she passed and waved to him, the other two boys noticing as Knox waved back. The two stood with mouths open and wide eyes before turning to Knox. They demanded to know who that was and what was going on.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza laughed at the three and continued on to the teacher's quarters.

AUTHOR'S NOTE —

Alright, here's the second part of the welcoming ceremony. I love Knox and Eliza's relationship, they're just the most baby together.

SONG: Everyday by Buddy Holly

Thank you for reading! Leave comments telling me your thoughts on this chapter, but however you interact, know that I really appreciate you reading. I hope you enjoy, and until the next one.