Her name is Allison Woods, and she doesn’t deserve to die in such a manner.

She had always imagined her own death being many years into the future, accidental or natural, but not this way. In that one split second where she was thrown off of her feet, she realized her end has come much too soon. Laying on the ground, being cradled by the one person who hadn’t lied to her, she realized she would never be able to fulfil her promise. Looking up into the eyes of her friend, she motioned her over. Her friend lowered her head, ready to hear Allison’s final words. What she had heard, instead, was something she wouldn’t have ever expected. Words the devil may even cringe at.

“Now you’re the last.”

Moving to the academy had been an emotional struggle. For one thing, they had previously lived on a farm house. For Mia’s father to suddenly acquire a job in a town, homed to the famous Cross Academy, had been shocking to say the least. For the Henderson family it meant getting rid of the cattle they had been farming in one final swoop, as well as moving to a more sufficient area where it wasn’t as warm as before. The sudden difference in society had to be the worst. The town they had been farming for consisted of extremely friendly people, everyone knew everyone. Nobody cared what you wore or what you looked like at that mountain-sided town. This new town, however, seemed to carry what others would call ‘modern’ people. It would be frowned upon here if you walked in your pyjamas, to say. Where previously long grass would fester, now were sidewalks and roads. Here the houses fairly looked the same. Grey and dull. Whereas their old town the houses would be of red and gold colours, bright and cheerful. Whereas there the children and teens would run around the flower fields, here they would go out for ice cream or go on a shopping spree. Whereas there the school was a wooden church with a large bell, here it was as if a mansion. And of course, here the school had dorms, meaning Mia would have to permanently fester at the school.

So, to say moving to the academy had been an emotional struggle was completely true. Mia, even though being almost 16 years of age, held onto the front porch column in a desperate attempt to stay. Three promised scoops of chocolate, strawberry and fudge had her convinced though.

Once they had unpacked everything into their new house, excluding all of Mia’s things for the dorm, they had all set out. Her parents went to sort out her dad’s new job while she had received money from them for the ice cream.

Wandering around the town, Mia realized that the day classes at Cross Academy must’ve already ended since everywhere you looked were students, either wearing a full black uniform, or a slightly different black uniform. On this different black uniform all the buttons were orange; the skirt was orange except for the black lining. Instead of boots they wore slight thick black heels with black ribbon around the ankle and an orange bow on the top. They wore black socks that reached just below the knee with an orange lining and a black hat with an orange belt around it on their head.

There were fairly more of the plain black then the black and orange. There was also a clear difference than the two different types. To put it simply, the black and orange were more…formal. Tall backs, head held high. They didn’t look snobby, just more elegant. It also seemed that the two types of day students didn’t really coexist, since they practically ignored each other.

After wandering through the town some more, Mia finally found the ice cream parlour. Stepping inside, she noticed there was much less students inside than she had anticipated at first. After being seated and having ordered, Mia stared out the window at the students. Tomorrow, I’ll be wearing one of those outfits, she thought, staring at the plain black outfits. After receiving her ice cream, she started thinking of how much will be different at Cross Academy. Having been in thought she failed to realize someone hanging over the couch/seat’s back before they started to twirl Mia’s hair. Freezing, she stiffly turned to look around. Even though Mia turned around, the female didn’t stop with the action. She twirled Mia’s long hair around her fingers, seeming enchanted by it almost. Mia stared at the girl, nervous. Realizing that Mia’s muscles were tense, the female looked to her. The female’s icy blue eyes look distant, as if not having realized what she had done or where she even was. Leaning over the coach, the female inspected Mia closely, some of the female’s loose golden strands falling in front of her right eye. Icy blue to forest green, the two girls stared at each other. The female stared in curiosity, Mia getting more nervous by the second. The female looked so distant before she suddenly blinked, her icy blue eyes turning a darker normal blue colour, slightly grey. She blinked a few times, before her eyes widened.

“I’m sorry, that sometimes happens to me. It’s just that your hair… its pure white. I’ve never seen such a colour being natural. I’ve seen violet and grey but…” She explained, still staring at Mia’s mid-back length hair. She shook her head before smiling brightly at Mia, her blue eyes almost twinkling. She struck out her hand over the coach.

“Allison Woods.” She introduced. Mia smiled and took her hand.

“Mia Henderson.” They shook hands before retracting.

“Say, can I join you?” Allison questioned, where to Mia nodded happily. Allison turned around and grabbed her own ice cream before moving to sit across Mia. It’s then that Mia realized what she was wearing and her hair length. She was wearing the black and orange outfit, except that everything that was black was instead white. Instead of the hat she had a white and orange bow in her hair. The only thing that was the same as the black and orange outfit was the shoes, those remained black. Now her hair was a golden blonde. In front of her face it curled at the sides, but at the back she had one large pony tail that literally reached her ankles.

“So you’re a new student?” Allison asked which Mia blinked in surprise to. “You’re not wearing a uniform.” Mia nodded.

“Yeah, I’m starting tomorrow.” Mia said, taking a spoonful of strawberry.

“What class?” Allison asked, taking a spoonful of her own.

“Day Class.” She answered.

“Normal Day Class?” Mia frowned at Allison. “What I mean is, are you in the normal Day Class, or in the Golden Day Class?” Mia frowned even more.

“Golden Day Class? Are those the orange and black uniforms?” Allison nodded.

“I’m a part of the Golden Night Class. Our classes only start at 7.” Mia nodded.

“But what’s the difference?” Alisson blinked.

“What do you mean?” She questioned, sticking her cherry in her mouth.

“You know, Day and Night Classes. Golden Classes. I figure the Day and Night is because there are too many students, but what’s the Golden Classes then?” Allison froze and whispered: “She’s not one then.” She then sat back and removed the cherry stem from her mouth.

“Oh don’t worry about all that! It’s just the different types of courses!” She said with a closed eye smile. Mia huffed.

“What could these courses possibly be to be considered ‘Golden’?” Alisson was left speechless.

“Well, um… they’re advanced! The Golden Classes are like the advanced classes, so it’s the same as the normal classes just… ten times harder!” Allison said, a nervous sweat rolling down her forehead.

“If they’re ten times harder, then why are you sitting here eating ice cream?” Mia questioned. Allison’s eyes went wide.

“Um, because…” She sighed heavily. “I needed a break is all?” Mia nodded slowly, believing her not about the Golden Classes but the part that she needed a break. She did look rather tense. Allison was happy with the subject drop.

“So you said you’ll be starting tomorrow?” Mia nodded.

“Yeah, well… the registration and the in moving is tomorrow. Not sure about the actual classes since its Friday tomorrow.” Allison nodded.

“That gives you some time to settle in, over the weekend. If you want I can introduce you to some people so that you don’t feel completely alone. Well, they’ll all be Golden Class but…” She sighed. “Golden Class students prefer to not intervene with the normal Day and Night students, I don’t understand why. Okay well… I understand the Night Class. They are a bit… dodgy. Oh yeah.” She suddenly leaned over the table to Mia. “Stay away from the Night Class students like… seriously. They’re bad news.” She sat back. “They might look sexy and all, but just… don’t. Okay?” Mia hesitantly nodded. She then took a peak outside to see the Day Class students. Allison followed her gaze.

“It’s a Thursday afternoon, why are they all out and about? It isn’t weekend yet.” Mia asked.

“Oh yeah. It’s probably because tomorrow is Saint Xocolatl Day.” Mia hesitated before looking at Allison.

“What?! Saint what?” Allison chuckled.

“Xocolatl Day. It’s what we call Valentine’s Day here.” Mia nodded in understanding.

“What do you call White Day then?” Allison frowned and hesitated before her eyes went wide.

“Oh! Oh no, we don’t have something like that. St. Xocolatl Day boys and girls can exchange chocolate, not just the girls; however… girls are just more likely to give chocolate. The boys will rarely give chocolate out, since all they really care about is receiving.” Mia nodded in understanding.

“Are you going to give chocolate to anyone? Is there anyone you like?” Mia asked Allison. She hummed in thought.

“Sort of, but…” She took her loose cherry stem and popped it into her mouth. Mia continued eating while Allison desperately tried to make a knot. When she succeeded, she struck it out in triumph.

“See, see! I ain’t givin’ no chocolate, ‘cause my kiss will be of more value!” She said in a strange accent before doing a little dance to which Mia chuckled.

“So who’s the lucky guy?” Mia asked through giggles.

“Well… his name is Jeffery Adams and he’s been like my bff since kindergarten. Now, we’re not actually dating or anything, but since the Nigh Class is so popular, not a lot of guys receive chocolate, hence the reason they try so hard to receive than to give. The only reason they’ll give chocolate is if it’s to a female in the Night Class.” Mia’s eye brows shot up.

“The Night Class’s that good looking?” Allison nodded.

“Yeah, with the Day Class and both Golden Classes. The Night Class has more males than females, hence the reason most girls give their chocolate out to them.” Mia frowned.

“I thought you said the Golden Classes don’t like to intervene with the others? Night Class especially.” Allison nodded.

“Yeah, we don’t intervene. But no, apparently St. Xocolatl Day is an exception ‘cause that’s the rising of the fangirls!” Mia laughed.    

“Anyway, what I was getting at is that the non-Night Class boys don’t get a lot of chocolate, and I feel bad for Jeffery. That’s kinda the real reason I’m here, to get ingredients.” Mia smiled.

“I thought you said your kiss will be of more value.” Allison giggled.

“I’ll give him a kiss on the cheek, okay?” She said, rolling her eyes. “And I’m guessing you’re not giving any since you don’t know anybody?” Mia nodded slowly.

“Yeah, I guess…” She trailed off before smiling. She placed down her spoon, finished with her ice cream. She checked her watch for the time. Almost 5.

“You said your classes begin at…?”

“7. After I’m finished here I better go get ready, since the Golden Classes are at the way back of the Academy.” Mia chuckled.

“And I better go home. I’m staying one day in my house before having to move to the academy.”

“That’s rough. But don’t worry, this town isn’t so big, you’ll still get to see your parents weekly. It’s the academy that’s big.” Mia nodded as Allison finished her ice cream.

“Well that’s that then. I already paid, you?” Mia shook her head as she stood up. She went over the counter, quickly paying before meeting with Allison at the door. They started walking.

“Since I’m Golden Night Class and you’re Day Class, we won’t see much of each other. Your classes will be from 7AM until 2PM. I’m from 7PM to 2AM. However…” Allison hummed in though.

“Hm?” Mia asked.

“See, I’m a little different than the other night students. Instead of sleeping in the day, I sleep mostly in the morning. As soon as I get back to the dorm after 2AM, I go to sleep until about 10AM. That gives me about 8 hours before class starts again for homework and such. I think I’ll be able to get finished within the 4 hours you still have school…”

“And I’ll get finished within the 4 hours you have school before 10PM, when I go to bed.” Allison nodded.

“That means we have free time from 2PM until 6PM when my classes start.” Allison said before smiling brightly. “I’ll meet you in front of the main building, the side opposite to the main gate.” Mia nodded. “Cool then!” Allison cheered, grabbing Mia around the waist and pulling her in for a hug. “This is the first time ever that I have a friend that’s a girl! I’m so happy!” She said, wiping away a fake tear as she took a step back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then?” Allison nodded.

“Au revoir!” She cheered, running off in the direction of the academy. Mia sighed. I have a friend now. She smiled. Maybe it won’t be so bad here after all.  

*In Japan, Valentine’s Day is when girls give boys chocolate. One month later, on March 14th, the boys are expected to give gifts back, usually of white colour, hence the name ‘White Day’ or ‘White Valentine’.

**The girl to the side is Allison, I'll put Mia up next chap when she's wearing the uniform (I made all the characters using Manga Girl and Boy from CreateShake and it's the closest I could get to the Cross Academy Uniform)