~Fountain Boy~

"Murphy, that is pronounced 'THOR-oughly' not 'THUR-oughly'," Professor Montgomery stops me.

"Sir, with all due respect, I believe they can both be correct. It depends on the accent, does it not?" I retort with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you undermining my authority and knowledge?" he questions, raising his voice.

Is this really happening right now? At least, that's what I would like to say back. "No, sir. I'm simply speaking my mind."

"So speaking your mind includes not respecting my higher knowledge?"

"I never said tha-"

"SILENCE! I will not have you disrespecting me in my own classroom. You are now required attend the disciplinary lesson tonight so that maybe you'll come to realize your place here."

I don't even need to look at Charlie to know of his infuriation as I can almost feel the heat radiating off of him. I kick him under the desk to get him to stop his piercing glare aimed right at Professor Montgomery's head. If looks could kill...

Professor takes a breath before continuing to collect himself. "Is there anyone else who would like to pick up from where Murphy left off? No? Well, I shall call on someone myself then. James!"

—-—

"How do you do it?" Charlie begs.

"Do what?" I say as I take a seat on the fountain where Charlie and I have come to meet after eating our lunches.

"Stay so calm, cool, and collected with Montgomery being so... ugh!" he shakes his head. "I mean, Gwyn. It's been weeks now since we started here, and I still can't even begin to comprehend how you keep your cool."

"Well I don't think it's that big of a deal, Charlie."

"You should though!"

"I don't see why. It is true after all. I do not belong in a place like this. He has the right to talk down to me as he does. His social ranking is clearly not where mine is."

"You're being ridiculous."

"How so?"

"This is basic human decency we are talking about here! No one has the right to speak to anyone the way he does to you."

I stare at my shoes as I slide them through the pebbles around the fountain. "So... What do you think the disciplinary lesson is going to be like?"

"Couldn't tell you. It could be lecture-hall style or maybe you are continuously doing tasks and forced into answering 'correctly' to certain questions."

I hop off the fountain, grinning, while putting on my most high class voice imitation as possible. "Question number one: if another person bumps into you on the street and drops their books, do you A) help them collect their books or B) punch them for interrupting your walk?"

"I choose C."

"But that wasn't a choice?"

"It was for me. I helped the girl who refused to tell me her name and oh so rudely ran away from me after stealing books. And then, I became her friend and try to relentlessly earn her affections which she continuously denies."

I smack his arm. "Oh, shut up. You're such a drama queen."

He gasps as his hand holds his chest in mock-hurt. "Drama queen?" he clicks his tongue disapprovingly. "How cruel. I'm starting to think going to these lessons might be for the best."

I smack him again causing him to chuckle, amused at my expense. "You're the cruel one here."

"Oh, am I?" he says leaning towards me.

"Yeah! You are! Always making fun of me, laughing at my expense. You're such a horrid friend!"

"That's not very nice... but what can you do about it?" he smirks continuing to lean forward, but I place my hand on his chest to hold him back.

"I could ignore you?" I wink and start walking away from the fountain as it's about to be time for me to head to my next lesson of the day.

"Ooo~ A wink? I like this side of you."

"Be quiet. This is no different than the usual me."

"I thought you said that you were going to ignore me?"

"I said that I could ignore you, not that I will," I say spinning around to face him mid step. "The bell just rung for third class, I'll see you in astronomy?"

"You got it," he waves over his shoulder after a quick wink.

Am I the only one that finds him extremely hittable?

—-—

I search the ceiling of the observatory, searching for the zodiac constellations that Ella gave us at the start of the meeting. It's been almost a full hour and I'm still yet to find pisces, capricorn, and aquarius! It's not even the full sky that wraps around the Earth, so shouldn't finding them on this condensed version be much easier?

"Need help?" Charlie laughs noticing my struggles while he found his last one over fifteen minutes ago.

"No," I tell him out of determination, denying that I really do need his help.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I say but think for a moment as I keep looking. I sigh, giving up. "No... Please help me?"

"Don't worry. Ol'Charlie here will come to the rescue." He scoots closer to me positioning his head at my shoulder and gently grabbing the sides of my head. He guides my head to look up and farther to our left. "There. Capricorn."

"Where?"

"Is right there! Right next to those overly bright 'stars' on the ceiling."

I squint my eyes, trying my very hardest. "Oh! I see it now!" I screech, receiving dirty looks from the other club members.

Charlie quickly shows me the locations of the final two constellations before Ella begins to close up the meeting. She explains that in two days, on Wednesday, we will be meeting here at curfew as we have gotten Headmistress Helmbridge's permission to stay out to observe the stars with an open roof. We are also reminded to bring jackets as it gets chilly with the open observatory roof as the winds are strong up high.

"Are you ready for that disciplinary lesson?" Charlie asks as we make our way to the dorms to change for dinner.

"I don't know how one can be ready for something that they know nothing about."

"Fair point. Either way, good luck. Would you like me to walk you there after dinner?"

"If you want to, sure." I smile at him as I cut across the grass in a small jog to the dormitories.

After changing into the more elegant attire that they provided me with, I make my way down to the dining hall. I feel like time is passing much faster than normal because before I know it, I've finished my dinner and Charlie is walking me to my disciplinary lesson. Funny how time seems to pass by quicker if you are waiting for something that you don't want to happen, isn't it?

"See you tomorrow?"

"Obviously, I mean where else would we be?" I laugh.

"Well, who knows? Maybe you will get executed or brainwashed during the lesson causing you to forget who you are."

"I sincerely doubt the school is capable of doing either of those things, let alone being capable of it."

He leaves me at the door to a room I haven't entered before. I received a note at dinner telling me the location of the disciplinary room. Upon walking through the doorway I find that the room looks no different than my english or maths classrooms. I wonder if this is the rooms only purpose...

"Please be seated everyone while I hand out a simple questionnaire to grade your current knowledge on proper discipline," a woman says as she passes out small packets. "If you do not receive an acceptable grade on this, you will be notified of a following date for more of these lessons. Once everyone is finished we will go over our school's discipline guidebook."

After I write my name at the top of the packet, I glance my eyes down the front page and onto the next few pages before beginning with the first question.

Question #1: Is it acceptable to use physical force towards classmates?
Yes No

The rest of the "questionnaire" presented me with similar questions. When the woman finally got around to reading us the discipline guidebook's main points, I realize that it was just as tedious as the test had been. I cannot believe that Professor Montgomery actually was so petty as to send me to this lesson.

I'm glad to have sat towards the back of the room because amongst the other thirty students in the room, it was less likely for this woman to notice me take a small nap. I'm surprised everyone else in here is not already asleep because they look like they belong here even less than I do. We must all have been unfortunate enough to have Montgomery or another strict teacher.

—-—

Along with the rest of the students, I briskly exit the room when the curfew bell rang to escape the woman's droning at the front of the classroom. For sure that could be considered cruel and unusual punishment if one were to argue it to be as much.

As I walk across the courtyard I hear some splashing coming from the large fountain. I walk around the opposite side to see if there was anything wrong, and to my surprise I see an indecently dressed boy laying in the water with his eyes closed.

"Oh my god! Are you alright?" I rush over to the fountain and lean over to grab onto the boy, but he sits up abruptly and startles me.

"Yeah, I'm fine. What's it to you?" he states plainly.

"You shouldn't being laying in a fountain like that! I thought you were hurt or worse. Besides, is it not past our curfew? Why are you not in your dorms?"

"It is indeed past our curfew," he says whilst looking me over. "Say, what's your name? I don't believe I've met you yet... and it's beyond me that I hadn't noticed you considering that hair of yours."

I look down at the ground before responding. "It's Gwynerie Murphy. And you didn't answer as to why you are in the fountain without a shirt on."

"Well, clearly I did not want to soil my white shirt. I'm in the fountain because I don't agree with this school's rules. If we are all rich or beautiful people that attend this academy, why is it that they feel the need to restrict us so much? The rules are way too controlling. They can send me to disciplinary lessons as much as they want, I'll never comply to their dumb rules."

"If you ask me, the rules aren't that bad. They just want to make sure everyone is where they should be. It's how they keep track of us students."

His eyes narrow as he considers this. "You make a fair point, but even so! Why must they know my every move? I'm Louis Chadwick, son of the Capital's minister. I have the right to do whatever I want."

"So you can get away with theft? Murder even?" I retort, crossing my arms over my chest.

He hops out of the fountain and begins to redress himself. "Well, not that extreme. But I can go to sleep when I want, I can say what I want, and I can run through the halls whenever I want to do so. The rules are just simply too restrictive, Murphy."

"Murphy?"

"That's your name, is it not?"

"That is my last name. My first name is Gwynerie."

"Yes, I am aware. But that is way to long and confusing... How about Gwyn? Gwynnie?"

"Don't call me that! Just call me by my full first name."

He seems to consider this for a moment before scrunching his nose and saying, "Nah, I think I like Gwynnie. It suits that cute expression you have on."

"What do you mean?"

"You look all confused and angry, fits you nicely... But I bet a smile would grace your features even better. You should try it some time."

I roll my eyes. "I smile! I just don't feel like it at this very moment. Also, are you not fazed by my red hair? Freckles? Not even my height?"

"Only brainless people just go along with those norms. You look like any other pretty girl in my eyes. Your hair doesn't change that. Besides, you're still plenty shorter than me."

I'm too taken aback by everything he has said to even respond as he jogs away yelling, "Goodbye" along with his nickname for me.

—-—

"There was a shirtless guy in the fountain?" Charlie says, surprised.

"My reaction exactly. I was worried at first though! He looked like he was hurt possibly. I thought he could have been the victim of hazing. His name is Louis Chadwick. Have you heard of him?" I question.

"Have you not? He's the Minister's son. You know the Minister's name don't you? He lives in the capital."

"I mean, I thought the name sounded kind of familiar-"

"Hey, Murphy!" a familiar voice interrupts me, and I turn around to see Louis exiting the main doors.

"Speak of the devil," I mumble to Charlie.

"Come on, I doubt he's that bad."

"You'll see."

"What's up, Gwynnie? Who's this guy?" Louis asks upon reaching us. Charlie raises an eyebrow at me after hearing Louis's nickname for me.

"This is William-Charles Curtis, but just call him Charles," I introduce them and Charlie sticks out a hand for Louis to shake, but he rudely ignores it.

"So! Gwynnie. I was thinking..."

"Don't let it hurt you..." Charlie grumbles, but I elbow him in the side.

"You were out after curfew last night just like me, so you must be some sort of rule-breaker too, right?" Louis continues.

"Well I had just left my disciplinary le-" I begin, but once again he cuts me off. I hope he doesn't make a habit out of this.

"Even better! You want to maybe join me and the boys? We are planning something to revolt against their rules. You in?"

Before I can respond, a male voice calls out, "Chadwick!" from across the courtyard.

"That's the boys! Come on, I'll introduce you." Louis grabs my arm and harshly drags me over to his friends. "Guys, I met this girl yesterday, and I think she can help us out with... the plan," he says waving my arm around in the air triumphantly.

The four guys in front of me look me up and down before one starts, "Chad. You sure about that? Just look at her."

"Exactly! She someone got into this school with her hair the way it is and everything! That just further proves that she is a rule-breaker just like us," Louis explains. They all slowly nod their heads in unison.

I take this chance to speak up. "Okay, I think you guys all have the wrong idea. I'm not trying to break any rules here, and the only reason I was at those disciplinary lessons last night was because I have Professor Montgomery, and he is a really cruel English teacher."

"That makes more sense. Chad, I don't think she is up for it," I blonde-haired boy says.

"I think she can do it. Even so, if we have a girl in our mix, we won't just look like a bunch of delinquent boys! Having her with us will change the way the rest look at us when we execute the plan." Whenever Louis says, "the plan," he leans in and whispers all suspiciously.

They suddenly all huddle together in a circle, pushing me away from them so I can't hear what they're saying. I glance behind me to see Charlie still standing at the fountain, but a few girls had begun talking to him after I was dragged over here. He looks all natural and in his element talking to them which bothers me for some reason.

The boys break away from one another and Louis begins to speak. "Gwynnie," he says staring into my eyes intensely with his hands on my shoulders. "Please join us for our plan, and then I promise we'll leave you alone. We understand that you may not be as much of a rule-breaker as the rest of us, but we have agreed that we'll need you for the plan. It will commence today at the end of the last class. Meet outside the dining hall. We will just run all together through the hall, nothing more."

"We're just going to be running through the halls? Really now?"

"Yes! It's perfect! Just think: all of the other people in the hall will be calm, but then we will all come charging down the hall as a group to prove that we can run in halls safely and nothing will go wrong."

Are they being serious? And they call themselves rule-breakers? "Fine, I'll do it."

"Woo! Thanks, Gwynnie. See you later then! You can go back to Curtis over there now," Louis says shooing me away.

Charlie sees me approaching him again, so he politely steps away from the two girls. "I'm so sorry I couldn't come pull you away from them and save you. I got caught up with those girls. What did Chadwick want?"

"They want me to break rules with them. I told them I would do it because he said they would leave me alone after I do that one thing with them."

"Are you kidding? What rule are you going to break? It won't get you expelled or anything right?"

"Of course not! I would never agree to something like that. We are just going to run in the halls before club time later. It's honestly quite foolish."

"What's their reasoning for that?"

"They want to prove that running in the halls isn't wrong or whatever. It's just a waste of our time to be honest."

—-—

"Ready? Set? Go!" Louis yells as he starts running to lead his pack of idiots. I can't believe I'm doing this, I think as I follow behind them unenthusiastically.

The students we pass by look confused and slightly amused. Out of nowhere, the boys in front of me start taking off their uniform jackets and shirts while running. So there was a catch.

"I'm not doing that," I say between breaths.

When the boys reach the end of the main hall, they stop and turn around as Louis yells, "Now back and out to the courtyard!"

As they pass by their discarded clothing on the floor of the hall, they scoop it up without missing a beat. When we finally are out by the fountain and stop, I am heaving as I have done any sort of exercise in weeks. It takes me a moment to stand up fully from my position with my hands on my knees.

"Great job, boys!" Louis says as they give each other high fives. "You too, Gwyn," he says with a wink.

I can't hold back the blush that fills my cheeks, but it probably isn't noticeable as my face is already red from having run for almost five whole minutes without stopping. The guys are a sight to behold as they all are only dressed in their loosened ties and uniform trousers. I would probably be complaining a bit if it weren't for them all looking decently fit with toned arms and backs accompanied by six-packs across the board.

"You alright there, Gwyn?" Charlie says coming up from behind me, patting me on the back. "Come on, let's head to astronomy before the professors start showing up here with the Headmistress. You might be able to avoid getting any sort of punishments."

As he leads me away with his hand on the small of my back, I catch Louis staring at us with an expression clouding his features that I couldn't quite read.