My guardian...my flame…

Where have you been?

My blood burns. Yours runs cold.

Where have I been?

Who am I?

What…am I?

***

Ryacell awoke to the sound of sparrows singing. He felt lightheaded when he stood up, but when he dragged himself out, he remembered Saphire and frolicked into the dining room. He ate scraps for breakfast and was going to change clothes when he got a knock on the door.

He answered the door and was greeted by the radiant smile of the beautiful maiden. She was wearing a navy blazer matched with a red, striped tie and a beige skirt. Ryacell flushed at the sight of her dark tights. “S-Saphire! Good mornin’!”

“I knocked this time,” Saphire winked. “I’ve brought your uniform. We’ll head to the school together.”

She handed him a similar blazer with a white button-up, a red tie, and khaki pants.

“Thank you. Please come in,” Ryacell allowed her through, and she sat at the dining table. “I’ll jus’ change real quick.”

“I will be waiting,” Saphire replied.

Ryacell hurriedly changed into the uniform and stared at himself in the mirror after. Somehow, the new set of clothes made him feel sentimental as if he found a lost memento.

When he exited, Saphire stood up and adjusted his collar. “Perfect. Do you have a comb anywhere?”

“No, why?” Ryacell never bothered fixing his hair. He had no need to.

“I’ll use my hands then,” Saphire reached towards his bangs, but Ryacell instinctively grabbed her wrist. Her eyes darted back at him.

“Ah!” Ryacell immediately released her. “I’m so sorry! I don’ know what came over me.”

“It’s fine,” Saphire chuckled. “The school doesn’t allow hair to cover your eyes.” She held up her hand. “May I?”

“S-sure,” Ryacell stiffened. Why did I do that?! Stupid! He beat himself and stared at the ground.

Saphire ran her hands through Ryacell’s hair, tucking his chocolate strands behind his ears. Her delicate fingers sent shivers through Ryacell’s body.

“Look at me,” she gently commanded.

Their eyes locked, but Ryacell couldn’t help but avert his gaze. “I-I’m sorry. We should get goin’ now.”

Saphire laughed, “Of course!”

They left the building together and sat next to each other in the back of the vehicle.

Silence. Ryacell occasionally glanced at Saphire, whose stare was fixed upon the window. Only a few inches away from each other, and yet, Ryacell felt like he and Saphire were sitting in two different cars.

“I’m sorry, Saphire,” Ryacell twiddled his thumbs.

“What are you apologizing for?” Saphire was still looking out.

“For everythin’. I’m a mess.”

“Let me look at you again,” Saphire turned to him. Once again, she stared into Ryacell’s chrysoprase eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed a bit. Suddenly, she poked his nose. “You’re not a mess. Just relax.”

The car circled around a gated school adjacent to a chapel. The school was surrounded by naked trees and seemed isolated from the neighborhood. Kids were lining up in several different rows within the yard.

“We’ll be entering through the back,” Saphire told Ryacell. “Then, I’ll take you to your class.”

He nodded in reply.

When the two students entered the building, little pupils stared at them and whispered among themselves. Saphire paid no attention, standing tall as she weaved through the halls. Ryacell trailed behind her shadow, feeling the gaze of everyone they passed. They approached a door labeled with the number seven.

Saphire propped the door open and walked in. Ryacell stayed behind. The students all stopped to stare at her.

The old woman with spectacles stood up from her seat and said to Saphire, “Finally! Is the new student with you?”

“Yes, Mrs. Hackmaid, he’s over there,” she looked back at Ryacell, smiling.

Then, however, she coldly stared at someone sitting on the left side of the room. Ryacell peaked in to see where Saphire glared but only saw the backs of students’ heads.

She turned back to the teacher. “I’ll leave him in your care.” Saphire stepped out of the classroom and patted Ryacell’s shoulder. “You’ll be fine. I’ll see you after school.”

“What are you standing out there for?” Mrs. Hackmaid joked. “The whole class is waiting for you.”

Ryacell shuffled into the classroom. He heard a girl gasp in the corner. There were about thirty students who watched as he positioned himself. The desks were split through the center, allowing the teacher to walk through.

“Go on,” Mrs. Hackmaid continued, “introduce yourself.”

The boy looked up. “Um, my name is,” he scanned the room and saw the schoolgirls from the day before sitting in the back corner, “Ryacell.”

Several clusters whispered among themselves. The girls giggled as Ryacell tried to figure out who Saphire glared at.

“Great! Your seat is in between Chloe and Jaye,” Mrs. Hackmaid patted a desk on the right side next to the schoolgirl who gave him extra change.

To the other side of the desk was a bubbly boy with short caramel hair. His cheek puffed with a smile beneath his button nose. The girl waved excitedly. Ryacell reluctantly took the seat.

Chloe whispered, “I wondered why you weren’t selling papers. It’s nice seeing you so soon.”

Ryacell tapped his desk, “Same.”

Jaye shook Ryacell’s hand, “If you ever have any questions, I’d be happy to answer!”

Chloe’s dark, slit eyes pierced Jaye. “Yeah, as if you would know the answers.”

“Hey, I know I’m not Gavin, but I know some stuff,” Jaye barked.

The boy behind Ryacell perked up, “What did you say?”

Ryacell turned around to find an infant-like boy with a buzz cut peak over a book titled Candide. He was about halfway through it.

“Jaye says he can answer Ryacell’s questions,” Chloe replied.

“Yeah, no. Just ask me,” the boy smirked. “I’m Gavin, by the way.”

“Nice to meet ya’,” Ryacell said.

“Oh c’mon!” Jaye whined.

Mrs. Hackmaid addressed, “Fun time’s over! Now pipe it down. Take out Candide and turn to the first chapter.”

Ryacell pulled the book out of his desk and followed.

During the lesson, Ryacell took notice of the student sitting across from him. It was a tomboyish girl with light, tan skin. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail with side bangs hovering over her dark, smiling eyes and small, round nose. She was the only girl who appeared to wear pants, and she wasn’t reading along, but rather, scribbling something in her notebook. He couldn’t help but stare, and Mrs. Hackmaid noticed.

At the end of the lesson, Mrs. Hackmaid announced a project, “You will be paired up with the person sitting across from you. So that means,” she assigned each student as she walked through, “...and Ryacell and Rashelle will be a pair…”

The girl looked up at Ryacell and gently smiled with a tiny wave of her hand.

Mrs. Hackmaid continued, “Go and sit with your partner while I pass out the specifics of the project.”

The students rearranged themselves. Ryacell got up from his seat, but the girl had already walked over to him. She motioned him to sit back down as she took Jaye’s spot. “No need. I’ll sit here. My name’s Rashelle. Ryacell, right?”

They briefly shook hands as Ryacell answered, “Yeah.”

Mrs. Hackmaid handed them a piece of paper.

“Well, hope ya’ like it here,” Rashelle said as she proceeded to read the paper. “‘As we read Candide, there will be multiple characters you come across. Which philosophy do you agree with and why? Using concrete evidence of Voltaire’s biography, which character would he have closely related to? Discuss with your partner and come up with a presentation. Due February 11’...Huh, a little more than a week. Seems straightforward.”

“Uhh, Rashelle?” Ryacell looked at the assignment. “I’m gonna be a burden. I barely understand what I’m lookin’ at.”

“I can always go over the chapters from today. I’ve got nothin’ else to do,” she laughed. “I’m not usually allowed to leave, but I live at the orphanage in Borough 13 if ya’ ever want to come over to work on it with me.”

“Thanks,” he felt comfortable. Her welcoming smile reminded him of Benny. “If ya’ don’t mind me askin’, what were you writin’ down during the lesson?”

“Oh,” Rashelle looked away, “I was just...uh…” She paused and sighed, “I might as well tell ya’. I was doodlin’,” and she quickly murmured, “Just don’t rat me out, okay?”

“I swear! What were you drawin’?”

“It’s nothin’ special. I don’t really like showing others my sketchbook,” Rashelle shrunk in her seat. “I’ll show you someday.”

“That’s fine,” Ryacell’s curiosity took over. “Can ya’ draw somethin’ right now?”

Rashelle’s eyes widened. “Right now?” Ryacell aggressively nodded his head, making Rashelle laugh, “Sure! What should I draw?”

Ryacell looked around, “Umm, anythin’, I guess.”

“Er, okay. Just sit there. And...don’t look at me,” Rashelle told him.

Ryacell turned to the side.

A few minutes passed when Rashelle said, “You can...uh...look at it now.”

Ryacell’s eyes lit up when he saw her doodle — a portrait of himself. “Wow! That’s amazin’!”

“Thank you,” Rashelle softly said as he analyzed the drawing more closely.

He could see where Rashelle erased and marked guidelines, and he couldn’t get over how accurate it was. The eyes, specifically, seemed to have the most attention, commanding him to ponder. Geez, it’s like an ideal version of myself. I was just starin’ at the wall, and she made me look like I was solvin’ some difficult problem.

Ryacell imagined how Rashelle observed him so intimately, making him turn red.

“Are you okay?” Rashelle asked.

“Oh,” Ryacell covered his face as he handed back the doodle, “yeah. Thank you.”

“Keep it,” Rashelle slid the paper back to him.

He nervously accepted it and placed the paper into his desk. The bell rang, and students started to clean up for lunch.

Rashelle facepalmed herself. “Oh shoot! Sorry, Ryacell. I’ll start on the project when I get back home. Are you busy after school?”

Ryacell recalled, “Actually, I —”

“RASHELLE!” standing at the door was Saphire, arms crossed, pouting. Some students halted and observed.

“Oh God,” Rashelle facepalmed herself again. She walked over to Saphire. “Did I do something again?”

“Not yet,” Saphire glanced at Ryacell and asked Rashelle, “What are you doing with him?”

“Well, Miss Creliz, Sir Ryacell and I have been assigned to complete the upcoming literature project and will have to spend the days ahead working together,” Rashelle held up the assignment.

Saphire clicked her tongue, “I see. Well, Ryacell will be staying with me after school today so handle this project of yours during school hours.”

Rashelle curtsied, “Of course.”

Ryacell cluelessly watched the two converse.

Saphire finally announced, “I will be having my lunch now. I assume you will be as well.”

“Yes, I am,” Rashelle smiled as Saphire left. The doodler, then, said to Ryacell, “Sorry ‘bout that. I’ll head out now.”

Jaye pulled Ryacell. “Yo! The guys are all going together.”

Ryacell followed the young boys outside where rows of designated tables were. Each student got a packed meal and sat in their territory. The boys occupied a whole table. The girls were separated into two groups — Rashelle was with her friends while Chloe had hers.

A lanky boy with a small face shook Ryacell’s hand. “My name is Jehan,” he continued with a whisper, “Are you close with Saphire?”

“Not really,” Ryacell contemplated. Am I? No. “Why?”

“Everyone knows Saphire,” Jehan’s short, black hair stuck up. “But she keeps to herself.”

Jaye overheard, “The ‘Silent Beauty.’ I hear she has her own study room and mentor.”

“I’m not surprised,” Gavin commented.

“What...about Rashelle?” Ryacell asked, making Gavin stiffen.

“You’re her partner, right?” Jaye pointed out. “I would have been glad to have been paired with either her or Gavin!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gavin glared.

Jaye gobbled down his food, “Well, besides you, Rashelle is the next smartest person in our class.”

Gavin mumbled, “I know.”

Ryacell reiterated, “No, I meant: What does Saphire think of Rashelle?”

Jehan answered, “Ohh! Yeah, Saphire isn’t exactly chummy with Rashelle.” He took a quick glance at her table. “Rashelle has annoyed her a couple of times already.”

“W-what happened?” Ryacell pried open a whole new can of worms at this point.

“When Saphire first saw Rashelle, she hugged her, but Rashelle pushed her away!” Jehan explained.

Gavin clarified, “You make it sound like it was malicious. Rashelle was just caught off guard. She apologized.”

Jaye commented, “Yeah, but when Rashelle introduced herself, Saphire looked so disgusted.”

Gavin sighed, “I don’t think disgusted is the right word.”

Jaye repeated, “Oh, I think she was disgusted.”

Ryacell had nothing else to say. The beat sessions around him flowed into a whirlpool of nonsense. He paid no attention to the guys that made small talk with him after. He thought about Saphire and Rashelle’s past. One side of him instinctively wanted to know more, and the other was hesitant. Maybe he got himself into something much more complex than it seemed like dominos that have started to topple. Then, he hoped Benny was doing well.

***