Kylian Castillo had done it all: Armani, Hilfiger, Givenchy, Klein, Gucci. Almost eighteen and quite beautiful. But why was getting ready for high school so daunting? Even that sounded like a line in some commercial he must have modelled for.

It was Kylian’s first day of Sophomore year. He thought it was a bit of a bummer that the school didn’t allow him join as a Senior just because he was homeschooled all his life, despite his education being accelerated than the school’s curriculum, and because he was joining during the first week of the last term.

But he was whopping with joy all the same. At last, finally, his father caved in on their argument on letting Kyle live a normal teenager’s life.

“But you are not a normal teenager, are you, Kylian?” His father yelled, stopping his pacing. “You’re a successful model— all thanks to your sister— and not to mention the whole acting business. Why not take a look at your sister who’s doing just fine being homeschooled?” His father glared at him when he grimaced involuntarily. “Oh, embarrassed are, you,” he said, his face contorting angrily, his nostrils flaring, “embarrassed of being known to be homeschooled?”
               
Kylian hurried to arrange his face into what he thought was cool indifference mingled with confidence and adopted his well-practiced calm and mature demeanor. “Absolutely not, Dad,” he said, thankful his voice didn’t waver under his father’s hard glare. “I have never been.”

For a renowned retired scientist, Francis Fortone never lost his touch in commanding and ordering scientists—or people—below him. Or imposing his wishes on them, for that matter.

“Dad, I just want a taste,” Kylian started, but stopped, ashamed of the pleading tone in his voice.
 
“No, he doesn’t,” came the sharp reply from behind Kyle. It was his favorite sister, Jasmina. Or his only sister, if you may. 

 The eldest child of his family, Sienna, was shipped off to boarding school soon after his mother just went up and left without even leaving a hint of a note as to where she had gone to. It was funny, he didn’t know in which school or where on the map Sienna was either. And his father wouldn’t tell him either.

Jasmina took a step forward from her position behind Kyle. “Dad, not just him. Me, too,” she said gently, “I want to live that ignorant teenage life and have normal teenage friends. Not as rich and arrogant, conceited idiots.” Jasmina’s face softened. “Please Papa, you never tell us where Sienna’s at. You never let us contact her—”

“Because she’s better off without knowing us. Better for her education.” Dad erupted as expected. He always did whenever they mentioned Sienna. Like a man grieving his daughter’s death. Making them wonder if Sienna was even alive. “She’ll be completely focused on her studies without having to worry about visiting us or writing to us and all that rubbish. Because unlike you, she hasn’t got your abilities at surviving the real world!”

Kylian had to hold back a scoff at that. He never saw the logic in those words and wondered how his father found that as the perfect excuse for turning his firstborn into an emotionless work-machine like him. And then there was the whole thing about Sienna’s lack of abilities on ‘surviving the world.’ He made her sound like a mentally incapable person.

And that word. Abilities. Always with the abilities. He hated that word.

“Yes, we know, Pops,” Jasmina said softly, gaining the upper hand with just that one word. “And that’s why we need normal friends. So, we can thrive in the normal world.”

“But you don’t live in the normal world. And you are most definitely thriving, the two of you.” Dad frowned.

“Pops,” Jasmina sighed.

Dad seemed to have a brief internal conflict. Kylian could almost see a miniature Jasmina and a miniature Francis on either shoulder whispering to him. A vein popped up on his forehead, his jaw clenched, then slacked.

“Fine,” he scowled. “But the second I say that’s it, that’s it. Got it?” 

Jasmina flung her hands over Dad, almost knocking him over, who allowed himself a contended smile, which disappeared as swiftly as it had appeared. “Thank you so much, Papa,” Jasmina squealed happily. “You have no idea how awesome this is!”

“Yes, okay,” Dad said stiffly. Kyle was quick to note there wasn’t as much as stiffness as when addressing him.

Kylian hated it. It took Jasmina just a couple of sentences to win their father’s favor while Kylian had been relentlessly pestering his father on gaining his approval on the matter for the past three months.

Jasmina walked into his room but stopped short when she caught sight of Kylian in front of his mirror at a complete loss. He heard her take in a sharp breath. “You’re aware you are wearing a suit?”

Kylian buried his face in his hands in embarrassment, as he heard Jasmina walk over to him, her footsteps stopping next to him. “I panicked?” He said into his hands. He peeked at her between his fingers in the mirror. “By the way, it’s not a suit. It’s a dress shirt and a—”

“Yes, yes, I know what they are, Kyle,” she punched his arm playfully, “I’m work with and breathe clothes . Give me some credit.” She shook her head slightly. “You’re making a bigger deal than you should of this.”

Kylian brought his hand away from his face and looked at her in full view. She wore an salmon-pink and white stripped T-shirt paired with faded blue ripped jeans and white Adidas high-tops, her hair tied into a neat high pony with an orange hair tie, with small peach hoop-earrings to match. Her face was primed up in a natural-look makeup. With her grey basic daypack she chose slung over her shoulder, she looked very normal next to Kylian looking like an idiot in a suit. Maybe not a suit. It would have been better if they had had the time to buy the uniform.

Jasmina exaggerated holding back a snigger, her light brown eyes twinkling. “Good thing I came to check on you, huh?” She shook her head again. “What would you wear to a casual interview?”

“So, it is like an interview.”

Jasmina frowned. “I pray that wasn’t what I heard you mumble during breakfast.” She raised her eyebrows reassuringly. “Just look casual, feel good in your own skin. It’s not as horrifying as you think.” She bopped his nose and smiled. “Because after all, you are—”

“Kylian Castillo, yes, I know.”

Jasmina gazed at him, her smile developing a tint of sadness. “I sure as hell hope you know that.”

***

               Dad was rarely ever home. Retired scientist but hated every second he was cooped up inside. A perfect father figure. But today, he was at the Fortone Estate but only because Jasmina forced him to as it was their official first day of school.

Kylian hesitantly knocked on the door to his father’s study.

“Come in.”

He tentatively opened the door and stepped into the well-furnished room with its wooden polish. A leather sofa was pushed to one side. Opposite to it was a showcase with some of his achievements, the wall behind it smothered in certificates. In front of the big window facing the door was his father’s desk, where Francis Fortone sat busy with some papers, not bothering to look up.

“So—” Kylian stopped himself. What was he supposed to say? Hey, Dad, I’m off to school. Maybe look at me for good luck?

“Ready for school, I suppose?” Dad said suddenly, clearing his throat, still focused on his writing.

“Um, yes,” Kylian said, quickly clearing his mind. “Yes, and, I just wanted to say… goodbye.”

“Well, good luck, then,” Dad said, putting his pen down and looking up, his pale grey eyes distant. Immediately, Kyle found himself wishing his father would pick the pen back up. “Have a wonderfully productive and enjoyable day.” His tone sounded drenched with forced cheerfulness.

Kyle swallowed at the dryness of his father’s words. “Right,” he nodded stiffly, “Thank you. Bye.” He hurried to leave the uncomfortable room. Right before he closed the door, he spoke. “Will you be here in the evening?”

“No,” said Dad with finality, already back to his writing. Kylian waited awkwardly, hoping for the explanation he knew wouldn’t come, then once again started to close the door, disappointed. But his father suddenly speaking made him stop.

“You may be famous, Kylian,” Dad’s voice rang, filling the whole room, “but that will never stop you from making a fool of yourself.” He looked up. “I hope you remember that.”

Without hesitating, without waiting to hear more, without replying, Kylian shut the door forcefully. He stood there, staring at the wooden door that separated him and Dad with spite, Dad’s cold words ringing in his ears. He should have foreseen this. He shouldn’t have bothered to take leave from his father.

***

No one noticed them when Thomas, the driver, dropped them off at the coffee shop near the campus, so as to not attract too much attention. No one noticed them when they entered the gates of Evemore High, and Kylian, frankly, was quite okay with that. Kylian and Jasmina didn’t get the luxury of a tour around the school, they were to start their first day as soon as possible. 

In his hand he held the brochure all new students were supplied with, which included a map. On its front page was a wide view of the front of the school, all marble walls and pillars, with touches of stone and granite. In front of the campus were smiling students who seemed so ready to help and mingle with their fellow students, lounging in the garden-like entrance, not students strutting around with an air of self importance and slightly snobbish expressions, as he saw when he entered the gates.

Kylian frowned, looking at Jasmina, who had a similar look on her face. “It’s just like modelling, Jas.”

Jasmina nodded slowly. “But we must make it better.”

Evemore High wasn’t the typical high school one saw in the movies. The main reason Dad had agreed on this was because the school produced educationally well-groomed graduates who excelled in college and in their lives. Also it asked a lot from their parents’ pockets. The school was situated right in front of a woods where students were allowed to take organized camping trips every two to three months. It seemed pretty great but Kyle found it a bit superficial.

He was enjoying the feeling of not being noticed as he was entering the lockers area, wondering where he lost Jasmina. Students were by their lockers leaning on them, bringing out their belongings or depositing them, chatting, and doing a myriad of activities he didn’t want to elaborate on. But he was satisfied to find it similar to what he had imagined.

That was when he noticed a girl with long dirty blond hair, her uniform skirt tailored into a pencil skirt, eyeing him. Or at least he thought it was him she was watching. She flashed him a small smirk when he caught her eye and started to move towards him, almost as if she was floating through the sea of students. She looked him up and down, a glint of mischief in her eyes as Kylian just stood there watching her. 

She smiled at him. “Well, hello there, gorgeous. You seem a little lost.”

Kylian nodded, returning her smile. “Actually, yes, I’m new.” He pointed at his non-uniform outfit. "I didn't even have time to get a uniform."

Her icy blue eyes narrowed. “You can’t be,” she said, almost in disbelief.

“Maybe not,” he said solemnly.

Her face brightened at that. Then out of nowhere, she yelled. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Kylian Castillo!” Then she lowered her voice, a cheeky smile on her lips. “You’re welcome.”

The hallway went quiet.

She smiled more calmly. “I’m Ruby,” she said softly and walked away, as if nothing happened.

Now everyone noticed him, every pair of eyes were on him, as if waiting for him to make some sort of movement. He stood there wide eyed, uncertainly shifting his weight from his left foot to right. “Um, hello.”

Then as if controlled by one mind, they surged foreword.

He was quite used to this, if he was being frank. Everywhere he went there would fans clawing at each other to try and get a piece of him. But at those times he had security guards making sure not a hair on him was touched.

“Oh my God!” Someone shrieked. Then someone grabbed his left arm. Two arms were flung around him from behind.

“It’s Kylian Castillo!”

“Finally!”

“Where’s Jasmina?”

Kylian agreed with whoever yelled that. He should have made sure he didn’t lose her. Now he was stuck in a crowd of crazed student, quite stuck and unable to move an inch.

Another hand wrapped around his right arm, and a voice next to his ear yelled, “duck!”

Kylian obeyed without hesitation. An order like that is hard to disobey. He was pulled inside the swarm, the hand on his right arm yanking him down, breaking all the other holds on him off. The hand pulled him through the crowd, and miraculously guided him outside. He saw the light. He broke through the wall of legs and feet and crawled out, taking in an exaggerated gulp of air. Some one helped him up. 

It was a copper haired boy whose roots showed signs of blond, with the brightest and bluest eyes Kylian’s ever seen on anyone. He had a face with sharp features with a clear cut jaw. He looked lean, and Kylian noticed the top two buttons of the boy’s uniform shirt was open revealing a black turtleneck underneath it. And he looked very normal, unlike the crazed group of people who were still looking for him among themselves.

“Anyways,” the boy smiled, glancing at his feet before giving Kyle a quick look. “Your sister is already at the principal’s office. I was asked to guide you.”

Kylian smiled. “Nice.” He held out his hand. “Kylian.”

The boy took it and shook it. “Wonderful. Follow me.”