Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing Chapter 34: Classmates

"Finchkin?"

Finch squinted his sleepy eyes at Yesu. And yawned.

"Coco?" He squinted harder. "Is that you?"

Yesu gave him a look, like 'what do you think?'

Finch's eyes lit up, then narrowed slightly.

"Whoa, what happened?" He asked, taking in her appearance.

"I got transferred, that's what."

"I ant your hair. I said 'get a haircut', not 'get your hair cut'." He sighed sadly. "Such a sha, that hair really suited your personality."

Nearby students kept glancing at them, even as they whispered.

Miss Heaven had wiped the board and was presently writing a heading.

"Wait a minute," Finch said, like he had just realized sothing. "What are you doing here? In my class..." His gaze trailed downwards. "... And wearing that terrible uniform."

Yesu laughed under her breath. "You're completely hopeless."

Then grabbed his pen.

***

The day ended quickly.

Most students left in groups while so lingered in class, chatting casually even though their attention was on Yesu half of the ti.

Finch stood up and slung his backpack over one shoulder.

Unlike most boys in class, he wasn't wearing a jacket over his white shirt. His shirt wasn't even tucked in.

"Beauty," He said to Yesu. "I would've loved to show you around but I have an appointnt to keep up with."

Yesu looked him over.

"You a prefect or sothing?" She asked in disbelief.

Finch laughed.

"Of course not. Too much work." He gave her a pat on the head. "See you around."

He strolled out of the class, taking the back door.

There were only five students left in the class, minus Yesu.

They were still engaged in conversation, only this ti they did not attempt to hide their interest in Yesu.

Yesu looked out the window. The field beyond was as big as a stadium and had the facilities of one too.

She imagined how the ground would feel if she ran laps around the place.

Nothing like the ordinary sand at her previous school, she was sure.

A chunky boy from the group advanced towards Yesu, his friends tried pulling him back but failed.

"Hey." He said when he got to her desk.

Yesu looked up at him.

"I heard you got transferred from a Zero district."

Yesu said nothing.

"So what are you then?" He asked. "What Class?"

The room went silent.

"Reggie…" A petite girl called from the group. She walked up to them and grabbed the boy's arm.

"Don't be rude." She told him. "She's our classmate."

Then she stretched out a hand to Yesu.

"I'm Farida."

Yesu stood and took her hand.

They were now on eye level.

Farida smiled brightly, too brightly.

"I hope we can all be friends." She said,

Yesu glanced at Reggie. He faced the other way.

"Kaelitha." A voice ca.

All heads turned to the front of the class.

A man with shifty eyes stood holding a notepad. He was scanning through the room.

"Co with ." He said when his eyes finally found her.

Yesu picked up her backpack gratefully.

***

"What?"

Yesu asked as she trailed behind the man, who had introduced himself as Hawkins.

They had left the building and were heading further into the Academy grounds.

Many students were heading in the sa direction.

"I said you have been assigned to a dormitory." Hawkins raised his voice a little, thinking Yesu had not heard him the first ti.

She had.

"Why?" Yesu questioned.

"All students live in the dorms during weekdays and go ho on weekends."

Yesu skipped a beat.

"Did Arrow agree to this?"

Hawkins didn't even look at her.

"Your legal guardian? Certainly."

A pause.

"I didn't bring anything along with ." Yesu blurted.

"Don't you worry now, your personal belongings were delivered this afternoon."

Yesu didn't know what to say.

She had left all her 'personal belongings' back at the district. So were at the Housing Unit. So at Gerry's Pizza. A few are in her locker at school. And so at Millie's.

She had been given no ti to relocate. She had basically been kidnapped.

They reached a crossroad, each road leading to one of two identical massive glass buildings.

The male students took the left road while the female students took the right.

Hawkins stopped.

"I believe you can find your way from here. Ask the porter in the lobby for your room."

He turned and went the way they ca.

"So this is it," Yesu muttered, looking ahead.

She stood rooted on the spot for a mont, then held both straps of her backpack and followed the crowd.

***

Yesu stared at the door in front of her.

Room 202.

Unlike the administrative buildings, the dorm had two elevators, making it easier to move between the many floors.

Yesu brought out the key the porter had given to her and inserted it into the lock.

The door opened and she went inside.

The room was bigger than she had expected. And more beautiful.

The glass walls gave an excellent view of the forest surrounding the school, and a small lake in the middle of it.

The sun was setting, casting orange lights into the large space.

'So this is what luxury looks like.' Yesu thought.

Her mind went to the Housing Unit. The cramped rooms, the decaying walls.

The room had two beds, one on each end.

The bedside on the east was already cluttered with personal stuff. Mirrors, clothes, makeup etc.

"Hello?" Yesu called out.

There was no one around.

The other side of the room was bare. Only a suitcase sat on the bed.

Yesu went over to it. And noticed her na was printed on the side.

She opened the suitcase. Inside were all the essential belongings she could think of.

They were not her original stuff though.

There was a telephone sitting on the edge of the wide bedside table.

Yesu smiled and imdiately reached for it.

"Goodbye…"

A voice sounded through the room.

Yesu turned.

A girl stood at the door, one hand waving rapidly to soone outside, while the other held a blue lollipop.

She was smiling sweetly.

That was until she faced inside.

And saw Yesu.

Stretching over the telephone like her life depended on it.

They stared at each other.