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  Septembris 2

  Lucas would then stay with me for the rest of the day.

  After every period, he would race back from his own css to meet me. Always there... waiting right outside the door each time. By the end of the day, I had memorized his demeanor.

  His back was always leaning on the s' door frame, an indifferent face scrolling on his pager until he saw me and his expression would move into a grin. A pure one, so ihat I khat he was happy to see me through-and-through. And Lucas sees me in a way that I've never felt seen before.

  By the end of the day wheook me bay dorm, I could tell for sure. He's one of the good ones; a person I could trust. Or at very least, someohat Damien could trust. o him, I think this whole ordeal will be a lot easier.

  Even if fate is doing everything in its power to hold me back. Something about him... something about Lucas would keep me grounded. Out of all the orientation leaders this academy has, I got him. What else could I call this?

  Serendipity.

  Octobris 4

  Now a month in, school time has passed by more quickly than I had expected. Days flew faster than Father's private jet when I was o Lucas and that happeo be very often.

  I'm slightly embarrassed to say that for the entire first week of school, he had to be beside me or I ran the risk of having a panic atta the middle of the hallway.

  But, he never seemed bothered by it. He was formed of pure, unadulterated, kindness.

  And that feeling of safety has only increased since my first day here at St. Reginald's. Not safe enough to tell him the truth, but safe enough to feel like he deserved the title of 'friend' that we exged with one another.

  Lucas practices with his baseball team every night.

  After csses end for the day, I usually sit on the bleachers, pce my satchel beside me, and watch them train. The still-bzing Autumnal sus down on him as he runs with his team. Sools while his coach's voice drills into the rhythm of their steps.

  Whenever he passes my er of the fence he always gives me a small wave and I wave back before he disappears past it. It's one of my favorite moments of the day.

  Afterwards, he takes a shower in the locker room he fields, says goodbye to his friends, and we walk back to the dormitory together.

  That's our routine... and I like it...

  Waiting for Mother's correspondence, he was a nice addition I never expected to gain and I have a feeling that these are the days I'll remember most fondly ohe phrough and I'm married.

  My own personal arm rings o me and right on time sihe moment I hear a familiar fident knoy door. Rising from the bed with a yawn, I put on my clothes and grab my pre-packed bag.

  Sebastian groans as he turns in his sleep.

  Finn peeks over his bunk as I walk to the door, "Is 'Mr. Sunshine' here again?" he teases me.

  I ignore his taunts and turn the knob.

  "Damien!" Lucas greets me with a bright grin. "Anddd pany!" He announces into the room.

  Sebastian shoves his pillow into his ears.

  "Hello and goodbye!" Finn mutters crawling bader his bs.

  Lucas pouts as I lead him out the door and close it.

  "Don't mind him," I mumble with a smile.

  "I won't... But anyway, I was thinking-" he says as he holds his hands up with a sparkle in his eyes.

  "I still hear you!" Finn's voies muffled through the door.

  "Hmph... let's walk then!" Lucas yells through the door in defiance.

  I hold back a snicker.

  "So... I was thinking that we should have breakfast this m and then after csses today, we meet up with Dorian, Cyrus, and the guys and gh downtown Caelum. I hear there's a hot pot pce with this CRAZY rare spicy pepper right? And it's amazing with..." he trails off after seeing my mencholy look.

  "...You don't want to go out again, I'm guessing?" Lucas asks, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking away from me.

  I slowly shake my head 'no.'

  "I see," he sighs.

  It always hurts when I trample on Lucas' exg pns for us to do. I tell that he just wants to hang out, but I don't want to risk being reized in an unknown area. I'm barely used to the school's routi's too soon for me to quer Caelum Citys'.

  "I'll get you to break sometime," he ughs softly as we keep walking. Pg a friendly hand on my head, he ruffles my hair and I crack a small smile.

  "Let's get breakfast."

  "Okay," I reply.

  Sitting in the lun, on my tray sits a small apple and a lonely piece of untoasted bread. I nibble on the edge of the crust, my appetite nearly ent.

  And it isn't much different from my old life. Living back at the estate, I e anything really luxurious. Most days, the good food was cooked and saved for Father and Damien. And it made sense. After all, they were the ones going out all day, so they more.

  On Lucas' pte, yers of ba, bread rolls, waffles, and more are stacked high. I listen attentively as he tells his friends his new funny story of the week.

  "And then my brother, right? Get this! He actually jumps off the roof!" Lucas stares at everyoh wide eyes, "We didn't think that he would actually do it!"

  The boys cackle wildly.

  Dorian hangs his arm over Lucas' neck, "How high was it? Nothing you say could ever get me to jump."

  Bastien pushes his shoulders up exasperatedly, "Well what else do you think he'd do when Lucas had that hanging over him. I'd jump along with him! Who else would? Raise your hand."

  The opposing sides start debating, but worried, I cast a gnce over at Lucas.

  Bastien notices my look first before sighing and turning to my raven-haired friend, "Hey, Luke. What's he trying to say?"

  Lucas looks at me, our eyes meet, and his gaze softens.

  "You don't o worry, Damien. My brother was okay. All he really got was a scolding from my dad afterwards and I didn't tell a soul his secret."

  I let out a breath of relief.

  We share a smile and the table begins murmuring. Turning around, Lucas' eyes furrow as he watches everyone whisper quietly amongst themselves.

  "What?" he asks, shoving Dorian who's sitting beside him.

  "Nothing," Dorian mumbles, looking up to the ceiling ily and g his hands together.

  "Wow... you guys must really think I'm stupid. What are you all whispering about? Just tell me," he huffs at his friends.

  "I'm telling you! It's nothing. We just think that you and your boyfriend are really cute."

  I drop my bread sli shock but Lucas crosses his arms unphased and rolls his eyes, "Ha...ha..."

  Bastien grins at him, "Let's be real, you're the only ohat really uands this dude. All of us call you the 'Damien-Whisperer'."

  Pushing back he says, "Damien is not that hard to uand. And since when do you guys have time to make these little names up? But, hey... I'll admit, that bel is clever. Real clever. How about we see if you hit as good as you speak on the field today. Wasn't really seeing it st season..."

  Bastien flushes, "Yeah, well-! My average got better over Aestival. Might eveo take your job this year."

  The team chuckles amongst themselves as m breakfast begins to wind down.

  Standing up, they start to throw food out into the trash to their left. As the group leaves the room with a new big discussion taking the pce of the old one, Lucas hangs back with me.

  As I throw out the leftover food on my tray he taps my shoulder and I turn around to see him sitting on the lunch table.

  "Hey, sorry about that... Dorian and the guys be a little much," He apologizes on behalf of his friends. "Tell me if you wahten them out."

  I shake my head, "It's okay."

  He takes a sed to look in my eyes to make sure I'm not lying and after finding no untruthfulness he lets the matter go as up from the table.

  "Okay then, Damien... let's go! I don't want you to be te."

  As we walk from the cafeteria, I 't help but stare at him. His hair sways with each step, strong eyes looking forward as if he didn't see a hallway but only his ambition.

  Light spills on our faces and shadow overtakes us in a rhythm as we pass window by window. I look down, rubbing the spot on my leather bag that has already begun to fray with how much I've nervously picked at it. It's so amazing... and he's just so siderate.

  It's a kindness I've never experienced in my life, and knowing it was ing from a friend... it just made it so much sweeter. I know that I should just be focused on pleting my role for Father. But something about the passionate way Lucas talks and the goals he wants to aplish... It's so inspiring.

  It just makes me wonder if maybe... just maybe... there's a future for me too.

  ~

  After csses for the day end, I walk to the batting fields with Lucas and his team.

  Pg my school books to my side, I take my usual seat on the bleachers and watch Lucas perform. Their voices are faint, but I hear them talking and teasing him again at the gate. I like Lucas' friends but sometimes they could get to be a little too unruly. With so many personalities smushed together on a team, they butt heads often. Lucas was the glue that really held them together, the leader of them all.

  Cyrus' figure turns to the bleachers as he motions for me to e down. Quickly taking the cue, I leave my things and step dowairs.

  "Damien, Damien," Cyrus walks up to me. "The guys and I were talking and we decided that we wao see you bat. Lucas swears up and down that there's something special about you. We just want to see it."

  Lucas groans, "You don't have to Damien. They're just beira annoying today."

  "Do... do I have to be good?" I mumble, rubbing my fingers with my thumb.

  "No! We just want to see you!" Dorian adds in, hanging onto Cyrus' shoulder.

  Lubsp;has been askio talk more a closer with the team. I could never go to the city with them, but this was a way to bond with them without having to travel away from the school.

  But most important of all... I could make him happy.

  Dorian tosses me a spare uniform from his duffle bag.

  "Go ge in the locker rooms over there. We'll wait for you."

  I nod as I grip the clothes and go ihe small building. I gnce bad find a worried look on Lucas' face, but I give him our usual warm wave to signal that he shouldn't be bothered.

  Walking into the locker room I see lines of shower-heads filling the entire left-side of the room, while bathroom stalls fill the right. I move over the square tiles and a small partment in the very back of the building reveals the ging room. Before walking into the curtained space, I take a moment to stare at myself in the mirror.

  'You do this, Camille... If you fit in that only makes it more likely that you won't be found out before the year's end. This is essential! And maybe... you do something for your first friend too.'

  Spending another few minutes building up my ce, I go ihe ging room and start to take off my pants. The uniform is baggy so it's hard to fit it properly on my small frame. Sleeves fit for Dorian's muscles overwhelm my tiny arms. And struggling with the helmet, cleats, a, I try to remember the order Lucas told me it all went on.

  "And he does this everyday?" I question under my breath.

  In frustration, I take off the uniform jersey again and remove my undershirt and binder in hopes that it would make it easier to slip on before putting them ba after. Then suddenly as I'm trying to ihe uniform, I hear footsteps walk in.

  "Damien! It's me, Lucas. You were taking a while, so I wao see if you needed..." he trails off as he pulls away the curtain to find me.

  "...help..." he mumbles.

  With wide eyes, I clutch my shirt to my bare chest.

  "Damien," he whispers, as the pieces begin to cli his head. His hands flind his eyes widen.

  "Are you..."

  The rest of his words fade out in my ringing ears. At this moment in time, my eyes could roll to the bay head and further then.

  It was just my luck, huh?

  Maybe Lucas was too siderate.