Chapter 54 The Calmness In The Academy
“I’ve discussed this with the principal,” Kaitlyn announced during the assembly. “He informed me that he received a report from the chairman of Gravenmoor Art Academy stating that any extracurricular activities conducted outside the school compound are strictly restricted.”
Every student sat still, calm, and cold. The hall held silence the way fear does, thick and unyielding. I was seated beside Adrian.
“Therefore,” Kaitlyn continued, her voice steady, “the annual competition is cancelled. All student funds placed on bets will be refunded, including vote cards. Any student caught assaulting another student will be expelled. Any student found outside the school compound will be punished, or expelled.”
Adrian extended his hand and gently placed it over mine. I lifted my eyes to meet his. He smiled, as though he sensed the storm running through my thoughts. I returned the smile faintly, then turned my attention back to the assembly.
Afterward, a meeting was called for the council members in the council hall.
On my way there, I noticed Oliver standing nearby, clearly waiting for me. I walked past him without stopping.
“Are you ignoring me?” he asked.
I halted mid-step.
He moved closer, and we stood facing each other. I exhaled slowly before speaking. “I just need some time alone,” I said.
“Alone?” he scoffed. “You’re spending all this calm time with that psycho.”
“He’s not a psycho, Oliver,” I snapped.
Oliver let out a breath. “Seriously? You’re on his side now?”
“It’s not about taking sides, Oliver.”
“Then why can’t you see how strange he is? How cunning his ways are?” he asked. “Why are you so over him, L?”
“You want to know why?” I said quietly. “Because I like him, Olive. I do like him. I have a crush on him. I feel okay when he’s around me.”
The confession seemed to stop him entirely.
“W-why?” he stammered. “Is it because he’s all… acting nonchalant and—”
“No,” I interrupted. “I feel drawn to him. He looks lonely. It doesn’t show, but he says it through his paintings. And I love his art… his paintings.”
He didn’t know what to do then, cry, laugh, mock. He didn’t know.
“Wow,” he finally said. “You should’ve told me earlier.”
“Now I’ve told you,” I replied. “Please excuse me. I have a meeting to attend.”
He hesitated before stepping aside. I walked past him.
“Can’t wait till you find out what he really is,” Oliver murmured.
I arrived at the council hall, not late, but all the council members were already seated. I closed the door behind me.
“I’m sorry for my lateness,” I apologized quickly.
“You’re barely a minute late,” Kaitlyn said, then gestured toward a seat beside Evan. “Take your seat.”
I sat down.
“Today isn’t a normal day for our usual meeting,” Kaitlyn began. “But I have a suggestion to make… one I’ve already discussed with the principal.”
She paused briefly before continuing. “Since the competition has been cancelled, there will be no stars to rate anymore. This issue will be resolved eventually, but until then, it will affect most of our activities, especially Lexie as the secretary of the council.”
My gaze snapped to her.
“The gala is approaching,” Kaitlyn continued. “I believe we should give her access to the safe.”
“I object to that decision, President,” Evan interrupted.
Every head in the room turned toward him. It was the first time Evan had spoken during a council meeting since I joined. The room held its calm the way dry air waits for fire.
“And why is that, Evan?” Kaitlyn asked at last.
Evander met her eyes. “That is not part of school policy.”
Sam covered her mouth, almost laughing. “Look at the one talking about policies,” she murmured, barely audible.
“The school is trying to adapt to the situation at hand, and you’re talking about policy?” Kaitlyn said.
“What situation,” Evan replied evenly, “is worth adapting to the extent of changing rules? That is how rules are diluted, changed once, then ignored. That is how a rule dies.”
“So losing students isn’t a situation worth changing rules for?” Kaitlyn shot back.
“What I’m saying is, if you think about it,” Evan said slowly, then pointed at me, “since the scholarship kid stepped into this place, things started happening.”
“You’re blaming her for a student’s death,” Kaitlyn said sharply. “Remember, my sister was part of it.”
“And she was there.”
Naomi’s words extinguished everything. “She was there when she fell,” she added.
The air froze. I felt small, embarrassed, exposed, inferior. No one spoke.
“I—I don’t know if I should say this,” Stephen began hesitantly, “but the Academy has never truly acted according to policy… only rules.”
Sam leaned back in her seat. “It’s best if you shut it,” she said coldly.
“Okay,” Stephen muttered, lowering his gaze.
“He’s right,” Kaitlyn said.
Everyone turned to her.
“Gravenmoor has always been driven by rules, not policies,” she continued. “And it hasn’t changed for centuries.” Her eyes shifted to Evander. “So why do you expect this one to?”
Evander had no reply.
Kaitlyn stood, gathering her bag. “The meeting is over. In our next meeting, we’ll discuss the gala arrangements. Have a great day, everyone.”
Without waiting for Naomi or Evander, she walked out and slammed the door behind her.
I wasn’t sure this would work anymore. It was starting to sound as though I was the cause of everything wrong here.
The council members filed out quietly.
“Lexie?” an unfamiliar voice called as I walked through the hall toward my dorm.
I stopped, assuming it was Emily.
Instead, a girl approached and held out a bundle of keys. I took them instinctively.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Obviously keys,” she said. “To the safe. Orders from the president. You now have access to the safe and the council hall.”
I stared at the weight of metal in my palm. “This many keys?”
“Yeah,” she replied. “Some of them probably open things even I don’t know about. The safe is behind the shelf. You can check it out yourself.”