Chapter Three

Presentations and Problematics

Von was taking seven classes total. Six were scheduled each day but Wednesdays and Saturdays. They were spread to where each core class met four times a rotation, and the electives met two. He disliked Wednesdays; Sports Day, where they attended three classes in the morning and the remainder of the day was dedicated to athletics.

But it seemed to be Evan’s favorite, from the way he was going on and on about his favorite European teams and how they were so completely and utterly unparalleled by their American counterparts as he fell into step beside him after Science.

Evan hadn’t mentioned his father again, not since that day a week ago in the dorm, and Von hadn't roused the subject.

“You know I don’t care.”

“And you should know by now that I don’t care that you don’t care. I can pretend you’re listening just as easy as you can ignore me.”

“Apparently. Since you’re still talking to me.”

“You’re listening now. So that must mean I’m better at it.”

“At what? Being weird?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I think you’ve got me beat good and well in that department. Anyway, what I was saying: Nathan is going to sit with me tomorrow at the game and explain American football to me. The junior varsity team in the nine-to-twelve division is playing New York Academy,” he explained, parroting the older student.

Nathan McKinley was a ninth grader who also lived in Dorm Omicron.

“You can come with me.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Well I’m not giving you a choice.”

“You can’t make me.”

“Yes I can. Besides, we have to do our collages anyway. We can do that afterwards.”

“You can just come to my room when you’re done.”

“But what if you’ve stepped out and aren’t there? I would have no means of finding you. No, it’s settled, Von. End of discussion.”

They exited the building together, Evan rubbing his arms for warmth against the cool air. Von had a worn a jacket. It was slightly cold as fall was just starting to set it. It had yet to reach it’s true bitter, oppressing chill.

“It got cold real quick, didn’t it? It was real nice last week.”

Von shrugged in reply, staring at the yellowing leaves clinging to the trees. They would die soon.

“Did you grow up here in New York?”

“Yeah.”

Evan nodded. “Kami did, too. Her father and mine are old chums, they went to school together. Mr. Synthell moved here for business and my father stayed in England for the most part. But they came to visit us ever year so I’ve known her my whole life. She‘s about an hour from here, I think she said.”

“How nice for you.”

Evan went on. “My uncle lives in Virginia. I’m staying with him. It’s pretty nice down there. He’s got horses and a big garden with a gazebo. It’s pretty. That’s a funny word, gazebo. What’s your house like?”

“None of your business.”

“You’re a real prat, you know that. I’m trying to be friendly.”

“What’s a prat?”

“You know, an idiot, a git, a jerk. That’s all you.”

“Then I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Evan signed, stomping through the swamp of brown leaves. “It’s so annoying. That old witch Sumarly’s been knocking points off my papers for “misspellings” and “wrong punctuation.” Like I can remember every little difference. They should teach a class on just American English, I swear.”

“I didn’t realize they were that different.”

“Yeah. Like quotation marks. We use one dash thing; you lot use two.”

“They have an English class for foreign kids, you know.”

The expression that marred Evan’s face was almost one of insult and Von smiled inwardly, pleased at himself for wiping that stupid smile from the blond’s mouth. “I speak English,” he said evenly. “I merely think she, or my counselor, ought to set aside some time to explain the differences in detail.”

xXxXx

The Sigwald Cosgrove Memorial building served as the school’s auditorium and assembly hall. It was a large brick structure fronted with white stone with two large protruding white columns on either side of the double door entrance that Von thought made it resemble a walrus. Since the weather had turned all Assemblies were being held indoors rather than out on the bleachers of the football field.

“I believe they’re announcing homecoming nominees today,” Evan stated, falling into the seat beside him. “What is homecoming?”

“Why do you think I would know?”

“You’re American.”

“I’ve never been to school before now. I told you that.”

Evan exhaled deeply, settling into his seat. “One would think you'd know something seeing as how you're the one of us that grew up in this country.”

Von slumped low in his chair, trying to ignore Evan as Jessica Smuthe took the stage, welcoming them to Assembly. He listened, growing increasingly disinterested in the girl's speech of how the upper classmen would vote and the queen would be announced at the homecoming game, which would be held during Parents Weekend. She called out the names of the lucky five girls nominated into the court and each ran excitedly to the stage like rabid pixies, applause greeting their every arrival.

What a stupid concept. Is an assembly truly necessary for this crap?

He slouched lower, closing his ears and eyes to the world around him.

“The one all the way on the right is the prettiest,” Evan informed him. “I’m going to vote for her.”

“You can’t vote. She just said you have to go to the dance to vote, and you have to at least be in ninth grade to go to the dance.”

Evan smiled as though that were the least of his concerns. “Oh, I’ll find a way. I can be very persuasive, you know. It runs in my family. We’re all very persuasive and know how to get what we want. Is everyone in your family sullen and depressed all the time like you?”

Von hit his hand that sat on the armrest between them rather than respond. “Move.”

“Ow,” he whined, pulling his hand away and rubbing it tenderly. “If you wanted to hold my hand all you had to do was say so.”

Their classmates around them were staring now and Von slunk lower, wishing a black hole would develop at that moment and suck them all away. Or at very least, Evan.

xXxXx

Von found himself being dragged along for Evan’s football lesson the following day despite his protests. The idiot never too no for an answer. It was annoying. And, of course, as they searched for Nathan in the crowd, they saw him waving from the very tip top row of the gleaming deathtrap, burning silver in the glare of the sun. Of course. He held on to the back of Evan’s shirt as they climbed. If he should topple to his death this day his asinine antagonist should fall with him.

If Evan minded he didn’t say anything. He seemed to pick up on Von’s unease.

“Hi,” Nathan waved as they approached.

“Hullo,” Evan replied, sitting beside him. Von followed without a word.

“What’s your name again?” Nathan was asking him.

“Von Crowley.”

“Oh, yeah. You got that last room all to yourself. Consider yourself lucky,” he told him with a smirk. “Sixth graders never get their own room. I don't even have my own room.”

He nodded, looking down the long drop into the dirt between the space in the rows, unable to think of anything to say.

Nathan didn’t mind. He and Evan were quickly engrossed in conversation.

He attempted to follow the lesson, but quickly he grew bored, deciding he should go for a walk instead. He whispered an excuse to Evan of having to study--which his friend obviously didn’t buy, but didn’t argue with him--and hurried cautiously down the deadly bleachers. If one could do such a thing.

The grounds were large, inhabiting what had been a small town before the school’s existence, and there were many paths cutting like jagged gashes through the countryside. As he walked the sun glowed large and orange, a blood sun, through the haze of the trees, which seemed an almost stark black silhouette in contrast to the searing light. They were thick, smelling of an impenetrable dankness that the land would never be rid of till the entirety of the forest was cut to the ground.

It was sort of liberating, in a way, to be able to walk about where he chose. His mother had never allowed him to so much as venture into the backyard without her.

The first few days away from his home had been the hardest. He’d never ever been separated from his mother for so long. The only exception being the month he had spent in the hospital earlier that year. He had woken a dozen times throughout the night listening for his mother, or for Monty, or just the familiar creeks of the house. But since Evan had plastered himself to his side he’d been so busy he hadn’t spared her even a fleeting thought.

It surprised him how little he missed home.

“Von?” a surprised voice said behind him, jerking him away from his thoughts.

He spun around, finding himself face-to-face with that annoying twit from lunch, Daniel. “What do you want?”

“What are you doing out here?”

“Walking.”

“Oh. Me, too. I walk all the time. I probably know these woods better than anyone.”

“Save the groundskeepers.”

“Yeah, well better than any student, at any rate.”

Von nodded, turning to walk back the way he’d come, but Daniel quickly fell into step beside him.

“I like it here for the most part,” he was saying. “I mean, the people here suck, but I like the classes and the grounds. And it’s definitely nice to be away from my parents.”

Von said nothing, watching as leaves were helplessly crushed beneath his feat. It was a nice sound, the crunch that it made. Empowering.

“My brother’s nine years older than me and my sister’s seven years,” Daniel was saying. “I don’t think it was in my parent’s great plan to have me so late in life. My brother’s graduating college this year and my sister’s just started. We're not very close. They regard me more of a pest than anything else.”

“I can see why.”

Maybe it was his tone, but Daniel smiled faintly at his reply and went on. “There's a little creek about a quarter mile into the woods. It's got a lot of neat looking rocks. I think it used to be a river. They're all rounded.”

“That's nice.”

“Want to go see it?”

“Not today.”

“Okay. What are you going to do now?”

“I have homework.”

“Yeah, I do too. I'll go back with you.”

Von let out a deep breath and walked faster.

The oldest dorms were converted homes. Some time after the school had been funded there had been five built that were Greek styled structures, with their white walls and columns, given the names of the Greek alphabet which were carved into the pediment. The two newest ones were huge three story modern buildings more like those belonging to college campuses. The buildings were opposing structures, fifteen in all, two stories tall, forming a small village on the campus. Narrow paths lined with trees and flowers and arches wove between them. Each dorm had it's own garden the students were responsible for taking care of.

“I'll see you at dinner,” Von told Daniel, rushing through the door before the boy could follow. What a bothersome halfwit. He hopped on the bed, opening his laptop, and combed through his usual sites till Evan arrived.

That was another new thing, having his own computer and the Internet. His father had taught him long ago the basics of how to use one but had seldom allowed him the privilege. Some nights he had stayed up till three or four in the morning reading various articles.

He spent most of his free time researching subjects that had always interested him but he'd never had any means to study it. When he couldn't think of anything else to do he checked to see if there were any news of his father.

And again today, there was none.

xXxXx

While doing anything, Von quickly learned, Evan liked listing to music. Loudly. Especially when trying to study. It was strange music he’d never heard before. Mostly European bands, heavy metal that had a Gothic sort of flair to it. It was a habit that was quickly rubbing off on him.

The constant drone of noise drowned away the conscious would around him, allowing him to think. It had been a long time since he’d allowed himself to think about anything.

They worked on their projects over the weeks, their collages having morphed into strange pieces of modern art filled with the oddest pictures clipped from newspapers and magazines they could find.

“Oh!” Evan yelled. “I found a midget to be my mum!” He held it up for Von’s inspection.

“That’s perfect,” he said, taking the picture of a dwarf dressed like a genie. Carefully cutting it out, he pointed to the woman he’d been looking at. “How about this one for mine?”

“Naw. She’s wearing too much clothes.”

“You keep picking out ugly woman. My mother’s beautiful!”

“Show me a picture, then, if you want to be so picky. I don’t know what she looks like.”

“On the nightstand.” He pointed a finger towards it.

Evan dragged himself to his feet, letting out an exaggerated breath. “Why is it knocked over?” he asked.

“I don’t like her looking at me.”

“You’re so weird.” He picked up the portrait and, staring at it a long moment. “She is pretty,” he agreed, then smiled. “Too bad you don’t look like her.”

He didn’t reply, content with flipping through the magazines as though he hadn’t heard.

“You look like your dad.”

“I guess.”

“What's he like?”

He shrugged.

“You're a brilliant conversationalist.”

xXxXx

He doubled back around the east facing hallway, ducking into a dusty classroom to his right. Leaving the door open, he hid himself beneath the old teacher’s desk harboring near the back of the room.

Drawing nearer were Kamryn’s light footsteps echoing down the hall, finally pausing at the door. “Von,” she called in a come-hither tone, “I know you’re around here somewhere.”

The room was one they’d hid in many times before; the sheets were littered with their foot and hand prints, too many to betray his hideout. He was sure she’d give up and move on before peering too much closer. And she did. So predictable. He heard the tapping of he shoes turn the corner before he breathed again.

He had been at school for nearly a month.

Hide and Seek passed the time in the afternoons. They each went straight from class to the forbidden building where they would throw their bags and books in a messy heap on the floor of the schola. Playing until dinner, they would rush, breathless, to the cafeteria. Afterwards they would return to their rooms for homework and then bed.

Kamryn’s voice called Evan dead before he came out of hiding and crept around the other side of the second floor hall. Focused intensely on the show Evan was performing just for her she didn’t hear Von sneaking up behind her. The soles of his shoes were rubber for better grip, and didn’t make nearly the amount of noise hers did.

Evan caught his eye from the floor and Von made a cautioned gesture beckoning him for silence.

“Why do you always take so long to die?”

“Because I like to.”

“But why--”

Von clasped his hands around her neck, bringing his lips to her ear and whispering in a low pitched hiss, “Got ya.”

She screamed, shoving his hands away from her and fumbling to the ground over Evan’s outstretched legs.

“Kami!”

Glaring at him with those big blue eyes, she demanded, “What did you do that for?”

“I scared you.”

She managed to climb to her feet with a the effort from a giggling Evan.

“It’s not funny!”

“The look on your face was,” Evan laughed.

With a murderous scowl at the blond she stalked toward Von, shoving him backwards into the wall. “Don’t you ever do that again! This place is creepy enough without a jerk like you sneaking up on me like that.”

“Creepy? Evan, do you think it’s creepy?”

He shrugged, raising himself off the floor. “Sort of. Kami, you’re all right.”

Ignoring him, she asked, “You don’t think it’s creepy up here?”

“Not at all.”

Straightening her jumper she inhaled deeply. “Well it’s your turn, then, isn’t it.” With a click of her heal, she stormed past Evan and away from the two boys.

Von took a step forward and then it happened. A sharp intake of breath and he found himself crumpling to the floor, biting the inside of his cheek in a desperate effort to keep from crying out. It had locked at first, then a searing sensation of burning pain and icy numbness had shot down the outer side of his right leg, throwing him off balance.

It had happened before, and the doctors expected it to happen the rest of his life--especially if he didn’t do his leg exorcises which he’d been sorely slacking at since he’d started school. But it had been three months so he’d hoped--maybe, just possibly-- it had somehow healed on it’s own.

“Von!” Evan called, hurrying to his side. “What did you do?”

Sitting up, he breathed deep breaths, rubbing the sore spot on his hip, annoyed with embarrassment. “Nothing.”

“What’s wrong with your leg?”

He tried to move to his feet but his aching leg wouldn’t allow it. “I have a damaged nerve in my side.”

“What happened to you?” Kamryn asked, watching them from the distance, her hands dancing like nervous butterflies over the hem of her dress.

“An accident.”

“What kind?”

“Just an accident!” With a great deal of help from Evan, he managed to return to his feet, pushing the other boy away in frustration. “I don’t feel like talking about it!” he spat at the small girl, limping toward the stairs, leaning onto the wall for support.

“Do you want help?” Evan asked gently.

“No! I don’t need anything from either of you!”

xXxXx

He was in a foul mood at dinner, being particularly vindictive anytime poor Daniel tried to make conversation with him. Daniel had eventually resided to poking his food with his fork, staring outside the window at the trees and mountains beyond.

Flipping through his binder he decided to work on his map. He knew the second floor of the building fairly well now and felt he could complete it easily.

“Do you know her?” Daniel asked, pointing behind him towards the stairs leading to the alcove they sat.

He looked up, covering his map carefully. It could be a ploy for Daniel to gain a peak. Possible. Anything was possible. Turning to look, he saw Avalon climbing the stairs towards them, her lunch tray in her hands.

“Hey, Von,” she greeted, sitting in the seat beside him.

“Hi.”

She peered at the obscured paper with curious eyes. “What’cha drawing?”

He turned it over, holding it down with his arm. “Nothing. What do you want?”

“Can’t I just come over and say hi? Why are you always so paranoid of everyone?”

“It’s a conditioned response.”

“A what?”

“Nothing.” He looked back down at the patterns in the wood of the table.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

“I want to know.”

“I don’t want to tell you. Go ask someone else.”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “I just wanted to say hi. Do you mind if I sit with you?”

He put the paper carefully into his binder. “I guess not.” Since she was already there.

“So who’s your friend?” She’d finally noticed Daniel’s presence.

“I’m Daniel.”

“I’m Avalon Lake.”

An amused smirk played on his lips. “Who named you?”

Her eyes met his. “My father. Why?”

“He has a sense of humor, doesn’t he?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, a fiery gleam in her emerald pupils. “Why do you say that.”

Shrugging, he replied, “Oh, you know, the Mists of Avalon and Camelot and all that.”

She nodded slightly, her anger evaporating as quick as it had come. “Yeah, my father loves old myths and legends. He’s teaches medieval history.”

“Here?”

She nodded again.

“Oh,” he said with realization. “You’re Mr. Lake’s daughter.”

“Yeah. Are you in one of his classes?”

“I had a few study periods with him last year.”

“Cool.” She took a bite of her spaghetti. “Are you ready for the project tomorrow?” she asked with a grin.

He shrugged. “We’re done,” he said casually, trying and failing to hold back the smirk that tightened his lips as he envisioned what would happen the following day. He was usually a much better liar.

She laughed. “What do you and Evan have planned?”

“Nothing,” he lied, sipping his juice.

“Right, nothing. Did you do the assignment from the other night?”

“Yeah. Did you?”

She shrugged. “I was going to do it tonight. I just can’t think of anything to write. She gives us the stupidest prompts I’ve ever heard. Even my English teacher last year wasn’t so bad.”

“Who do you have?” Daniel asked.

“Mrs. Sumarly,” she moaned.

“I had her last year.”

“Does she do the stupid writing journal all year long or just a trimester thing?” she asked hopefully.

“All year long.”

Avalon groaned.

Von pulled his English binder from his book bag and pushed it in her direction.

“What?”

“You wanna read it, don't you?”

She smiled giddily, quickly opening to the newest entry and began devouring it with her eyes.

xXxXx

They hung their collages on the provided stands the next day in English and exchanged matching grins of mischief at the confused looks of their classmates. So far Mrs. Sumarly hadn’t said a word. So far.

“Do you want to go first?” Von asked his friend.

“You go ahead.”

You are afraid we’re going to get into trouble.

Von held his cleanly typed paper with both hands and began in a soft, clear voice.

“Evan Sworde was born to a famous couple of Turkish circus midgets who called themselves the Turkish Delights. Their feat of strength was an amazing display of juggling which included various objects, including but not limited to, plungers and cats. Had you grown up in Europe you certainly would have heard of them. He was born on tour in Norway and they raised him in the circus. He was, however, a very poor circus performer, clumsy and was often causing great injury to those around him. Mr. and Mrs. Sworde wisely decided to cut their losses and left him in a bakery while on holiday in London.”

He went on to describe Evan’s failed foray into pick pocketing and subsequent deportment to America. The class seemed to find it very amusing and he expanded on his written version, telling the tale of how Evan was accosted by overzealous girl scouts upon arrival.

Then it was Evan’s turn. He had changed his mother from being a prostitute to calling her a “Lady of the Night.” It occurred to him then that Evan never had gotten around to explaining what that was. Other children in the class apparently knew though, for they were laughing. And Mrs. Sumarly looked a bit angry. Maybe more than a bit.

The finished report met with an uproarious applause and Evan gave a flourishing bow. Von quickly followed his lead.

The other students came next. As the other five groups had actually done the given assignment, they were rather dull in comparison.

Mrs. Sumarly stood, thanking them for their projects and informed them they would receive their grades the following class period. She asked Evan and Von to stay after.

The bell rang, their classmates quickly scurrying out of the room.

“I thought it was funny,” Avalon whispered to him before leaving.

“Are you sure she's not your girlfriend?” Evan asked him.

“No, Evan.”

Mrs. Sumarly closed the door after the last student left and turned to face them, clasping her hands tightly together, her eyes sweltering with anger. “Mr. Sworde and Mr. Crowley, do the two of you think you're funny? Fabricating lies and making a mockery of this very simple assignment?

“It could be true,” Evan murmured into the floor.

She turned her eyes onto Von. “You're father was a model student and made straight A's all seven years he attended Allister and became class valedictorian. Do you think he'd approve of this ridiculous act, Von?”

He dug his nails into his palms to keep himself from opening his mouth. He didn't like her casual mentioning of his father. He cast his eyes to the floor.

She went on talking but he had stopped listening, watching as Evan slouched in his chair, sulking. His blue eyes were cold, staring at her without blinking. Defiant. Nice to know the boy was capable of frowning. After an eternity it seemed she paused for breath and Evan interjected, “What if we don't want our classmates to know all about us?”

“Young man, I will give you both one more chance to complete this assignment properly. If you choose to not do it correctly you will both receive F's. That isn't a very positive way to start your first year. You will have until the next class period to do so and this evening, promptly at seven, you will each return here for detention. You're dismissed.”

Von couldn't leave fast enough. He'd never hated anyone before, but felt that could quickly be remedied.

Evan caught up with him as they exited the classroom. “I can’t believe she’s going to make us do that idiotic project anyway.”

“That sadist,” he muttered, quickly maneuvering through the crowded hall.

“I know. I hate that witch.”

“Let’s just do our own and switch.”

“But that’s no fun,” Evan whined. “Let us make a statement by not doing the project at all.”

“What statement? All we’ll get for it is F’s and probably another detention. I don’t want that.”

He sighed woefully. “I guess.” His face brightened again. “Want to go play Hide and Seek tomorrow?”

“No. I just want to get that stupid project over with.”

“Fine,” he whined.

“Did you's get in trouble?” a voice said from behind them. Turning around he found Avalon smiling at him.

“A bit,” Evan told her with a smirk.

She laughed. “I thought it was funny,” she said again, brushing passed them and skipping down the hall and out the doors.

xXxXx

Their detention consisted of them each having to write an essay on why they did what they did, and why what they did was wrong. She’d assigned them permanent seats for the rest of the year on opposite sides of the classroom, both in the front, facing her.

Von heavily debated telling her he just hadn’t wanted to do the project, but decided against it. Instead, he wrote how he had simply taken a different interpretation of the directions given to him than the ones his classmates had taken. The problem was trying to stretch that one sentence into two pages, front and back.

After two hours and they had both finished she allowed them to leave after giving them strict warning she would not endure their debauch behavior. He walked quickly toward his dorm, not wanting to be bothered by Evan's incessant chatter as he hurried to keep up. He said an abrupt bye to the blond as they entered the building and was in his room with the door closed before Evan could respond.

He turned on the light, his eyes falling on the portrait still lying face-down on the wooden nightstand. Raising the phone to his ear he slowly dialed the number from memory.

Montague Thorndike had started his career at Rosencrance House as a live-in groundskeeper and handy-man. Von didn't know what he was now, except that as their only remaining servant and his mother's most trusted employee he'd been in the mans care since his mother had fallen ill. Monty had called him once since he'd dropped him off after signing him in, the afternoon of his first day of classes to ask awkwardly how he was. Von had replied telling him he was fine and had quickly hung the phone up. Now he missed even that little familiarity.

The phone picked up on the eighth ring. “Hello,” Monty's gruff voice answered.

“Hi, Monty.”

“Louie? What do you want?”

“Is my mother awake?”

“No.”

“Okay. Bye.” He replaced the phone on the cradle.

He stripped of his clothes and got ready for bed, turning out the light before running and jumping onto the bed, lest any monsters reach out to snatch him away into the underworld of eternal night. It was a stupid fear and he knew it. Stupider even that he didn't have any problem with being alone in the dark when he was fully dressed.

His first night at Allister had been by far the most difficult. Never before had he spent the night away from home without his mother. Deep into the midnight hour he had stared at the shadows play across the wall. It wasn't until the sky filtered gray through the window did the comfort of sleep finally find him, leaving him drained for his first day of classes.

But tonight the darkness was veiled thinly as the moon outside shone bright and loving on the dark campus and he slipped quickly into a dream laden sleep.