First Week of integration
The first week of classes at Auradon Prep began with a mixture of excitement and apprehension for the students. Chloe and Red, each with their own expectations and fears, began this new stage of their lives with very different routines.
Every morning, Chloe woke up early, radiant and ready for a new day. "Red, it's time to get up," she said happily, gently shaking her classmate's shoulder. Red groaned in response, rolling over to go back to sleep.
Chloe, the perfect little student, had impeccable attendance. She got ready quickly, taking care to choose an impeccable outfit, and started studying before going to class. For his part, Red often waited until the last minute, getting up hastily and grabbing the first outfit that came to hand.
One morning, when Chloe was already ready and reviewing her notes, Red emerged from his duvet, his hair disheveled and looking groggy. "You know that class starts in ten minutes, right?" Chloe asked, an amused smile on her lips. Red shrugged, yawning widely. "Yeah, yeah... I'll hurry."
But despite her efforts, Red was almost always late. In class, Chloe shone with her active participation and passion for history. One day, when the professor was explaining the decisive battle of an ancient kingdom, Chloe raised her hand enthusiastically. "Did you know that this battle was influenced by a secret alliance between two nations? The archives reveal exchanges of coded letters between the leaders, confirming their pact."
The professor, impressed, nodded. "Excellent, Chloe. This is valuable information that few people know."
Red sat at the back of the class, listening distractedly. For her, classes were an obligation that she kept to a minimum. She often lost herself in thought, scribbling sketches in her notebook rather than taking notes. The other students saw her as an enigma, distant but fascinating.
Chloe, still intrigued by this inexplicable attraction she felt for Red, regularly tried to approach him. "Red, would you like to come study with me this afternoon?" she suggested with a warm smile.
Red shrugged, almost mocking Chloe's enthusiasm. "Maybe later. I have things to do."
Despite Red's evasive answers, Chloe did not let herself be discouraged. She continued to find ways to start a conversation, hoping to break through the shell of her mysterious friend. “I heard there’s an art show in town this weekend. Would you like to go together?”
Red, while not rejecting the invitation, didn’t show much enthusiasm either. “Maybe. I’ll see if I have time.”
Sometimes, Chloe found herself having lunch alone with Bridget and Ella, sharing her frustrations and hopes. “I’m really trying to get closer to Red, but it’s like she’s constantly putting up barriers between us,” she confided one day.
Bridget, ever the optimist, encouraged her with her bright smile. “Don’t worry, Chloe. Red probably needs time to open up. Keep being patient and kind.”
Ella, more frank, added: "You can't force her to open up, Chloe. Maybe you should focus on other friendships. After all, there are a lot of nice people here."
But Chloe couldn't resign herself. "I don't know why, but I feel that there is something special about Red. I can't give up the idea of getting to know her better."
The week passed, marked by these contrasting routines and Chloe's attempts to break the ice with Red. One day, an announcement rang out in the school hallways, informing the students that the tryouts for the different clubs would take place in the middle of next week.
Chloe, delighted, turned to Red. "This is going to be great! I can't wait to join the fencing club."
Red nodded, thinking of the chemistry club. Maybe this would be an opportunity to invest in something she really liked, without having to interact too much with others.
As the weekend approached, the girls prepared themselves mentally and physically for the tryouts. Chloe, still determined to get closer to Red, hoped that this new experience could be a bridge between them. For his part, Red wondered if she would ever be able to find her place in this world so different from her own.