"Can't believe what my eyes are falling upon," Chris exclaimed with a palm over his chest.
"What?" Rick puzzled, a hint of worry covering his face.
"Are you in pain? Did they do something to you again?" he held his friend by both shoulders, rocking him to his senses.
"Well, no, but you…maybe yes,"
"Stop talking riddles, Chris," Elfric frowned, catching that it was just another prank.
"You have been coming to school daily!" Chris gestured at his best friend.
It took Rick a moment to prevent himself from knocking Chris's face-first into the tiled, hard floor of the class, and no one would bat an eye.
No one dared to come close to him anyway.
"You and your sick jokes," Rick breathed out, throwing down his bag next to his chair. He has got to admit that Christopher had a point; it was so unlike him to attend school every day.
He wasn't exactly the famous type, girls gossiping about his ethereal looks, boys avoiding him in PE class. Not exactly the best environment he would want to be in every day for the rest of his miserable senior year.
Instead, he managed his attendance only to get him past dropping, taking advantage of his absence to get an actual job that would help him and his family pass through the month with some ease.
"Be honest," Chris interrupted his dwelling.
"Did you get kicked from your day job? You know that one job with the bossy boss, the one that called you…What did he call you again?" Chris poked him in the arm as he slyly narrowed his eyes.
"Don't even mention it,"
"A-woman-seducing merman…"
Elfric took the first book that came into his hand and slammed it across Chris's head, probably giving him a concussion. "I. Told. You. To. Shut. It,"
Chris groaned in pain, easing the throb from the smack with his hand.
Escape. It was an escape from his ravishing mind that prevented him from sleeping, resting, and anything else in his day. The fact that there was someone with him – not physically but literally- was still something that didn't allow his nerves to settle down.
It was like having eyes in the back of your head, or a stalker watching your every move.
At least here in school, he had other things to worry about, and that was graduating with a decent grade.
Decent enough to get him into a good college. So he could get a proper job.
But that was before the cursed night. He didn't yet plan out his future, but it wasn't going to be as plain and mundane as he always thought.
The news he saw on the billboard on his way here was still lingering in the back of his mind.
Shaw Gothom
He did have a plan – or it was a mere gut feeling, he couldn't yet decide. Anyhow, he needed to get close enough to Shaw, close enough that they could stare at each other right in the face.
He didn't know that guy existed a few hours ago, and now he was hoping to get a one-on-one meeting with him. How the hell was that going to happen?!
That was when his eyes fell on Christopher.
"Hey, Chris,"
"What do you want now?" Chris pouted. "Want to break my wrist next, eh!? Is that it?!" he held out his wrist.
"You are a Noble, right?" said Elfric as his head jolted up.
The look Chris saw in his friend's bi-colored eyes was unsettling.
"Well, yeah. To some extent," said Chris.
He watched as Rick brought out his phone and held it out.
"Do you know this man?" he held out his phone, displaying a picture of a man in his forties. His face was shaded by the faint black and gray of his beard. Christopher recognized him instantly.
"That's Shaw Gotham!" he exclaimed. "You don't have to be a Noble to know this guy." He raised his brow at his friend's ignorance.
"What kind of primitive cave are you living in, Rick?" he was genuinely astonished by his friend's ignorance.
"Do you know how someone can get in touch with this guy?"
"Are you serious?"
"Come on, Chris,"
"How the hell would I know!" Chris snorted loudly. "If you aren't a Noble or a reporter, then there is no way to get to even see him from afar."
"Have you seen him before?"
"Once I think," said Chris. "In a ball. But why are you so interested?!"
Elfric was quiet for a moment. "Tell me. Are there any balls soon?"
He knew that what he was saying was so out of character and that by now Christopher must have a dozen questions.
Christopher was silent, considering answering the question.
"A week from now, there is a ball to celebrate the opening of Cosmos Group's new branch. I will most probably be invited too because I am in the official family documents."
Elfric already decided.
"I will be coming with you," Elfric stated. "Can you sneak me in?"
"I have no clue what the hell has gotten into you, but yes," said Chris. "I can get you an invitation to the ball."
"Then you'd better prepare a tux for your broke friend,"