Jace wiped more drool from his cheek, leaving a bright red splotch on his pale skin. He and Noel continued down the hallway. She continuing to admonish her tall lanky friend, not able to understand what anyone else saw in him. If the two hadn't been desk buddies in kindergarten they might not have grown to be as close. The boy lazily slung an arm over Noel's shoulder as the two exited Schoolhouse 5.
"How are you capable of flirting with Anabelle unconscious?" What a child, she thought. They continued to walk in step.
"Me? Flirting?" He made a funny face. "I get restless in my sleep." He winked at her before turning his eyes to face Hailee, who was steadily approaching them from the center of the quad. The class president was neatly dressed in the optional school uniform and had her typical no nonsese demeanor. There was a very sheer veil of pink emmenating from her body.
"Jace," Hailee gave a short nod before looking sharply to his friend, "Hello, Noel. Have you and your committee decided what kind of booth you want to put on for the fall festival yet? We need to know for the poster." Noel panicked inwardly as the color around Hailee gradually turn green before her eyes. She tried to stammer something out before Jace came to her rescue, "Noel was just mentioning that! We're brainstorming and will have the description by tomorrow at 10. Does that give you enough room to breathe?" He gently parted his lips and leaned ever-so slightly toward her. It had the desired effect. Hailee couldn't help but let out a cough/giggle and nod.
"If you like, you could join us. I know I for one would love to hear your vision for the day." Just as he was beginning to draw her in completely another student with missing paperwork crossed Hailee's path. She smiled fist with apology, and then with determination.
"Maybe when this is over I can have more space for... breathing" she batted her eyes for half a second and turned descisively to chase the procrastinator.
Once out of site Jace whips around with a stone cold aura that is more easy to feel than look at. "Dude, what?" He whined at Noel, "You promised me you would say no!"
Noel shrugged, "You know the philosophy club will lose it's funding if we don't do anything."
"So what wanna-be treasurer?"
"I am the treasurer. I'm also the one who orders all the takeout from the mainland." Jace couldn't help but perk an ear to the threat of his favorite potato and cheese pizza no longer waiting for him on movie nights. "What do we do?"
Noel stopped to face him, "You're the one who had the bright idea to form a club. Figure it out."
"I get it. It's just a bummer that- Well, nevermind," Jace's energy lightened and settled into a deep brown thoughtfulness, "I'll think about it." There's a tinge of magenta disappointment like a bright streak piercing through him. There was something he wasn't telling her. He was impossible when her got that way.
Jace was one of the few people who understood there was no point in masking his feelings when she could almost perfectly interpret them either way. He demanded she respect his refusal to share after she exposed his first crush to the 8th grade class. "You don't know as much as you think you do" he had chided before forgiving her.
The two friends continue to walk past state of the art school buildings, sports fields, and cultural buildings. There was a town towards the south coast which housed all employees for the school and their families. Only the best of the best tailors, gardeners, custodians, cooks, fast food employees, farmers, and mechants were allowed to make the island their permanent home. It took a five year probationary period to even apply. And univers basic income is garunteed.
On the opposite site of the Island were the dorms. Large luxurious mansions that housed enormous groups of friends and strangers alike. Many people kept the same roomate(s), like Noel from fourth grade. Others get to know multiple styles of living with people.
The school grounds rested in the center. With the deep pond of opportunity resting across the quad from the main hall.
After passing the elementary buildings the two reach a fork in the road and say thier goodbyes. "Tomorrow morning? I'll have a proposal for the fair," Jace inquired, Noel nodded. They made the choice not to live together a long time ago after a disastrous summer experiment between fourth and fifth grade.
As Noel dropped her belongings on the tiled floor of the entryway, she didn't pay much attention to how quiet things were that evening.
It was a light work week, an intentional week each month with fewer assignments and classes. Still, everyone couldn't have been out having fun this quickly after classes ended. The school had a reputation for working hard before playtime. This week was no different.
Eveyone in Noel's grade was preparing for the descision that would determine the trajectory of thier life. School wasn't jsust classes to them. All students had been indoctrinated into believing all thier actions are meant for a greater purpose. If a student wasn't interested in a particular topic, they were not required to learn it. Often Reapeake found older students returning to elementary math classes with seriousness one they needed arithmetic to understand something for practical use. This also fostered a community where age was not an indicator of development. The five year old chess genius was no more or less advanced than the fifty year old astrophysisist, the difference was thier openess to new ideas. The crosspolination of thinking and learning made for a top tier future workforce.
At Reapeake the idea was to take the best of the past and future and put them all in the same room to learn without imperatives or barriers.
Noel took a moment to apprieciate the break and was excited for the rare quiet if the mansion. Her roomate left a note telling her she wouldn't be back until morning. It was time to meditate.
Noel entered the room she shared with her roomate, Alice, and began setting up. She placed her glittery "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and closed the curtains. Then she lit the bedroom's small fireplace and waited.