Chapter 4

Blazing sun shone through the Blue Castle College building, no clouds but a clear blue sky.

Charles was staring in front of the chalk board. When he heard an audible whispering his ears, he whipped his head towards  an open window of the class. White and blue butterflies fleeted into the air, and standing a mile away from the window was a girl in a white robe. Charles narrowed his eyes, when he blinked, the girl disappeared and he found himself staring at a girl in class, her name was Yolanda. Thinking Charles was staring at her the whole time, she smiled, her cheeks turning into shades of red from blushing.

Realising this, Charles turned his focus back to the chalkboard.

Did he have a dream of the redhead girl with open eyes? How was that even possible? He chuckled to himself.

"Hey, Charles. You're okay?"

Turning his head back to face his friend, Bryan Reiser, sitting behind him, Charles nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I am."

"I think you just made a girl fall in love with you a thousand times," Bryan said, grinning.

Charles took a glance at Yolanda, and caught her staring at him. He averted his eyes from her, and turned to his friend, Bryan with a forced smile. "I should get used to it. I wasn't staring at her though."

"Mr. Spielberg?" Professor Berry called, his creases on the forehead made him look like he was glaring.

Charles looked up at him. "Yes, Professor Berry. What shall I do for you?" 

The old man threw him a glare. " You are to shut your mouth up for me, Mr. Spielberg." His gaze fell upon on the girls giggling between each other.  "And ladies at the back, would you all stop gossiping?"

Charles looked over his shoulder at the girls seated at the back, it was definitely one of the netball girls, Priscilla and her friend Taylor. Charles turned to face the board grinning.

As the bell rang, he took up his books and bag walking out of the class before anyone else could. The girls frowned when they saw him out in a hurry, they had plans to talk to him.

Walking in long strides towards the large golden gate, someone had called him.

"Charles, wait up!"

As he turned, Bryan was running towards him. Bryan was a short guy with short black hair that almost covered his bushy eyebrows, he was always seen wearing tight jeans with unsized t-shirts.

"I don't have time, Bryan. Whatever it is, just say it quick."

Bryan looked at the gate and there was a Lamborghini awaiting Charles.

Bryan assented. "It means you won't be able to go in a outing with us?"

"Us? With who else?"

"The netball girls."

"You'll have to cancel it, or you'll have to do it without me. I don't even know if I will ever go in the outing with the girls, I can't promise anything. Pardon me, I will be late."

"I told you about my brother, Justine. He arrived yesterday, and he will be joining the net club. I thought you wanted to meet him."

Charles bit his lips in a thought, knowing he had promised Bryan that he will meet the brother. "Let's do this later, okay? Maybe I will meet him another day. I am meeting up with someone important today, and if I cancel the meeting, it will only bring more problems."

Bryan smiled, sadness sparkling in his blue eyes. "I totally understand. You are...a very busy person." 

"Thanks for understanding, Bryan." He tapped his shoulder, "I'll see you on Monday."  Charles turned.

Bryan watched him rush outside the gate, and until he entered into the Lamborghini.

"He's not coming, is he?"

Bryan turned to the voice. It's Priscilla Moore, a tall (maybe 6ft) goddess with long silky curly blonde hair, dressed in a branded black dress, with black boots.  This sexy chick was a popular elite model, that would appear on the front page of every magazine, and she was known for being an international netball player.  Next to her stood Taylor Rosecratzy, pretty girl in campus, although not necessarily in an obvious way. She has cropped light brown hair almost like a boys cut, and was always seen wearing men's clothes.

Bryan shrugged his shoulder. "That's Charles for you," he said to the girls. "What did you expect?"

Priscilla clenched her jaw. "Is he even your friend? Or you just consider him as one? You can't even convince him to come."

"I tried okay? He is obviously so busy to attend to my needs."

"Then, do not consider him as a friend!"

Bryan frowned. "I will like to be excused. I'll see you girls at practice." He walked away, with his head hanging low.

Priscilla twitched her lips. "He's useless."

"We should have killed her when we had our chance," said Taylor in her calm and boyish tone.

"And who the heck are you talking about?" Priscilla glared at her.

"Lucy Martinez," Taylor answered, umbothered by her friend's uproar. "He is obviously going out with Lucy. It's Friday, where dates are set."

"Don't you think I know that, idiot!" Priscilla gritted her teeth in annoyance. She stroll away from Taylor seething.

"Hey, wait fo me!" Taylor ran after her.

Later that day, a group of girls walked into the netball court with their haversack slung on their shoulders talking and laughing.

The team was known as the best netball team in Iceland. They were well respected and known because of Alice's proficient coaching. Their previous coach, Mrs Murphy, had died in an accident while coming for practice. The tragedy made the people of Iceland weep down in the dumps. It affected other netball player emotionally and some decided to quit the team. Nonetheless, since Alice Hardin had volunteered to coach the team, they had improved in matches.

"Thank you girls for coming early today," Alice said, checking time on her wristwatch.

"Louisa isn't here. It means not all of us are early today," Priscilla Moore stated in a matter-of-factly tone.

"But at least most of you are early," Alice replied, a smile plastered on her lips. "And where the hell is Bryan? He said he will be here at three," she asked, her eyes roaming around the netball court for Bryan's presence.

"I am right here!" Bryan shouted, grabbing their attention, as he walked towards their direction. But the attention of every lady was caught by gentleman-like appearance behind Bryan, whom they have never seen before. He looked just like Bryan, with light brown hair, but he seemed to be a bit taller.

"Finally you've arrived just in the time I asked of you," Alice retorted. She smiled directly at the new lad dressed in shorts and blue t-shirt, showing off his biceps.

"You're Justine, right?" She asked extending her hand.

"Yes I am." The lad replied nodding. He extended his hand, and shook hands with her.

"Welcome to Wicklow."

"Thank you Mrs Hardin," he grinned cordially, "and it's a pleasure to finally meet the team."

"Of course!" She turned to the girls. "I will be right back, girls!" She walked to her van to get her whistleblower.

"Hi ladies," Bryan hailed, planting the net of balls on the rough ground.

"Hi!" The girls replied musically.

"Let's get on set. As you all know we have a match in three weeks..."

"Aren't you going to introduce us to your brother?" Taylor interrupted, her eyes fixed on the lad standing behind him.

"Oh, how could I forget?" He shook his head in amusement. "Ladies, this is my younger brother, Justine," he stated, motioning his brother to come forth. "He is from Bournemouth, he got here yester night. He volunteered to help us out."

"Nice to meet you girls," Justine said in his perfect voice that suited his features, causing half of the girls to cry their hearts out.

"Nice to meet you too, Justine. You are quite charming"  Karen McGraw said, winking at him.

Justine smiled timidly, biting his lips.

Taylor glared at Karen.

Karen was amongst the elite models in Iceland, she could get anything she wanted with her lazy and weary grey eyes, that made her look as if she was sleepy. She was the daughter to the infamous businessman, Mason McGraw. Her father was her pride, because her father's name gave her accessibility to every event held in Wicklow.

"I am Taylor Rosecratzy," she snapped in, extending her hand towards Justine. Her customary obtrusive smile spread to her lips.

"Nice to meet you Taylor," Justine replied, taking her hand briefly. Taylor didn't want to let go of his hand.

Priscilla rolled her eyes at her friend's dummy act, at least that's what she thought.

"Pardon me, May you-" Justine trailed off, he nodded his head at their hands, motioning her to let go of his hand.

"Oh." Taylor hypocritically came into recognition and let go of his hand, plastering on her best smile.

Priscilla punched her arm, baring her teeth. "You are a feminist."

"Don't remind me," Taylor replied, forcing a smile.

Every girl introduced themselves to Justine as Bella Chilwell considered to be the nosy girl, who found it hard to mind her own business. Nadia Celinti (Priscilla's cousin) the calmest in the group, and there is Moira, and the twins named Cassata and Cassandra.

"Where is Louisa?!" Alice asked, as she appeared on the court, with a whistleblower around her neck. 

"She will be late today," said Bella, the first sentence she uttered since she came. "She summoned me to let you know."

"And why are you girls not dressed yet for practice?"

The girls jolted into recognition, grabbing the haversacks that lay on the ground. They quickly walked to their locker room.

"One girl isn't here yet and her name is Louisa. Who is she?" Justine asked Bryan, randomly.

"She's the captain."

* * *

The girls were in their locker room, slipping into their pleated skirts and tops babbling, and mumbling about the gentleman that appeared, Justine Reiser. They boasted about how handsome he looked, and clearly making comparisons between the two brothers, until the topic wore off so quickly.

"There's no grace of Louisa's presence yet," said Moira, a dark-skinned girl. "She doesn't deserve to be the captain."

"It's not like she's always late," Cassandra re-joined, rolling her icy blue eyes.

"She must be on her way to fetch her Lowtown friend obviously," Priscilla uttered. "And I still can't believe that dreg is spending time with us. She should have been arrested for stepping her filthy feet on these premises."

"I agree to that," Karen assented, pulling out her lipstick from her bag. "Louisa has been protecting that Lowtown pleb. It doesn't mean if she's a senator's daughter, she has to do anything she wants. There are Laws to abide, and to obey."

"I'd prefer you call Sheila by her name, rather than calling her a Lowtown pleb," Bella said, pulling her curly dark hair into a ponytail.

Nadia nodded in agreement  with Bella's statement. "You always make her look like she's strange," she said.

"Of course she's strange. Nobody knows where the girl comes from, or what class she's in. Oh, I know, she's definitely a Lowtown pleb," Priscilla stated in disgust. "I just wander how she became Louisa's friend. I mean, Louisa is a high class, and nobody in her position would want to befriend someone born in a forest or something."

"I hate it when you talk like that," Nadia said.

"And I hate it when you try to defend Sheila and not your own cousin!"

"Speaking of the devil," Taylor muttered, causing them to look at the entrance. Louisa and Sheila strolled into the locker room grinning.

"Why are they smiling?" Cassata asked, rolling her eyes in disgust.

"Who knows? They smile at nothing." Priscilla shrugged her shoulder, looking at them up and down.

"Hi girls," Louisa greeted, her haversack slung over her shoulder, she was already in her sport clothes.

Sheila waved at them, "Hi everyone."

Bella and Nadia are the only girls that greeted her back warmly.

"Why do you have a smile on your face?" Karen asked Louisa, her brows elevated. "You are not on punctual. You're extremely late; yet you're the captain. For all we know the captain should always arrive before us."

"My apology girls, but I am sure I gave my reasons-after all, I told Bella."

They all turn to look at her with their eyebrows waxed in purse. Bella shrugged her shoulders. "I am pretty sure I am not guilty."

Louisa sighed. "I am sorry girls. I promise I won't be late next time."

"Well," Priscilla started, slinging her bag on her shoulder. "Don't pledge if you know you won't be able to keep your promise and if..." She trailed off, gazed at Sheila up and down in disgust, "and if you keep on fetching your plebby friend." She rolled her eyes malignantly and strolled out of the locker room.

The rest of the girls slung their bags, and followed Priscilla---leaving Sheila, Louisa and Nadia in a complete silent.

"Pardon my cousin's choice of words," Nadia said, her voice echoed in the room. "Her condescending behaviour is out of common."

Sheila's lips formed a warmth grin. "I am used to that, Nadia. Don't worry about it."

Nadia smiled.

* * *

They walked to the netball court where everyone was ready for practice. Sheila took her seat on one of bleachers; her friend's haversack was planted on the floor next to her. She adjusted her newsboys' hat, and smiled to herself.

"Who is that?" Justine asked, pointing his index toward Sheila.

"I don't know much about her," Bryan answered. "She's just a weird girl that

comes to watch the girls practice. But I heard that she's a forest girl."

"A forest girl---"

Bryan nodded. "Yeah, she lives in a forest. Priscilla had once overheard Sheila mentioned it to Louisa. So, we were pretty much convinced that she lives in a forest near the Lowtown."

"That's interesting."

They joined Sheila on the bleachers, and she was greeted by them. After a minute, Sheila turned to face them with a smile.

"I 'ave never seen ye 'ere before, ye're new?" She asked, mostly to Justine.

Justine smirked, and nodded. "Yeah, I am new."

"Sheila," she extended her hand for a handshake.

Justine was taken aback by her action. He glanced at Bryan as if to ask for his permission to shake hands with her. He took as a kind gesture, so he shook hands with her.

Justine became her acquaintance in less than a minute. They talk about random things and of netball titles. Sheila couldn't stop explaining the concepts on the team's position to Justine. Bryan was the listener during the time. Justine found Sheila to be a friendly freak, and much naughty than he had thought she was or maybe more weird. It was pleasant to listen to her speak every second for she spoke of things that he knew they don't exist. Though Justine was starting to get annoyed, his ears, however, betrayed him. He seemed to like every word uttered by Sheila without questioning. Listening to Sheila as she spoke, his jaw slightly dropped, and his eyes popped out at an angel-like girl sauntering toward them.

"Oh my---" he retorted in amazement. Bryan and Sheila followed his sight. Only to their surprise, he was staring at Louisa.

Louisa stood in front of her friend, sweating as if rain had poured on her. Sheila handed her a bottle of water.

Justine couldn't stop staring at her, with his mouth hanged open.

"Shut your mouth before a fly comes in," Bryan whispered.

Justine swallowed a lump on his throat, shutting his mouth close. Louisa lifted her bottle of water to her mouth as her breasts patted accordingly. Her sport pink top was drenched in sweat, making it stick to her tanned skin.

Justine bit his lips, and noticed the colour of her eyes as she brought the bottle back down, sweat rolling down her forehead. After taking deep a breath, she turned to face Bryan and Justine. She raised her eyebrow. "Hey Bryan, you're alright over there?"

"Yes, definitely," he replied instantly, his lips forming a smile.

"Mind telling me who the lad is," she asked, nodding her chin towards Justine.

"He's my brother, Justine. The one I told you about."

"Oh." She handed the empty water bottle to Sheila. "Hi Justine, I am Louisa Lyndon, the captain." She extended her hand.

Justine absentmindedly took her hand and planted a slight kiss on the back of her palm. "Nice to meet you Louisa," he smiled at her tenderly, letting go of her hand.

Louisa's face flashed red. As she was about to open her lips to utter a word---

"Louisa, you were supposed to be practicing!" Alice howled.

"Pardon me," Louisa said smiling timidly. She sprinted back to the

netball court, and took a glance at Justine.

"She's beautiful," Justine enchanted in a soft voice, so that only Bryan could hear him.

"I know," Bryan retorted amusingly.

"Ye like my friend?" Sheila asked.

Justine jolted at her question, "w--what?"

"Ye like Louisa? Ye kissed 'er 'and,

and ye can't stop starin' at her. So, it means ye like 'er."

Justine swallowed, not finding the right words to respond to Sheila.

"I told you she was weird," Bryan whispered.