It was after the meeting and the crowd in the auditorium was slowly thinning out, most students retiring to their dormitories. Paul and Samuel had left for a prefect's meeting up on the dais with the teachers and their friends remained behind to wait for them.
Noel was watching their meeting with a wistful look on his face. 'I wish I was chosen to be a prefect though I suppose I wouldn't be much good. No one would take me seriously.'
Leo sniffed in disgust. 'Why would you want to be one of them? They are all terrible people, especially the traitorous backstabbers.'
'Oh, let it go will you,' Cam replied wearily.
'I'm surprised you weren't made prefect,' Noel commented. 'I mean I understand why Leo wasn't, but not you.'
'It's all Leo's fault.'
Leo was about to protest, but Cam cut him off. 'Shut up, you know it is.'
'How is it his fault though?' Noel asked. 'You don't join him when he gets into trouble.'
'Yeah, but I don't stop him either.' Cam responded ruefully. 'He never listens to me, so what are the chances I will be able to get others to listen to me as well.'
'You should be thanking me then.' Leo stated proudly. 'I saved you from a tiresome life of having to follow the rules and having no fun whatsoever.'
'I don't know about that,' Noel replied. 'Following the rules and getting others to follow it seems fun.'
Leo's mouth dropped open in horror. 'Who hurt you?'
Cam rolled his eyes though a fond smile tugged at his lips. He looked up just in time to see Paul hop down from the dais. It appeared that their meeting had concluded.
Leo's mood turned sour when he noticed Paul's approaching figure. He looked away when Paul smiled at him, stoutly refusing to acknowledge his presence.
'How long are you going to keep ignoring me?' Paul asked exasperatedly.
'Come on, guys,' Leo said, ignoring his question. 'Let's leave before we get reported just for existing.'
Cam and Noel gave each other a look of exasperation whilst Paul just sighed in defeat.
'Don't look at it that way, Leo,' Noel tried to comfort him. 'Look at the positive side of it.'
Leo gave a huff of disbelief. 'What could possibly be positive about this betrayal?'
'Erm... for example...' Noel trailed off hopelessly, looking to Cam for support.
'For example, you now have a person on the inside,' Cam answered, the gears in his brain turning quickly. 'Your pranks would be ten times better now with Paul's inside information.'
'Wait what-' Paul interjected, but he was cut off by Cam who was just warming onto his idea.
'Yeah, in fact, Paul didn't betray you. He became a prefect just to be able to spy for you.'
'Hold on, I'm not-'
'He sacrificed himself for your cause.'
'I didn't-'
'You should be thanking him really,' Cam interrupted firmly, shooting a fierce look at Paul.
Leo's expression changed as Cam's words sunk in. His eyes turned teary as he turned to Paul. 'Is this true, Papi?'
'It's not-'
Cam aimed a swift kick at his leg, cutting him off. 'Of course, it is,' he answered for him instead.
A sob choked in Leo's throat as he threw his arms around Paul. 'Ay cariño, I'm so sorry I ever doubted you. Te quiero mucho mi amado amor.'
Paul stuttered helplessly as he held a happy Leo in his arms. He sent a pleading look to Noel who grinned before reaching over to pull an elated Leo out of his arms.
'Why don't we head back first, I'm sure Paul has got more stuff to attend to.'
Leo nodded blearily and as Noel dragged him off, they could hear snippets of him declaring his undying love for Paul.
Paul turned frustratedly to Cam. 'Why did you tell him that? You know I would have to tell him the truth sooner or later.'
'Don't you dare!' Cam hissed. 'He holds a grudge longer than any human being should be physically able to and I'm not about to spend the rest of my final year listening to him whine endlessly about it.'
'Well, what do you want me to do? You really want me to spy for him?'
'I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. Do whatever you want just keep him happy.'
'Doesn't seem fair,' Paul muttered.
Cam gave him a sympathetic smile and reached over to pat him comfortingly on the shoulder.
'I know, welcome to my world. I've put up with him for eight years now it's your turn.' He gave him a thumbs up in encouragement. 'You got this!'
He then walked off, leaving Paul alone with Jayden who didn't seem to have paid any attention to them.
Paul glanced after Cam thoughtfully. 'I suppose it would be fun to be a double agent. Can't be that hard, right?'
Jayden didn't answer. His eyes had been fixed the entire time on the dais where Samuel was engaged in an animated conversation with Azrael, the new staff member.
Paul followed his line of sight and nodded as he recalled a previous memory. 'Right, I forgot that you didn't like him.'
'You never told me why though... hello.... Can you hear me?' He waved at Jayden's face trying to get his attention. 'Anyone there?'
He could have been an insignificant bug for all the attention Jayden paid him. He sighed and dropped his hands in defeat. He was about to leave when Jayden suddenly spoke up in a voice that was barely a whisper.
'Haven't you ever wondered why his mother named him Azrael?'
Paul glanced at him in confusion. 'Huh?'
Jayden shook his head and blinked as if waking up from a dream. 'Nevermind.'
He turned to leave but paused when he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Paul. 'Do me a favour,' he said, bringing his head down until it was just above Paul's ear. 'Keep an eye on him.'
'Samuel?'
'Not him,' Jayden replied. 'The other one.'
Paul looked up to see Samuel and Azrael turn to make their way down the dais.
'And whatever you do,' Jayden continued, his voice dropping even lower as an urgent note of caution entered his tone. 'Never let your guard down around him. Not even for a moment.'
A startled look came into Paul's eyes, but before he could ask Jayden what he meant, he had already disappeared.
He watched as Samuel and Azrael came up to him, his mind ringing with Jayden's words. He had never heard that tone on him before, and it was more than enough to put his brain on high alert.
Samuel looked around him curiously as he got to him. 'Strange, I could have sworn I saw Jayden with you before we came down.'
'Yeah, erm, he just left. He had something to do.'
Azrael studied him curiously, an amused smile playing on his lips. 'He's not avoiding me, is he?'
'No, he is not,' Paul replied curtly.
Azrael looked disappointed. 'Sad, that would have made things much more fun.'
'What do you mean?' Samuel asked, looking up at him with curiosity.
Azrael just smiled at him and patted his hair. He appeared lost in thought.
Paul frowned and pulled Samuel away. 'I'm sorry, but we have to go.'
Samuel's face fell in disappointment. 'Can't we stay a little longer? Az was just giving me some tips on how to win the election.'
'No, we can't. Come on, it's late and we can't keep him up. I'm sure Az has other things to do.'
Azrael tapped his chin as he slowly studied Paul. Maybe it was the way he smiled, or Jayden's words still hovering around in his brain, but when Az's cold blue eyes met his, his heart seized for a terrifying moment, and he was suddenly struck by the inexplicable urge to flee as quickly as his legs could take him.
'He's right, go for now. We would definitely be talking again,' Az said after a while and there was something about the way his lips quirked slightly upwards that told Paul he knew exactly what had gone on in his mind.
He tugged Samuel's arm and without saying another word, walked away with him. He waited until they were out of the auditorium before he let go of Samuel's arm. He collapsed against the wall as the cool night air hit his face.
He clutched his chest as his heart continued to ram itself against his rib cage. Taking deep breaths he attempted to calm his racing heart.
What just happened?
Samuel glanced over in worry. 'What's wrong? Are you alright?'
Paul nodded shakily as he allowed Samuel to help him up. 'I'm fine. Let's just get away from here.'
Samuel looked uncertain but he continued to hold his arm as they made their way back to the dormitories. However, no matter how far they went Paul could still feel those cold blue eyes fixed at his back.