Jayden was on his feet in an instant. 'What happened? Is he hurt?'
There was a wry smile on Paul's face. 'Oh, he is fine. It's the other one you should be worried about.'
Jayden didn't have the patience to decipher his cryptic words. He rushed towards the stage with Paul and the others following close behind.
Francesca was trying to regain some semblance of order. 'Stand back, stand back. Let's give him some air. Mr. Khan, if you would be so kind as to alert Madam Walker that she would be receiving a new patient soon it would be most appreciated.'
Jayden shoved through the students crowded at the foot of the dais and looked up as the prefects knelt around a prostrate body. A gap cleared through the sea of bodies and he was struck with bewilderment.
Azrael lay grinning on the ground as blood gushed freely down his nose. Miss Alberta knelt by his side, pressing a wad of tissue against it in an attempt to stem the flow. It almost certainly looked broken, and just by looking at it, you couldn't help but imagine how painful it would be.
Azrael, however, didn't look like someone in pain. His eyes glowed with exhilaration, and pleased laughter kept bubbling occasionally out of his mouth. Samuel, who appeared to be the cause of this injury, was being held back by several prefects. He wasn't struggling however, and his face was calm as he looked down at the bleeding boy at his feet.
'Let's get him up on the stretcher, gently now,' Francesca ordered.
With minimal effort, they lifted him onto the stretcher, and after making sure he was well secured, they carted him quickly down to the hospital wing.
Francesca turned to the prefects who were restraining Samuel. 'Now that the temptation is out of the way, I see no reason to immobilize him further.'
The prefects nodded and let go of Samuel. Francesca's expression was so stern and uncompromising that Samuel wilted a little under her gaze.
'I expected more from you, Mr. Asamoah. You are aware of the consequences your actions would have on your candidacy for school president?'
Samuel nodded. 'I am.'
'Do you have anything to say for yourself?'
'I do not regret what I did.'
Francesca studied him over her half-moon spectacles. 'I see. You will wait for me in the side room while I attend to Mr. Rutherford. I hope you will take that time to reflect on your actions.'
She turned to the rest of the school. 'Everyone back to your seats. The welcome address would be held shortly, in the meantime I expect you all to be on your best behaviour. Your prefects are in charge.' She turned to her staff. 'The rest of you come with me.'
She walked off the stage and the prefects took over.
'Alright everyone, you heard the headmistress. Back to your seats. Quickly now.'
Jayden pushed through the stream of bodies and rushed after Francesca. 'Headmistress, if I might have a word.'
'I told everyone to go back to their seats, Mr. Mills. And that includes you as well,' Francesca replied, not losing her stride.
'Please, it's important,' Jayden pleaded, struggling to keep up.
Francesca sighed impatiently and slowed down, allowing him to catch up. 'What is it, Mr. Mills? As you can see, I'm very busy. A student assaulted a teacher in front of the entire school, and on the very first day as well. I haven't witnessed such a scandal in all my years in the profession.'
'That's the point, headmistress. Rutherford-'
'Mr. Rutherford,' Francesca corrected rigidly. 'You may be close in age but he is still a teacher and you will address him as such.'
Jayden bit back his retort. 'I'm sorry, I meant to say it's not Samuel's fault, but Mr. Rutherford's.'
'Did Mr. Rutherford swing the blow?'
'No, but I'm sure he provoked it.'
'Do you have proof of that statement?'
'No, but-'
'Then we shall speak no more of the matter.'
'But-'
'Mr. Mills.' Francesca halted suddenly. 'Even if what you say is true, and he was indeed provoked, I require that all my prefects behave in an exemplary manner, and I hold my head prefect to an even higher standard. Allowing one's emotions to take control of them is hardly an exemplary standard, is it?'
Jayden stopped beside her. 'He has worked so hard for this, surely you can-'
'I do not need you to tell me how to do my job, Mr. Mills. I will assess this issue thoroughly, and you can be rest assured, I will arrive at an equitable resolution for all parties involved. Now, if you will excuse me, I must be off.'
She strode off with quick sure steps, and it wasn't long before she was out of sight. Jayden turned and made his way dejectedly back to the auditorium.
His friends gave him hopeful looks when he arrived, only for him to shake his head sadly and slide back into his seat. Controlled murmuring filled the hall as they waited for the headmistress to return, and wild speculations flew around them.
Half an hour later, Samuel walked in from the side room. He slid wordlessly into the seat beside Jayden as the whispers flew over his head.
'What happened?' Leo demanded immediately, leaning across his seat. 'Do I need to beat him up?'
Cam pushed him back forcefully before he fell off. 'Do you also want to get into trouble? Besides, I think he has been beaten enough for one day.'
'Not even close.' Jayden answered before turning furiously to Samuel. 'I thought you promised not to do anything rash.'
'I didn't,' Samuel replied. 'I was calm and rational when I took the decision.'
'But why did you take that decision?' Paul asked. 'Did he say some stuff about you?'
'He said plenty, but that wasn't why I hit him. I can handle it if people say bad stuff about me, but I won't tolerate it if they say that about Jayden.'
'You hit him for that?' Jayden rubbed his face in frustration. 'Listen, I will be the first person to admit he deserves a punch in the face. But if you're going to do it, it should be for the right reasons. He wanted you to lose your candidature that's precisely why he said it.'
Samuel's voice was calm. 'I knew that but I decided to hit him anyway.'
'Then why did you do it?' Jayden exclaimed.
'Because I don't care about that. You're the most important thing to me, everything else comes second. I couldn't let him say what he said about you and walk away unscathed.'
'What did the headmistress say?' Paul broke in, trying to defuse the situation.
Samuel winced at the memory. 'She scolded me pretty thoroughly. I don't think I've ever seen her that mad before. I'm sure she would think up some horrible punishment for me.'
Leo reached over to pat his back supportively. 'Don't worry, buddy. Whatever it is, we will help you with it. I've had tons of experience dealing with punishments.'
'He has,' Cam remarked sardonically.
'Thanks buddy,' Samuel told Leo gratefully. 'I really appreciate it.'
'Shh,' Noel interrupted. 'I think it's finally starting.'
Sure enough, the headmistress walked in. She consulted with a few teachers before making her way up to the podium.
'I think we've all had enough excitement for one night therefore, I shall strive to keep this short as I'm sure many of you are as eager to retire to your beds as I am. Before I begin, Madam Walker has asked me to reassure you all that Mr. Rutherford is expected to make a full recovery with no permanent damage to his olfactory system.'
'Shame,' Jayden muttered.
As if sensing his thoughts, Francesca's eyes landed on him as she went on.
'Mr. Rutherford has been gracious enough to agree not to press charges. Something we all should be grateful for.' She cleared her throat. 'Now, that we've gotten that out of the way, allow me to welcome you all back to another term at Lumière. It goes without saying that I expect the maximum efforts from you and I hope you will apply yourself studiously to your studies. Especially our third years, whose final exams are just around the corner.'
Leo let out a loud groan. Francesca's lips quirked slightly before she continued.
'Now, to the moment we've all been waiting for. This election was a hard-fought one and all our three candidates put in their best effort. I hold in my hands the results of the election and I hope that whoever emerges victorious would receive the support and encouragement not only from their colleagues but from their opposition as well.'
Samuel's hand found Jayden's as the headmistress began to read out the result.
'Voter turnout was ninety-eight percent, and total valid votes came up to eighty-two percent of all votes cast. In third place, we have Mr. Lucas Daniels with nineteen percent of all valid votes.'
There was a smattering of polite applause.
'Before I read out the rest of the results, there is something I need to bring to your attention. Mr. Samuel Asamoah and Miss. Jane Albridge are the only candidates left to fill the positions of first and second place and in light of recent events, the electoral committee has seen fit to disqualify Mr. Asamoah from the ballot.'
Mutterings broke out in the hall and Francesca had to raise a palm to call for silence.
'Yes, I had a feeling you would have some misgivings about this. It is a shame because Mr. Asamoah had a staggering fifty-six percent of valid votes cast. His conduct tonight, however, has called into question his ability to lead, and as chair of the electoral committee, I stand by the committee's decision to disqualify him from the race, rendering his result void.'
Jayden squeezed Samuel's hand. Samuel turned and gave him a small smile that said he was fine. He knew this was going to happen and he had already made his peace with it.
Around them, a rumble of discontent had started to brew. Leo was already on his feet, protesting loudly and threatening riots, protests, strikes, and anything else he could think of.
The headmistress gave them a look and all sounds instantly ceased.
'Thank you,' she said after Leo had retaken his seat. 'Lumière International High School is an institution founded on principles and morals. When my ancestors established this school, they gave it the motto; Dignitatis Excellentia.'
Her gaze swept through the auditorium. 'The excellence of dignity. That is the standard we are called to. Our name, Lumière means light. We are to shine the light of our dignity to everyone we meet, and in every place we find ourselves. Mr. Asamoah has demonstrated this value by sacrificing his own interest to uphold the dignity of his friend. Therefore, though I uphold the committee's decision as its chair, as headmistress and descendant of our school's glorious founders, I have decided to veto that decision.' She smiled. 'It is my pleasure to announce that Mr. Samuel Asamoah is duly elected president of the student representative council and Head Prefect of Lumière International School.'
A stunned silence descended over the auditorium. Then like a wave breaking on the shore, the entire hall broke into a cheer so loud it startled the birds perched on the roof.
Leo was on his feet, pumping his fists excitedly in the air. 'We did it! We did it! We won!'
He grew so wild with joy that he had to be physically restrained and in the strangest of circumstances, Cam had to be restrained with him.
Samuel sat in shocked silence as the applause washed over him. Jayden gave him a small nudge and gestured to the stage, his face beaming with pride.
The headmistress had to struggle to be heard over the din. 'Mr. Asamoah if you would care to step up. I would like to officially confirm you in your new position.'
Samuel stood and walked dazedly up the stage, and as he moved down the aisle, everyone slowly stood, applauding him every step of the way.
He climbed up onto the dais and looked dizzily into Francesca's smiling face. 'I don't understand. I thought I was in trouble.'
'Oh, you are still very much in trouble.'
'Then why...'
Francesca's eyes twinkled behind her half-moon spectacles. 'Sometimes the wrong things must be done for the right reasons. And though I am not condoning your actions, I am saying I understand them.'
She turned to the school and raised a palm for silence and it took a while before the hall settled down.
'If it wasn't clear before, it is very clear now that you have the support of the entire student body. That is a testament to your character as well as your potential. You have a lot to live up to, but we all believe in you. Do you solemnly swear to uphold the values of Lumière in your thoughts and your actions?'
Samuel's gaze was firm. 'I solemnly swear it.'
'Do you solemnly swear to be impartial and just in all your dealings with your fellow students?'
'I solemnly swear it.'
'And do you swear to always be strict but kind, to temper justice with mercy, and to regard everyone who steps into these hallowed halls as equals?'
'I do solemnly swear it.'
'Then be confirmed in your position and have the right to exercise all the authority conferred on you by the mandate of the people.'
She draped a golden sash over his shoulder. 'Congratulations, Head Prefect. I hope we shall have a fruitful working relationship throughout your tenure.'
Samuel shook her hand. 'I will not let you down.'
The hall erupted into applause once more. Catcalls and whistles flew across the room, and the boys from the Draco stomped their feet loudly in celebration.
Over at the staff corner, Miss Alberta had tears in her eyes as she screamed proudly, 'That's my boy. My boy is the Head Prefect now. Do you hear? That's my boy!'
The football team ran up the stage and hoisted Samuel unto their shoulders, cheering loudly as they carried him around the auditorium.
Jayden stood by the side, observing everything with a proud look in his eyes. He turned to leave when he felt hands pick him up and place him on top of their shoulders.
'We can't forget about the First Gentleman,' Leo shouted.
Fortunately, everyone was too drunk with joy to attach any meaning to his words and they just went with the flow.
'Settle down, everyone. Settle down,' Professor Vogt, cried but his words were lost in the din.
He turned frustratedly to Francesca. 'Headmistress, we must do something.'
Francesca just smiled and shook her head. 'Let them have their fun old friend. I recall how things were in our youth, and I wouldn't wish to take that away from them. After all, we're only young once.'
The tumult was so loud that it even reached the hospital wing. Azrael smiled to himself as he lay on the bed with Madam Walker bustling around him.
'That racket is loud enough to raise the dead. It's a good thing you're the only one here,' she said as she patched him up. 'I can't imagine what I would do if I had patients in here who needed their rest. I suppose they've announced the election results now.'
Azrael's lips quirked further upwards. 'Yes, and it sounds like I lost this round.'
'What do you mean, dearie?'
Azrael shook his head. 'It doesn't matter. That wasn't what I was after anyway.'
'I have no idea what you're talking about, but what I do know is, you'll soon be back to normal, almost brand new. Those are some great genes you've got there kid, and a lucky thing too. It would be a shame if that beautiful face was ruined.'
Azrael beamed up at her. 'It's all thanks to your brilliant care. I haven't felt this good in ages.'
Madam Walker giggled. 'You're a charming one, aren't you? I'm going to let you get some rest now though I doubt you would be getting any with that infernal racket going on.'
'You'll be surprised what I can sleep through.'
Madam Walker packed her bag, 'Just ring if you need me hon, I'll just be in my office.'
Azrael settled down under the covers, and as he lay in the empty room, he couldn't help the lazy smile that snaked its way across his face. This looked to be a very interesting year.
The game was officially on.
Author's Note:
I have changed my mind. I am no longer an Azrael apologist because we have nothing to apologize for😌.
Side note, Leo is starting to grow on me. He is someone who would be the first to fight for you, the first to comfort you and the first to be happy for you. We all deserve a friend like Leo💜.