It was a sunny day on Monday, September 1, the year 1877, and Thomas ‘Tom’ Jones could barely contain his excitement as he approached the gates of a school so privileged that only the best of the best were able to attend. He had pushed himself to the limits, not missing a single day of study time, all in an effort to gain entry into the damned school.

As Tom approached the school, he couldn't help but be awestruck by the breathtaking sight before him. The outside of the school was undeniably spectacular, with beautiful architecture and landscaping that would have been well out of his reach had it not been for the single-minded determination he had poured into his studies.

Tom took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of pride and determination in his heart. He thought back to his mother, who had been crying and cooking all of his favorite meals before he left. It seemed silly, but he also understood that he was her only son after all, and she had three girls to take care of. The memories of his mother's love and support fueled his determination even more, as he walked forward and into the school's impressive front doors.

Everyone seemed so polished and confident, talking in their high-class voices. There were girls giggling and swooning over their crushes or discussing the latest fashion trends. It was all so foreign and different from what Tom was used to. For a moment, he felt like he didn't belong in such a place and sophisticated environment.

Tom's eyes focused on a group of people gathered around a boy in the hallway. From his reputation alone, he knew it was Lionel Beaumont, also known as ‘Leo,’ the son of the school's operator. ‘Augustus Beaumont,’ Tom had heard that Leo's father had many other businesses in the palm of his hand, Leo was a ruthless person, making him a person to avoid. Even in the past, he knew well to steered clear of any talk or involvement with Leo, and he intended to keep it that way.

Tom nodded to himself, deciding that the best course of action would be to keep a low profile until he graduated from the school. He wasn’t interested in getting involved in any of the other things Leo and his crowd were into. He knew there were others like himself who had been fortunate enough to attend, and he thought it shouldn’t be too difficult to make friends with them.

Tom steeled himself, determined to make the most of his time at St. George’s Collegiate Institution. He had worked hard to get into this prestigious school, and he was determined to be the best of the best while he was there. The world was his oyster, and he was ready to take advantage of every opportunity that came his way.

Tom blushed as he realized he had said his internal thoughts out loud, causing a few people to glance his way before returning to their own conversations.

He then thought to himself.

He had been careless and had ended up drawing unnecessary attention to himself.

He shook his head, trying to brush off the feeling of self-consciousness that was creeping up on him. He needed to keep his emotions and thoughts under control if he wanted to make a good impression here.

End of chapter 1~ New Beginnings ~

Thomas was still reeling from his earlier blunder when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find a girl standing behind him. She was about his age, with a badge on her uniform indicating she was a second-year student at St. George's. Emily smiled kindly at him.

Thomas looked at her.

Emily gave a friendly smile.

He smiles. Thomas then exclaims.

He blushes a bit due to his outburst but still continues enthusiastically.

Emily nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

Emily then pauses before continuing on.

She gestured towards the boy with stacks of paper in hand.

she says sighing.

Thomas looks at the boy and then responds.

Emily looks at him with curiosity.

She scrunches her face at the thought of the teacher.

She continues on.

She goes on to tell you more about the school and teachers.

She hums for a moment

She begins speak in more of a hushed whisper.

She looks around and then turns to you.

She shrugs

She sighs disappointedly

Emily expression soon goes a bit cautious

Emily clears her throat as if she has said too much.

Thomas thinks it was strange but then ignores it. Thomas and Emily continue to get acquainted, Emily takes him on a tour of the school. She soon begins showing him the various rooms and facilities available to the students. They begin by visiting the different classrooms where the students attend their lectures, some of which are currently being used for various classes. Next, they head to the school's bathroom, which is spacious and well-equipped with daily life conveniences. The cafeteria is their next stop, where the students dine during breaks and lunch periods. After that, they visit the PE classroom, which contains various equipment for physical activities.

Finally, they make their way to the principal's office, which is well-decorated and home to important documents and records regarding student behavior and attendance. Overall, Emily's tour of the school helps Thomas become more familiar with his new surroundings and environment.

He handed her his school schedule, and Emily took it, looking at it briefly.

she responded, smiling warmly.

With that, Emily started to lead the way towards the staircase, its stone steps carpeted in a dark maroon fabric. The dim lighting of the hall cast their shadows long against the white-painted walls, as they began the climb towards the upper floors of the school.

Thomas couldn't help but admire the architectural details of the school as they walked, the elegant arches and tall windows giving the place an almost palatial feel. He followed Emily closely, taking care to keep up with her pace as they ascended.

Upon reaching the top of the staircase, they found themselves faced with a long corridor, lined with closed doors on either side. Emily scanned the numbers on the doors, searching for the one that said 13-A2.

Emily said, pausing in front of a door halfway down the hallway.

The number "10-A2" was carved into a small plaque above the door.

she announced, holding the door open for him to enter.

Thomas nodded, smiling gratefully.

He reached out to retrieve his school schedule from her, and she handed it back with a smile of her own.

Emily remarked.

End of chapter 2~

Navigating St. George’s & making acquaintances