"Rollie, I need you to excuse yourself as well. It will only be a moment. But please, go out this door to your left. It's a storage room. I will knock when I'm ready to speak with you." Principal Pine opened the double doors, revealing shelves upon shelves of books.

I stood inside, and Principal Pine closed the door behind me. Part of me wanted to open up some of the books he had on display, but instead, I held my ear up to the door's crack. Waiting there for ten minutes, I didn't hear a thing. The door swung open, my head still hovering, and I jumped back. Principal Pine stared at me and stepped aside.

"You may exit now," Principal Pine said. As I left, Chris came walking into the storage room, frowning.

I sat in front of the desk across from Principal Pine, and he finally took a seat. We were at eye level.

"So I had a chat with Chris just a moment ago. I'm going to give you a similar spiel I gave him. I'm going to provide you with two options. Suppose you were indeed involved with the graffiti incident. In that case, you could admit that you were part of it, and you will sit out one Dragonstryke game and serve one Sunday morning detention, and we keep this information just between us. However, if you deny any involvement, and later it becomes clear that you are guilty, you'll be banned from the Dragonstryke team for the rest of the year. And there will be further review for further disciplinary measures. Also, an announcement will be made to the entire school that you were to blame and were part of the incident. And that wouldn't go over so well with the Fyrons with how fiercely loyal they are."

It was weird hearing everything laid out before me. My heart thundered in my chest, but I kept my composure. I paused as if searching for a cunning move to play in chess. "But if I deny it, what happens right now? Like, after this meeting?"

"I let you go, and the investigation is further conducted, but I'll remind you, the odds are not in your favor based on the evidence we have. If you want to press your luck and keep the charade going, by all means, but the punishment will be far more severe once it's concluded that you took part in the incident."

"Can I think about it?" I asked, and I immediately regretted it.

Principal Pine chuckled. At least it was better to see him smile. "Okay, Rollie, I've heard everything I need from that one question. But to follow protocol and proper procedures, where were you 2 weeks ago on the evening of October eighth? Take a moment to think if you need, but I need an answer here in a few minutes to carry on with other matters."

I debated in my head back and forth like a professional ping-pong match. The code I always lived by was to never snitch on anyone. But that was in my old world. This was a new place. Did I want to deliberately sabotage it when I was already caught red-handed? And what did Chris tell Principal Pine? Perhaps he already admitted the truth, and if I deny it, it makes me look likes the world's biggest idiot.

"Yeah, I was involved with the graffiti incident. It was all my plan, and I forced Boris and Chris to be part of my scheme. I came up with the message, and it wouldn't have been possible without me. But I really twisted those guys' arms, so if anyone deserves the brunt of the punishment, it's me. They deserve none of it," I said.

"Thank you for your confession. You will not be able to play in the next Dragonstryke match, and you will serve one 2-hour detention this upcoming Sunday. You will meet me here at my office immediately after breakfast. Any questions at all?"

"Can I do homework during my detention?"

Principal Pine smirked. "I appreciate your dedication to your studies, but unfortunately, that wouldn't be allowed. Your detention will be staring at one of the best views of campus for two hours."

I was confused by the punishment, but I didn't ask. I got off lucky, considering what I had done. Principal Pine opened the storage room and escorted Chris and me to the exit. He ushered in Boris, who was waiting by the door.

"Chris, I want you to stick around while I chat with Boris here. Rollie, please excuse yourself from the building and return to your dormitory," Principal Pine said.

I nodded and took one last look at Boris, who seemed confident and calm. I wanted to tell him I admitted everything, but Principal Pine strategized the meeting perfectly. I wondered why he wanted to speak with Chris again. My heart raced.

Did I mess up?

I gave a lazy wave and turned around, heading straight to my dormitory. When I returned to the Fyron Dormitory, I went to the lounge upstairs and tried to study, but I couldn't concentrate. I kept thinking about Boris and Chris. What did they say? Why did Principal Pine want to talk to Chris again? Resting my head on my book, I couldn't focus anymore. The runes all blurred together in my head. It was annoying to look at. Going back to my bedroom, I tried falling asleep, but I tossed and turned for most of the night. It took forever before I was able to get a moment of rest.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

The following morning I went to breakfast, and the usual table Boris and Chris sat at was empty, totally unoccupied. I thought I was early, but neither of them ever showed up as I sat down and ate my food. Perhaps they both skipped breakfast.

The school day dragged on more than usual. It was still better than any day I spent at school in the previous world, But every moment was occupied with thoughts of Boris and Chris. I couldn't wait until dinner time. I would for sure see them at our usual table. Although when the time came, and I arrived at the dining hall, our table was empty. I was the only one sitting down, poking my food with my fork, eating with a frown. The food was always delicious, but it didn't heal my anxiety. Scanning the dining hall repeatedly, I tried spotting Boris and Chris, and I finally saw Chris.

He was sitting at a table with two other Venomaus'. Neither of them said a word. I focused on the Winderons and where they were, but I never found Boris.

"Hey," Tim said. He approached me from behind and made me jump. "I understand if it's weird that I'm asking this, but I want to make it up to you because I felt like I was a jerk to you in the beginning. Anyways, I noticed you were sitting by yourself, and I just wanted to let you know you're welcome to join my table. I noticed you usually sit with two other mages, which is cool, but I noticed they weren't around and just wanted to extend an offer that you could--"

I held my hand up. "That's all right, Tim. Thanks though. I'm almost done with my dinner, and I'm going to practice right after this."

"Okay, man, suit yourself. But you're welcome to join us whenever."

"I appreciate it. See you later."

Tim walked away, and I finished the rest of my meal. I had forgotten that my practice would be something I couldn't look forward to. As soon as I arrived at the field house, Coach Florence called me out and beckoned for me to talk to her away from everyone.

"Rollie, what happened with you and Miller last Saturday? You two looked like dogs about to fight over a piece of food," Coach Florence said.

"Honestly, Coach Florence, it was all a big miscommunication. I got too heated and too in the zone. You have my promise, though, that I will not do that again. Miller and I are all cool now."

"Well, that's great to hear, but I still need you to sit out the first half hour of practice with Miller. I'm glad both of you made up because it should make those 30 minutes fly by." Coach Florence smiled. "And what's this about? I'm told by Principal Pine that you can't play the next match? I was already planning on doing that for starting a riff on the bench, but it looks like Principal Pine beat me to it."

I took a deep breath. "Look, I did something stupid, I'm still new and learning how this place works, so I'm really sorry. It's all figured out now, though. I just have to serve detention and miss the next match."

"I'm glad we still have Arthur as our backup, at least." Coach Florence shook her head. "Please, Rollie, be on your best behavior. And before you blow up and make a scene, think about if it's worth it."

I wanted to argue back and explain more, but I just nodded. "Thank you, Coach Florence. I will do my best not to disappoint you in the future."

"It's not just me you're letting down, Rollie. It's also yourself. Excuse me, I need to get practice going."

I had to sit with Miller in front of the field house for the first half hour of practice. Every ounce of me wanted to yell at and shove him again, but I held it all inside.

It's not worth it, it's not worth it, I repeated to myself. "Hey, man, sorry for blowing up at you the way I did. It was a big mistake, and I regret it," I said.

"All is forgiven." Miller waved.

Even though I didn't fully believe in the apology I gave him, I was relieved to not have this bitterness go on. Miller did not care about it, and that's all that mattered. I'm sure he felt the same way I did. He just wanted to move on.

The rest of practice was okay, I wasn't as sharp as I had been, but it was because I couldn't stop thinking about Boris and Chris abandoning me in the dining hall.

The week continued, and I never sat with Boris and Chris again. It was just me alone at the table we always used to sit at. I had been really enjoying my time at Attleton up until that point. It sucked, feeling like I didn't have a close friend. I felt like I was back at my old high school, going through the days and motions without anyone to share them with or enjoy them.

Farrah came up to me near the end of the week. "Hey, Rollie, how have you been?" she asked gently.

I realized no one checked in on me throughout my week of struggling. "I guess I've been hanging in there."

"Yeah, I can see that. Every day I've seen you sitting at this table all by yourself. I've been a little worried about you."

"You don't need to worry about me. I'm just fine," I said, but it was one of the most endearing things I'd ever heard. She noticed something was amiss, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Can I sit with you? Arthur drives me nuts anyways, and I could use a little break from hanging out with them."

"I would be honored if you sat down with me." Why did I say that? I probably sounded like an idiot.

Farrah smiled and sat down next to me. We talked about our days, and even though I was down about Boris and Chris no longer sitting with me, I forgot about them. The entire dinner, I chatted with Farrah learning about her life, where she grew up, and how she spent her childhood. Reading lots of books and going to watch the professional Dragonstryke matches in her hometown region.

"So that's enough about me. Tell me more about you," she said.

We talked about her life for so long that it was already time for me to go to practice. I had finished my meal. "Why don't we continue this conversation tomorrow? I have to go to practice."

"Sounds great. I'll meet you back here. But! There's something I have for you really quick. If you haven't made plans for Halloween, we should go together when they turn the Rec Hall into a haunted house."

"Yeah, that would be really cool." My heart raced, and I couldn't wait until Halloween.