CHAPTER TWO:

The Randolph College For Higher Learning was a school for high achievers. It was a school that only the privileged were admitted into. One might call it a form of discrimination, but once you got into the haloed grounds, then you might be able to understand the need for such actions.

Spanning an impressive twenty thousand acre land space, the olde worlde buildings reminiscent of royal palaces in the old days, graced the lavish and impressive surroundings. It was not that far from civilization but yet it gave the residents a sense of peace and serenity. A beautiful lake graced the surrounding countryside and the high peaks of Mount Kipling completed the breathtaking landscape. The surrounding forests were filled with enough game for the various hunting trips that would be taken. There were boats and yachts for those interested in taking those particular kinds of courses. There was the impressive stable, housing over a hundred thoroughbreds, all used for, of course, riding lessons. There were the huge Olympic sized swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor, for swimming lessons. There were tennis courts, basketball courts, cricket fields, football/rugby fields, soccer fields, shooting ranges, archery ranges and the list goes on.

The main building, otherwise known as Randolph Hall, an imposing three-storied building, housed the administrative offices, teachers’ offices and the assembly room. The adjacent two-story buildings contained the classrooms. On the right hand side, one would find the science buildings or as they liked to call it, Einstein’s Cradle. The dining hall was not that far from the main buildings, this they called The Maynard (named after the famous grand dame of the social circles, Madame de Maynard).

If all of this was set to leave one speechless, then one was yet to visit the quarters of the students. Ah, yes. This was not to be some ordinary dorm room. Unlike most colleges, where one was either required to board with a roommate in less than pleasant conditions (a.k.a one single sized beds and enough room for your feet to barely move), these dorm rooms were like mini-palaces.

Since this was a co-educational school, the dormitories were split into two main buildings; The Browning – for the boys and The Nightingale – for the girls. Each building was as lavish and as decadent as the main Randolph hall itself with the limited capacity for only three hundred students each. Entering the main room of either building, you were welcomed by a ‘Resident Adviser’, who ushered you through the comfortable lounge (complete with a large theater-like TV, a nearby mini-cafeteria and game room), towards the large grandeur stairs, which led to the sleeping quarters. Each room was designed to fit in one large poster bed, a complete solid oak desk, already outfitted with a computer or laptop and other stationary. A large walk in closet and a couch, which was placed right in front of your very own fireplace. The décor was Victorian in nature, the predominant colors being dark brown for the boys and a light creamy shade for the girls.

The one luxury they could not afford, however, was the use of showers. Alas, there was to be a communal bathroom for all the occupants to share (two to be exact for each floor). Each bathroom was made up about twenty stalls, so there was no need for anyone invading any one else’s privacy.

All in all, The Randolph College For Higher Learning was an extraordinary and exciting place.

And in a few more hours, it was bound to get even more exciting.

~&~&~&~&~

Lord Byron stared out of his ornate yet practical office windows, his hands absentmindedly stroking his white beard in thought. He had been the head proprietor for the College for over thirty years and for the first time in his life; he felt a slight tinge of worry creep up his spine.

The Maxwell and Yuy boys were in his college.

Together.

God help us all.

He was well schooled on the history of the family rivalry and had watched over the years as both families had withdrawn their children as soon as they had heard either one were going to be admitted. It had been a frustrating and quite frankly nerve-wracking ordeal to go through. Having to listen to phone call after phone call, threats and all what not from various family heads, he had finally had enough. Why, just yesterday David Maxwell had ranted and raved for a good hour over the phone over details on his son’s sleeping arrangements and for the first time in his life Jack Byron had lost his patience with the obnoxious man.

He rubbed a hand wearily over his face. Odin Yuy was no better either. The man had gone the extra distance. He had actually come to his office and had demanded that his son be put as far away as possible from the Maxwell bastard. Lord Byron groaned.

This was going to be a long year. And if the boys were anything like their fathers…he was going to retire.

His eyes fell upon the two open folders on his desk.

Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell.

He walked over and picked them up, his kind brown eyes taking in the stoic faced Heero and the smiling Duo.

“I hope you boys know what you are in for,” he whispered softly. “I hope you are ready.”

“Lord Bryon, sir?”

He jerked his head up and stared at his trusty secretary. “Yes, Mrs. Sims?”

“Heero Yuy has arrived.” Her voice had a kind of awe in it and Byron could hardly blame her. When he had briefed his staff on their new arrivals, there had been the general air of disbelief and eagerness. Everyone wanted a piece of the heirs to the greatest dynasties. “Do I send him up to your office, sir?”

He pursed his lips and thought for a few seconds. “Yes, please do send him up here.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, and Mrs. Sims?”

“Sir?”

“When Duo Maxwell arrives, could you have him kept in a place where he would not be seen until I am through with Mr. Yuy? I would like to speak to him as well.”

The gray-haired woman stared blankly at her boss. “Uh…okay. As you wish.”

She quietly left the office and trudged down the short distance to the motionless figure by the window.

“Mr. Yuy?”

Those calm blue eyes focused their gaze on her. She, unwillingly, felt her face flush at the look. There was something so…dangerous and yet soothing about that gaze. She couldn’t quite place a finger on it.

“Yes, Mrs. Sims?”

And his voice too. She had to control herself from stuttering. Goodness, she was old enough to be his grandmother!

“Lord Byron will see you now. Please follow me.”

With a curt nod, he motioned for her to lead the way.

~&~&~&~&~

Duo Maxwell stretched out his legs and yawned for the umpteenth time. Sitting in a limousine for over ten hours was no fun and besides he was getting hungry.

“We are approaching the school grounds, Master Duo.”

“Gotcha, Big Bill!”

He rolled down the windows and stuck his head out. He sucked in a huge breath of air, feeling as if he had been deprived for a long time. He stared blankly at the large buildings and well-kept grounds.

Booooring.

His eyes did perk up, however, as he eyed another limousine pulling up (actually there were already several such cars lining along the dormitory route). He had spied the shock of blonde hair and had already made up his mind to speak to whoever the girl was.

“Stop the car, Big Bill!”

“Wha…I beg your pardon, Master Duo, but we are not at your dormitory yet. I cannot…”

“Biiiiig Bill…” came the soft cajoling plea.

The older man cursed himself for falling for that same old puppy dog look. His master knew he could never resist that. “Fine, Master Duo, but your father is not going to be happy…”

“Who’s gonna tell him? I won’t tell, if you won’t!”

How many times had Bill heard that? “As you wish, Master Duo.”

The heir fairly waited for the car to stop before dashing out and heading towards the blonde. She was stepping out of the car from the other side and for a moment, Duo wondered idly why she was wearing a blazer instead of the customary white button shirt and blue skirts that they were required to wear.

Maybe she just likes blazers. Hehehehe…my kind of girl…

Just as he was about to tap her shoulders (noticing that the hair was cut in a strange boyish way), he was quickly blocked by a man that seemed to be about seven feet tall and just as dangerous looking.

“Where do you think you are going?”

Duo swallowed tightly at the warning tone in the man’s voice, before a frown quickly filled his visage. He was used to growing up having things done his way and no towering guy was going to stop him.

“You better step aside, sir. I was just going to talk to the girl that’s all,” he replied calmly.

For a moment, the man looked blank. “Girl?”

Duo wondered if this guy was as dense as he was strong. “Uh huh…the girl you are protecting?”

“You mean, Master Quatre?”

Duo felt like he had been pole axed. Master? Master?! No fucking way!

“Is there a problem, Rasheed?”

The blonde in question, otherwise known as Master Quatre, walked up to the now stupefied Duo, a puzzled frown on his face. His dark green eyes took in the chestnut- colored braided boy, before gasping in disbelief.

“Duo Maxwell? The Duo Maxwell?! Son of David Maxwell? The owner and cooperate executive of Maxwell Global and Intergalactic Enterprises?”

Duo shifted uncomfortably as Quatre’s bellow of excitement carried across the grounds. Now everyone was beginning to look at them…and if there was anything that Duo hated, it was that awe-inspired look that came unto their visages whenever they heard his name.

“Thanks for the announcement,” he muttered harshly, throwing a cold glare at the girl he had planned to woo.

Quatre blushed and lowered his face in embarrassment. “I am so sorry. It is just that, everyone has…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Duo cut in rudely. “Look, I gotta get going. I have things to do and people to see, you know?”

“Oh, of course!” The blonde all but gushed, unconsciously following the striding Duo. “I hope we can meet again. I would really love to be your neighbor and friend.”

“Uh huh,” came the non-committal reply. He was about to make his way back to the limousine, when he made up his mind to walk to the administrative office instead. He needed the fresh air.

“Yo, Big Bill!” He leaned his head into the car and grinned brightly at the worried driver. “I think I will walk to the offices. You can take my stuff to the dorm and I will meet you there in say…an hour. Deal?”

The driver could only sigh. “Yes, Master Duo. In an hour.”

“Cool! I owe you one, buddy!”

He sank his hands into his pockets as the black vehicle made its slow maneuver towards the adjacent buildings. He could feel the intense scrutiny from admiring spectators on his back and he all but bolted after the disappearing car. Sighing deeply, he lowered his head and began the fast walk to the offices.

He wished he could be someone else.

~&~&~&~&~

Mrs. Sims raised her head up from her frantic filing as the slight commotion interrupted her. Giggles and laughter were coming from the waiting room and peeking around the corner, she noticed the cause of the waiting girls’ mirth. Leaning against the wall and gesturing like a maniac was none other than…

Oh, my God! I have to tell Lord Bryon!

But first, she had to hide him. Heero was bound to come out any second now and her boss did not want the two boys to meet. She had to warn him. She walked briskly towards the locked office doors and knocked tentatively.

“Yes, Mrs. Sims? How may I help you?”

Her worried eyes took in the sight of the boy and man calmly sipping tea. They were perched on the leather couches and had several documents strewn across the coffee desk.

“Umm…Lord Byron…the umm…other…student is here…”

The older man blinked for several seconds before it dawned on him. Trying hard not to panic, he spoke as calmly as he dared. “Thank you, Mrs. Sims. We should be done soon.”

“Am I in the way?” Heero asked quietly, already picking himself off the couch. “I believe we have covered the basics, and I am quite capable of handling things from here on my own.”

“Oh, of course, Master Yuy!” The headmaster said albeit frantically, rising to his feet as well. “I have no doubt that you will be a great asset to our school.”

“Thank you…and now I would like to take my leave…”

“NO!!”

Heero’s normally calm eyes, looked a bit surprised at the twin outbursts, it was quickly followed by a frown. “Is there a problem?” he asked coldly, this time with a hint of venom.

“There is no problem, Heero. We just have a few things we would like to clear up with you. If you would follow Mrs. Sims, I am sure she will take you to our other…areas.”

Heero stared at the couple. He clearly did not buy their act, but he would play along for now. “As you wish.” He began to make his way out the main door, when he was gently nudged towards the opposite end.

“This is a much faster route,” Lord Byron said calmly. “You don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of other students, do you? That waiting room would be jammed with students and I am sure you would want your privacy.”

“I left my laptop there,” Heero replied coolly. He didn’t like this whole secretive business.

Hmm…perhaps the Maxwell kid is here, he thought ruefully.

Suddenly, a light smirk graced his features and this put a chill through the older man’s spine. The smirk had an undeniable trace of malice in it. “Perhaps it will be sent to my quarters later on?”

“Of course, Heero. It will be sent there as soon as possible.”

The young man nodded his head curtly, his eyes glancing briefly at the main door. They were trying to keep them apart.

No matter. We will meet sooner or later, Maxwell.

 

“Lead the way, Mrs. Sims. Lord Byron, it was a pleasure.” Bowing briefly, he followed the obviously relieved female out of the office.

The poor headmaster felt like he had aged in the course of an hour. This whole business was wearing him out. Punching his intercom, he called for his other secretary.

“Miss Bellum! Send in Mr. Maxwell.”

“Yes, sir.”

He turned the machine off and reached for his bottle of aspirin. Swallowing down a few pills, he waited anxiously for his next student.

~&~&~&~&~

Duo’s eyes kept going towards the flat object on the low coffee table. The initials were undeniable. HY…

Heero Yuy.


 

He tried to focus his mind back on the conversation at hand, but those damned initials kept glaring back at him, mocking and taunting. He unconsciously grit his teeth and clenched his fists. It was his entire fault. (Heero’s, that is.) He and his goddamned family! He had to be stuck in this school because of some trivial feud that made no sense to him. He had to sacrifice his happiness for some bastard, just to get even.

Unaware of the low growl he had slipped out of his lips, he never noticed the cringe from his adoring audience.

“Duo?” Came a tentative call. “Are you okay?”

He would have laughed if it were possible. Okay? Like hell he was! Couldn’t they see? He hated it here! And it was all that…

“Yuy…” he growled out softly.

“Oh, you mean Heero Yuy?” One of the girls said. “He is soooooo hot, isn’t he?” This caused another round of laughter before one of them nudged the other with a warning glance. Obviously, Duo Maxwell did not think so.

Those eyes that they had thought to be the sweetest and most beautiful things they had ever seen were now as cold as ice. Those full lips were now planted in a firm line of bitterness and the poor girls wondered if they were the cause of it.

“Sorry, ladies,” Duo said curtly as he noticed Miss. Bellum head towards him. “I have a meeting with the headmaster. Talk to you later.”

Barely waiting for the woman to announce his name, he made his way towards the office, but not before tucking the offending electronic equipment underneath his arm.

He would be making a personal delivery to Mr. Yuy himself.