Dorian followed Reina as she took him through the mostly empty hallways, not really bothering to mention the regular classrooms but showing him the science labs, art rooms, and the band and choir rooms. She really just kind of introduced them as they were, but he admitted that there wasn’t a reason to do so. They didn’t really talk much aside from Reina’s explanations until they made their way towards the front door.
“Sorry if I didn’t make anything sound that great,” she apologized.331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CUUluJVZn
“Hard to make classrooms exciting, isn’t it?” Dorian offered, flicking his sucker stick into a nearby trash can. “But I know that’s not the end of the tour….” Reina looked at him with an almost devilishly excited expression.
“Hardly…well…the boring stuff, at least. There’s a lot of facilities on campus, but there’s one place in the school that I think you’re going to like.” With that, she led him towards the front door.
“What about that place in here that’s so great?” he asked.
“Saving the best for last,” she answered. “I would’ve thought that was obvious…?” Day one and Dorian knew that he’d already found someone he wanted to keep around. The weather was a little cloudy which was good since their uniforms weren’t great for heat…well…for the boy’s uniform, anyway. Sacred Heart’s boy’s uniform was a dress shirt and cyan tie underneath a blazer with black slacks and loafers. The girls had the blazer, tie and loafers but the slacks were replaced with a skirt and knee-high or thigh-high stockings. Dorian couldn’t help but notice the Reina seemed to opt for the thigh highs and a set of garters to lift them up a little higher. “Like the uniforms, Dorian?”
“Not a lot not to like,” he admitted, not even bothered to feign innocent. “But…I didn’t expect the uniform rules to be so lax….”
“Little things aren’t really a big deal here,” Reina explained. “You’ll see a lot of girls and guys who have little things that aren’t technically part of the uniform.” She smirked over her shoulder at him. “You like schoolgirls?”
“I’m not that base of a guy,” Dorian smirked back.
“Fancy ourselves a gentleman, do we?” He shrugged and Reina kept her sly look on him. “Maybe I’ll try to put that to the test later…anyway, we’ve got a couple separate facilities for things like the gym which also connects to the pool. It’s got the locker rooms and showers, but don’t really expect to be using the pool much since we only really get to in late spring, summer and fall.”
“Is it just for use during the semesters?” Dorian asked.
“Technically, yes,” she said with a wry smile. “But that doesn’t stop people from using it when school’s out…just nothing big.”
“Speaking from experience are we?”
“I will neither confirm nor deny,” she answered. “But that’s for another time.” She pointed towards a decently sized glass building off to the side of the school opposite the gym. “Over there’s the greenhouse. The flowers and whatnot grown in there are usually used by the school for decorations, but we sell them too for a bit of extra money. Mr. Aspher’s usually in charge of that.”
“Are students allowed to take any?” Dorian asked, resisting the urge to pull another sucker from his pocket.
“Only a few at a time, but yeah,” she answered. “Like I said, they’re mostly for the school’s use, but they don’t really mind if a few go missing here and there.” She pointed over to a small area next to the gym surrounded by a metal fence. “I’m sure you’re smart enough to figure out that the pool’s right there, and how easy it is to sneak in when school’s out.”
“Is that just for the school’s use?”
“Well,” Reina pondered, racking her brain, “technically people off campus can use it, but they have to get permission from the school first. Students can reserve it too, but I can’t say I’ve really seen anyone do that.” She continued walking towards the front gate of the school grounds and stopped in front of an impressive statue of an old man.
“I’d assume this is the founder of Sacred Heart, or at least helped with the start up?” Dorian offered.
“Sir James Shaw founded Sacred Heart Academy in a hope to push aspiring young students to even greater heights. He actually set the Academic Excellence Program into motion back in eighteen seventy when the school first opened. Sort of an achievement to offer, I’d say.” A plaque at the statue’s feet was engraved with a slightly longer edition of this information along with the school crest and motto: Per sapientiam et fortitudinem sumus et semper erimus. “Through wisdom and strength, we are and always will be.”
“Seems like Shaw fancied himself a poet,” Dorian sighed. “But I can’t deny that it carries its meaning well.” Reina nodded before turning back to the school.
“There’s another building behind the school that was built a year or two ago for the esports team, but it’s nothing really special to look at,” Reina said. “The groundskeeper’s equipment shed is back there too, but we’re not allowed in there. But I think I’ve left you hanging long enough about the best place on campus.” She motioned for him to follow her as she pelted back towards the school, Dorian catching up to her in a few strides. They slowed to a walk as they went back inside, Reina leading him through the halls before stopping in front of a pair of polished oak doors. “Here we are…I really think you’re going to like this…it’s always a favorite….” She pushed the doors open and moved aside to let Dorian inside.
It was a ballroom. A beautiful, high ceiling room with polished wooden floors and a stage at the other end. Light would’ve been provided by the electric candles on the walls and supports, but there was enough light coming through the high windows that they weren’t needed. Dorian didn’t say anything, instead taking it all in and listening to the sound of his footsteps on the floors, something that he wasn’t really used to hearing with his abnormally quiet footsteps. “Told you so.”
“And the Academy uses it enough for it to be worth it?” he asked, almost in a whisper.
“Dances, fairs, special events, even renting it out after school on the rare occasion,” Reina listed off on her fingers. “So, yeah, we’ve got more than enough reason to keep this room clean throughout the year, even if it is a pain sometimes.” She walked in front of him and faced him with her hands out from her sides. “And so ends the tour of Sacred Heart Academy. You’ll find your way around easily when the year officially starts, so no pressure to remember everything.” A bell started to ring, and Reina smiled. “Lunch time already…come on. Sacred Heart’s got an amazing kitchen staff and even more amazing food.”
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