1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

the morning bell rang throughout the corridor and everyone in room 28 all began to take their seats, all carefully organised in their friendship groups. pip pirrup sat alone at an empty table at the back of the classroom. everyone else avoided having to sit at the same table as him, let alone beside him. when all the other spaces had ran out, those without a seat still managed to fit in with an extra chair or two per table and their friends spread out a bit so it wouldn't be too noticeable to their form tutor.

pip exhaled silently. it would be like this in every single class this year, just as it was the year before. however, he wasn't worried about that. it's not that he hated his classmates, even after all they had put him through, but he was uninterested in them. they seemed dull to him, but he shrugged off the thought and rested his chin on his hand, gazing out a nearby window.

suddenly, the irritating chatter of the classroom a

uptly came to a stop. there were heavy footsteps trudging closer and closer, getting louder. pip showed no interest, unlike the rest of the class, who had all turned their heads towards the door, watching and waiting. it wasn't until a tall dark figure entered the room that pip turned his attention towards the source of disruption. there at the door, grinning at the display of fear before him stood the son of the devil.

'damien?'

pip's turquoise eyes were latched onto the cheeky red ones that scanned the room before finding pip, still staring at damien in awe. he strode over proudly, going straight for the lonely table in the corner, right where pip sat. everyone watched; half afraid, half relieved.

damien pulled back the chair beside pip and asked with a less arrogant grin, "is this seat taken?"

pip was surprised he even asked, as damien was the type to take what he wanted without even asking. but at least he wasn't saying it in a mocking tone and so pip assumed he wasn't being smart.

he hesitated

iefly before answering him, "i dare say it is." he smiled up shyly at the handsome dark prince.

damien managed a smile too, "well it is now."

he dropped his bag down to the ground carelessly and plonked himself down on the seat. he stared at the petite blonde boy for a while as though he were studying him. pip glanced up at him only to make eye contact and gingerly return to staring at his planner with a pink blush across his cheeks.

damien didn't

eak his gaze and instead grew interested by pip's reaction. he sat up in his chair and leaned in slightly, "hey…" his low voice cooed.

pip turned to him, only for their new form tutor to come scuffling in, her so-last-year pointed heels clattering against the floor.

"s-sorry i'm late class. i was held up in the office. ok now let's get started, boys, girls…"

her old

own eyes met damien and she seemed taken aback, "things…"

her eyes trailed off of him and onto her desk, in which she searched frantically for her role-call.

damien rested his arm on the head of his chair and leaned back, turning his head to pip again, "geeze… what an old bat."

pip turned his head to see damien a bit better, "mrs matthews? she can be a little bit…"