Dangerous Reading [Open]

[christian ralph ames]

Christian was sitting at one of the tables in the library staring at the science text book without reading it. He'd been on page 250 for about twenty minutes before he realized it. He had been thinking about what was going to happen after school ended. On some days it felt like they'd just gotten here and others it felt like they'd been there forever. He can't believe five years had gone by so fast. He reached into his bag and pulled out his notebook and started writing a note to his mother. He hadn't written her this year that much and felt bad for it. He wrote to her telling her about his classes and how Nada was doing. His mother liked the Princess and was excited that he'd been able to go to school with her. As he finished his note he folded it up and put it in the front of his notebook to send out later. Then he picked up his science text book again. He tried to read some more. He got three pages farther before he was distracted again and started to stare into space again.

Christian closed his textbook, as he wasn't getting anywhere. He packed up his school work and slung his bag on the back of the chair he'd been sitting in. He started to walk towards the shelves. There were a few books he'd been meaning to read. He thought maybe he couldn't focus on studying but maybe he could get some pleasure reading in. If that didn't work he'd probably just give up on reading and text someone to hang out with him. He wandered through the history section to the fiction section. He wondered what he was in the mood for and slowly wandered towards the romance section. This was a secret of his, reading romance novels. He knew they were absurd but at the same time they were romantic and fun. He looked through the shelves for one he hadn't read yet. He pulled out a book with a rather embarrassing cover, a half dressed man with a young maiden hanging off of him. Christian smiled at the cover before reading the summary. He walked back to the table and sat with the book. He looked around to make sure the section he was in was empty before getting dragged into the book.

[noah adam knight]

Noah needed to refresh himself when it came to his German since in less than a year he would be attending a university in the capital of Switzerland. It was sort of funny that he got hired on as a servant to the future king of a country that he was not a citizen of. But still he got the job and he knew that it was because of his mother and his former employer. His former employer was trying to get rid of him because of a dangerous and scandalous situation with his wife that Noah was involved in, so his former employer would ahve said anything to get rid of Noah. It was just how the world sort of worked out for him. But now his education was being paid for and he could not object to that. If he was normal then after graduating highschool he would take the first factory job he could find to support his mother, sister, and stepfather. Maybe then his mother would get some time off from her life and focus on taking care of his sister. Noah owed his mother that and he owed her his life. She gave up everything to take care of Noah as a single parent. So the least he could do was get a good education and take advantage of this chance, which mean another trip to the library to work on his homework and refresh himself when it came to German.

He entered the library and sort of looked around for a private area so he could work. Quickly he glanced at his cell phone to make sure that Fred didn't need him before he dove into his school work. No texts so Noah kept walking and kept looking. Every table seemed to be taken by a large group and he was about to give up when he noticed another table with just one person at it. Noah approached the table and smiled in a friendly manner. "Hey... do you mind sharing the table? Everywhere else seems to be taken." He said to the guy sitting and reading.

Noah got a quick glimpse of the book and noticed that it was a romance novel so Noah assumed that he wasn't working on any schoolwork. That meant he might be more willing to share the table. He held onto his backpack in case the guy said no and Noah could continue on his search but it was starting to feel heavy with the weight of textbooks and notebooks.

[christian ralph ames]

Christian was immersed in his book. He always liked the obvious plot movements and superficial characters. He was so into reading that he didn't even notice when a fellow classmate walked up to his table. "Hey... do you mind sharing the table? Everywhere else seems to be taken." Christian looked up in surprise at the voice. "Oh, yeah sure." He gestured towards the seat across from him. He looked down at his stuff to make sure it wasn’t taking up too much of the table. He noticed the book he was reading and realized he didn’t really want to be caught reading it by another student, especially a male student that he didn’t know very well. He quickly closed the book and put the cover on the table. He pulled his messenger bag from the middle of the table and tried to discretely put the book in it.

Christian looked at his tablemate. He was familiar in that we’re in some classes together but haven’t really talked too much, or at all, kind of way. He was the new kid. Christian remembered being introduced at one point but they hadn’t really spoken too much, so the name didn’t stick. “I’m Christian, by the way” he said holding his hand out for a hand shake. “I know we’re towards the middle of the year but you’re new this year right? How are you liking it so far?” Christian was always tried to be friendly and welcoming. He pulled back out his science textbook while talking. He didn’t want to just sit there for no reason, now that he decided not to read romance novels in front of his fellow student. He re-opened the textbook and turned to the page he’d been on before and then pulled out his notebook to possibly go over his notes if there was a lull in the conversation. He didn’t want to just sit there and twiddle his thumbs if this guy didn’t want to talk and just wanted to study.

[noah adam knight]

When he first arrived at Vineheart with Fred he was given the tour by the servant from Spain since they were sharing the same area because their employers were roommates. She did introduce him to a few people and Fred did the same, at first it just felt like he was introducing Noah to those that he was required to. For example if Noah approached Fred while he was with his friend then Fred would introduce his new servant. No one was really mean to him or anything so it was alright. He just didn't get close to anyone but Fred. Oddly enough he and Fred seemed to gain this mutual respect for each other and now they were friends in a way. It still would have been nice to have someone in the same walk of life that Noah was though. It was hard for a royal to understand a servant, even Frida who Noah loved didn't quite understand his fears of becoming king if they were to get married.

He could tell that the other was surprised and Noah probably should have coughed or something to get his attention before just out right speaking. Too late now but still he was thankful that the other was alright with it. "Thanks man." He said as he sat down in the chair opposite him. Noah then pulled out a few books so he could get to his homework. A notebook was opened and he started by writing his name at the top of the paper. To be honest he did not really care what the other was ready since it was his choice and Noah just let him be.

Did he know the other? probably met him at least once since he got to Vineheart but Noah tended to keep to himself and those that he needed to socialize with. It was funny that back home he was social with his friends but he had known them from his preteens. All of the people at Vineheart were new and different than his friends back home. Although his friends back home were starting to annoy him with the comments about being a servant. They were not nice and Noah was just avoiding them since this job was partially supporting his family. "Nice to meet you Christian. I'm Noah." He replied and then shook this new guys hand since it was offered. Then he listened to the other and sort of gave a shurg. "Its been hard to be new this year but I am getting used to it." He replied. College next year would be interesting since now he would be going with Fred to the university in Zurich. "I'm sorry but my mind is drawing a blank. Who do you work for again?" He asked since he was trying to make conversation with him.

[christian ralph ames]

Christian usually became friends with most of the people he met. He didn’t mean to and he certainly set out each day saying lets be nice to everyone so everyone likes me. He just liked to treat people like they were ok. His uncle used to just assume the worst in people and treated them as such. He taught that thought process to his nephew but at the same time taught him how not to treat people. So Christian saw the worst in people, but treated them as if he didn’t. That was why Christian became friends with most of the people he met. He treated them nicely and they usually responded in kind and saw him as trustworthy and let him into their lives. But he didn’t tell them about him. He didn’t let people into his life. He just listened and helped with others.

"Oh I work for Nada. She's great. Very nice girl." Truthfully he'd always say that about his employer. Or he wouldn't be caught saying anything negative about his employer but he really meant it with her. He had such a protective older brother relationship with her he was going to be sad if they ever needed to go their separate ways. "Of Serbia, sorry. Nada Dragoslava of Serbia is her full title. You work for Fred right? I remember his old servant, nice kid, too bad he had to leave, but you're here now and that's awesome." Christian winced and looked down at his notebook. Where were these sentences coming from?

”So, what got you to Vineheart? Were you working with the Swiss family in a different capacity?” He hoped that wasn’t a too personal question to ask. For some working for a royal and having the opportunity to go to a private school was a wonderful opportunity, while others saw it as charity and only went because it was a last resort. He just hoped it wasn’t a horrible experience that sent Noah to Vineheart.

Notes[Sorry Chris's kept being weird...I'm still getting the hang of him.]

[noah adam knight]

Making friends had been rather difficult when he had so many other things to take care of. Fred and his girlfirend Frida were his main priorities and then school came after that. Plus with all of the weekends he went to visit Frida a few towns over it made making friends difficult. But he had friends back home that he visited during vacations so he wasn't lacking in that department. It would just probably be nicer to have friends close by at Vineheart for the remaining portion of the year. Then it would be time to make friends all over again but this time at the University that Fred had decided they were going to.

Then the new guy answered Noah's question and he instantly remembered the face now and they had met in passing one day when Fred and Nadia ran into each other. He nodded at his comment about how she was a great girl. "I image that she is a great girl." He replied and turned the page in his text book. At this point he was only half paying attention to his homework since the conversation was starting to pick up and Noah was interested. "Yeah... Fred's a nice guy. I hear that he treats me better than his last servant. The other servants at the Swiss palace mentioned that Fred didn't much like his other servant." He commented. Those were the rumors that Noah head anyways. It was funny that the servants did not know that Noah spoke German so they would often gossip while he was around, thinking that he could not understand them. Noah picked up a great deal of information and then one day he threw in his own comment and they all looked surprised that he spoke to them in their lanuage. But the servants seemed to like Noah after a while and now Fred was starting to like him as well. They were almost like buddies.

Then Christian asked about his past and how he got to go to Vineheart with Fred. "Funny story... I'm english." He replied and it was difficult to tell since his accent was all sorts of messed up. "I was working as a pool boy for this Duke and Duchess when this oppurtunity sort of fell into my lap." Well that was only half a lie. His mother knew servants in the Swiss palace and they told her about it and his mother forced Noah to the interviews since the job as the pool boy was becoming scandalous. The duchess was taking a liking to Noah in a more romantic way than his mother would have liked. But it all sort of worked out. "And how long have you been working for Nadia?"