Unreachable Flowers

Sunny morning, in the middle of spring, young men and women slowly flock toward an imposing entrance, where lies beyond the open gates, the campus of West-Castle High School.

Three large and tall historical buildings were aligned alongside the wide paved road coming from the front gate and faced a vast garden.

Gradually, the students at the front gate made their way inside the different buildings.

The northern one, the most further from the entrance, was accommodated for the high school section, and in one of the large lecture rooms for the third-year students, a girl was there, sitting in the middle section, slightly above the podium, with a book in her hand.

Immersed in her reading, her deep blue eyes skim through the lines of her book, gleaming with the vivid scenes that she alone could see on those pages.

Unbothered by the chattering of people around, she stays oblivious of the awes her surrounding may express at her pleasing pale visage and alluring red lips.

Her fancy cardigan couldn't hide her generous chest, and her black short dress followed the curve of her well-proportioned figure, highlighting her fleshy thighs.

Her silhouette brought desires into the eyes of anyone, and her slender legs and classy ankle boots could awaken profound cravings in the heart of any man.

Nature graced this 17-year-old young woman with immeasurable beauty, but the cold and aloof air made her disheartening to approach.

Around West-Castle high school, she was considered one of the unreachable flowers, from the many girls on the campus she stands atop, as one of the most beautiful.

Among her onlooker, a boy was struck full of admiration toward the beauty, he was amid the many, who had the wish to pursue the young lady.

"Today, for sure I am going to talk to her." The young man mutters to himself.

The boy is a little shorter than his peers, he is not fat, but his round face and spiky short brown hair, make him look plump.

He wears a long-sleeve tailored shirt, fashionable dress pants, and brown leather shoes. The boy is well dressed, and all can see that his backgrounds are of importance.

After checking his silver watches on his left wrist, he steels himself, gathers his courage, and rises from his seat aiming to approach the young lady.

Yet, his legs cannot move, as if shackles and iron masses are attached to his ankles. But before he can do anything, everything will soon crumble in vain.

"Lily!"

While still debating over moving or not, coming from the back, a clear voice rang through the lecture room addressing the beauty, disregarding any potential protest.

"Alex Maxwell! Him again." The boy scoffs, cursing the source of the voice before regaining his seat in disapproval.

Recognizing the voice, the young woman puts down her book. With her long and delicate fingers, she brushes aside a strand of her long jet black hair behind her round ear and turns to face her caller.

A typical young man enters the room, slowly walks toward the lady with confidence, yet no arrogance could be perceived.

"I thought I came early, but today as well, you came before me." He exclaims with a friendly tone and a warm smile.

The young man, Alex Maxwell, cannot be considered handsome, nevertheless, he is charming with short dark hair and light brown eyes.

The way he is dressed shows his healthy shape, an open branded jacket and a chic shirt on top, emphasizing his wide shoulder, and elegant gray pants with a pair of white sneakers on the bottom, accentuating his height. Overall illustrates his comfortable origins.

"Hi, Lily!" With these short greetings, he proceeds to sit beside her.

"Hi!" She answers him, with a faint smile, before re-plunging into her book.

"Is that a new book? I haven't seen it before"

"Yes..." She responds, without taking her sapphire eyes off the pages.

"… Are you interested?" She teases him, already knowing the answer.

"Haha! No, but I'm more interested in watching you read." He half-jokingly replies.

The both of them briefly continue their little exchange, ignoring the prying eyes of their surrounding.

Looks of curiosity and sometimes envy come across the two of them, as more people enter the room for the morning lecture. Many were displeased at the sight, but none dare interject between the two of them.

"No need to panic. The day just started, I will get plenty of chance." The boy begrudgingly retorts to himself, sending a resentful glare toward Maxwell.

____

Soon after, a middle-aged man, with thin rectangular glasses entered the room. Without any signal, the students regain their seats and tone down, readying themselves for the first period.

For now, any complaints and discontentment should be postponed to focus on class, as the apparent teacher starts the roll-call. But one boy wasn't able to concentrate.

"Eliana Carter…Alex Maxwell…Lily Lambert…Ryan Doyle…" The man proceeds to the roll call in a nonchalant voice, while the students respond upon hearing their name.

"Ryan Doyle?" This time louder, the man inquires while searching for the boy in the lecture room. The culprit is still daydreaming about his Dulcinea, before realizing his name was called.

"Yeah… YES! I am here Professor Mathis" The boy jolts with surprise, and let out a high-pitched answer upon hearing his name being called, unbecoming of an 18 years old boy.

His exaggerated reaction invites the laugh of his classmates, reddening his whole face in embarrassment.

Ryan looks slightly toward the direction of the beautiful girl, seeking to know her reaction, but her indifference was all he could perceive.

The young woman is busy on her notes, insensible about the event unfolding around her. The boy would have preferred a mocking laugh to this freezing silence.

Worse, in addition to ignoring his entire existence, the one considered as West-Castle unreachable flower, is sitting side by side with Alex Maxwell.

He remembers the numerous time his thunder was stolen by the one he considers now his nemesis, ruining his many chances to approach Lily Lambert.

"Even if you look at me like that, what can I do?" Maxwell says to himself, sensing the hostile piercing stare from Ryan Doyle, directed at him.

____

The time flew by quickly, and the sun soon reaches its zenith. Even though, since the start of the day the young lady rarely leaves her seat, Ryan Doyle couldn't make his advance.

Throughout the morning until noon, another young man was monopolizing the girl's attention, forcing Doyle to make his retreat.

But hope isn't all lost, new opportunity arises as the lunch break arrives.

As the school bell resonates throughout the premise of the school, the chatter of the students becomes more pronounced, some students start to converge out of the lecture rooms, and others still inside were discussing trivialities with their group of friends.

Ryan Doyle notices Lily Lambert, still in the lecture room, carefully packing her belongings.

Luck was with him, she is alone at the moment, and Maxwell is nowhere in the vicinity. Seizing this opportunity, he organizes his thoughts, and approaches her seat, hoping to finally address her.

"Lily! It's been a long time." Trying his best not to be awkward.

"Is it?" She tilts her head, wondering about the last statement. She pauses all of her actions and turns herself to hear what could the young man needs from her.

"I know that you often eat at the school restaurant, so how about we go there together?" He thought there was no reason for her to refuse.

But before she could give him an answer, a cheerful girl, bursts into the lecture room, disregarding the surprised look on the onlookers' faces, and jumps into the young woman's arms.

The girl was beautiful, with lively azure eyes and smooth light skin, her beauty was on par with Lily Lambert.

The still present students, witnessing the scene could recognize the girl and be struck with amazement at her sight, she was another unreachable flower from the middle school section of West-Castle campus.

The girl was also famous around the school ground, thanks to her work as a teenager magazine's model.

"SIS! Let's go eat together!!!" Cutting into the discussion, the girl enthusiastically asks, her long jet-black ponytail waved around as she clings on her sister's arm.

She was petite, but her trendy top and frilly skirt teased her alluring curvature. The gold necklace and accessories made her look more mature than she really was.

"Sorry, Ryan! this is how it is" Lily tells Doyle in a regretful way, while she puts down her clingy sister, who stomps the ground with her leather boots, puffing her cheek and pouting in protestation, before giving her sister a bright warm smile.

"Come on, sis, Alex should already be waiting for us." The girl urges her sister, ignoring the young man in front of them.

Lily felt a little guilty toward the young man and gives a sorrowful smile, hoping for his understanding, but didn't utter any word.

"It's okay! See you around." Once again his plan was ruined.

"Let's go, Ivy!" The young woman tells her sister, leaving the young man on his own.

"Alex Maxwell, how many times must you get in my way?" Filled with anger, Ryan Doyle clenches his fist, watching the sisters exit the room.

____

"Sorry to make you wait, Alex!" Lily apologizes with a smile.

"No worry!" Maxwell returns her smile, before heading inside the school restaurant with both sisters.

The school restaurant was a self-serving buffet. Inside was dressed, a long table filled with various delicacies, and all around, tables decorated with white napery and silver cutlery, where students and teachers were sitting.

After choosing their dishes, the three of them took a table near large windows, giving sight to an opulent garden.

"Is that all you are going to eat, Ivy?" The young man inquires, astonished by the small portion before his eyes.

"I'm on a diet, my manager told me I have a photoshoot on Sunday"

"Well, nothing is going to change in a few days" With a teasing tone, a mischievous smirk, he addresses her, poking her puffy cheeks.

"What do you mean!" She complains, with a lovely angry face. Lily gives off a faintly amused smile at the two's banter.

"I mean, you are still as beautiful as your sister" Shameless words on his part, but enough to make both sisters blush and flabbergasted.

"..."

For a moment, a faint, eerie grin briefly appeared on Alex Maxwell's expression, as he spots Ryan Doyle entering the restaurant alone.

During these short instant, his warm and easy-going personality was dropped, showing a cunning and sinister one, able to send shivering chill towards those who could detect the minute change.

But without anyone noticing, his homely side came back, and he continues his conversation with the sisters as nothing happened.

____ End of Chapter 1 ____