Chapter 5: Abandoned in the jungle.

 Chapter 5, Abandoned in the jungle.

"Don't worry, Mom, I heard you loud and clear " Chloe finally muttered in a flat tone, her gaze never leaving the scenery outside. "Besides, Don't you think those words are wasted on Noir either way, it's not like he'll even be able to keep them."

A cold silence suddenly filled the car. Madison and Miles turned toward their sister, eyes wide in disbelief. Noir, for his part, felt a sharp sting at the casual cruelty of her words but kept his smile in place.

"Chloe!." Madison exclaimed, frowning at her older sister. "That was really rude." 

"Yeah, don't be mean, Chloe!." Miles echoed, his small voice firm. "Uncle Noir is trying his best!."

Chloe rolled her eyes, shooting a venomous glare at the two younger children. "You two should stay out of this."

"Chloe!." Molly warned sharply, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at her eldest daughter. "That's enough. You don't speak to your siblings like that, and you certainly don't speak to your uncle Noir that way."

" Why do you always insist we call him uncle, he's not even that older than me!, besides, don't you think it's a dum idea to let that monster out here in the real world!, Why not just leave him to his stinking forest for everyone's safety!."

Chloe's face tightened, her lips pressing into a disdainful sneer. Molly who was trying to maintain her composure almost lost it when she heard how her own daughter coldly disregarded her brother to her face, But just as Molly was about to press the issue, Noir leaned forward slightly, touching Molly's shoulder gently.

"It's fine, Sis," he said softly. "Let's not make a big deal out of it. We wouldn't want to be late for our first day of school now would we."

Molly sighed, glancing back at him, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and gratitude. Noir's ability to keep the peace never ceased to amaze her, but it also worried her. He took too much on himself, always trying to smooth things over, even when it hurt him.

"All right," she murmured, then raised her voice. "But Chloe, you and I are definitely going to have a serious talk later."

"Hmph!" Chloe simple harrumphed, her eyes hard and defiant as she continued to stare out the window.

 The rest of the ride passed in tense silence, with only Miles' occasional humming breaking the awkward stillness.

" That's much better, let's not let our first day of the school term to turn out so badly, the first should always be the best." Noir smiled before suddenly turning towards Chloe with a confused expression." Anyways sis, Could you please remind me about my own grade again...I kinda seemed to have forgotten." He said with a wryly smile.

Molly suddenly stared back at her younger brother through the review mirror, when she saw his clueless and comedic expression, some of her earlier frustration quickly vanished before she began chuckling to herself." I thought you said you were prepared for school?." She suddenly teased.

" I am, I mean i was.....please just answer the question." Noirs speech became flustered when he noticed the strange gazes he was getting from Miles and Madison who stood right beside him as if he had just asked a weird question.

" Well you see, Unlike home school, Normally schools are divided into grades "

" Yeah and I'm in the third grade." Miles suddenly chirped as if proud of this achievement of his.

" I think we all already knew that Miles..." Madison suddenly said.

" Well I was just trying to help uncle Noir." Miles humphed.

" Well I'm truly grateful." Noir smiled and patted miles gently on the head."could you please continue sis."

Molly smile warmly at her son's antic's before continuing." Like I was saying, the school is divided into grades and each grade's are further grouped separately into three main groups such as Grade school which is from grade 1-5, middle school which is from grade 6-8 and finally high school which is a combination of grades 9, 10, 11, 12."

" Miles is in the 3rd grade of grade school, While Madison is currently in her second year of middle school, which is the 7th grade. As for Chloe here." She suddenly glanced firmly at Chloe who simple harrumphed without paying her any attention still glancing outside the window." Well she's getting ready for her first day of highschool since she's finally a 9th grader. As for you little bro, your going to become an 11th grader, moreover, you don't need to worry about anything, I've already settled all your entrance requirements with the school staff and principal, all you need to do is just head to class before the school bell rings ok, Your class is 11th grade Class B for the record."

" Ok I think I get it." Noir quickly seemed to grab what she was saying before turning to glance at Miles and Madison." What about Miles and Madison's classes?. Their not too far from mine are they?." Noir asked with curiosity.

" Oh, well miles is in 3rd grade Class B, similar to you, while Madison is in the 7th grades Class C, Since the school is divided into grade school, middle school and highschool, their classes are a bit farther from yours." Molly answered before suddenly glancing towards Chloe.

 " As for Chloe's class–" Chloe suddenly turned towards her mother with an irritated look, before she could say anything.

" It's ok sis, I think I'm ok with just knowing Miles and Madison's classes" he stopped her mid way, smiling as he ruffled Miles and Madison's hair, who began giggling while trying to get back at him.

Chloe who was about to speak didn't know what to say anymore, even her mother who was staring at her knew she was going to say something, but both of them didn't really expect Noir to suddenly say he didn't want to hear it at all, as if he couldn't be bothered?.

For the first time since she got into the car, Chloe silently glanced at Noir who was busy being tickled by her younger siblings, she didn't know what to say yet for some reason, a sense of irritation began growing within her for some reason.

_________________________________________

As they finally pulled up to the school, a sprawling landscape that looked more like a small campus than a typical school. 

Chloe was the first to leap out of the car, not even waiting for it to come to a complete stop. She slammed the door shut and walked off toward the entrance without a backward glance.

"Chloe—!" Molly was completely stunned as she called her back, but the girl was already gone. With a deep breath, Molly shook her head, parking the car properly before turning to the remaining three. "Well, I guess I won't be getting a goodbye from her," she muttered, then forced a smile. "Okay, you three. Have a great first day, and please, please behave." 

"We will, Mama!" Madison and Miles chorused before scrambling out of the car, their bags bouncing against their backs as they landed on the pavement. Noir followed more slowly, straightening up and taking in the sight of the school with wide, slightly nervous eyes.

"Remember, Noir." Molly called softly, leaning out the window. "It's just a regular school. You'll be fine. Just… don't do anything that'll make you stand out too much, okay?."

Noir gave her a slightly sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll try, Sis. I promise."

Molly nodded, looking at him with a mixture of hope and worry. "Good luck, all of you," she said before waving and driving off, the car disappearing into the morning traffic.

Noir turned to his niece and nephew, his smile fading slightly as the reality of the situation settled over him. This was it. His first day of high school. For a moment, he wished he could just go back to the forest, back to where things were simpler.

"Um, Uncle Noir?" Madison's soft voice broke through his thoughts. He looked down at her, blinking. "We're going to our classes now, okay?."

"Wait, what?" Noir blurted out, panic flaring in his chest. "You're just going to leave me?, But what if I get lost?, What if—?" 

"Don't worry, Uncle," Miles piped up, grinning up at him with the fearless confidence of an eight year old. "You'll be fine!,You're a grown-up!"

_But I'm just sixteen_ Noir protested weakly in his head. "But don't you two want me to take you to your classes first." He asked with a bit of anticipation, only for his feelings to be short lived when his firm looking niece suddenly bursted his bubble.

"No, it would be embarrassing if people saw our uncle following us around." she murmured, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

Miles nodded solemnly, as if the very idea was unthinkable. "Yeah!, You'll be okay, Uncle Noir. Just try not to break the school on your first day!."

Noir opened his mouth to protest again but stopped, looking down at the determined faces of the two children. They were really serious, weren't they?. He sighed, shoulders slumping slightly. "Okay, okay. I won't follow you."

"Yay!." Madison's smile widened, and she leaned up to give Noir a quick, surprising hug. "Thanks, Uncle. Good luck!."

"Yeah, good luck, Uncle Noir!" Miles added, throwing his small arms around Noir's legs before scampering off after his sister.

Noir stood there, watching them go, a strange mix of pride and sadness welling up in his chest. They were growing up so fast. And here he was, feeling like a nervous wreck on his first day of school, while they seemed completely at ease.

"Guess it's time to face the music," he muttered, turning toward the high school section of the building.

Taking a deep breath, Noir squared his shoulders and started walking. Every step felt heavy, his nerves coiling tighter with each one. He could already see clusters of students milling around, chatting, laughing, and jostling each other. The sound of a bell ringing in the distance made him jump slightly, his heart leaping into his throat.

"its just a regular school," he murmured to himself, clutching both straps of his bag like a lifeline. "Just… don't stand out. Don't do anything weird. And definitely don't break the school."

With those words echoing in his mind, Noir took his first tentative step onto East Ridge Highs, high school grounds, hoping and praying that he wouldn't completely mess up on his very first day.