Caleb's POV

The previous week’s happenings, which had been clamoring in my brain all throughout the week, were roughly pushed out of my mind at the sight of Amber. She was, to say the least, gorgeous in her party attire. Her black hair was shining in the dim lighting, and I could see a glint in her brown eyes. I was barely aware of the headmistresses materializing as I gawked at her. Over the week we had gotten to be good friends, and she laughed at all my jokes during pyrotechnic runes even though Professor Karkat would snap at the both of us. At one point he had even sent us both to the corner of the classroom as punishment, but we spent the entire hour giggling away and ignoring his crude remarks.
Needless to say I was now certain I was madly in love with this girl. She was perfect in every respect.
“Caleb. Earth to Caleb.”
I was snapped out of my musings by a calm female voice whispering next to me. I turned to see Larimar standing next to me, staring straight at the headmasters. Copying her tone I responded.
“What?”
“Are you TRYING to get the headmistresses to kill you? You haven’t been paying any attention to what they’ve been saying have you?”
I flushed.
“I… I mean I’ve sort of been listening. Kinda.”
Larimar snuck a sarcastic look at me before returning her attention to the headmistresses. Her vibrant blue eyes caught the light as she did so, and my stomach stirred slightly. I must have been getting hungry or something.
“So far they’ve only been talking about how there wont be any chaperones because the staff is having a separate party as well as all of the upperclassmen. Also if we misbehave they’ll kill us or something like that. And we all have to drink. On pain of death I think.” She recapped to me quietly, so as not to alert the headmistresses.
Also over the week, Larimar and I had become friends. We were often paired together in Professor Chiron’s class, and we had taken to conversing during our increasingly difficult matches. She didn’t laugh like Amber did, but she occasionally smiled at my jokes. Soooo not a good quality in a girl. Come on dude, where’s the sense of humor? You should be cracking ribs from laughter. I’m just THAT funny.
Neither of us had spoken of that night where she had found me, and I was planning to keep it that way.
“Thanks.” I whispered back to her.
She nodded slightly, but kept her attention on the headmistresses who seemed to be wrapping up their speech.
“And finally,” Azami said with a flourish of her hand, “If any of you attempt to leave early you will be promptly punished. Milaek and I will be quite upset if we are forced to leave our own celebrations to come track down one of you small children.”
Milaek picked up quickly.
“And trust us, if we’re upset, you will NOT enjoy the outcome.” Her eyes darted around the room slyly before she finished.
“Any of you.”
And with that they vanished.
As if on cue bright lights illuminated a dance floor, and music began playing from unseen speakers. It was loud and danceable. Over in the corner were some proper tables and chairs, with food piled on top of them.
Remembering my earlier stomach qualms, I grabbed two beers from the bar, and headed to the food table nearest Amber.