Chapter Text
Starting high school can be a daunting experience for any teenager, but for 16 year old August, it was more than just a new chapter in his life. It was a chance to finally be accepted and loved by his peers, especially by the popular and charismatic elder cousin Erik who was already studying in Hillerska. August had always felt like an outsider in every place he was, even in his own house when his dad ended his life , but in Hillerska boarding School, he saw an opportunity to change that and become the person he always wanted to be - perfect, just like Erik.
August Horn of Årnäs was determined to make a good impression from the very first day of school. The day before He carefully chose his outfit, made sure his hair was styled just right, and rehearsed his introduction in front of the mirror for 10 times. As he walked back and forth in his teen bedroom , he couldn't help but feel a sense of inferiority as he imagined the confident and well-liked students interact with each other. But he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on his main goal for this year - to become a part of Erik's inner circle.
The next day was ,THAT day when August will finally get in Hillerska boarding School.He desperately counted minutes to see it with his own eyes.. ,to smell the air in that area, to feel that all of it is real.. That young curly-haired guy can finally start everything from the very beginning and rule his life how he always dreamt secretly.
-Are you nervous?- Louise asked with a faint smile to her son who seems ed but trito be excites to act down-to-earth.
-It’s fine ,mom.. I can behave myself well - August answered awkwardly since he really doesn’t feel connected with her enough to just speak up about inner feelings.. /You have to keep everything to yourself. That's what Erik would do./- Thinking young man while looking at breathtaking views through the car window.
-We all know how you can behave ,no one doubts that ,August.. But it doesn't mean that you can’t show how happy you are if you want to - Remarks August’s stepdad with a sarcastic tone of voice.
-Pffft - Chuckles August with irritation, ignoring his stepfather's snarky words. - /Just a little while longer and I'll be rid of them... finally free to enjoy my new school life within the walls of an amazing Hilerska/- Horn anticipates the view of the majestic white building with a blue roof as the car pulls into the car park.
The teenager's eyes scattered around. It was green and well-kept, a big fountain, a statue… It was just as the teenager had imagined. But it looked even better in person…
-Alright, let’s go to the front door and finally greet everyone.- Said August’s mother and pat gently on her tall son’s shoulder.
/That’s it… Now or never..I need to be ready to be the best version of myself!!!/- Horn thinks and he clenches his fist discreetly.
August and his parents were excited and nervous as they made their way to the front door of the prestigious Hilerska Boarding School. He couldn't wait to start his journey here. As they walked towards the school, August's mind was filled with a mixture of emotions - excitement, nervousness, and a hint of apprehension. He knew that this school was known for its strict rules and high academic standards, but he felt like he finally was ready for the challenge.
As they reached the front door, August took a deep breath and straightened his dark red suit that looked alike with Hilerska uniform. He was determined to make a good first impression.-/It finally will be my year/- And with these thoughts all Horn smiled proudly to himself and entered the majestic front doors of the school of his dreams.
The Inside interior is gorgeous… Horn looking around with manners.. A straight back, a little polite smile, just like a young gentleman should… - Mom,..- August looked at his mother and then cursory glance at his stepfather-..Rickard,.. Now I am going to be by myself… I have to meet my classmates and ..
Rickard cuckles,interrupting August at half a word. -Good. Have fun,Kiddo
-I am not a little boy.- Horn Junior gritted his teeth and gave his stepfather a grudging look, then stalked off into the corridors. Away from his hated parents
All around the corridors spreading students of all kinds.The seniors in school uniforms or freshmen.. Some of them are shy and others more easy-going with new meetings.. Horn classified himself as someone in the middle, but he really wants people around here to think that he is a cool kid and not that dorky ridiculous one.
August's eyes fell on a familiar face among the students. It was his second cousin, Erik. They had met a few times during family gatherings but had never been very close. August had always admired Eric from a distance. He was a few years older than August and was known to be a popular and talented student at Hilerska.
/That's my chance!..I need to talk to him/-Think Horn while trying to approach his second cousin through crowds of people. He is hardly trying to make a room for himself near Eric.-Excuse me, sorry, pardon me.-Muttering to himself August
-Hey…-August lightly touches Erik’s shoulder from behind.
Erik turns around with a surprised perfect smile -Oh hey, August! What's up?
-Uh, hi. I just wanted to say hi and catch up. We haven't seen each other in a while.- Said August trying to mirror Erik's behaviour in public, though inwardly everything was clenched and twisted with the excitement of failing to .
-Yeah, it's been a while. How have you been?How your parents?- Asked The crown Prince of Sweden
-Errm..That’s … emm… quiet okey~ Yeah !! - Horn nervously fixed his curly brown hair to look his best way in front of cool people.
-Good..Good.. Say hello to them later..and - Erik was stopped during his speech by some other senior guys.
-Erik, we need to check the set up for rowing club recruiting for later today plans- Said some of the seniors..
August pressured his lips and looked at Eric and then back to seniors-/God! We finally had a decent conversation!! Back of dudes!!/- When he finally catched Crown Prince’s attention again, he smiled nicely.
-Sorry, I must go.. Let’s catch up later,little bro - Erik pat Horn’s shoulder
-Definitely. Let's grab lunch together sometime.- August nodded,feeling some tingling after second cousin’s touch.
-Sure! I would like you to come to the rowing team presentation later- Said Erik with a little smirk and ruffled his cousin's hair lightly.
-Sounds good. See you there, Erik.- August smiles weakly and waves goodbye for now.
Erik waving back - See ya, August. It’s nice to have you here, buddy.
August walks away, feeling happy and grateful to have finally talked to Erik.
Some amount of time passed and everyone went to the school church where the Headmistress will say welcoming words about the upcoming school year .
-Good morning students, faculty, and staff. I am headmistress Anette Lilja.It's hard to believe that another year has passed and we are starting a new school year here at Hillerska boarding school. I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are ready for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
As we begin this new chapter, I want to take a moment to welcome all our new students to our school. We are thrilled to have you join our Hillerska family and we hope you will feel at home here.To our returning students, welcome back. I am so proud of all that you have accomplished and I know you will continue to excel in your studies and extracurricular activities.
This year, we have some exciting changes and improvements to our school. We have renovated the library, added new technology to our classrooms, and expanded our sports teams. I am confident that these enhancements will enhance your learning experience and make your time here at Hillerska even more memorable.Now, I would like to invite our talented school choir to come up and sing our school hymn. Let's all join in and sing with pride as we celebrate the start of a new school year at Hillerska boarding school. Thank you.
As August sat in the church, listening to the beautiful harmonies of the school choir, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride. Being a student at Hilerska boarding school had been a dream come true for him. Growing up, August had always felt out of place, like he didn't quite fit in with his peers. But he thinks that coming to Hilerska will change everything.
Hilerska was not just a school, it was a community. A place where students from all over the world came together to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams.As he watched the choir members, he couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie and admiration. They were a reflection of the school's dedication to excellence and the pursuit of one's passions. August was grateful to be a part of this community, where he was constantly inspired and challenged to be the best version of himself.
The performance came to an end, and the auditorium erupted into applause. August joined in, feeling a swell of pride for his school and his fellow students. As he made his way out of the auditorium, he couldn't wait to get back to his dorm room and start working on his own music. Thanks to Hilerska, he knew that his dreams were within reach, and he was determined to make them a reality.
***
The rowing team in Hillerska is something like a symbol of school’s sports life.. Maybe because it’s really nice sports or.. maybe Eric’ was a special member in the school rowing team. August finally got a chance to see in person how a Crown prince in action when he rowed. Crowds of students,teachers and parents were in the big gym room with rowing machines.
Horn tried to find the best place in the front row.. but it seems that a big gym room was actually squeezed in a small cube full of people and a bit of space in the center… In the center was Eric,smiling and glowing.. Geting apritiation and adoration in every move. /He is just perfect..Nothing more ,nothing less/- Sighs August calculating how many years he needs to spend to achieve the same level.
-He is the center of everything,lol.. That’s predictable - Rolled eyes some blond guy with a cropped hairstyle ..
-He is the Crown Prince hah.. What do you want from him ?- Answered another guy to a blond one with a chuckle.
August without his willing overheard this dialog between two freshmans who were standing nearby him. /They are definitely talking shit about Eric../-Thinks Horn and try to observe these guys.. The tall blond guy was slim and blue eyed and the second one had dark skin and a quite fashionable outfit that nicely matched his face features..
-How do you think ,Vince, is he really like that or is it all good acting ?- Asked fashionable guy to guy named Vince
-Dunno, I actually dont give a fuck about his attitude.. but something might be fishy,Nils- Shrugged his shoulders Vince and open soda
August was a bit invested in this chit-chat between Nils and Vince, but when they started to really doubt his cousin's abilities he felt like he couldn’t just let it go. He needs to defend his second cousin and his role model.
-eghm..- Horn cleared his throat to bring attention to himself- Excuse me.. I was eavesdropping on your talk without my will ,but I could say that he IS a really perfect and awesome person. I know it. He is my second cousin- August tried to act polite and non confrontal because he really didn’t want to be hated by his potential classmates.. He slowly started regretting speaking up himself ,while these guys watched him from head to toe.
-Sheeshh, another royal meat here~ - Giggling softly Vince .
-Hey,watch your mouth ,Vincent. What’s your name, buddy? You seem the same age as us.- Nils smiles friendly and pulled out his hand to August
-August Horn of Årnäs.. Just August ,please - Introduced himself Horn and shacked Nils’s heand with smile of relief.
-Vincent af Klintskog .. if we are introducing ourselves like old men- Vincent arrogantly take August’s hand and shake it as well.
-Nils Poltjerna - Added Nils to close the circle of introductory.
-Nice to meet you guys. You are the freshmans like myself ,right ?- Asked August to make everything clear.
-Yep, it will be our first year here.- Confirmed Poltjerna.
-Cool..- Horn nodded , trying to find another topic to continue this talk avoiding being awkward as usual.- And how much have you been friends ?
-We ? 5 minutes. We literally met each other near the vending machine a few minutes ago ,lol..- Answered Vincent and made a big sip from his soda..
-Oww.. Really?.. I thought .. erm…it doesn’t matter hahahha- Laughing nervously August after making a wrong assumption.
-Look ,guys , the show with mister perfect and others is starting now ! - Said Nils and pointed at the center of the gym , where all Rowing team finally started the show.
/I think i just made a few friends/-Horn felt pretty excited but he remain “don’t care” attitude to look cooler in Vincent’s and Nils’s eyes..The main show is starting and all eyes are on Erik!
The prideful rowing team introduced themselves and started the little competition between them. The group A was led by Crown Prince Erik and the group B was led by another guy whom August doesn't know yet.. It seems that everyone in the audience was excited about the whole rough competition.. /It's really nice advertising to show the real things that the rowing team do./ - Thinks August already feels that it would be totally Erik's glow up as always..
Two teams take a place near rowing training machines and … the competition starts with the PE teacher loudly yelling “AND START!!”
The crowd of people cheered like crazy from the very beginning of comp for both teams../ It feels so surreal to watch Eric’s performance so close …but my faith with him/- Through August observing progress of both teams. Each member of a team of 5 had 2 minutes to show their skills on the rowing training machine. Every move was strong and breathtaking..
-Looks cool actually - Commented Nils nearby August
-It is - Answered Horn ,while not breaking eye contact with competing teams.
The adrenaline was palpable. The atmosphere was electric, and the excitement was contagious. It was the highly anticipated rowing team competition, and everyone was on the edge of their seats.
In the middle of competition Team A’s leader Crown Prince stepped up to the machine, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. With a focused expression, he began rowing, and his movements were strong and calculated. Every muscle in his body seemed to be working in perfect harmony, and it was a sight to behold.
Team B's member was equally impressive. He had a different style, but his strokes were just as powerful and precise. The competition was off to a great start, and the audience was thoroughly entertained.
This friendly comp is getting really serious.. The crowd was cheering louder than ever before, and the athletes were feeding off of it. They pushed themselves to the limit, determined to outdo their opponents.
-I don't get why they're kicking their butts so hard .. It's obvious who's gonna win. - Chuckles Vincent and rolled his eyes with annoyance.
Horn gave a quick look at Vince-/Either he is dumb ,or cool that he can speak his mind without hesitation/- August lost a bit in his thoughts that almost missed the ground Finally!
-AND THE WINNER IS….. TEAM A !! CONGRATS TO SUPERIOR GUYS!! - The PE teacher summed up the comp in the mic.
-Which is to be expected from princey guy- Said Vincent not really invested in this show.
-I dunno..The rowing team competition was a thrilling and unforgettable experience. The athletes' passion and dedication were evident in every move they made, and it was a pleasure to witness it firsthand- Answered August with sweating hands hoping that it’s not so lame of him..- I would like to join the rowing team..
-You do , August ?..Eager for girls attention ?- Nils Grinned.
-Ermm… N..- August was ready to defend himself as much as possible , But a sudden voice made him freeze.
-Hey there ~.. Have you enjoyed our little show,guys? - Asked Erik in his sassy and charming manner , while wiping his sweaty face with a small towel.
-Sure , Crown Prince Erik. It definitely was a delightful experience - Started Nils as showing his expertise in small talk as a pro.
-Not bad - Vincent snickered looking directly at the Crown Prince.
-Ahh.. Alright ,Noone is obliged to like it - Answered Erik and gently put his arm on August’s shoulder - What about you , my little brother? Do you feel like joining a team?
-/1,..2,..3,..4…Breathe, August, breathe…/- August’s mind goes crazy every time near his role model… Every bit of his body is strained..-/Everything needs to be perfect/- Yeah.. I do.. it's a nice opportunity to be part of something.- Finally Horn come up with good answer
-Hahah..Of course! I bet you will be a good fitting in our team. You should sign the application paper on the table near the door..- Said Crown Prince of Sweden and patted the second cousin’s back and looked back at Vincent and Nils - You guys are very welcome to join too.
-I will think about it - Replied Nils with a light polite smile..
-Good ~! See you ,boys, around.. Enjoy your first day in Hillerska- Erik disappeared in crowds of people to another round of meet and greet with other members of the rowing team to recruit new students .
-Let's get away from this show-off.-Vince finished drinking his soda.
-Yep.. But wait a minute.. Me and August should take an application paper just in case.. - Said Poltjerna..
-Fine ! I will wait for ya both in the corridor - Answered Vincent and three of them started moving to the exit..
August following Vincent and Nils from behind. When he and Nils reached the table with application paper, Horn noticed out of the corner of his eye as Vince slipped a piece of paper from the table into his pocket. That made Augustus chuckle/
-Ready to go ?- Asked Nils suddenly
-Yeah.. We have everything we need right now -Answered Horn holding his precious application paper , the free ticket to be near Eric as much as possible.
As Nils and August emerged from the crowded gymnasium ,they came to Vincent ,who started immediately talking about wanting to find out what their dorm rooms looked like. Horn and Poltjerna agreed with him by nodding.
Eventually,three of them started moving towards ‘The Forest Ridge House’ , their future dorm.. While walking Vince and Nils were quite talkative …As for August, he was silent , staking in his thoughts.. He couldn't wait to start his classes and participate in the various extracurricular activities that the school had to offer. But most of all, he was grateful for the unexpected opportunity to reconnect with his second cousin and form a bond that would make his time at Hilerska even more special.