Mornings had never been a particular passion of Talitha's, in fact, most days she leaned towards hatred in her appraisal of them. The first windy mornings of winter were her least favourite of all after the warm, heated shimmers that had greeted her in the summer months. Of course, Autumn was not the problem, but simply the mornings and the sudden transgression from welcoming warmth to the calculated cold. Today was no different, though she had stretched quite languidly before rising and realising that she would indeed be needing the thick black tights she had packed just in case of early autumnal chills. By the afternoon it would probably be back up to the August temperatures if she knew anything about the fluky weather patterns of coastal England.

Sipping at her earl grey tea she glanced over the assembled assortment of new comers to the school. That the girl's had gravitated to her annoyed her slightly. She wasn't used to be part of a small, insular group like that, not with people she barely knew or barely cared to know. Last night on the mound had been more like her usual accompaniment, a collection of boys with a few scattered girls here and there, the centre of attention for her specially scented cigarettes and her refined habit of smoking only through the holder. The rest of the breakfast seemed rather unappealing in the morning glow, probably because it was far too early to be eating… Though she helped herself to a green granny smith to boost her metabolism for the day.

Nik and Nathan were glum to look at; though Nathan was peculiarly calm if you ignored the stabbing silver fork attacking the over cooked bacon on his plate. Nik on the other hand was frowning; brows furrowed into deep dents between his eyes and causing his otherwise young face seem old. There was pathos to their situation, Nik so obviously desperate to be here, Nathan overtly against it. They had taken the blame and their dreams seemed on the edge of fragmenting like ash on a wind. She narrowed her eyes, considering them carefully, knowing that their silence was most likely to do with the deep rooted tension that was taut about their necks and slowly she realised that both were upset at the other.

"You know, when you talk to the man, you should ask to see Taco." She said, crunching down on a last piece of apple before talking. The cup of tea was almost empty, it was nearly time for coffee. She waited for them to turn to her, all of them, she was once again in the spotlight, "I don't know if you've ever been at a school such as this before, but they won't expel you, not while the bills are footed. If you express intense concern and mention frequently that 'had you known'… You'll be unlucky to get even detention."

Nathan was boring holes through her, eyes pin prick sized machines tunnelling down into her body as if digging for the truth. She sipped her tea and drained the cup before putting it down with a gentle clink. He was very much like she was, though he still had his brother. She perked an eyebrow and tipped her head back so her spine straightened out. There was no lie in her argument this time.

"We should have assembly in a minute." Cassi broke the tenuous silence with a glance at the ornately decorated grandfather clock by the doors. The painting behind the face seemed to be a miniature renaissance, perhaps in the style of Michelangelo, Talitha couldn't help but admire the peach coloured cloud formations, the lazy brush strokes that made up each of the perfect, naked bodies, the radiance conveyed through the reflection of light on the water. It was pretty. Aristocratic.