Chapter One #2
My friends and I continue to talk about various topics, and then the warning bell rings. We throw out our garbage and discard our trays, then follow the throngs of students out of the dining hall and toward the building that houses the classrooms and offices.
I hug my friends, who assure me everything will be okay, and then we separate to our destinations.
As I make my way to the principal’s office, my heart starts to pound and my knees are shaking.
The truth is, I’m a bit nervous. Okay, a lot.
I don’t like school, but I love my friends (and the food), and it would suck to get kicked out.
Principal Harrington only gave me this scholarship to appease my dad.
He worked for one of her family’s companies and was fired with a bunch of other employees.
They made a big issue out of it, and in order to “save their image” they rehired my dad and Harrington offered me the scholarship.
Her great-great-grandfather founded the town of Harrington Bay and they founded and own the academy, too.
So while I doubt she would tarnish her reputation by kicking me out, the reality is that she can technically do it whenever she wants.
But it’s always good to think positively, right? Maybe it really is a phone call from one of my parents.
When I get to the office, the secretary tells me to take a seat and that the principal will be with me shortly.
I try to study her expression to see if she knows whether or not I’m walking to my doom, but she always has this cheery look on her face.
So no help there. With an internal sigh, I drop down on one of the chairs in the waiting area, which honestly can be a bit softer on the butt.
With the amount of money this school has, can’t they afford chairs that don’t feel like I’m sitting on wood?
Fine, maybe I’m a little grouchy. I just can’t stand sitting here and waiting and not knowing my fate.
There’s laughter from inside Harrington’s office. I guess someone else is in there with her right now? It doesn’t sound like a student but an adult, so either a faculty member or maybe a parent. Either way, I’m going to have an anxiety attack soon.
Finally after what feels like forever, the door to her office opens and a woman walks out.
She looks like a reporter. I wonder if this has anything to do with what happened with Addie.
People who were enemies of her grandfather tried to kill her, and a student called Hudson was involved.
Thankfully, he’s been arrested. Another incident that happened involved Head Witch Clarissa Thomas.
Long story short, she basically almost got Addie killed, too, because Addie dared be interested in Warner, who Clarissa had a thing for.
From what Addie told me, her grandfather isn’t going to sit back and do nothing about the situation.
So maybe that’s why the reporter was speaking to the principal.
Harrington, a woman in her fifties dressed in an elegant suit, notices me and nods for me to follow her into her office.
Okay, here it is. My moment of doom. I’m not sure if my legs will support me because my knees are still knocking into one another, but I force them to work properly because there’s no use avoiding the inevitable.
The principal has a neutral look in her eyes, so I have no idea what’s in store for me.
Why do adults have to hide their emotions and make kids sweat like this?
I don’t think she’s the biggest fan of me because my grades are terrible and I’m her charity case, but would a teensy-weensy hint at my future kill her?
She settles down in her leather chair and tells me to sit down on the chair across from her. She forces a small smile and then says, “I hope you’re having a good morning.”
“Yep,” I say, noticing my voice shakes a little. “It’s great so far. Thanks for rooming me with Addie.”
“That wasn’t my decision,” she says. “Mr. Bradshaw insisted. I honestly don’t think it’s the best idea, for I fear you may have a negative effect on Addie.”
Um…ouch. The fact that she just said point blank that Addie’s grandfather forced her to let me room with Addie stings. Geez, I guess she really isn’t my greatest fan.
I laugh nervously. “Addie’s a great student. I’m sure she’ll have a positive effect on me, and not the other way around.”
She makes a clicking sound with her tongue like she highly doubts it, but thankfully, it seems she’s ready to change the subject. Pinning her serious eyes on me, she says, “I’ve been informed that you failed to show up for the new student this morning.”
“New student?”
“Ryder Bennett. I emailed you last night to give him a tour of the school. As you have done for many students in the past, including your friend Addie Hayes.”
“New student?” I mutter. “More like new monster.”
“Pardon me?”
I wish I could tell her that I can’t possibly show up for a student who doesn’t exist, but I’m pretty sure that would get me detention. And maybe possibly expulsion? The academy has a no-bullying policy here.
“I was under the impression that you enjoy helping new students gather their bearings,” she says.
“Well, yeah, that’s true, but…”
Her brows dip. “But…?”
“Not when they’re cretins,” I mutter.
“Carly, I’m sorry to say that I’m getting older and my hearing is not what it used to be. Please speak louder.”
I force a smile. “All I said was that I’ve been so busy with school and everything that it unfortunately slipped my mind. Sorry.”
Not.
She nods in understanding. “All right. You’ll meet with him during lunch period and give him the tour then.”
My jaw falls open. “You mean, sacrifice my lunch?”
If she knew the kind of relationship I have with food, she would be smart to change her order, pronto.
She holds out her hands. “I’m sorry, but you made a commitment to meet with him before classes and you failed to keep your—”
“I didn’t commit to meet with The Fiend—” I snap my lips shut as my cheeks heat up. “I m-mean, it’s hard for me to concentrate on my classes on an empty stomach.”
She once again fastens serious eyes on me. “Considering how much effort you put into your classes, I’m sure you’ll fare just fine.”
Wow, burn. Harrington can be a beast.
She continues to look into my eyes. “Don’t disappoint me again, Carly.”
“Okay,” I mumble as I grab my backpack and get up.
“One more thing.”
I lower myself back on the chair and try not to sigh. Can this nightmare get any worse?
“You’ve coasted by your freshman and sophomore years, but I’m afraid we can’t allow you to do that any longer. Every student here brings value to this academy, or else they wouldn’t have the privilege of attending our prestigious school. You, Carly Simmons, need to contribute to the school.”
“I don’t have money,” I say.
She shakes her head. “We don’t need money from students. We want commitment. We want sacrifice. When was the last time you gave up a fun night with friends to study for a test? Or when was the last time you lost sleep to finish an essay?”
Um…never?
“We expect a lot from our students, Carly. And you are no exception.”
“You want me to jeopardize my health to prove I belong here?” I ask incredulously.
“Heavens, no,” she says with a light chuckle. “We don’t want to harm our students. We just want you to show us that you take your studies here seriously.”
“I, um…well…”
“It doesn’t only have to be through grades,” she explains. “You don’t participate in any extracurricular activities. You’re not part of any clubs and you don’t tutor any students.”
“So…you’re saying if I join a club, that can be counted as a form of commitment?”
“Yes. That would be a great idea, considering how poor your grades are.”
She’s always finding an opportunity to stick it to me, huh? I bet she regrets offering me the scholarship when I was in eighth grade.
“I guess I’ll look into it,” I say as I get up and once again lift my backpack.
She hands me a late note. “Everyone has potential here, Carly. You just need the motivation.”
I nod and leave her office. Once I’m outside, I lean against the wall and bang my head on it.
Not only am I being forced to give a tour to The Fiend, I have to join a club?
Sophie doesn’t have that problem because she’s a good student and she tutors.
Addie is a good student, too, and so is Raven.
None of them are in clubs because we scholarship kids tend to be ignored here.
Now I have to force myself into a club that no one will want me to be part of? So unfair.
It feels like my luck has started to shift ever since Ryder arrived. If he ruins my life here, I promise things will not be pretty.