Chapter 22 #2
“Because you’re new. I don’t hang out with new people. They have to earn the right to be seen with me.”
“But you’re my cousin.”
“Doesn’t matter. The rules are the same for everyone.” He walks off. “Trystan will take you home.”
I watch as Braden and Wyatt walk down the brick pathway that leads to the school’s entrance. Some other guys, who are big like football players, meet up with them, and they all go through the double doors into the school.
“Excuse me,” a girl says with an annoyed sigh.
I step back, giving her room to pass on the sidewalk because apparently her shoes can’t touch the grass. She looks younger than me, maybe a sophomore? Her hair is strawberry blonde, and she has really fair skin that looks like it burns within minutes of being in the sun.
Another girl passes me. She looks like she might be my age, with dark hair and a very serious expression.
“Hey,” I say, going up to her. “I’m Rumor.”
She glances at me like she’s annoyed I interrupted whatever serious thoughts she was having, and continues walking.
“Mind if I go in with you?” I say, keeping pace with her. “I’m new here.”
“Do what you want,” she mutters, walking faster.
“I’m Braden’s cousin. You know Braden?”
She abruptly stops and turns to me, a fake smile appearing. “What was it you said you needed?”
Wow. Braden really does have power. I mention his name, and suddenly the girl is nice to me.
“I wondered if you could tell me where to go. I’ve never been inside the school. I don’t know my way around.”
“It’s your first day?”
“Yeah. They sent me something saying I need to go see my advisor first?”
“Ms. Hemlock?”
“Um, yeah, that sounds right.”
“She’s in the admin wing. I’ll show you her office.”
We go inside to an open entry with long hallways on both sides. Straight ahead is a shorter hallway, and to my left is a dark wood staircase with an intricately carved banister.
“It’s down here,” the girl says, leading me down the short hallway lined with offices.
She stops at the one labeled Advisor’s Office.
There’s an older woman in a suit sitting at a large wooden desk.
She has a long, thin face and reading glasses perched on the lower half of her nose, attached to a silver chain that hangs around her neck.
The girl peeks her head in the room. “Ms. Hemlock.”
The woman looks up and smiles. “Ms. Fleming. Welcome back.”
“Thank you.” She motions to me. “This is—” She stops, like she forgot my name.
“Rumor,” I say.
“She’s Braden’s cousin,” the girl says to the lady.
“Oh, yes.” Ms. Hemlock stands up from her desk. “I was expecting you. Come on in.”
“Thanks,” I say quietly to the girl.
She nods and hurries back down the hall.
“Ms. Bennet, have a seat,” Ms. Hemlock says.
I walk in her office and sit on the chair across from her desk. “Do people not use first names here?”
“The children do with each other. But the faculty prefers to use surnames. We feel it encourages maturity and fosters a more professional environment. While we’re on that topic, your name is rather curious.”
“What do you mean?”
“You chose to take your mother’s name rather than your father’s?”
“It was my mom’s decision, but I agree with her.”
“And why is that?”
“She’s the one who raised me so I should have her name.”
“You’d get farther in life with the Halliway name. Have you considered changing it now that your mother has passed?”
“No,” I say, trying to hide my anger. She doesn’t even know me and she’s telling me to change my name?
“Perhaps you could consider it. As your advisor, I’m here to advise you on the courses of action that will lead to success in life. And the Halliway name could definitely contribute to that success.”
I sit up straighter. “What else do we need to talk about?”
“This first meeting is more for you than for me. I’m here to answer any questions you have about your classes, your teachers, or how we do things around here.”
Wanting to get out of her office, I say, “I don’t really have any questions. But a map of the building would be helpful. My next class is in the Monroe room. I have no idea where that is. Do all the rooms have names instead of numbers?”
“Not all, but most. They’re named after our benefactors. I don’t have a map to give you, but I can give you a brief tour.”
“That’s okay,” I say, getting up. “I’m sure I can find it.”
She stands up as I go to the door. “You don’t have further questions?”
“Not right now. I should go. I don’t want to be late on my first day.”
I take off before she forces me back in her office to talk about rules and punishments and how I’m supposed to behave.
She seems like the type of person who loves rules and loves enforcing them.
My advisor at my last school was the total opposite.
Mr. Hanes let us do whatever we wanted. He encouraged us to break the rules, saying rule breakers make change happen and create a better world.
I’d love to hear him debate that with Ms. Hemlock.
Ms. Hemlock. Even her name sounds like a rule. Better lock down those skirt hems, girls! No more than one inch above the knee!
I laugh as I imagine her saying that. I’m sure she’s said it at least once.
Back in the main hallway, I notice almost everyone is gone. Did class start? I didn’t even hear a bell go off.
“Hey,” I say to a guy walking past me. He’s checking his phone. Maybe he didn’t hear me. I catch up to him. “Hey, could I ask you a question?”
“What?” he says as he texts. He’s big and wide so I’m guessing he’s a football player.
“Where’s Monroe?” I ask.
He looks up from his phone. “Is that a joke?”
“No. I was just—”
“What the hell’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. I was just trying to find it. But forget it. I’ll find it on my own.” I turn the other direction.
“Wait.” I hear him behind. “You meant the room?”
I turn around. “Yeah. What’d you think I meant?”
“The person. The guy the room’s named after. Jason Monroe.”
“He goes here?” I ask, confused because I thought benefactors would be old rich people, not people my age.
“He used to.”
“Where is he now?”
The guy pauses. “He’s dead.”