Ambrosia Academy

Arriving

AN: This will most likely be edited at a later date!!!

Looking up the hill I could see the school standing proudly above the fancy gated communities. As Mom drove up I looked out my window in boredom. The neighborhood visible to me was full of homes with gold accents and golden wolf statues on the lawns.

Scoffing at the obvious snobby nature of those who live there I turn back to my mom. "Why do I even have to go to this fancy rich kid school anyway? We don't even live in the district!" I acclaimed while waving my hand toward the homes we were passing.

"You know how selective they are Kathy, you got an invitation to attend this year and I'd be damned if you didn't at least try to get further in life then your father and I." She says as she glances at me from the corner of her eyes, still focused on the road ahead.

Slumping in my seat I respond "I know I know I just wish you'd stop using the guilt card like that Mom, there's nothing wrong with you guys owning a bakery." I turn my head out the window again before mother tries to give me her sad eyes.

Mom sighs "I know you don't think so dear, but you have so much potential I just want you to explore every option." Slowing the car she continues "We can discuss this more at home okay?" We stop before a large golden gate with the words Ambrosia Academy written in cursive across it.

Tuning out Mom talking through the buzzer I examine the school grounds and buildings I can see. The exterior looks like a normal school at first glance with the typical brick walls and the rich kid fountain in the courtyard.

As I'm looking at the grounds I notice that as I glance away things seem to shimmer in and out of existence. Inhaling sharply I stare at where a shimmer was moments before on the fountain. Squinting I try to determine if my mind's playing tricks on me, just as I am about to give up the fountain sparkles and waves almost like a heatwave and what I see has me exhaling in shock. The normal fountain had just turned into a shire of sorts with a male statue on top and candles and flowers surrounding the base of the new fountain. As I am staring in shock mom starts driving again and the gate swings through my vision blocking the fountain. Mom starts talking again but I'm not paying her any mind as I am again in shock as the fountain is back to normal once again. The flowers, candles, male statue, all of it is gone.

Turning sharply to mom I interrupt whatever she was saying "Mom did you see that?" A look of confusion flashes across her face and she goes to speak but I cut her off "The fountain! Just now! It changed into a man and there were these candles and flowers and-" I stopped at the look on my mothers face, I'd only seen this look a handful of times in my life and whatever caused it was normally not good. The last time that look appeared we had to move homes as I'd told mom about a large boar that was in the backwoods near our home. However this time there isn't a boar and she doesn't just look frightened, she looks almost resigned. Resigned to what? I have no idea. She goes to speak and this time I don't stop her.

"Honey" she starts as she parks the car "I haven't been completely honest with you."

Confused, I ask "What does that mean? Not honest about what?"

Sighing softly she continues "I wasn't very honest with you when you were a child. You'd come to me with stories of fairies and angels and well" she trails off.

"And what?" I ask "What does my childish fantasies have to do with the fountain? I'm not 5 anymore Mom, I'm 16, I think I can handle whatever you're trying to tell me."

The resigned expression increases as she goes on "You weren't imagining them Kathy, they exist'' she takes a deep breath "at least from what I know from the letter I got when you turned 2." Turning to me with a dead serious look in her eyes she finishes "I love you Kathy and I love your father I really do so please don't take this the wrong way but you're not his."

I stare at her in shock as memories flood to the surface. Memories of games I'd play with fairies, gnomes, goat people in the woods that I'd brushed off as an active imagination as I grew older. But most importantly memories of everything I've done with Dad, all the times we went fishing, swimming at the beach, him teaching me how to knead bread, him being there for my first break up with tubs of ice cream. All of them flood me at once as tears come to my eyes. "What do you mean Mom?" I say quietly, "Are you saying you cheated on Dad?" I sob while wiping my eyes uselessly.

Mom tears up as she nods ever so slightly "It wasn't supposed to happen Kathy I was drunk and young and one thing lead to another" she trails off as she sees the time. Whipping her eyes she clears her throat. "This isn't the time for this discussion we have to be inside in 5 minutes" She takes my hands and leans in close "I know this was sudden and I'm sorry but I held out hope that the letter was wrong, I'll let the headmaster explain inside but your extraordinary Kathy and I love you all the same. So does your Dad, okay? He's known since you were born honey, we don't keep secrets from one another so don't let you knowing change anything between you two. He loves you very much."

Shakily I nod and she lets me go to turn off the car. Stepping out of the car I don't even have the energy to be amazed by the shimmers and hidden objects I see from my peripheral vision. I keep my head down low and follow after Mom not unlike a lost puppy.