Stonewall Academy

Chapter 1

"Young lady! You are out, expelled, never to be seen again!" Principal Figgins yelled.

Yep, this is my life. Being expelled from yet another school. It's honestly not my fault, school hates me and there's nothing I can do about it. Aunt Sam is going to be so mad and disappointed. I hate disappointing her and she has the same face every time I get expelled.

Today would bring the count to being expelled 10 times in the last 3 years. I gave Principal Figgins the finger, turned on my heel, and stalked out, walking home. Aunt Sam was sitting on the porch looking through her photo album. There were pictures of her when she went to school and had the time of her life. We talk about it every night before I go to sleep.

"Hey Aunt Sam, I have bad news," I said and sat down next to her on the porch.

"Let me guess, expelled?" she sighed, her voice filled with disappointment.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to," I apologized.

"It's fine, my baby," she whispered and I snuggled into her shoulder.

"Maybe I should just be homeschooled," I suggested.

"We will figure something out tomorrow. For now, do you want to look at the photos?" Aunt Sam asked.

"Yeah," I agreed.

Aunt Sam handed me a photo of her in her school uniform with her, Mum, and 2 other girls. They all looked around 16 - my age. Who were the other 2 girls?

"Who are these 2, Aunt Sam?" I asked, pointing at the unknown girls.

Aunt Sam's smile faded and she whispered, "That's Rosalie, your Aunt. She died in an accident just after that photo was taken. You're named after her, my little Rose. The other is not to be mentioned. She did something horrible and we all lost touch with her."

"Ok, but why haven't you mentioned my other aunt before?" I asked.

"Rosalie's death broke our family, after she died Grandma D cut all connections to men and pushed us to do the same. We did, but luckily your Mum was already pregnant before it happened. She found out the day that picture was taken, that's why we were all so happy."

"Oh, but wasn't Grandma D shocked that Mum was pregnant at my age?" I asked.

"Of course Grandma D was shocked, but she got over it," Aunt Sam replied.

I looked to Aunt Sam who was crying silently. I squeezed her arm to let her know I supported her, it was what Mum used to do when I cried. Aunt Sam kissed me on the head and went to her room. I tucked the photo in my pocket and went to my room. I got out my computer and searched for schools in the area. I went through the options and found that I've been expelled from every one of them. I slammed the lid down and laid down on my bed.

'Wait, what about Stonewall?' I thought. 'Every other woman in my family has gone there. Why didn't I think of it before? Why haven't I attended there?' I fell asleep with thoughts of Stonewall.

I woke up with Aunt Sam tapping me on the shoulder. I grumbled and sat up; why am I awake at this time? It's so early. Aunt Sam was in a blue fitted dress and her makeup was done. What is going on? Why is she all dressed up? Isn't it like 8 in the morning?

"Why?" I groaned.

"Grandma D is here, get dressed into something suitable," Aunt Sam whispered and left the room.

I jumped out of my bed and got changed into jeans and a spray jacket. All my good clothes were in the wash so this would have to do. I hoped Grandma D would call this outfit suitable. Brushing my hair into a ponytail, I entered the lounge room. On the couch sat the perfectly poised Grandma D. As usual, her hair was perfectly set and her outfit was expensive. Her eyes twinkled with wisdom and memories. If she had age lines you couldn't see them.

"Grandma D, what are you doing here?" I asked.

I kissed her on the cheek and sat next to Aunt Sam across from Grandma D. Aunt Sam was fiddling with her hands nervously, Grandma D freaked her out. Unlike everyone, I was not the tiniest bit scared of her and was not afraid to talk to my Grandma.

"I am here to sort things out. Rosalie, you are to attend Stonewall Academy and Samantha will teach there. No arguments. Now go to your room, I need to talk to Samantha," Grandma D announced.

I looked at her confused and went back into my room. I left it open a sliver so I could hear, I do not like to be left in the dark. Aunt Sam moved to sit beside Grandma D and I sat down next to my door. I watched as Grandma D placed her hand on Aunt Sam's shoulder. It was a rare occasion because we Adler's don't touch, well Grandma D doesn't touch.

"I am sorry about this, it's just so... hard without Jacklyn," Aunt Sam confessed.

"It's ok my daughter, I am taking care of you and Rosalie now. You can both move to my school and we can get Rosalie back on track. I think she will do better with her own family at school and I will not expel her. Now go pack, we are leaving in an hour," Grandma D explained.

"Ok," Aunt Sam replied.

"Hear that Rosalie?" Grandma D asked.

"Uh-hum, sorry," I mumbled and closed the door.

I packed my whole room into a suitcase and squeezed my Mum's necklace. Then I dragged my suitcase to the door and saw Aunt Sam coming towards me with hers. Grandma D was standing next to her car tapping her foot. Aunt Sam grabbed both of our suitcases and chucked them in the car.

"Ready?" Grandma D asked impatiently.

"Yeah, everybody in," Aunt Sam beckoned.

We all hopped in the car, me in the back and the adults in the front. Grandma D started the car and we were off. I put my headphones in and blocked out the adult's whispering. Soon I felt a wave of tiredness and I let it overtake me. After about an hour of uncomfortable sleep, I woke up for good and pulled the loud music out of my ears.

"How long until we get there?" I said, my voice filled with sleep.

"Oh, your awake," Grandma D announced.

"We are just pulling up now," Aunt Sam told me as the car stopped.