Heart to Heart

one

Valeria

"Are you sure this is the right place? It's a fucking castle." Pete says looking through the window, wide eyed.

I look down at my hand book that reads, 'Greendale Academy,' then look up at the bronze sign on the brick wall that shares the same thing. I nod back at Pete. "I guess this is it..."

This is a boarding school that only the richest teens in the state of California can get into. According to the website you have to have all A's, be in the top 5 smartest for at least 3 of your classes, and be able to afford paying $160,000 a year. I thought that boarding schools were for bad kids...like juvenile delinquents, or just kids that are unwanted from their parents...I guess I was wrong. God...I don't belong here.

I wish my mom wasn't dead, so I wouldn't have to be here. I haven't seen my dad in almost 17 years...and he just decided to reach out to me after she died? And sense when is he the head principal for a fucking boarding school.

Wow, my life is a true train wreck.

"So do you want me to help with your bags?" Pete turns back at me from the front seat.

"Nah, I'm good, thanks for driving me here." I give him a cheeky smile, and he returns it back. I undo my seat belt and open the fancy limbo doors. Well...here goes nothing. I push the car door open to see the huge palace waiting before me. A gust of warm wind hits me as I step out. Jesus, I only got to see a quarter of the building from inside the car. This place looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale. Closest to me, were big metal gates that ran around the interior of the building, guarding it. Straight ahead there's a second gateway that leads to the modern entrance.

I grab my two suitcases out of the tailgate then push the button to close it. My dad insisted that 'his men' will fly over and get all my other belongings from Vegas, remember, his words not mine. Pete sends a wave to me, then he's down the road to probably go pick up his next client.

Some realization comes to my mind that I am probably not wearing 'boarding school' appropriate clothes. I look down at my jean shorts, and cropped tank top, and I mouth, 'screw it.' It's not like I have a uniform or anything yet.

Just as I'm about to text my dad, the enormous doorway opens and he walks out. There he is. The man that left my mom and he when he found out she was pregnant. This is the first time I have seen him in so long. The only reason I know what he looks like is because my mom has shown me pictures of them together in the past.

We both walk towards each other until we're standing about 2 feet apart. Dear god, I hope this conversation isn't awkward.

"Come here Val." His unfatherly voice says, as he wraps his arms around me. I don't hug him back, I won't. Even though, for the first time in my entire life it feels like I have a dad. I don't know how to express my emotions to him. What am I feeling right now? Is it warmth? Trust? Happiness? Sadness?

He finally lets go after he realizes I'm not going to hug him back. "Hi Nick." I calmly whisper to him.

"Please call me dad." He smiles. I awkwardly tilt my head and scrunch my nose hearing him say that.

"YOU want me to call you dad? After you left and mom? You have been nothing more than a stranger to me...my whole life. I will never call you dad." Wow, that felt so good to let out. That was definitely my true self speaking.

"I understand. That was the biggest mistake I ever made, leaving you and your mom. I would do anything to go back in time to that day. I know it will take time for you to forgive me, please just know that I'm here if you want to talk about your mother or just anything in general." He gives a small smile.

I want to say so much to him but I can't. I want to tell him all about Vegas, about my friends there, about the life I lived...but something is telling me that I shouldn't tell him. Instead, I just nod to him and he proceeds to take my bags and walk to the entrance.

I slowly follow behind him and take in everything around me. The crisp California air blowing my messy hair around, the beautiful sunset view, I can't believe this is the life i'll be living now.

When I finally bring myself back to reality, I notice he's holding the glass door with gold carvings open for me. I walk up the steps until I get there.

I look at him before I go inside. "Thanks." He gives a small nod, holding his hand out, pointing inside.

I step on the marble ground and walk in, holy shit. Everyone in the whole building is staring right at me. And as soon as Nick walks in behind me, they all turn back to what they were doing. Hmm...he must be strict or something.

As I follow him over to wherever he is going, I note what the girls are wearing. Plaid skirts with polos. Fun...I roll my eyes.

All of sudden Nick stops at a young man. This guy has coiled black hair, tan skin, and he's probably about 6'1. He is wearing black cargo pants with a long sleeve polo, and a plaid sweater over it. I assume that is what the boys have to wear here. He looks at me and gives a cheeky smile. I give it right back to him.

My dad leans over to him and whispers something in his left ear, and the guy focuses in, which confuses me. After about 10 seconds they lean away from each other and my dad tells me he has work to get done and that this guy will help me around. Just as I am about to ask him what all that what about, he walks back to his office.

"Hello, I'm Oliver Stroll." His deep voice states.

"Hey, I'm Valeria Collins." We shake hands, neatly. Why is everything so fucking proper here.

"Oh yeah I already know." Oliver smiles. I look at him with a confusing look on my face.

Before I get to say anything Oliver cuts me off. "Everyone has been talking about you because you're like the new girl here. And we don't get many new people. And your also the principal's daughter so you've become really popular."

I just say, "Oh wow." Back to him. I hope to god they have been talking good about me and not bad.

"Let me show you around! Follow me." Before I get a chance to grab my suit cases, he scoops them up. "Let me get those for you." He gives a little grin. "Thanks." I smile.

Oliver starts walking to a stair case with red velvety carpet lining over it from top to bottom. He double steps over each, and I do the same. "So according to your schedule you are on floor 6GF." He pauses for a second. A second too long to make me wonder.

"What?" I question looking at him as we finally get up the stairs.

"Nothing. Sorry." Oliver smiled at me.

I just return it. That was oddly strange. 

"Let me show you to your room." He changed the subject. We make a left into a hall way full of decorated doors. I assume this is 6GF.

"So this is the floor you'll be on. This hall is filled with all seniors, just like you. I'm on floor 7GF which is down the hall to the right instead of the left. On this paper it says you don't have a roommate, but if you make any friends and want to roommate with them just go to the main office in the lobby and they can help you with that."

Oliver stops at door 794 and hands me keys to open the door. "Here are your keys for your room and your locker. If you loose them, you can get more in the main office." He smiles, leaning against the wall next to my door.

"Thanks for all the help Oliver, I appreciate it. See you tomorrow?!" I exclaimed.

"Of course." He sets my suit cases down, and puts my schedule on top of one. He gives me one last cheeky smile and mouths, "See ya!" Then starts walking the opposite direction.

I open the door to reveal a very nice looking dorm room. When I walk in straight to the left is a bathroom, then down a small hallway there is a desk, nightstand, dresser, closet, and a KING SIZED BED. Perfect!! Maybe living here won't be so bad, I think to myself. That bed is looking a little too comfy right now so I think I'm gonna go sleep...