SCARLETT HEIGHTS

CHAPTER ONE

AVERY

I jolt awake, beads of sweat on my forehead, my sweatshirt soaked too, I glance at the clock, 4:50 am.

"Ugh, you've got to be kidding me"I groan.
This is the longest I've slept in days, mostly due to the pill I had to take yesterday, I've had trouble sleeping since the accident, dreaming of that unfortunate day, I shake my head, pushing the images threatening to come up to the back of my brain.

I appreciate waking early today because my parents decided last minute that spending my last 2years of high school in a boarding school is the best option in shaping my life *not like it needs shaping*

A little background check before I get out of bed.

My name is Avery Blackwood and I'm 17 years old. I live in a small town with my parents called Grylls. I have 2 siblings,

an older sister, Allison, she's 20 years old, and currently studying Business at one of Greenwich's most prestigious universities, Hale university. It's miles from home but she comes home every holiday to spend time with us.

My brother, Anderson is 18 years old and attends Scarlett heights too, he's in his final year.

He is the typical overprotective brother, although he's not always around because my parents shipped him to the darned boarding school.

Mom is a private lawyer and she also owns a charity foundation, they organize a fundraising event every year to provide scholarships for teens to go to high school and college.

And every year the king and queen are in attendance. Mom makes sure the whole family is present.

Dad owns a chain of businesses across the country, restaurants, hotels, and two factories all functioning under The Blackwood Organization.

"Avery are you up yet?", mum shouts while simultaneously banging on my door.

"Yes mum", I say, loud enough for her to hear over the noise

"Get dressed we're leaving in 40 minutes," she says and leaves, retreating down the stair

I stand up and glance around my room, noticing my bags and suitcases all packed, and sigh.

I don't want to leave, but it's not like I have a choice, I had been getting into lots of trouble lately in school.

I walk to the other side of the room, where my full-length mirror is kept, and look at my reflection, noticing the dark circles under my eyes.

I had stayed up all night texting Allison and saying goodbye to my friends.
I spare a glance at my dog, sleeping at the foot of my bed, her white fur covering where she lay,

I sure am going to miss her, I sigh.

***

I walk out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my head
I blow-dry my hair and tie it up in a ponytail, its brown curly waves stopping at my waist, the natural golden highlights in it very visible.

I spot my uniform draped on my armchair, Asha, our maid must have dropped it there while I was in the bathroom.
I pack my contact lens in my smallest suitcase, I'll be wearing my glasses today, I prefer them.

"Finally, here she comes", I hear Anthony say while I descend the stairs.

"How are you up so early?" I chuckle

"Avery, come eat breakfast quickly or we'll be late," mum says,
She doesn't like being late for anything

"Well, we wouldn't want that now, would we?" I mutter

On my way downstairs the aroma of
Mrs. Smith's famous pancakes fill the air
I walk to the table and a plate is waiting for me with a glass of orange juice. I eat it hurriedly, while Carson loads the car with our suitcases.

Only seconds after I am done eating, there is a knock on the door, Asha answers,
I hear a squeal and before I can register who it is, the person flings herself at me, I inhale the vanilla scent and immediately know it is my best friend, Kira,

"wow, this uniform looks like it was made for you, you look stunning "

" well that's not something someone hears every day, looking stunning in a school uniform" I gag "but thank you, that boosted my confidence" I chuckle

"I'm going to miss you Avy boo" she wails

" I'm going to miss you too"

"school isn't going to be the same without you, is there a way I can convince you to stay?", she says giving me the puppy eye look she has perfected over the years

" I'm afraid there isn't, but you can always come to visit with my parents", I say, hugging her tightly.

"sure, Kira, you're always welcome to join us", mum says

"Enough of this lovey-dovey girly thing or we're going to be late," Anthony says irritated

I roll my eyes at his remark
"Jerk"

" We'll leave you alone with aKiraa for a while so you can say your goodbyes," mum says angling her head towards the doorway, a signal for Anthony to leave.

Anthony takes his glass of orange juice and goes upstairs, grumbling all the way.

Alone at last

"Well. I heard the Prince goes to your school" Kira says her eyes twinkling in delight.

I scoff "your last minutes with me and you decide to talk about the prince"

"what else is there to talk about, we already said goodbye to each other last night" Kira chuckles. "don't have to be so hot and bothered already, I'm not Anthony" she winks

" I am not" I gruff "so? He's not in the same grade with me, I doubt I'd see him not like I want to and you know how I feel about those snobby rich kids"

" you don't even know him, you're rich and you're not snobby, must you think the worst of him before you even meet him?" Kira says rolling her eyes.

"maybe you should go in my stead, you're more open-minded" I smirk "besides you know how overprotective Anderson can be, the only male species I'll be allowed to hang out with would be him and his friends".

Kira laughs " true, I don't know what I'd do if my brother is as protective as yours, good luck girl, you'll need it"

I chuckle " I better get going, you know how grumpy my mum can be when she's late"

"ugh, I still can't believe you're leaving," she says, frowning

" I'll be back before you know it," I say

" don't forget to bring something on your way back, by the way, aren't you forgetting something?"

I roll my eyes
Of course, the parting gift she not so subtly asked me to give her, not like I wasn't going to give her one, I had hoped it would be a surprise.

I dig into the pocket of my blazer and hand the small case to her

It's a gold necklace, with our initials inside a circle, it's custom made and I had to wait a week for it to get here

"I love it" she squeals hugging the necklace to get her chest

I laugh " I know you would"
She hugs me again and I could feel the tears pricking my eyes already.

"Avery, it's time," Mum says
I was too engrossed in the hug, I didn't hear her come down the stairs
Kira waved her arm through mine, and we walked outside together.

I open the door seeing Anthony already seated with his blue AirPods in his ear

I sit down and Mr. Simmons, our driver starts the car

I turn and wave to Kira, she returns the gesture blowing air kisses at me, I giggle and settle into my seat, putting my AirPods in, heatwaves by glass animals blasting in my ear.

I look outside the window watching the scenery, wondering how different this school would be from my last.

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