The Secret (Boston's Best 1)

Chapter Five

"Kids! Come in here for a minute, please."

I shout back "Coming, mam!"

Riley and I walk out of our rooms at the same time and make our way to the living room. I move some boxes out of the way so we can sit down first though.

"What's up?" Riley asks.

Mam sits down too "So, obviously as yous know I start at the hospital tomorrow and I was just wondering if yous wanted to come with me to register you both at the schools to start tomorrow or do you want to wait until next Monday? It's completely fine if you wanna wait like I know we only landed today."

I look over at Riley who shrugs so I say "Yeah okay, I say start tomorrow. Like I don't really want to be sitting around all week in an unfamiliar city. So, register today and start tomorrow."

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We pull up to the school. No, sorry. We pull up to the freakin palace that I'll be living in and finishing my secondary education in.

And don't think I'm being dramatic or exaggerating when I say palace. Like there is literally a castle here. Once we make our way past the 500 buildings and to the admissions centre there is a castle. A real live castle.

After I gather my bearings I step out of the car and stand with my mam and sibling. I look up at the giant blue and white flag blowing in the wind with whatever is obviously the school emblem and the name Boston Preparatory and something in Latin, I recognise the word for hope -spes, but that's it.

Mam claps her hands "Okay, so I think we'll go to the middle school building first for Riley. That sounds okay?" 

Riley laughs "Yeah okay. Seventh grade here I come."

I chuckle "Yeah no that sounds good mam, but I was thinking that I'd walk around for a bit. To get to know the campus yano. Is that okay?"

She nods "That's fine, sweetie. Just keep your phone on you and I'd say we won't be more than half an hour, an hour at max."

I smile and wave my phone at her to show that it is indeed on. I walk around the corner of the admissions office and just stroll through the chilly end of March air around the campus.

I hear a cheer and turn towards the football fields. The American football team is practising right now. Wonder if they're any good.

Just then I get pushed to the ground and definitely cut my knees on the tar. I look down at my even more ripped jeans and the blood now on them.

"I am so sorry. I'm running late to practice and coach is gonna blow his shit. Really, I am sorry I didn't see you there."

I look the boy over, about 6ft maybe 6'1, black hair and brown eyes, sharp jawline, kinda tan, and clumsy as shit. "Seriously? You didn't see me? The only other person standing here beside you. And ow! You've wrecked my jeans, so thanks for that."

He runs his hands through his hair "No seriously I am really sorry, and if I could I would buy you new jeans."

I look into his pleading eyes and decide he seems sincere. I shake my head and extend my hand "It's fine. I'm Madeleine O'Brien by the way but everyone just calls me Maddie."

I can nearly see the relief on his face but he does a decent enough job at hiding it. He takes my hand "Nice to meet you, Maddie. I'm Alex Walker. Are you new though? I don't think I've ever seen you before and I know pretty much everyone here."

"Yeah, I am new. Only landed from Ireland today, and starting tomorrow."

"Wow, no rest for the wicked, huh. I would've taken a week off before starting. What brings you here anyway?"