Whitethorn Academy

Chapter Eight

Thankfully, I had no more dreams. There had been nothing but a peaceful blackness.

I felt more rested than before, but not rested enough. My limbs still felt heavy, as if they still clung to sleep. Rolling over, the clock on my bedside table showed it was a little after seven in the morning.

With a sigh, I stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling, wondering how long I could stay in this bed until I was forced to get out of it.

Ms. Rose had told me I wouldn't start classes until Monday, which left me with nearly a week, alone in this dorm, contemplating my existence. The disappointing texts with Hanna and my mother still made my heart ache.

They'd snuffed themselves out of my life, permanently. I had nothing left. A tear slid down my cheek and I sniffled. Crying wouldn't solve any of my problems, but after finally letting the tears free last night, I wasn't sure I was able to stop them any longer.

A soft knock at the door had me hastily wiping the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand.

Throwing the blankets off myself, I stood and headed for the door. Another knock sounded, just before I unlocked it and pulled it open.

A girl, my age, stood outside, a smile plastered on her freckle-covered face. Her bright red hair frizzed around her head in a halo of curls.

"Hi, I'm Naomi," she said, her smile growing wider. "Inara sent me to make sure you could find your way to the dining hall okay. And then maybe I could give you a tour of the campus?"

"Oh," I said awkwardly. "I'm not dressed yet."

Naomi's smile never faltered. "That's okay. I don't mind waiting."

For a second, I thought about sending her away. I could claim I was sick or too tired. But my stomach growled and I realized that I hadn't eaten since before the bonfire. Nearly two days ago.

"Do... do you want to come in while you wait?"

Naomi tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "Sure."

I opened the door wide, stepping aside so Naomi could enter. She said nothing as she walked in, her curls bouncing with every step she took. She wore her school uniform in navy blue, with a black skirt and dark tights.

"Isn't it too cold outside for skirts?" I asked as I closed the door to my room.

"The tights are fur-lined," Naomi said as she took a seat at the desk. "You should have several pairs of your own in your dresser."

"I'm not big on skirts," I admitted. "Am I expected to wear the uniform today?"

Naomi shook her head. "No, you can wear something else if you'd like. The uniform is required when you're attending classes. On weekends or after classes, you can change into normal clothes."

In my closet, my suitcase from home waited. My mother had handed it to me on the front steps of the police station, before she'd sent me away. Trying to keep my nerves steady, I pulled it out and threw it onto the bed.

"Have you seen much of the campus so far?" Naomi asked as I unzipped the suitcase and dug through the clothes inside.

I shook my head. "Not really. I arrived late last night. Inara showed me Whitethorn Hall and where the dining hall was. Then she led me here. She pointed out a few buildings, but it was too dark to see much of anything."

"Do you have your class schedule? I can help you find your classrooms so that it's not as confusing on your first official day of school. I know new places can be so disorienting."

"Thank you," I murmured as I grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater out of my suitcase. "It means a lot to me."

Without saying anything else, I disappeared into the bathroom to change. Once the door was shut behind me, I took a few deep breaths. I could make it through this one day.