| WHO IS LADY A? |

BONUS CHAPTER #1 | Bumping into Lady A

Dinner was a quiet affair at the Riverfield house. Rachel Riverfield worked at the new coffee shop, keener than ever, trying and hoping that she had made a good impression on the townspeople. It was difficult, moving into a new place. Her fifteen year old daughter was silent on the whole ride. She was silently brooding.

"Brooklyn High is one of the best schools in town. Your father went there when he was your age" Rachel said, trying to cheer her up.

"I suppose so...but are the uniforms really necessary?" asked Lucy, looking outside the window gloomily. The weather matched her mood. It was raining outside.

"You'll be meeting grandma again..." Rachel changed the subject. "Yeah, I guess so" was Lucy's reply.

It took a few days to get used to the new town. Brooks was very scenic, which the young artist appreciated.

It had been a week since she had arrived, and tomorrow, she would be attending her new school. Yay, she thought.

But the dinner was spectacular. Her grandmother and mother were some of the best chefs she knew, and since her mother was busy with her new café, her grandmother was with her all day.

Rosamond Rooks always made sure that Lucy was happy. She also made the best snacks, which made up for the fact that she couldn't understand any book or movie references that Lucy said.

"Now, it's important to have good impressions. Especially with your peers and teachers. And try to participate in those art competitions that you love so much. You won one last time, you can win this year too" said Lucy's grandmother, while piling more spaghetti and tomato sauce on her almost empty plate.

"And there's something else" said her grandmother grimly. "Uh huh...what's that?" Arya asked, her mind focusing much more on the delicious dinner than her grandmother's words.

"Well, when I was your age, girls are meant to be seen, not heard. And I've put up with all that for years. But...times change and we're all here right now" Rosamond began.

Lucy stopped eating, and looked at her grandmother.

"I'm glad that thing started to be honest, it gives the students a little team spirit"

"Grandma, what are you talking about?", Lucy had to mumble, seeing as she was digging into a meatball enthusiastically.

"I'm talking about Lady A! It'll be in your new school! It's the talk of the town my dear"

Lady A?

****

Lucy got a better understanding of Lady A the next day at Brooklyn High, when a senior girl explained everything to her.

"And of course, we have our advice column. Not that special really...all you have to do is send a letter and leave it by the postbox in the newspaper room"

Lucy wasn't sure what to make of Gina Turninghum. She seemed to think the school belonged to her.

Thank god, I won't have to deal with her for long, she leaves next semester.

"Oh-I'm sorry!"

Lucy bumped into a girl, with round glasses and brown, mousy hair. She had a stack of letters and papers in her hand.

"You're really clumsy Eliza...maybe you should check in with the nurse"

Lucy heard the sarcasm in Gina's voice.

"I'll be fine, thank you", Eliza left and Lucy and Gina continued their tour.

"So, who is Lady A?" asked Lucy. "Lady A is a student from our school, we send her letters, we receive her advice. It's overrated, if I ran the column, it would be much more successful", Gina bragged.

Lucy wasn't sure about that, but she held her tongue. "How are you so sure it's a girl?" she asked instead. 

"The name speaks for itself" Gina replied. 

"But they could've chosen Lady A because they wanted to make sure that their identity could be kept a secret. 'Lady' as in royalty. Royals have secrets" Lucy countered. 

Gina didn't think about it like that. 

Lady A as royalty? Stealing her spotlight?

But if only Lucy had paid closer attention to the letters held in little Eliza's hands.

The letters addressed to Lady A.