A Touch of Sunshine (gxg)

Part 2 (Official Start)

"Thank you, Stephan." I said, stepping out of the car, "I appreciate the ride to school."

"I hope you have a wonderful first day, Lucy." Stephan said to me through the rolled down window.

"Thank you. You will be here at 3 PM to pick me up?" I asked Stephan.

"Yes, ma'am." Stephan nodded at me.

"Thank you." I said, "I'll see you then."

I took a deep breath and took my first steps onto the grassy campus.

My first day at Samaria College. A place that I never thought I would be going to. But I convinced my parents to let me attend college. I told them that it would be a powerful asset- having a degree. My mother doesn't seem to agree, but my father does. He has final say, so it worked out for me.

Everyone else on campus lives in the dormitories for two years at the college- even if their parents live close by. That is a requirement- you go to college; you live on campus.

Except for me. I was still going to be living at the Castle, and the college made an exception for that. I hoped that wouldn't affect any good standing I had with any of the students. I didn't want them to think I was getting any kind of special treatment, but as Duchess, I had to be at the castle.

I would have at least one person on campus who understood this. My first cousin, Eleanor "Ellie" Wren. Ellie is my mother's sister, My Aunt Annika's, daughter. Ellie is the same age as me, 19 years old.

There was one person, however, that I dreaded seeing.

Valerie Maddow.

Valerie is a year older than me, and she is a second-year student on campus. Her family could have had the power to let her live at home on their Estate as well-, but rumor had it that she wanted to live on campus.

Valerie despised me. And I despised her.

We have our reasons.

"Lucy!" I heard Ellie's voice call to me, "Lucy! I'm so glad you're here!"

Ellie ran over, her long, shiny strawberry blonde hair bouncing up and down. She wore the Samaria College uniform- a gray sweater with a white collared shirt underneath and a blue and green plaid skirt. I had seen her in this uniform many times when she was in Prep school.

I was homeschooled- so today was my first day ever wearing a uniform. I was used to fashionable dresses and jewelry- not uniforms. But I had to abide by the rules. Yes, I am a Duchess. But I'm also a student now.

I embraced Ellie in a hug.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, Ellie." I said as we pulled away.

She looked me up and down. "I never expected to see you in a sweater and plaid skirt."

I could see girls staring at Ellie and I as they walked past. They knew who I was.

"Hopefully it doesn't look too bad?" I asked Ellie.

"You somehow make it look fabulous." Ellie said to me, "Let me see your schedule. I hope we have all of the same classes together. Some of our classes mix with the girls a year ahead of us. I hope we don't have any classes with you know who."

Valerie Maddow.

I took my schedule out of my leather bag. Ellie pulled hers out as well, and we compared.

I looked at her. "We have all of the same classes together. This can't just be a coincidence."

She looked at me, her emerald green eyes wide. "Maybe it is?"