Alison Harold

Chapter 4

Alison sat in the principal's office. The feeling of uneasiness washed over her causing her to fidget in her seat as she kept asking herself in her head how she was going to survive with this new life that was given to her.

There was a big oak desk that stood before her and on it were neatly stacked books and files. The principal sat across from her on the other side of the desk, staring hard at her in a scrutinizing manner. Despite her growing uneasiness, Alison didn't evade the woman's piercing gaze. After a few seconds of awkward silence, the principal spoke.

"Miss Harold."

Alison's eyes traveled down to the name plate that laid on the principal's desk, swiftly studying the woman's name. "Principal Jones," she responded.

The woman's lips twitched as she was struggling to hold back a smile. "It's good to finally meet you."

Alison nodded frantically as she silently hoped to quickly get this meeting over with. She wasn't comfortable with the intense way in which the older woman stared at her almost as though she could read deep into her mind and soul. An unfamiliar sensation crawled on the surface of her skin and she agitated at the weird, overly conscious ambience that radiated off of the older woman's aura.

"There's really nothing much for us to talk about. I'm very familiar with your parents and they've done their part in clearing your fees and all that is necessary for you to begin school here. Your transcript has been reviewed already and I must say I am impressed with what I saw. I trust you'll put in the same effort and motivation in this school. The class you're assigned to is a very competitive one, and... not to discourage you but seeing as you've been home schooled practically your whole life it might take a while for you to adjust well and catch up with the others..."

"I'll be fine," Alison said immediately, hoping she looked as confident as she sounded.

Principal Jones nodded. "Of course. I love that zeal." She paused and then leaned back in her seat, giving Alison a curious look. "May I know why you chose to be home schooled for so long?"

Alison took a few seconds to organize her answer. "Because I've always had a deep-seated dislike for being around multiple people for a long period of time. I find them distracting and sometimes...disturbing."

Principal Jones raised her brows at the last word.

"And..."

Her parents were another reason she'd chosen to stay home and learn. She'd had this vision of "being home can bring me closer to my parents", but no matter how hard she tried to be closer to them, they were always going to be too far away for her to reach.

"And what?" Principal Jones urged.

"I have SAD," Alison said firmly.

Principal Jones chuckled. "What is that? Social phobia? You can stop with that lie already, I didn't see such in your file and your parents said you got better years ago."

Shit! Damn her parents. They'd just destroyed the only card she could use to avoid certain situations in this school.

Alison sighed and averted her eyes. "Is this an interrogation?"

"No, no, no, nothing like that at all. I was only trying to understand you."

"Why?" Alison asked suspiciously.

"Because you remind me of someone," Principal Jones replied calmly.

An awkward silence hung between them for a few seconds and a knock on the door was the only thing that broke the silence.

A boy walked in. Oh, right...she'd nearly forgotten this was a mixed school.

"Here you go," Principal Jones gave her an envelope that had her name written on it. "You can go now. Welcome to Orchid Vale."