Union Academy//Preps vs. Poors

Chapter 1

My truck rolled up the tree-lined gravel path into the parking lot of Union Academy. Everywhere I looked there were people. All seemed to be preppy people, the majority of whom were probably from the rich side of NYC. Dads were wearing button down shirts, alongside moms in dresses and cardigans despite the humid summer weather, all while their children, (a.k.a. my school mates), sported the latest designer fashions.

And then there was me: the 14 year-old girl from the middle of no where with multiple piercings in each ear, and a small tattoo on my shoulder, wearing black jeans and a plaid shirt that I'd had since I'd stopped growing. I was sort of regretting accepting the scholarship to attend this 'elite preparatory academy'.

"You nervous, Kayla?" I heard my uncle say from the driver's side. I had gotten rid of the southern accent he still had a long time ago, but lord, did I still wear the same southerly clothing.

"No." I answered sourly. Yes, I thought.

"C'mon champ," he said as he tugged my long dark hair, "lighten up. At least try to give this place a chance. For me?"

I looked over at his big goofy smile, and his cowboy hat that fell just a little too fair down his forehead, and of course his shirt that fit a little too snug to his beer belly. Who could say no to that? Who could say no a person who has done so much for you? "Sure." I replied with a grin. "For you."

"That's my girl." He said back as he squeezed my shoulder. I smiled at him before looking back out the window.

In the rear view I could barely make out a little grey muzzle sticking out from in-between the gaps of the trailer, attempting to gather all the scents of our new found home. Nova was going to help make living here a lot better.

Uncle pulled into a large parking space in the far corner of the parking lot. He may have done it because he needed to back the large trailer out, or maybe because there weren't any other open parking spaces that I could see. Yeah. That's how many people were there.

"Hop out kiddo. We gotta get you settled in." Uncle told me once the car had come to a stop.

I hopped out of the car, my worn down converse leaving a dust mark on the asphalt I had jumped onto. I made my way to the back of the two-horse trailer and undid the lock. As I swung open the door I could hear Nova stomping on the inside. He wanted to get out and stretch his legs more than anything. Once I stepped inside Nova stretched his long muscular neck around to meet my hand. If Nova loved anything, it would be attention. I swear he was more spoiled than I was. I mean there's no reason he shouldn't be. He was an Anglo-Arab, one of the best showing breeds there is. Uncle really had to pull some strings to get him.

Once at the front Nova rubbed his head against my body, coating my clothes in light grey, the inexperienced would call it white, hairs. I should've seen it coming, but it still shocked me a little every time.

"Thank you for that." I said after he had finished. "Really that was so necessary."

Before I could even finish unhooking Nova from the trailer he started to back out. I had to hold tight on his halter as he threw his strong head. I strained to reach for the red lead line behind me. Once I was able to wrap my fingers around it I clipped it on to the bottom of his halter and started backing him out of the trailer. As soon as all four feet were on solid ground, my high-strung, still slightly green horse pranced around like a kid in a candy shop. With his head held high and his tail up he trotted me towards the dirt path leading to the barn. I bet you he was going for the hay.

"Hey Uncle." I called as I used my feet as skis. "Nova wants to go to the barn I guess. Can you please make sure everything is in my trunk and bring it to the barn?"