I look out of Nana’s window and reflect on what’s brought me to this point. My father ruined, my siblings quarrelsome. It was first the incident, then the reunion, and now the move... wait. What was the incident? Why can’t I remember that?
What-
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and I recall my last reading session with a novel, exactly 4 months and 5 days ago. American Psycho, I think.
Jeez, I said to myself, I should find out if there’s a library or something here, I’ll die of boredom if I don’t. I mean, I know that I’m going to get more books (text books) but still, I need something else.
“Earth to Elizabeth, mija, can you hear me?”
My head shoots up and hits the hood of the car, I curse under my breath and then realise we’ve already arrived.
“I’m here Nana, sorry, I was just thinking,” I replied and smiled. I like it when she calls me mija. It reminds me about my Mexican/Spanish roots.
“You’re going to be late if you don’t hurry,” my grandmother chuckles.
“Oh, right! Adiós, Nana!” I yell over my shoulder, grasping my suitcase and school bag, already sprinting across the boardwalk and into the looming white marble building.
I am met by a tall, slender woman. About 20, perhaps. She had dark chestnut brown hair which complemented her far away cobalt blue eyes. Her face looks like she’d smeared a tomato on and called it makeup, and seems to be bored out of her mind, but her expression brightens as soon as she sees me. She looks pretty when she smiles.
“Good Morning!” she chirps.
Dang, she’s neat. Even behind her desk it’s organized. Far from what I could handle.
“Good morning ma’am. I’m Elizabeth Anderson, I’m new to this school, and... I think I’m supposed to collect my ID and schedule here?” I added.
“Ah, yes! Elizabeth, one of our...” She coughs, “Late admissions. Well, here’s your class schedule and ID, I hope you’ll enjoy your year at St. Erania Alcamy Academy!”
Cringe. Is this something she says to every new student? Why is the name so unnecessarily long?
“I’m the receptionist, Rebbeca Robson, by the way. I’m working as an intern since my mother used to work here!” She stated brightly. “My 15 year old little sister goes here, she’s in your class, 9D.”
She seems talkative. But what’s with the info? I mean, come on, do I really have to know that?
“That’s nice,” I comment absentmindedly as she tells me about the school system. Half listening, I examine the room. There were large cream, pale grey, lavender and off-white couches. I noticed, for the first time, that Rebbeca’s desk had a light marble top, and that there’s a clock behind her, ticking away. I glance at her again. Crystals hang from her ears in an elegant decorum, and the ears from which they hang upon are long and razor sharp. She wears a white blouse with – I noticed – a sliver butterfly brooch not unlike my chrysalis necklace.
Miss Rebecca finally halts with her talking and then adds, “Lots of them have had phenomenal powers, but I’ve never felt an aura just like yours. And that’s saying a lot. My graduated batch was crazy. Yours is like... a divine spirit of some sort.”
What? I wondered. Powers? What was she talking about? Also, who are they? The students?
I shrug off her remark as I see a lean, jaunt boy walking towards us. She regards him, “Oh. Jay, you’re here. This is Elizabeth. You’ll tour her around today, right? I’ll ask one of the staffs people to bring her luggage to her dorm.”
The boy gives her a respectful nod, “Cool. Thanks for the intro, Beca! It’s nice to meet you, Elizabeth,” he smiles, but it isn’t fake, like the rest of those guides used to, knowing my past, and his smile actually seemed kind and sincere.
“You too.” I say as we stride into the corridors.
“Alright, I suppose you have a nickname?” He had suggested it like it was a fact.
The question unregistered in my mind, I gaze at him, taking in his features. Jet black hair, magenta tinted sunglasses – wait, is that even allowed? – and the ends of his hair shagging over his eyebrows as he tries to push the bangs away in vain, but his eyes were... a hot pink? Did I see that right?
“Here at S.E.A, we like to be formal with teachers but mainly informal towards our fellow peers! Such as the use of nicknames. It’s customary now.” He clarifies.
“S.E.A?” I queried, snapping out of my gaze.
Jay chuckled, “St. Erania Alcamy.”
“Oh.”
That made sense.
I gaze at his eyes again, just to be sure. Yeah, they really were. Hot pink? I didn’t think that was natural. But then again, neither are scarlet eyes...
Seeing me scan his facial features, the boy grinned at (perhaps?) my confusion and looked at me expectantly.
“Uh- Liz or Lizzy. That’s what most people call me anyways,” I say abruptly.
“Alright, Liz! I’m Jay Terrawolf.” He states, his puffy cheeks going a bit red. Was he... blushing?
Nah.
He extends his hand, and it surprises me for two reasons. One is that his fingernails are amazingly clean. Wow. The second grabs my heart. He wants to shake hands with me.
He wants to be my friend.
Me. The girl who’s gotten expelled from every other school she’s gone to? I can’t believe my eyes.
“S-sure.” I stammered. Maybe he could be my first true friend from a boarding school, but I can’t get my hopes up. Not now. Not after last year. And especially not after the case.
YOU ARE READING
♤ ᴜᴘꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ - 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮
Science FictionShe thought she was normal, but she'd never have known that she was the key to the Upside Down. Never. She was just a normal teenager, who'd been transferred to a new school. But, for some reason, that school was enchanted with students of magical r...
