The ultimate playbook

Chapter 3

Ada:

Ada excused herself from the table and headed back up the stairs, Claire was still talking to Will and Keaton so their room was empty. She was stopped in the hallway by a group of girls eyeing her up and down.

"Excuse me," said a redhead she recognised from the train.

"Yes?" Ada replied.

The redheaded girl exchanged knowing glances with her friends, and then with a condescending tone, she warned Ada, "You might want to watch your step around here, dear."

"I think I can handle myself, thanks," Ada spat, opening her bedroom door.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in her bedroom engrossed in a book until she fell asleep. She had her usual dream or nightmare to be more accurate: Speeding down a foggy highway, her parents arguing in the front seats, the blare of a horn, a violent crunching sound, and blackness...

Ada woke up gasping a layer of sweat covering her body, she looked around wildly, "It's okay" she reassured herself "It's just a dream". Quietly she slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

Turning on the faucet she let the warm water envelop her, washing away the sweat and grime of the day before. When she stepped out of the shower the bathroom was filled with steam, wiping away the fog on the mirror. She looked at her reflection, pale skin dotted with tiny blemishes, brown hair streaked with bleach, and large grey eyes rimmed in blue and purple circles. Sighing she got to work, blow-drying her hair, and applying her makeup to bring some life back into her face.

Ada put on her uniform white button-up shirt, green and blue pleated skirt, and striped tie. Pulling up her knee-high socks and heading back out into her bedroom.

Claire was still fast asleep despite the fact it was almost 8 a.m, she pulled off her blankets ignoring her protests as she got up and started getting ready. Ada pulled on her boots and fastened her necklace, before taking her books and supplies and putting them into her old leather satchel. They headed downstairs to the dining hall and grabbed a piece of toast, before practically running to their first class.

The room was larger than any that Ada had seen at her old schools, with high ceilings adorned with golden accents. Soft, muted colours dominated the décor, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and tranquillity. The walls were lined with rich wooden paneling, showcasing an array of framed portraits of prominent figures from different epochs.

At the front of the room, an imposing antique wooden desk stood. It was intricately carved with delicate patterns and had a leather-topped surface that gleamed under the soft, warm light of the candelabras suspended from the ceiling. There were rows of antique wooden desks with plush leather seats pointed toward a massive chalkboard, framed in dark wood and meticulously maintained. Large, arched windows allowed soft natural light to filter in, casting a warm glow onto the room.

In one corner of the classroom, a grand bookcase held an extensive collection of leather-bound volumes and historical documents.

The students piled in as the teacher (Mr.Anderson) began writing that day's lesson on the chalkboard.

"Claire was right about Mr.Anderson," thought Ada twirling her pen. He was awful, grumpy, and rude, not to mention he looked like a depressed goldfish, with his eyes far too large for his face and his tiny little fish lips. She zoned out his monotonous lecture, only snapping back to reality when the sounds of the bell signaled the end of class. Lamenting the pile of homework they had been assigned she packed up her books and headed for the door.

"That potbellied git," Fumed Claire as they walked to Math.

[Writers Note's: Okay so we actually lied about the chapters getting longer. Turns out we have no patience - XOXO Gossip Girl]