E.L.Y.S.I.A.N. Project - An Alyssa Queen story

Back to school

I am not interested this year.

Not in anything if you ask me.

I strike back my raven black hair and focus on the disassociating effects of TikTok as the driver passes the school gates. Another year, another semester at the Elite Lyceum for Youth Scholars in Innovation and Academic Nobility.

Despite the fancy name that spells out Elysian, this boarding school is by far the worst I have attended. The same boring entitled people and the same bullies every year.

The boring people I can deal with, but I have shaken off the bullies after my second year already. Bully me because I am more of a woman than you? No, thank you.

I rip my look away from my phone with the lame TikTok dance from a fifteen-year-old with a short skirt and watch the ancient Victorian building emerge on the horizon.

Dozens of cars were gathered to see their children off. While the first years at fifteen years old cry their eyes out at seeing their parents drive away, the fourth years and higher only say bye and walk off to their lives.

They teach us independence they claim, but I would say they also teach us how to snub our parents.

Not my dad, he only dropped me off once when I transferred here from an all-girls school in Edinburgh. Let's say that I was not very good at making friends back then and made my fair share of trouble.

I'm nineteen now, I know better, but I did make their lives a lot harder.

The driver opens my door when I realize we have been standing still for ten minutes. 'Ready?'

I like the video about an Indie writer and put away my phone in my purse. 'Sure am.'

It is typical for the United Kingdom to rain but to step with my favourite heels in a clump of mud was even more of a stereotype to this place.

'Of course.' I sigh annoyed and shake off the mud, splattering them all over the drivers pants. 'Sorry.'

'Nothing I am not used to.' he smiles forced. 'Your father sends his regards and he is sorry that he couldn't drive you himself.'

'Sure.' I answer, mocking him with sarcasm. 'And then we could have a tea party and sing Happy Unbirthday.'

'Miss Queen, please. He is sorry. He is simply very busy.'

'With his office job? Sure.' I scoff. 'I don't expect him here, at home or even at vacation. I can handle myself.'

'Well in that case I wish you a happy school year and he will see you at Family Day.'

'Don't bother.' I mumble under my breath and pull my suitcase out of the car. He didn't show up at Family Day last year or the year before.

I wave the car off and start evading the worst mud to spare my shoes. Every year is the guess if the weather was decent or it just rains all the time.

Nine out of ten; it rains.

I follow the long line of students to the main entrance. Normally, the hall was so crowded that people had to wait outside but they were smart this time. The starting students were guided away by their mentors to a tent at the side for orientation while other years were forming orderly lines to pick up their schedules, keys and uniforms. Even this used to be an unorganized mess, but someone had stepped up to the plate this year. Keys were handed out with the schedules this time and uniforms were being delivered to the rooms when you got your key.

It took ages under the watch of the teachers to get everything but it went smoothly for me.

I signed myself in for the uniform after I got the key to Apartment 2 on the fifth floor.