Highcliffe Academy

Chapter 1

I heard the post hit the mat with a soft thud and I sighed as I went to pick it up. Bills. Bills. Good House Keeping. Some Golf Magazine. Then I saw a letter addressed to me. It was a thick card cream envelope, obviously expensive paper. In one corner was a small blue crest with words 'Endeavor and Prosper' around the edge. Slicing open the top I pulled out a piece of paper that matched the envelope and a brochure with three smiling girls in blue uniform smiling up at me. ''Highcliffe Academy for Exceptional Young Woman' It read. I put the brochure down on the sideboard and looked at the letter.

Dear Charlotte Edwards,

Congratulations! We are delighted to inform you that you have been offered a place at Highcliffe Academy for Exceptional Young Woman. We offer unique learning experiences for those of incredible intellect. We have enclosed a prospectus including all the information you may require, but if you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

We hope to see you in September,

Sincerely

Harriet McHenry

Headmistress

I re-read the letter 3 more times. I hadn't applied to go to an all girls boarding school, my secondary school was already arranged, so why was I receiving this letter?

"Mum..." I muttered. Mum would love it if I went to this kind fo school, the type with lacrosse and horse riding lessons. The kind that taught you to be a proper lady and all that nonsense. Well, I wasn't going. I picked up the phone.

"Rachel Edwards phone, how can I help you?" A bored voice said through the phone.

"Hi, umm, it's Charlotte. I'd like to talk to my mum if possible?"

"I'll go check." She said, a minuet later she was back "I'm sorry but Mrs. Edwards is in a meeting right now, you'll have to call back later."

"Tell her it's important! I bet she isn't really in a meeting, she probably just got herself a coffee and can't be bothered to answer the phone!"

"I'll go talk to her." The receptionist said and then there was a click.

"Charlotte, what is this all about? I'm very busy." Mum snapped

"Did you apply for me to go to a school called 'Highcliffe Academy?" I asked.

"No, I've never even heard of it. Why?"

"Because I just received an acceptance letter."

"Let me look it up. Couldn't this have waited until I got home?"

"No! Because then you would be 'to tierd' or some other excuse."

"Oh goodness, this school is amazing!" Mum said down the phone "I can't believe you got in! The uniform and fees are expensive but we can afford them, oh I'm so proud of you!"

I stood shocked. My mum, for the first time ever had said she was proud of me. Every 'A' I had ever received and she had ignored, every award that hadn't had an eyelid blinked at suddenly seemed to have some recognition.

"Umm, thanks?"

"I have to go now honey, but well done! You take a look at the site, we'll buy your uniform on Saturday! I'm so proud of you honey!" And then she hung up. When did my mum ever call me honey? I didn't care. I picked up the brochure and flicked through, typical girls smiling on every page, playing chess, science experiments, exam results, how boarding was like 'having a second family'. Maybe it wouldn't be to bad, or at least not as bad as my last school. There I had been literally invisible, the teaching missing me in the register, ignoring my hand as I tried to ask or answer a question, no one seeing me in the playground or people bumping in to me and not even apologising. That was probably just bad manners though. I still wouldn't say I was exceptional, but I would say that I was starting to look forward to secondary school instead of completely dread it.

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This first chapter is a bit boring but please continue reading! This was just to set  bit of background of Charlotte's personality and her relationship with her parents.