BRIAR RIDGE ACADEMY// ELITE

Chapter Four

Our red Volvo, jammed packed with suitcases and bags, rumbles along the rocky road. I stare down at my phone, looking at pictures of the last time I was with all my barn friends- the night I got the scholarship.

There's me, in my hot pink sleeveless dress that is decked out in jewels. The next one is Blair, in a cream colored dress that goes down to her knees, and the top is all lacey. There are several of us with our heads together, making faces, and just laughing in general. One of Kate in a dark blue dress, one of all the Finalists, and just everyone having fun together.

"Hey," my mom says, looking back at me, "You okay?"

"Yeah... Just a little nervous." I try to grin.

Today is the day that I meet my secret roommate, the one that Sammy had. The day I make all my new friends. My first day at boarding school.

Our car curves around on the street, and stops abruptly at a gate. There are two brick pillars, with a gold plaque on both. Both plaques say "Briar Ridge Academy" and the founding date. The gate itself is made of black metal, and the brick wall continues around the campus- or what I can see of it. As if by a mystery force, the gates open, and we drive in.

There are tall, green hedges lining the road. Eventually, the hedges stop and trees are sprinkled around. I can see picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, in red, gold, and white. As we continue down the road, it eventually becomes something like a cul-de-sac, with a piece of land in the center. There is a massive brick building with large oak doors. On either side of the building, there is a brick path. Beyond that, I can't see anything.

My family piles out of the car, and walks to the door. Before my mom can open the door, it swings open and a girl strides out.

"Hello! My name is Julia and I'm a senior here at Briar Ridge. You'll love it here. I am also your dorm escort, which means I get to show you your dorm!" Julia squeals, and motions for me to follow her.

I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head in my parents' direction.

"Oh," Julia giggles, "That. Your bags will be brought to your dorm now, and your parents will be attending an interview with some staff."

After hugging my parents, I run after Julia, who has got us a golf cart. I hop in and the driver goes down the brick path.

"Here at Briar Ridge, we use golf carts as transport sometimes. It's really helpful." Julia says.

I just nod in a daze. The campus is beautiful.

The brick path leads in a diamond shape behind the Main Building. Inside the path is a grassy area with pine trees growing tall. Students mill around, talking and sitting on the perfectly cut grass. Surrounding the path, are buildings. Mostly brick ones, they each have a collection of paths behind them.

"This is the Quad," Julia says. "It's where most of the activity happens on campus. There's the English Main Building, or EMB. The Math Main Building, or MMB. All the classes have a main, central building located on this Quad, the Upper Quad, or the area closer to the dorms, the Lower Quad. All the Main Buildings have smaller buildings behind where your classes will be."

As we go down the path, Julia points out everything to me. Finally, we make a turn. Along the path, instead of buildings, are high hedges. Behind them, I can see windows and rooftops.

"This is the House Path. All the dorms and Team houses for girls are over here. The Team houses are for sports, and are on the left and right. Freshman can't live in them." Julia tells me.

The cart begins to slow as we go under an arch that says 'Girls' in bent metal. I stare at it as we drive under.

"Wow," is all I can say.