Coffee and a Sketchbook

Chapter Two

Thirty minutes later an older looking girl walked in to our dorm, interrupting our game of 'Would You Rather' (Kayla's idea).

"There'll be a meeting in fifteen minutes in the Grand Hall and dinner will be on offer at five thirty." She explained, then left.

"The Grand Hall?" I mused. "Where's that?"

Opal pulled her Rothwell Guidebook out of her bag and consulted it. "In the centre of the school by the cafeteria." She answered, pocketing the booklet.

Macy pulled a face. "Meeting? Sounds boring." She sighed.

"Too right." Alice agreed. Macy and Alice had teamed up pretty much as soon as they met. We'd all kind of done that but all got on well and I was delighted to have finally found someone like me. Opal was a budding fashion photographer and had even witnessed a Gucci shoot.

"I'm so jealous." I wailed for the fifteenth time as our group made its way towards the Grand Hall. "Gucci. Gucci." Opal laughed.

"Hey, you never know. If you shut up about it I might, just might let you touch my Cara Delevigne autograph."

"Cara Delevigne? I don't want to talk to you anymore." I said huffily, walking ahead and passing a big door.

"Marina, where are you going? The entrance is here." India called. Opal was in stitches for ages.

***

A buzz of excitement filled the room as we entered the Grand Hall. Macy whistled.

"Fancy." She said, pointing at the mural of green and pink swirls that danced around the ceiling. Opal gaped in awe.

"Oh, shoot, I forgot my camera." She grumbled.

I tapped my head. "This is my camera."

That's when a woman walked on the stage at the front of the room with a clap of her hands, silencing us. "Listen up. Hi guys, and welcome to Rothwell Fashion school." She wasn't young or ancient, around forty was my guess. She was wearing a skin tight dress that came to her knees that was decorated all over with birds and branches. Opal's eyes were gleaming.

"Amber Hartman, style guru." She whispered.

Amber continued. "As some of you may know, I am Amber Hartman. I was a model back in the day but now I want to share my fashion knowledge with you all in the form of my quaint little fashion school. Myself and some of my greatest friends will be teaching you all the art of drawing, sewing, photography and capturing fashion in words - journalism. I'll also be giving you lessons on modelling and confidence.

Now I'd love to talk about the fun stuff all day but I have to get on to the serious matters. Here you will be disciplined as in any other school. We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying of any kind and people caught bullying will be sanctioned.

Also, you will be taught normal lessons here as well, and your parents will be notified of your behaviour and grades. Mobile phones are not allowed in class time and if anyone disobeys that rule, they will be punished.

I believe it's time for dinner now, so be sure to grab your money cards on the way to the cafeteria. You are dismissed."

***

"Opal, truth or dare?"

The girl in question paused a second, before choosing truth.

"Did you get in by scholarship or did your parents pay?"

She sighed. "They paid. I feel way less special for it though."

"I did too." Macy said.

"And me."

"Me too."

"And me too." Kayla finished.

Everyone looked a me expecantly. "I got a scholarship."

Macy whistled. "How come? What's your talent?"

"I design." The room went quiet for a little while.

"So, Marina. Truth or dare." Kayla asked, grinning mischievously at me.

"Oh, I'm not playing." I mumbled.

"I said, truth or dare."

I bit my lip. "Truth." This earned a yawn from Kayla.

"Bo-ring." She said. "But anyway. Have you even been out with someone?"

This was a bit of a touchy subject for me, as I'd had boy troubles all my life. When I was seven my first ever kiss was a dare and I didn't find out until a year later. When I was eleven I asked two boys out and they both rejected me. However, when I was fourteen I got a boyfriend and I was so in love. So was he, but with a girl he met in Florida. He cheated on me.

I hesitated before answering. "Yes."

There was an eruption of squeals in the room. "OMG!"

"Was he cute?"

"Was he nice?"

"How old were you both?"

I smiled sadly. "Guys, the rules of truth or dare is you get one question."

***

So do you all like it? Sorry it took me ages. Yes, I'm on my Summer break but I am still pre-tty busy.

So we finally got a peek in to Marina's life. Poor Rina.

Don't forget COVOFA. Idk I just made that up, haha.

Comment, vote, fan!