Virals Pack: Reborn

Chapter 10: Principals of Change (Part 2)

Sorry guys, the chapter cut off when I tried to read it on my phone, so I had to split it again. Apologies for all the confusing updates,  hope you still enjoy!

*time jump*

We arrived at the wrought-iron gates and ivy-covered walls that guarded the school and my first thought was

Man, they've gotta have a good library.

Yep, that's bookworm me for ya. As Darcy led me to the headmaster's office, I realized I would most likely end up being an outcast here. I was an odd one already at my old school, but add in my residence on Morris island as well as being the new kid, I had a great probability of being a loner.

Oh well. I shrugged. Guess I'll just have to check in on that library.

We reached the waiting room and a crisp-looking secretary gestured for us to have a seat before getting up and heading into the headmaster's office to notify him of our arrival. After an uncomfortable couple of minutes, the secretary comes out and waves us in. We enter the impeccably kept office and I come face to face with the notorious headmaster.

The sign on his desk reads "Headmaster Paugh", and the name certainly seems to suit him. Very headmaster-type, he sports a tweed jacket that accents his fit figure. He's older though, and balding, with only a sprig of pale hair on top of his head. But perhaps the most striking figure was his sinister eyes that bore into me like a hawk eyeing up its prey.

"So you are to be the new scholar from the island" He growls in an unfriendly manner. I sense Darcy shift uncomfortably next to me, but I held my ground.

Kill em' with kindness I thought.

I pasted on a grin and dipped my head respectfully towards him. "A pleasure to meet your acquaintance sir."

"Don't give me that crap, young lady. The only reason you are here is because of the LIRI agreement and the fact that I don't yet have a reason to expel you from my prestigious school ."

"Then I will make sure to give you no reasons" I smoothly stated "For I have researched and found so many good things about this illustrious school, it'd be a shame to go anywhere else."

Paugh offered a feral grin "Excellent, then I do not want to hear about you causing any trouble whatsoever or else you will be kicked out. Just like that other island kid that slunk in through the scholarship, he ended up being kicked out because of criminal ties. You will find that this school has much to offer if you don't associate with the wrong people. Do I make myself clear?"

"Clear as crystal sir" my cheeks hurt from grinning so much, but I forced myself to keep up the facade of a quiet, obedient student.

Changing tact, he moves on to more school-related items "Now, Katrina, we will be transferring you first into the classes you were in back in Minnesota, but you still have a full credit left if you'd like to choose two semester-long classes. You can see the guidance counselor to check your schedule and to get your uniform. Is there anything else you need?"

"Nothing at the moment sir" Other than to get away from you.

"Wonderful, I can already tell you are going to be a very smart student here, I just hope you choose the right audience to hang around. Farewell for now, I will see you once school starts again"

"Thank you headmaster, and farewell" I widened my grin to a ridiculous state, then curtsied quickly and swept out of the room, with Darcy following.

Outside the office, the secretary directed us to the counselors office, but before I went in, I needed to take a breather so I didn't snap at the next unfortunate soul to talk to me. So I asked to go to the bathroom first, and mercifully no one questioned me as I rushed through the doors.

I shut myself into a stall and did some quick breathing routines to calm myself. Once my breathing felt closer to normal, I let myself out and straightened up in the mirror, smoothing the wrinkles in my dress and fixing my hair. Neither dress nor hair really needed much attention, but it helped me pull myself together a bit more. Drawing myself to my full 5' 2" height (impressive, no?), I forced myself to keep smiling.

I hummed "Little game" by Benny to myself to remind myself that "baby it's easy to fake a smile, when you've been doing it for a while" (song quote)

Having re-established my mask of "perfection", I walk out the door to continue on with my new life.