Once Upon A Secret Pact

chapter 1

an odd reunion

6th of February. 2017. 

I was awake an hour before my alarm rang, just lying in bed. It was going to be the first day of school for me, yet again. I had been to a variety of schools in the past few years to suit the location of my parents' jobs and to get the best education possible.

Therefore, at that moment sleeping on a bed made of Lego sounded more pleasant than getting out of bed.

A few months ago, I had won a scholarship to one of the most prestigious schools in the state. Although my parents were well to do, both of them being doctors, even they couldn't afford the full fees for the school. Most of the children were heirs to business tycoons and owners or Hollywood star successors. The majority of pupils were already set for life and didn't feel the need to study but the school also had a myriad of the best teachers in the country. I knew that if I went there, I would almost be guaranteed a place into an Ivy League college of my choice and doing medicine, just like my parents.

Groaning, I shut my alarm and pushed myself out of my warm bed. I showered and got dressed into the new uniform. It was a white full sleeved shirt and dark blue pleated skirt that ended just above the knees. There was also a navy blue blazer with the school logo on top of it.

I stood in front of the mirror and smoothed my skirt out, biting my lip. I had left my dark hair falling a few inches below my shoulders. There was a light dusting of acne on my forehead which I avoided looking at and a pair of black-rimmed glasses sat atop my nose.

Taking a deep breath of reassurance, I grabbed my new backpack filled to the brim with various textbooks and made my way to the kitchen. My mother was making breakfast for me since my father was running late, yet again.

She placed the French toast on a plate and turned around. Her eyes widened when she saw me. She smiled at me, walked forward and gave me a hug.

"I am so proud of you, Mia." I passed her a small smile. If only she knew just how much I did not want to leave the house at that moment.

I had just finished my breakfast when my father finally emerged.

Soon after that, we left the house. My dad had offered to drive me on my first day. We passed unfamiliar streets until the well-maintained houses grew larger until they were giant bungalows.

I lived in a decent part of the city but this area was for millionaires and billionaires. The houses loomed above me, their shiny windows glinting in the sunlight. Their gates were shut and their front grass crisply trimmed. In between these houses, finally emerged the school.

It stretched high, having at least 5 stories, and was so wide that I could not see the edge of the campus. 

There were a number of different buildings - some made with plain bricks giving a worn down appearance; some with high ceilings and concrete walls; some new modern ones made mainly of glass. 

The students roamed in the front lawns, carefree. They laughed with, what appeared to be from the distance, perfectly aligned smiles and showed each other pictures on phones that had not yet been released.

I felt as if though I was going to have to see the French toast I had eaten for breakfast again.

The dread filled my body. My head felt heavy and my hands were clasped together so tightly that they were beginning to turn white. 

The smell of freshly cut grass, which seeped into the car, was suffocating me. 

I knew I was different here and I also knew that it was going to remain that way because I wasn't in this school because I had the money or status but because I had a scholarship. Although that was a good thing, the students wouldn't think so – to them, I would be an outsider.