Only The Elite

        Chapter One

Ella

 I maintained a tight grip on my pink suitcase and then, with one final challenging tug, I managed to heave it from the conveyer belt. I huffed out a strained breath, my fallen side fringe catching the air from outside and blowing into my face. I quickly shoved it to the side impatiently before grabbing hold of the handle of my suitcase. The airport was buzzing with life around me. I stood in the middle of a sea of people, all tugging suitcases and rushing to their flight gate. I bit my lip anxiously; I had no idea where I was going. Numerous people banged shoulders with me as I clumsily stood in their way but when I murmured a quiet apology, they were already long gone.

“Ella! Ella! Over here!”

A smile tugged at my lips as I glanced around the airport, desperately trying to find the face I had been dying to see for months. I finally locked eyes with the gorgeous woman and I bundled over, my suitcase lugging behind me.

“Abbey!” I squealed, letting my fingers uncurl from around the suitcase handle so I could engulf my big sister in a tight hug. “I’ve missed you so much!”

“Ditto babe.” Abbey mashed her lips into my cheeks and proceeded to kiss the same place until I squirmed in her grip. “How was your flight?”

“It was long and I was sat next to a man who swore in his sleep.” I frowned as I remembered how alarmed I had been when the man beside me let out a long list of profanities. Abbey let out a chuckle, shaking her head in amusement.

Abbey’s arm practically devoured my side as she wrapped her slim arm around her shoulder. She tugged the handle of my suitcase out of my grip and took it in her own, leaving me just to carry my duffle bag. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. I’ve really missed your weird stories.” Abbey chuckled before leading me out of the airport and out into the city of New York.

*           *           *           *

“So tell me everything!” Abbey cried dramatically, momentarily forgetting the fact that she was driving the car as she reached over to tickle my side. “What have you been doing? How are Mum and Dad? Do you have a boyfriend?” She suffocated me with questions and I rolled my eyes at her eager attitude.

“Is that all you care about?” I joked. “If I have a boyfriend or not?”

“Absolutely!  Now stop avoiding the question and spill the beans! Who are you doing the dirty with?” Abbey pressed.

I failed to keep the wide – yet utterly embarrassed – grin off my face. “Abbey! Don’t ever repeat that again!” I cringed back into my seat as Abbey threw her head back in laughter. “Besides, you never approve of my boyfriends!” I reminded her.

“That’s because they are never good enough for you.” Abbey shrugged and I rolled my eyes. Abbey, being my older sister, was extremely protective and often scared away any boy that dared look at me.

I craned my neck to look at the beautiful city around me. It was so big and beautiful with its high towering buildings. I smiled and rested my head on my open palm; I was finally here, in the city of dreams.

“So are you excited about going to Elite?” Abbey questioned, her hands gripping the steering wheel in excitement. I felt a grin stretch across my lips as I thought about Elite, the school of my dreams. As soon as Abbey told me that they were accepting sixteen year olds into Elite, I had immediately signed up. It was a rare occasion when Elite offered places to people younger than seventeen.