Walk on the Wild Side

Chapter 2: Welcome to the House of Fun.

>< Rowan ><

I didn't hang around to say goodbye to Mum and Dad before slinging my bags over my shoulders and striding to the reception in the main school building. The inside of the room was stunning; two marble staircases ascended on either side of the room to meet at a door in the middle leading to someplace else. A large crystal chandelier hung between them, refracting light throughout the room. I sauntered over to the mahogany desk, untucking my white shirt and loosening the blue and gold tie around my neck. The old lady behind the desk heard me coming and signalled to me with a single finger and pointed to the phone which she was speaking into.

"Yes, of course, sir. Of course, I'll let her know. Ok, you have a good day too now, goodbye." She smiled and hung up the phone. She scribbled something on a yellow sticky note and finally looked up at me. Her happy expression fell at the sight of me. I frowned and tilted my head, a small pout of patronisation gracing my lips. She looked terrified and I understood why. I probably didn't appear too friendly in my scruffy uniform, messy bun of unnatural coloured hair, dark against regulation makeup and multiple ear piercings.

"Hiya, I'm Rowan Fraser?" I said like it was a question. She raised her eyebrows and shuffled the papers in front of her before finding what she was looking for. She handed me a blue folder with the Kingston College shield embossed in gold with the words Excellence to Success beneath it. I snatched it from her hands with a grin. "Cheers!" I chirped.

"I'm Mrs Darling. I'm the school secretary. Welcome to Kingston, Miss Fraser. I-Is your brother here yet?" Her breaths were shallow.

"Yeah, he's just saying goodbye to our parents! Now where am I staying?" I asked her. She nodded her head and pointed out of the building.

"You're staying in Carrow house; outside this building and to the right." She used her hands to point me in the right direction.

"Thanks, miss!" I grinned over my shoulder and strode out of the building back into the cool September air. Brody suddenly walked towards me, looking a little pissed. I looked into his light hazel eyes which were the same shade as my own with a passive expression.

"You didn't say goodbye to Mum and Dad!" He fumed. I felt a little guilty to see the flicker of sadness in his eyes.

"Look, Brody, you probably don't and never will understand how betrayed I feel right now. Getting shipped off to freaking boarding school behind my back and having to leave everything behind for something I don't even want! Oh yeah! And having my big brother tell my parents all my secrets which I told him in confidence, so basically he's the reason I'm here and he's a prat. I'll see you at dinner, Brody." I spat at the end. Reminding myself of what he had done filled me with rage. I didn't want to unleash the full extent of my fury on him so I spun on my heels and stormed off in the direction of the old Victorian-style house which had the word CARROW hung above the door.

><><><

After terrorising a couple of younger girls with my glare and tiptoeing my way through a hazardous maze of precariously stacked piles of luggage and screaming girls I finally reached room 74. I stepped inside and gazed around the bare room. It was large with four empty single beds, wardrobes besides the beds and four sinks on one wall. At the head of the room was a large bay window which overlooked the fresh school lawn, the sports pitches and fields beyond. The window faced west meaning I would get to watch the sunset every night if I wanted to. I dumped my bags on the bed closest to the window and began to unpack what little belongings I had.

Forty minutes later I had thrown my clothes into my designated wardrobe, made my bed somewhat awkwardly and pinned up various photos of me, the gang and Dad, Brody, Mum and I. I decided against tacking up the polaroid which Dean had given me, not wanting to ruin it. I kept it in my book but every so often I would pull it out just to look at it. Hold it above my head, smile at the memory and read the messages on the back; laugh at Nate's message and nearly cry at Dean's and put it back again.