Red Mountain Chronicles: The Illusionist

Chapter 2

     I didn't know what to say. I was stunned. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask. School? Whats with the sudden talk about school? I have a 3.5 GPA. School isn't for another few weeks! In what way can I even start early? It's too late to do summer school as well. Also, what does packing have to do with school? What kind of school are we talking about here?
Debating what to say first, I stayed silent. Then, out of all things, I finally asked, "when do I start?"
"Tomorrow," she replied. "But you're going there today so you need to pack now." With these words, she fled back into her room, leaving me standing there, confused as ever. Then suddenly, I heard the sound of something heavy being dragged across the carpet. I find out the source of the sound when a moment later I see my mom appear into view, with a huge trunk dragging behind her as she walks into the hallway. When she arrived just outside my bedroom door, she dropped the trunk. I winced as it hit the hardwood floor with a loud THUD. Then, sighing, she looked at me. "What are you waiting for? Start packing!" She exclaimed impatiently.
I stammered, and defending myself said, "I don't even know what to pack."
"Oh. Right," she admitted. Beckoning me, she went into my room. I then heard the closet doors sliding on their tracks. Still in a state of confusion, I got up and joined her. She explained the basic stuff I needed to pack which was the usual: shirts, jeans, socks, shorts, sweaters, some light and heavy jackets, shoes, etc. "So basically half my wardrobe," I simplified. Realizing the truth in my statement, my mother nodded in agreement and then continued to help me pack.

We were both silent when we got on the road. After we passed Budaghers on I25, I realized how awkward it was to not have any noise. I turned on the radio to try to end the deafening silence. Then, my mother decided to break the ice. "I understand this may be very confusing to you."
You think? I said in my head.
"But I promise you it will all make sense when you get there."
Trying to contain my frustration, I said, "Can you at least explain this school you're taking me to?"
She sighed, her eyes still on the road. "It's fairly close to Santa Fe and Taos,"
"Ok, that tells me where we are going but I asked about the school. As in what the school is like, what it teaches." I was going to go on but then realized we would be getting into arguments if I brought it up.
She hesitated, then said, "the school year is about the same. Just about a week earlier than every other school--"
"A week?" I blurted out, appalled. "Then why am I going now?"
"Because... you may need some time to adjust to the atmosphere," she said, as if that was the best explanation she could think of.
This statement made me uneasy "What do you mean 'adjust'?"
She didn't answer. This scared me even more. I pressed on. "Why would I need time to adjust to a school campus?"
Still no answer. I then asked "Is there something that you're not telling me?"
She hesitated, but I didn't interrupt her because I was dreading her response, so I waited for one, hoping that whatever she has to tell me wouldn't come out as harshly as it would if I had kept asking. Then she finally said, "it's better for you to see for yourself."
I closed my eyes, trying to keep what little composure I had left in me intact. "No Mom, it would be easier if you explained it to me now instead of me finding out the hard way."
She exited on 264 and took a left to cross under the overpass. When she was in the clear from traffic, she pulled over, then put the car in park. She then sighed looking down. Then, she met eyes with me. "Elaine, sweetie, I understand you want answers now. But if I try to explain what's going on, you'll only end up more confused."
"How do you know that if you haven't tried?" I said, meeting her calm tone.
"Because I know." She looked up to see a luxury bus start to head our way from the way we were headed. This was kind of strange because there wasn't a lot to see back where they were coming from.
"There's the bus. It's going to stop and pick you up. I'll help you load.
We both got out of the car and like she said, the bus miraculously managed to make a quick u-turn, and stopped a little ahead of us. We got all of our stuff out of the trunk. I looked back and a figure was heading toward our car. My mom then said, "No matter what happens, just know that I will always love you." She then kissed me on the forehead, rubbed my cheek, and started to head toward the driver's side.
"Wait. When will I get to see you again?"
She stopped and turned toward me. "I don't know. They didn't say when your breaks were." When she opened the door and said, "good bye my sweets. Have fun and be safe."
And with that, she climbed in, closed the door, and headed back to where we came from. I watched her waving at her, and softly said, "I love you too."
With that, the man walking toward us came up to me. He was tall, probably in his early twenties, and had dark brown hair with some scruff. I guess it was safe to say he was fair looking. He greeted me by saying, "good morning," and held out his hand. "I'm David, nice to meet you."
"I'm Elaine." I said shaking his hand.
Grabbing some of my luggage he started heading toward the bus. I followed him to the right hand side by the loading panel, which he opened and started putting my stuff in. I helped him silently and when he was done, he closed the panel and we got on the bus. It was pretty full with a lot of people my age already taking up most of the seats.
David sat down in a window seat in the very front row with an empty seat next to him. "Aren't you going to sit?" he asked with a smile on his face. He then gestured to the seat next to him. I sat down and the bus started moving.
"So, is this you're first time coming to this school?" he asked.
"Yes. I don't even know what to expect." I admitted.
He smiled, "you'll like it I bet. It's a big campus, lots to do. It's a great school."
"That reminds me." I said. I then laughed, my face getting red for what I was about to ask next. "What's the name of this school?"
David looked at me surprised. "You don't know? It's called Red Mountain Academy: one of the best knight schools in the state!"
"Night school?" I was confused. So the classes were in the evening.
"Yeah." David said then realizing I was still confused. "Don't worry. I'm a campus tour guide so I'll be able to show you around."
Tour guide? Well that explains why he was so friendly and cheerful. I thought to myself. Just when I thought I made a possible new friend, he turns out to be a tour guide. This year was already off to a great start.