Destiny

Chapter 1

        “First name please.”  The secretary peered up at me over her square-framed glasses.  The wrinkles strewn across her forehead and her slightly graying hair made her look a bit older than she probably was.  Her skin was pale and dry, and there were slight shadows resting under her dull blue eyes; probably from fatigue.  Her lightly painted lips were creased into a thin line as she awaited my response.

“Alexa.”  My reply was quiet; I was surprised that the secretary had heard it and looked back at the bright screen in front of her face.

I averted my silver-jade eyes to a young woman who walked in, pushing a small mail cart teeming with letters and papers.  It was hard to ignore her as her bright, fire-engine red heels clicked hastily across the wooden-tiled floor.  I took a strand of my hair, twirled it around my finger delicately and glanced around.  The walls were constructed of stiff mahogany that led to two large double doors at the mouth of the office.  There was one long, rectangular glass window at the end of the room that showed an endless hallway bustling with my peers, going from locker, to classroom, and to various cliques spread out in the busy halls.  I turned and craned to the side to see a large chestnut door with ‘Mr. Howard J. Lockwood’ engraved neatly on a plaque with gold lettering.  I looked back at the secretary who was typing furiously across the dark keyboard attached to the computer.  She was interrupted when the phone suddenly outburst in a cry of loud rings. 

The secretary rolled her eyes and lazily gripped the phone, silencing it of its loud call.  “Lockwood Academy, this is Secretary Lisa speaking; how may I help you?”  The enthusiasm in her voice didn’t match the exhausted expression on her face.  I wondered how people were able to mask their emotions so well behind their voices. 

I was never a good liar like that.  If I was lying about something, you could probably see right through me.  Unless it was something worth lying for.  If it was something important, I would probably be able to squeeze in a small fib.  I suppose I can lie, and probably more often than just a little one, but like I said, there’s usually a good reason on my part.

“Mmhmm.”  The secretary’s face went white.  Her eyes widened and she looked behind her, as if holding a secret and not wanting anyone to overhear.  “Of course,” She lowered her tone.  “I’ll transfer you to Mr. Lockwood’s office right away.”  She pressed a few buttons on the silvery surface of the phone’s home base, slammed it down and put her hands together in front of her.  She rested her chin on them for a brief moment before she took a deep breath and continued doing whatever it was that she was up to before the phone had interrupted. 

I looked back at the hallway through the glass window.  Another new school.  Another new life to get used to.  I sighed at the thought and crossed my arms over my chest.  The dark, hunter green blazer I wore was just a bit shorter on me than I had hoped.  The white, cotton dress shirt I was wearing had semi-long sleeves, going to my elbows and a light collar where the matching tie to my blazer dangled neatly.  Along with the tie and blazer, I was given a soft green skirt to go along with my uniform.  It went down to my knees, but even then, it still felt uncomfortable on me.  I wasn’t used to having my legs exposed like they were; since I never wore skirts for every day occasions like school.  Further down, I wore long black socks and black dress shoes.    I longed to wear my old worn jeans, light t-shirts, and comfy sneakers.  But of course, I had to be sent to a boarding school.  

My train of thought was interrupted abruptly when I was startled by the thump of the printer on the secretary’s desk.  I glanced at it and rolled my eyes, thinking of how stupid I must have looked jumping at the sound of a copier.  I waited for the rumble of the small black machine to cease and the secretary reached over and slipped out the paper from the tray beneath it.