The Academy: Ashland

Victoria Sumner's Letter

            I took the elevator down to our floor (I should probably start referring to the team as the Misfits...) and walked into my room, hitting on the lights as I did. Then I put the box on in the middle of the room and sat down. I slowly opened the box and pulled out a note and a stack of DVDs. I put the stack of DVDs aside and looked over the note. The handwriting was really good, like perfect good. I was afraid of reading the note, but curiosity got the better of me and I started to read.

Ashland,

I am sincerely sorry you will never get to know me. Your father and I have watched you from a distance ever since we had to send you away and we have watched you grow into a beautiful young girl. You remind me so much of your father and he insists you remind him of me. When you get here, I would like you to keep an open mind and trust the people here. Your father may not be very forthcoming or honest, and at first he may not even tell you he is your father, but don't judge him too harshly, he loves you very much.

Already, at the age of eleven, you are a kind and caring person, (although you will not admit it to anyone) and I am proud of you.

I would like to apologize for leaving you at that police station. I did not want to, but it was for the best. Your father and I agreed we did not want you to watch me die.

I hope when you get here you, Seth, Walt and Laura Parker will become friends again. The four of you were close before you had to leave and I think it will be good for you to be friends again. I know for a fact that you will immediately love Jackie, he's got the little bit of uniqueness that someone like you can't resist. He was always your favorite person.

I know you will enjoy your time at the Academy as I have and before I finish this letter I would like to add one more thing.

A few days ago, I heard you say something that upset me. While you were talking to one of your friends, Luke, he asked you believe in love. You, of course, replied with what first came to your mind and that was, “I don't believe in love. To me it is a story or a delusion and it's not real. So many people trick themselves into believing they're in love and end up so unhappy. So I have come to the conclusion that love does not exist.” And Luke said, “You won't always think like that. One day, you'll fall in love then you'll feel stupid. Everyone falls in love.” And you my bright, bright, little girl you replied with, “Sure. Everyone falls in love, in fairy tales and this sure ain't no fairy tale.”

And now, this is where I take eleven years of maternal instincts and tell you: That boy, Luke, was right, you will fall in love and, when you do, there is going to be a very big “I told you so” waiting for you.

I want you to know I love you and I am so proud of you. I want you to remember you don't have to do everything alone. You have friends and you can depend on them. I hope you find what you've been missing.

            Love,

            Your mother,

            Victoria Sumner.

            After I finished the letter, I sat on the floor for a moment before jumping up and running from my bedroom. I went to the first place I could think of, the living room, where (thankfully) Seth, Kelsey and Trip were sitting and talking.

            “Ash,” Seth said. “How'd it- What's wrong?” he asked when he saw the look on my face.

            “Your dad, Taven, Jack they gave me a box,” I said as Seth walked over to me. “It's got stuff. There was a... a letter for me. From my mom.” I held it out, “Here, read it.”

            Seth shook his head and pushed my hand, and the letter, back towards me, “No,” he said. “But why aren't you looking at what's in the box?”

            “I-I can't handle it,” I whispered. I realized I was trembling, “I don’t think I want to know.”

            Seth nodded understandingly and put an arm around me, “You don't have to,” he said.

            “I know, but it’s not fair. I feel like it’s got some sort of hold on me,” I said.

            “Then ignore it,” Kelsey said, looking up at me. “Don’t go through the box.”

            I ran a hand through my hair and tapped the other against my thigh, “It’s from my parents. What if it’s important?”

            “If it’s so important, why didn’t they tell you themselves?” Kelsey asked.

            I bit my lip and looked over at Seth, who had a pained look on his face, “Seth Parker, what do you know?” I asked.

            Kelsey and Trip immediately turned to Seth, who ducked his head, “Nothing,” he said. “I just think you should look in the box.”

            I shook my head, “No, Kelsey’s right. If it’s so important my parents can tell me themselves,” I said. “Besides, it’s not like I’m ever going to meet my parents. I’m here.”

            Seth shrugged and mumbled, “You never know.”

            I rolled my eyes, “Seth, stop,” I said, holding up my hand. “I’m not looking at the rest of the box.”

            “We should burn it!” Trip said.

            “No, we shouldn’t,” Taven said as he walked into the room.

            Kelsey and Trip turned and glared at Taven, “Why not?” Kelsey asked.

            “Because we aren’t,” Taven said. “That box is important.”

            I gave Taven a short glare and walked up to him, “I’ll burn the box if I damn well please.”

            “That’s the last surviving piece of my dead friend. Of your dead mother,” Taven hissed. “And you’re going to burn it to prove a point?”

            “My mom?” I said. “Bailey was more of a mother to me than that woman was. I don’t even remember her.”

            “Well doesn’t that just suck for you,” Taven whispered to me so the others wouldn’t hear. “Poor you. Your mom died knowing that you hated your parents “whoever the hell they are” and she lived with the guilt of knowing her daughter had to grow up on the streets, away from her family and her home. Jack, Markus and I, we didn’t want her to have to deal with that guilt, so we made her a promise. We told her we’d keep an eye on her kid, that she’d- you’d get that box and you would look through every piece of paper. If you burn that box, I’ll kick your butt into next year.”

            I crumbled the letter from my mother (I hadn’t realized I was still holding it but I knew it was the best way to tick Taven off) and slammed the paper ball against Taven’s chest, “Go ahead,” I said. “Cause I don’t give a crap about any promises you made to some dead woman.” I moved over to walk out of the room and, before I did, I stopped and looked back over at Taven, “And I do hate my parents. I was dropped at a police station with a note attached to me. A friggin note, so you can back off. I’m burning the box, somebody find me some goddamn matches.”

            I looked over to Seth, Kelsey and Trip and felt a surge of pride when I saw the shocked looks on their faces before I walked out of the room, slamming the door behind me.

* * *

            Someone slid the note under my door three hours later.