Miss Matched // Thomas Sangster Fanfiction

Chapter Two - Settling In

It's a two and a half day trip from Phoenix, Arizona to Anchorage, Alaska. You and your grandparents make the trip north, driving through Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and finally arrive in Alaska. Scenic Alaska is gorgeous. But, most of the areas you drove through to get here are pretty scenic. You feel stiff and fatigued from sitting in the car for so long, but your grandparents insist on making the trip every year.

Lavender was planning on bringing you up this year, rather than your grandparents. It was going to be a girls trip. Plus, Lavender wanted to visit her old stomping grounds again. Gandy Academy would hold a special place in all your family's hearts, forever. But, those plans were dashed when Lavender was asked to go on a business trip. You didn't know that astrologists had business trips, but nevertheless, she left for New York yesterday morning.

Her words were, "Astrology waits for no man...or woman."

So, when you finally arrive at Gandy, after being trapped in a car with your grandparents for two days, you can't get out fast enough. Gandy is just as gorgeous as you remember it. The green lawn is freshly trimmed, the pink and white flowers are planted in the garden beds, and the old window panes that shine in the sunlight.

There are many other cars parked in the visitors lot right now, with lots of parents milling about. You see several friends from your grade standing around the school, talking. There's Lane, from the boxing team - and Willow, who was in your math class last year. You wave, feeling a sense of belonging with every passing second.

This place...this place is home.

Your grandparents clamber out of the car after you, creaking and popping as they stretch. The fresh air feels wonderful on your cheeks, and a slight breeze ruffles your hair. It feels about 60 degrees outside, so it's the perfect temperature.

"Let's get you checked in now, dear." Grandma says, walking around the car to look at you with a small frown, "Are you sure you don't want to change into something nicer? Surely you want to look a bit more dressed up when you see your friends for the first time in a couple months."

You resist the urge to roll your eyes as you respond, "Grandma, all my friends are athletes, just like me. No one is going to care that I'm wearing joggers and a Nike shirt. Besides, this will be better for moving all my stuff to my new dorm."

"All right, then." Grandma mutters, although she still looks unconvinced.

Your grandparents walk to the front lawn with you, getting you checked in for your final year of high school. As per usual, the heads of houses are set up on different sections of the lawn. There's a buzz of excitement in the air that you only associate with the beginning of the school year at Gandy. You see your head of house, Mr. Jeremy Seagull, sitting at a table with some of your other house members clustered around. Although you recognize a lot of faces, you haven't seen any that you're particularly excited about yet.

Grandma makes casual comments about the flowers that grow in tidy, beautiful rows. The sun makes the dewy grass glisten around you. Finally, it's your turn to talk with Mr. Seagull. He's preoccupied for a moment as he looks through a couple of his clipboards, but when he looks up and spots you, a bright smile returns to his face, and you can't help but beam back at him.

Mr. Seagull is an older guy - probably mid-sixties, if you had to guess. He still has a head full of wavy, gray hair and bright, cheerful blue eyes. Characteristically of older people, his nose and ears are large. Mr. Seagull had been a huge comfort to you after your parents died during your freshman year. Meeting with you regularly, making sure that a support system was there, and helping with homework whenever he could. It is easy to say that Seagull is one of your favorite teachers at Gandy. To you, he was like the perfect mix of Gandalf and Dumblebore.