Ghost Of You *SLOW UPDATES*

Chapter 1

The taxi slowly pulls into the driveway as I pick up my two large duffel bags and my mother hugs me one last time, wiping loose strands of hair out of my face.

"Have fun in Darwin and stay safe." She says, her voice snobbish and raspy as I pull out of her embrace and nod at her, my heart pounding wildly in my chest as I turn away from the home I've known for the past four years and into the great unknown.

The admittance letter in the back pocket of my black jeans feels like it's burning holes with the guilt I feel for leaving my mother, but I manage to turn away from her and walk numbly to the awaiting taxi. The driver kindly smiles at me and offers to take my bag but when I calmly turn him down, he just shrugs his shoulders and opens the boot of the car to which I carefully place my bags down. The driver slams it shut before walking back around to his side of the car.

I glance at my mother briefly and smile weakly before climbing into the passenger seat of the car and closing the door after me when my phone begins vibrating in the pocket of my black leather jacket.

I pull out the viciously vibrating phone and take it off silent as I answer the awaiting call with a vague, "Hello?"

"Hi there, my name is Chantelle Higkin. I'm the assistant to the dean of the Scintilla Music Academy, Hannah Ustamu, and I was just wondering if this is the phone number belonging to Shayla Holmes?" A chirpy voice says down the line.

The taxi pulls out of the driveway as I wave one last time at my mum before replying, "It is. What can I do for you Miss Higkin?" 

"I just need to know if you'll be attending the opening ceremony this afternoon for all students? I'm currently doing the rounds and just ensuring everyone gets the message." She squeaks in answer as I huff out a sigh and turn to my driver with a playfully bored face.

"How long will this drive take sir?" I ask, my hand covering the mic on my phone. 

"Approximately two hours to Melbourne miss." He replies, his eyes keenly watching his surroundings as we drive out of my quiet suburban street and on to the main road that will lead me out of this rowdy town.

I pull my hand away from my phone and ask, "When is the service?" 

"At 2pm this afternoon. The new comers tour begins at 12 though and I believe you come under that category." She replies immediately, her voice still bouncy and cheery.

I sigh loudly and reply, "I'll be there hopefully. It takes a couple of hours to get there."

She goes on about being prompt to these sorts of assemblies, so I just go along with her and agree to her terms as the drive rolls along and Miss Higkin continues on talking to me about new student procedures and different rules for different situations. Eventually, she hangs up the call and I begin to watch the trees roll by.

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I only have three minutes to spare as we approach the turn off that leads into the Academy's grounds.

"She seemed like quite the talker that one." The driver chuckles from the driver's seat. 

I groan in agitation and mumble in agreement, "That's my mother for you."

I look ahead once more as the elaborately modern school gates open in front of us.

I can't help but stare in awe as few students mill about underneath great trees and sit down on crazily designed benches made of different materials.

The taxi pulls up in the drop off section in front of a seemingly double storied building that is made entirely of concrete with panels of windows that dress the walls in long zig-zag patterns, protruding from the exterior in rugged ways.