Fandom Academy

Chapter One

I've loved books all my life. I have a blog, a Tumblr account, everything. I'm only fourteen, but I've read more books than my dad ever has; more fiction, fantasy and sci-fi that is. My eighth grade year is starting in less than two weeks. Nerve racking. I have all of my fandom merchandise, all my author signed folders, everything I need to start eighth grade year with a bang.

My room looks like a normal teenage girl's room, except for the three overflowing bookshelves. My desk is covered with books, as well as my dresser. I can't get enough of them. Some days I finish three books or books that are over six-hundred pages long. Lately, I've been getting grounded from everything I use that includes my fangirliness. I've been grounded from my books, then my laptop (so I can't read fan fiction), and now my phone so I can't go onto any of my blogs.

I slump down the stairs, moping the entire time. Mom sees me from the bottom of the steps and puts her hands on her hips. She was only twenty when she had me, and her swollen stomach is a reminder of it. My mom was a fangirl when she had me, so she named me Marcus after her favorite female character at the time.

I named my second sibling four years ago. I named him Percy after my favorite character Percy Jackson. My other brother, Tex (short for Texas) was named by Dad for his first favorite fictional character. Mom said I can name the baby she is going to have.

"Mar, quit moping and smile. I was thinking of giving you your things back today, but if you continue acting like a beaten dog, no way is that happening." Mom smiles and holds out her arms. I bounce down the last few steps and throw my arms around her.

"Do I smell pancakes?" I ask after half a second. I pull back slightly and Mom laughs. She is a naturally happy person.

"Come on, Mar, let's go get some waffles," she exaggerates. I loop my arm through hers and walk to the kitchen, ten times happier than I was three minutes ago. Dad is sitting at the table, reading the newspaper and pointing random things out to Tex. Tex has always been close to Dad. I've been close to Mom and Percy has been close to me. I think it because we have been named by them, or by me, in Percy's case.

"How's my little munchkin doing?" I ask Percy as I scoop him up in my arms. He laughs, but doesn't try squirming away. He was dumping a ton of blueberries onto his waffles and drinking blue raspberry lemonade. I've helped raise him to love blue food.

"I am happy." Percy smiles at me and I ruffle his black hair. That is another reason I named him Percy, he looks like him.

"Save some blueberries for the rest of us, sweetheart," Mom says. She makes two plates of waffles and hands me one. I let Percy decorate it for me. We eat our waffles quickly. Tex, Percy and I all run into the living room and begin building forts. Mom comes out and sits on one of the cushionless chairs, smiling at our creations. We've always been quite talented with fort building. Dad comes in and moves Mom over slightly so they can sit side by side. He flips on the TV and clicks through the channels until he gets to one of the national news stations.

Recently there has been a large forest fire spreading through Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Now, onto less depressing news, there has been a recent development of a new school. It meets all requirements and such, but it is based off of what people these days call fandoms. The new school is called Fandom Academy. You must register before August 28th for the chance to go to this school. Fanboys and fangirls alike are allowed to the school. It is located on a seven hundred acre lot. There are seven separate buildings and Fandom Academy covers several basic fandoms.

The basic fandoms are based off of authors, so there is J.K Rowling, Rick Riordan, Veronica Roth, John Green, Gayle Forman, Stephanie Meyer, Susanne Collins Ally Condie, Lauren Oliver, James Dashner, Marie Lu, and several other bestselling authors. Visit the website below to submit your application for Fandom Academy. I've heard its ratings are off the charts as the most applied to private school in all of North America! Well, this has James Teller and Susan Bentley. Thank you for tuning into America's News Network. We'll see you right after this- Blip! The TV is off and I am jumping up and down.

"Can I please go, Mom? This is like, every fangirls dream! Please, please, please!"

"I don't see why not. Tomorrow is the 28th, but today is the 27th, so go for it." I squeal and jump up and down, screaming my thanks. I rush upstairs to my room and log onto the website. Printing off the sheets necessary, I fill out the form. Mom and Dad sign where they need to and Dad brings me to the post office.

~~~~~

It has been one week since I sent the letter. I have three days left until real school and Fandom Academy start. I haven't been told anything. I haven't been sent anything.

"Do you think I got my letter in on time?" I ask Dad. He is sitting at the table, reading the newspaper for the millionth time. He looks up at me and smiles.

"Don't we always get mail on Mondays?" I begin bouncing again. Everyone sends us our mail on Saturdays and it always gets to us on Monday. I smile at Dad, grab an apple, and race to the living room and sit down on the bookbench under the window.

~~~~~

It takes three hours for the mailman to get here. For some reason, he has a whole box of letters for us. I go out and meet him. I grab the box and look up at the mailman.

"Oh, hey Marcus. This is your house?" It is Danny Adams, the most popular guy at our school. I was his partner in English. We had to talk about our favorite books, but to be honest, we couldn't stop talking about books.

"Yeah, this is my house. What are you doing working as a mailman?" Danny blushes and looks down at his feet.

"I'm saving up money for Fandom Academy. I got my acceptance letter earlier this summer. I'm saving up for the things I can buy there I guess." My eyes widen.

"I just signed up for it, on the 27th. I don't think I got accepted, though." I look down at my own feet and twist them back and forth.

"I think there is something in there for you. I saw something about Fandom Academy somewhere in there." The door behind me slams open while I'm smiling goofily at Danny.

"Hello, there, I'm Karen Cassidy, and you are?" Mom waddles over to us and I blush all the way to my roots. She has a way of making even strangers nervous with only a few words.

"My name is Daniel Adams, ma'am. I'm a new student at Fandom Academy and last year I was in Markus's English class. We were partners on a project and we really connected with books. When I found out about Fandom Academy, I meant to text her, but I never got... her... number," Danny trails off and looks at our touching hands. He begins letting go just as I do.

"Oh, you're Danny? I've heard such amazing things about you! Come in, please. We already know that we are the last stop for postal service. Would you like some water, ice cream, anything at all?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Cassidy. Thank you, though." We walk into the house and set down the box on the coffee table. Danny sticks his hand in and comes out with a large packet. It has my name is elaborate cursive. I tear into the package and out drop a blue plaid, pleated skirt, a white button-up, and a cobalt blazer. A sapphire blue tie also flutters to the ground. I find a letter amongst the pile and screech in delight.

Dear Marcus Cassidy,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Fandom Academy, school of fanboys and fangirls alike. We hope your first year is pleasant and your stay is comfortable. I wish to also inform you that you were the absolute last person accepted into Fandom Academy. There is a ticket for your flight included.

There is also a list of school supplies you may purchase at our complimentary school store on our exquisite estate. A life of a fangirl is hard, Miss Cassidy, and it won't be easy to learn these new things about your new life. For every year from this moment forward, you will always be allowed to go to Fandom Academy.

Thank you for choosing Fandom Academy. Yours Truly,

Professor Arnold Richfield

I've been accepted into Fandom Academy.

I will no longer be a regular student.

I can finally be a fangirl.