The Ivy Academy [COMPLETED]

Chapter 5

Today was my first day.

I woke up at 7, which meant I had about an hour before breakfast started. Without my phone, I didn't know what to do. I wasn't a phone addict, but it definitely helped pass the time. I could listen to music or read, my two favorite activities. I decided to look through the selection of books I had in my desk.

All seven Harry Potter's, Wuthering Heights, The Catcher in the Rye, and tons more. I decided to re-read Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire for the tenth time, settling into my bed. I reminded myself that in one week, I would have a roommate.

That would be if I was still in this God-forsaken academy in one week.

Soon enough, I heard the breakfast bell echo through the cavernous hallways. I pulled on my uniform and exited the room, heading downstairs to the cafeteria. I pushed open the double doors. Every single person in the room turned their heads and stared at me. The guards, the students, even the lunch servers.

I gulped. I almost forgot about my little outburst yesterday. The one where I tried to murder a fellow student with a steak knife. I just wanted to yell out at everybody telling them that it's normal to freak out after being abducted and held captive in a fancy prison of some sorts.

As I walked to the lunch line, I felt every eye in the cafeteria trained on me. I would have to ignore them if I was going to survive. It was odd, I felt strong for recovering after being taken, but I felt so weak during this meaningless social situation. It's not like I had friends at school, anyway. At least in public school, people didn't pay me any attention. At least in public school, people were too screwed up to judge other people. Here was far worse; Their hair was pristine, their skin devoid of acne, their skirts and sweater vests without a wrinkle. They were in a position to judge.

After filling my tray, I scanned the room for a place to stay. Nowhere felt welcome. The only person I recognized was Beck, and based off the way he was the only person in the room not looking at me, I figured he wouldn't want to see me.

"Rhiannon," A smooth voice came from behind me. I turned around. The voice belonged to Dane. Thank God. I knew he wasn't judgmental. "Sit down."

I did, thankful for the gesture, if I could even call it that. I wasn't used to gestures.

"Are you OK?" He asked. He seemed to genuinely care. I nodded, smiling.

Sitting at the table was a girl next to him. She had blue eyes and black hair, the tips of her hair dyed red. She was edgy. She was cool. I wanted to know her.

"This is Scarlett," Dane introduced us. "She started last week." I was even more jealous of her. She had a normal name, sexy enough. I always got the sense that Rhiannon wasn't too attractive a name.

"Hi," I shined brightly. "You can call me Rhi."

"I'm only going to call you Rhiannon," Dane interrupted, smiling. Scarlett pushed him playfully, laughing.

"You're going to learn that he's very annoying," Scarlett said, rolling her eyes. "It's nice to meet you, Rhi."

"I can already tell that," I shot back. We laughed.

I was off to a good start. I already had two friends.

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This is a short chapter, but a necessary one. Rhiannon is making friends for the first time in her life! Are you happy for her?

--Jamie Vandal