The Ivy Academy [COMPLETED]

Chapter 9

When I woke up, I looked over the rule list again.

There it was. Rule four.

No romantic or sexual relationships of any kind with any of the other students. Punishments are severe. Crap. Dane and I would never be. And punishments are severe? What did that mean? They find some students hooking up in the janitor's closet and next thing you know their heads are cut off? That hardly seemed fair, I thought, and then brushed it off when I remembered that nothing in the Ivy Academy existed for fairness.

I looked outside my window, through the thicket of Ivy growing on the glass. The sun had risen and it was barely dipping upon the shiny lake, emitting a warm, golden hue. Though I didn't want to be here, I figured I was allowed to appreciate moments of beauty like this.

I looked over the list one more time. Rule 10 still stuck out to me. No draining the pool.

Soon enough, the breakfast bell rang and it was time to head down. I sat with my usual's, Scarlett and Dane. I sat down cheerily. Last night had taken a toll on me, in the best way possible. I was giddy, for the first time, like my other sisters constantly were. I used to be annoyed at them for it, but now I couldn't blame them; if being giddy felt this great, I wanted it to last forever.

Dane didn't feel the same way. As soon as I sat down, he looked the other way, as though I was something disgusting that would ruin his appetite. I wiped my mouth, just to make sure it wasn't any 'chewed-up' piece of food. There wasn't.

"Morning," Scarlett said, friendlier than Dane. I smiled in response, a little distractedly.

"Good morning, Dane." He looked at me, as though he didn't notice me before.

"Oh." He looked disappointed. "Hey." He turned away again. I looked down and began eating my food with far less enthusiasm. There went being giddy. I thought he wanted me like I wanted him. Even if he just wanted a good make-out session, which I doubt he did from the way he looked at me, why would he be cold to me like this? I couldn't find an explanation.

I engaged in some fluff talk with Scarlett, conversing about classes, the academy, and some gossip. I was distracted the entire time, aware of Dane's presence like a sore thumb. So, this is why you don't kiss your friends, I could almost hear Cassie saying in that judgmental tone of hers that she loved to display. My ears perked up with I heard Scarlett mention Madison's name.

"I'm sorry?" I didn't hear the full sentence.

"I heard Madison's got it out for you," She said. I believed that. She already kicked me in the face and then got me in trouble on my first day. If anyone should have it out for someone, I should have it out for her.

"She already got me back for attacking Beck," I shrugged, taking a bite of my waffle. "Why would she still hate me?"

Scarlett shook her head. "Getting us in trouble was nothing compared to what she has in store for you." I shuddered, horrified to imagine what worse she could do to me. I thought what she already had done was pretty bad.

Dane interjected. "How do you know all this, Scarlett?" He sounded accusatory.

Scarlett was taken aback. "I heard her talking with her friends."

Dane turned away again. For some reason, I felt guilty. I knew it wasn't my fault that he was acting like this, but I couldn't help but feel responsible. I was also mad at him for making me feel guilty.

"Why are you acting like this?" I blurted, surprised at my forwardness. I wasn't the type to confront people, like most outgoing kids in my school were. I was much more likely to roll my eyes to myself and wait until I wasn't angry anymore.