Chapter One:
"Maisie dear! Better hurry! You don't want to be late for school!" My nanny Lucie called up to me.
"I am coming Lucie!" I shouted back grabbing my backpack off my bed and rushing down the stairs.
"Maisie darling the limousine is waiting outside," she said, helping me put my coat on.
"Thank you!" I smiled, kissing her on the cheek before I ran out to the car. Lucie is like a mother to me. She has taken the role none of my fathers many wives have been able to fill. My father, billionare Troy Austin, has had many wives throughout my 17 years of existance. He just divorced wife number seven and I am pretty sure that he is going out with like his 80th girlfriend.
"Ms. Austin," My butler Sebastian greeted me, opening the limo door so that I can climb in. After I was securely buckled he climbed in as well and closed the door. My chauffeur Lawrence began to drive and I thanked both of them.
"Ms. Austin, your father has informed me to instruct you to dress in formal attire tonight," Sebastian said in his thick British accent.
"How come?" I questioned with the same thick accent. I live in Doncaster, England. Nearly everybody I know has an accent. Lucie however is 100% American, I do occasionally pick up improper slang from her, which always results in a strict scolding from my father.
"He is throwing a benefit ball tonight. He is inviting many important people and celebrities. He even has a mile long list of famous performers as entertainment," Sebastian answered.
"Oh, I see," I nodded. It isn't anything new. My father gathers money for charity. He never collects money for meaningful charities. Mostly for horse stables and stuff, never something reasonable. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love horses, but I think donating the money to help cure cancer would be a better idea.
"We are here Ms. Austin," Lawrence said as we pulled up in front of the massive school. Sebastian got out and opened the door for me.
"Thank you both!" I smiled, hopping out. Sebastian reached to grab my bag for me. I beat him to it and swung the strap over my shoulder.
"It's fine Seb, I can walk myself," I told him.
"Your father would not approve of this. He has instructed us all to never leave you unattended," he replied.
"It's just fifty feet."
"Are you sure Ms. Austin?"
"Positive. And please just call me Maisie."
"If you insist Ms. Maisie."
"You're getting there," I sighed. I waved them both goodbye and climbed the steps to the school. I go to a private university. They transformed a big old beautiful castle into the school called Cloversdale University.
As I walked inside the massive building I passed other girls dressed just like me. We all have to follow the same boring dress code. Our uniform consists of a grey skirt that falls to right above the knee, black socks that go up to right beneath the knee, a dark green sweater over a white blouse, a green grey and white plaid tie, and black boaters shoes. I had my dark brown hair curled and pushed back with a green head band. I scurried into my first class and took a seat in the back of the room. I prefer not to be called on in class, and when your in the back the teachers barely notice you; let alone call on you.
By lunch period I was already exausted. I sat down at an empty table. I always prefer to eat alone, unfortunately the girls at this school have another idea. One by one more and more girls sat around my table.
"Hey Masie! What did you get on your mathematics test?" One girl, Vanessa Paise, asked me as she took the last seat at the table.
"100%, what about you?" I questioned her as I took my lunch out of my lunch bag.
"Lucky! I got a 99%! I wish I was as smart as you!" She pouted. These girls are always treating me like I was royalty, as if I am some almighty queen. I guess you can say I am really popular. I don't want to be though. I would rather just be left alone. They only like me because of my father's high social status. I just want people to like me for me. Just then Vanessa yawned and stretched, accidentally knocking my water bottle off the table.
"I am so sorry! Let me get it for you!" She appologized.
"It's fine I can get it," I told her, reaching down to pick it up. As I bent over, the necklace I had tucked into my shirt slipped out. I quickly grabbed the bottle and sat straight up. I went to tuck the necklace back in before anybody noticed it but it was too late.
"What's that?" Adelaide asked me.
"Oh, um, it's nothing," I lied. The necklace was the right half of a heart. There were two sets of letters engraved into it. They weren't full words though. Just the last few letters of two names. The one on top was the letters 'I-S-I-E' the last four letters of my name. The one on the bottom was 'U-I-S'. I asked Lucie what the second name was and she said it was the last few letters of my mother's name. I don't even know my mother's name. I was taken away from her when I was only three months old, and nobody has spoken of her since. I asked Lucie what her name was and she said that if I wanted to know I had to ask my father. I did and he refused to tell me.
"Maisie? Hello? Earth to Masie!" Vanessa said trying to get my attention.
"Oh sorry," I blushed. I got lost in thought.
"What is it?" Adelaide asked me again.
"It's a special necklace I wear everyday. My mother has the other half. I don't really want to talk about it," I told them.
"Oh I'm sorry!" Adelaide appologized. They know about how I am motherless and how I don't like to talk about it.
"It's okay," I lied. No it's not okay. Now that is going to put a damper on my mood for the rest of the day. That's just great. Not.
