Her

Chapter two

Great glass chandeliers light up the long hallway on the other side of the door. Portraits of what seem to be previous owners in dark wood frames hang on both sides of the hall. A red carpet like just like the ones celebrities would walk on covers the tiled floor.

I quietly clear my throat and begin strolling down the hallway. There's many blue painted doors on each wall leading to one big door at the end of the corridor. I don't really know where I'm walking to but I have a feeling the big door is where I should enter. This hallway seems to be taking forever to get to the end and I'm getting quite bored of walking down it. When I finally reach the door a group photo of students currently attending the school catches my eye and I turn to study it.

There seems to be only about fifty students in the school. I had expected there to be hundreds but I suppose boarding schools haven't been very popular for a long time. I'm slightly glad that there's only a small amount of girls attending the school because I feel it might be easier with a smaller group. All the girls are very pretty and I find myself fixing my hair when suddenly the big door opens.

A short, grey haired woman emerges from it. I start to feel nervous because she seems to be a very strict woman but when she spots me she gives me an enormous smile.

"Ah, you must be the new girl! Well, don't be shy! Come on in here and let's get you settled in," the woman smiles.

I awkwardly walk over to her as she holds open the door for me and I nervously mumble a "thanks." Behind the door is a smaller room that seems to be and office. I hadn't expected such a small room behind such an important looking door. I walk across the hardwood floorboards and into the office. The wall is covered in a floral wine colored wallpaper. A wooden desk sits in the middle of the room with a leather chair behind it and a little green sofa in front of it. Shelves cover the walls that hold frames containing pictures and random little things like plants and lightbulbs. The old woman directs me towards the green sofa and I take a seat on it.

"My name is Mrs Adley. I'm basically the maid, but I'm also the person who has to watch over you lot most of the time!," she chuckles, "Mrs Rossi will be with you in just a minute when I go fetch her, she's your headmistress. She's a lovely lady, if you behave," she smiles and then leaves the room.

I sit there awkwardly and look around the room. It's pretty boring. I notice a bowl of fizzy cola bottles sitting on the desk but I don't dare take one. I just hope this headmistress woman offers me one because I'm starting to really crave them.

The door opens and a tall, middle aged woman enters the room with her red hair tied back in a slick bun. I instantly sit up straight as I was slightly slouching and cross my legs. The woman sits down on the leather chair opposite me and places on a pair of reading glasses. I feel nervous again because if this woman can't tolerate me, I'm not going to have too great of a time.

"Ellie Gray, yes?" Mrs Rossi asks.

"Yes," I answer.

"Yes ma'am would be the answer I'd look for," she says and I feel my cheeks go pink.

"Don't worry, I'm joking," Mrs Rossi says and I glance up and she's smiling at me.

"I was great friends with your mother you know, Julia, in our school days," she states and seems to zone out. "We both attended this school together the same year, you might find her picture somewhere in the corridor."

"Really? I didn't even know she went to a boarding school," I say in shock.

"Oh yes, me and your mother were the best of friends," Mrs Rossi carries on, "We had an incredible time in this school, I felt so great here and that's sort of why I became the headmistress, it just feels like home. I think she wanted you to have the same experience as she did and that's why she sent you here."

I sit there a little shocked and then smile at Mrs Rossi.

"I do hope you do have the same experience, or something even better," she smiles and I'm so glad that all the people working here I've met so far seem to be really lovely people.

"Now," Mrs Rossi says and clears her throat,"let me explain the basic rules to you and give you what you need to settle in."

"First off, no alcohol or smoking allowed on the premises, that should be obvious. Secondly, no leaving assigned bedrooms after nine o'clock in the evening. Thirdly, uniforms must be worn at all times except for when it is time for bed. I'll give you your uniform in a few minutes. And lastly, do have fun, we want our students to have the best possible time they can here. Oh, and also, absolutely no bullying will be tolerated in this school, but I would hope you wouldn't be that kind of girl. Now," Mrs Rossi jumps out of the chair and walks over to a drawer and pulls out what seems to be an alright looking uniform consisting of a navy skirt, white T-shirt and navy cardigan. "White tights and shoes must be worn with the uniform, unless it is a very warm day. If you don't have either I do have a few spare in that drawer," she says and points to a chest of drawers.

Mrs Rossi hands me the uniform and I take it and thank her.

"I have black shoes but I might need the tights," I tell her and she opens the drawer and throws me two pairs.

"Mrs Adley will wash your uniform on the weekends and that is the only time when you can wear your own clothes. If you'd like to know anything else about how the school is run or anymore rules you can read this brochure," she says and hands me a yellow brochure with a school crest on the front consisting of a cherry blossom tree and a snowy owl sitting on one of the branches. "Mrs Adley is waiting outside and will take you to your bedroom. Welcome to the Wise Blossom Boarding school Ellie."