Expectations

First Day

Kadya POV (First Person View)

A crow fluttered past, sending my heart with it as I swayed into the grounds of Archer Academy. The occasional scuff or crunch of my shoes against the gravel driveway was the only sound I heard. Well that, and my strangely calm heartbeat. And, my music. And the birds. Oh and don't forget the buzzing traffic nearby. And the school bell went off (it's 8:30 AM) like 3 minutes ago. Okay, maybe 'only' isn't the right word.

But it was as if all life had ceased.

There were a few stragglers sending curious glances towards my form, but I paid no heed; smirking instead at the attention.

Most of the school, I decided, must have been enveloped by these blackened brick walls that stood before me. The grounds were lavish with rich green plants and a myriad of colours and scents. Chess tables and even a playground sat on the far end of the area that I could see. Flowers were arranged in beautiful displays, artfully so, around the front yard; a large expanse with a carpark smack-bang in the middle and the front entrance/pathway slightly off to the side of it. There was a pond peeking from behind the Main Building. Vines crept up the Main Building, dotted with small flowers, adding a simplistic beauty to its Gothic skin.

"Going nowhere fast, we've reached the climax," my headphones blared and I allowed a feeling of comfort wash over me.

"We're together, now we're undone,won't commit so we choose to run awaay,". It was hard for me not to sing along, but I refrained and looked around as I stepped through the large ornate Oak doors to the Reception area. The Reception was smaller than I expected, but it looked like a waiting room in A & E at a hospital. So clinical looking, doused with the smell of cleaning agents and vanilla. The only touches of bright colour were all displayed on the TV. I'm half surprised I didn't see injured people dragging their limp limbs around, so this MUST be Archer Academy.

"Do we separate? Oh, don't wanna give in, so we both gave up, can't take it back," my head swivelled around the room with a look of confusion. It was deserted, bar the few odd people here and there. There were heaps of cream leather couches instead of hard plastic chairs and a fish tank embedded in the wall to my left.

I couldn't see the front desk, so I turned on my heels and decided to come back tomorrow. "It's too late, we've reached the climax, climax-" Usher was cut off short by the sudden jerk of my headphones from my head.

The thrum of magic suddenly scratched at my mental barriers, encouraging me to touch it, and I gasped. My eyes were wide, filled with shock and anger. I calmed myself as I turned to face a tall gorgeous woman; a model perhaps?

Her hair was red, not the usual dull red/brown or faded burgundy but RED. Like Pop Art, 'In-Your-Face', vibrant red. Her eyes were soft, a beautiful hazel colour, accentuated with long curly lashes and delicately arched brows. Her lips were curved into a genuine smile; one full of purity and politeness. She wore cream designer slacks, a peach knitted wool cardigan and a pastel blue v-neck tee; standing casually on her nude coloured high heeled stilettos like gravity didn't affect her.

'Ashley. Her name is Ashley'. The thing I love most about being able to manipulate magic is that I am also Telepathic; which comes in handy if I have to use a spell against a warlock or something. I can determine their moves through their thoughts and decide on which spell or magic to use.

Back to the story...

It's weird to have someone so beautiful suddenly focus their attention on you. It's like...a spotlight is aimed at you, and no matter how many barriers you think you put up...all of them are gone and your soul is suddenly bare to the world. It feels...disconcerting.