Valentina Finds Her Voice | A Blushington Book

Chapter 2

I see why they say time flies when you're having fun because the summer was a blur. Between getting ready for Blushington and squeezing in every last moment of fun with my friends, I was happily exhausted.

But move in day and orientation was tomorrow at Blushington. My mom had been a bundle of nerves and teared up every time we went shopping for things for my dorm.

Even though Blushington was only an hour and half away in a nearby small town, she felt like I was leaving the country. It has been a never ending conversation of remember who you are and whose you are. Be good, make friends, don't spend all of your time in your room and call me every night.

It's like a review packet of a test of my character. And dad is just as bad, he's always "looking" for something in the basement when he gets emotional. Obviously I'm going to miss them like crazy, but we already decided I'd come home a few weekends and they'd visit with me at the local congregation a few Sundays.

We loaded the car the night before, just to be safe, and had a quiet family dinner. After dinner I found myself just staring around my room. I sat on my window seat and thought about how much my life would change tomorrow. There I'd find new adventures around every corner or it would be incredibly dull and just like regular school, but in a big, ancient castle. My only true hope was that I would make friends right away.

I crawled into bed and soon was fast asleep. Before I knew it though I heard my mom actually screaming my name. I thought the house was on fire and it might as well had been, because we were late.

"Valentina," mom yelled, "we overslept. Get dressed now!"

I bolted for the door and ran into the hall bath. After a much too quick and much too cold shower I threw on the outfit I'd set out the night before and ran downstairs. I had my hair brush in one hand and my backpack in the other.

"Grab an apple and come on," dad shot over his shoulder.

I hopped around trying to get my shoes on and hold the apple I'd bitten in my mouth and basically fell into the car.

"All right, not so bad," dad said, "we can make up time on the highway."

Mom turned around from the front and offered me a reassuring smile and off we headed for Blushington.

It was a pretty uneventful drive once we all settled down and realized we'd be there in plenty of time. Mom and I put on a little mascara and lip gloss and I re-read the schedule for the day. I was going crazy thinking about who I would get as my roommate.

We drove through beautiful Blooomington which is the name of the town where the school is and the name of the boys academy further down the road. Mom already picked out a few stores she wanted to stop in on their way home.

And before I knew it we were turning down a lovely tree lined road with gorgeous green space on my left and small lake to my right. We drove for a while then approached a giant set of iron gates with amazing scrollwork and a very fancy letter B in the center.

The man in the guard house asked our names and gave us a parking pass, then welcomed us to Blushington.

Driving up, it looked like a modern fairytale castle. It was crazy old but had been renovated a few times. Seeing it in person, even though this was my second time, still took my breath away.

The first time I saw it was after I was accepted and came for registration. However, these last few months in between must've made me forget, because I was just as much in awe as I was the first time.

The aged limestone shone bright on this sunny day. The trees blew in the breeze as if to welcome us as well. Everyone's energy and excitement was palpable. There was just a magic about this place that I couldn't fully put my finger on and I was enchanted.

My parents called my name, snapping me out of my reverie, as they spoke to a peppy brunette who said she was over my dormitory and giving room assignments. I was on the top floor, Kensington hall room 7C.

There really wasn't much for me to pack. The dorms came fully furnished with a bed, dresser, mini fridge and microwave. So we brought my two extra large suitcases, laptop and desk supplies. The school provided uniforms so apart from some clothes for the weekend, shoes, toiletries, snacks, desk accessories and a plant I didn't have much to bring.

We walked through those giant wooden doors and it was like walking into a whole new world. Each girl was impeccably dressed in their school uniforms. There were fresh flowers on every surface and classical music playing over the sound system in between announcements. It was so bright and cheerful I half expected a bird to land on my shoulder and sing along.

We found the elevators down the main hall and the doors opened on the Kensington Hall announcing itself. My room was at the end of the floor in what was once a turret but had been renovated into a dorm.

I felt like Rapunzel looking at the domed ceiling, exposed beams and arched windows. I hadn't met my roommate but she'd already settled in completely. Her side was covered in rainbows and unicorns; it was so bright it almost hurt to look at it. I was glad my bed faced the window or I'd never get any sleep.

Mom and I both just raised our eyebrows, smiled and started to unpack everything. Setting up my side went pretty quickly. I'd call my style minimal girly. I laid out my new white, ruffled bedding, a few pink pillows, my orchid I lovingly named Jasmine, a few posters, lamp and my laptop on the desk completed my side. I made myself a toiletries drawer since we shared a bathroom.

"Well, I'm starving let's go to the cafeteria before orientation," dad offered.

When we walked in I thought that cafe was a better word than cafeteria. The school's lunch room looked like a French bistro. There were banquettes in the schools colors of sky blue, blush and ivy green. There were little bistro tables and a long marble island down the middle with beautiful bar stools.

Gorgeous chandeliers hung on both sides, it was an Instagram model's dream. I knew because half of the girls were taking selfies instead of eating. I would have joined them but my stomach rumbled right as I had the thought.

And honestly at this point I would've gladly eaten whatever was put in front of me and I did. Because it turned out that the food was amazing. A delicious green colored soup, with a sliced chicken breast and something spectacular drizzled on top. I ate mine and a few bites of moms. Dad threatened to make the drive everyday just so he could eat here.

"Oh! Look at the time," I nearly shouted. "We'd better get to the rose garden for new student orientation."

It was truly a beautiful day, sunny and breezy. Orientation was held under a massive white tent in a picturesque garden. I promise I saw a Disney princess here in one of those movies.

We found our names on one of the tables and I looked around at all of the other new girls and their families. Some of the girls were very young but most were teens like me. Looking around I tried to spot some potential friends, but of course you can't judge a girl by her outfit.

There were easily one hundred of us all together eagerly anticipating the headmistresses arrival. And almost as if she was there the whole time, she seemed to just appear behind a clear podium, welcoming us to Blushington.

I hope you're enjoying it so far. Thanks for reading.

X B