Forbidden Love

Chapter 1 ~ Arrival Day

Maybe it would be a good thing to start this story with a name. Names can tell you a lot about a person and my name is very fitting for me. My name is Scarlett Collins. Now you won't find out just yet why this name of mine is so fitting, we will get back to that later.  My life changed completely since I lost my mother when I was a child, following that my father (more often than not) would go out dining and drinking with his colleagues and various other squeezes of his. So much for family, even if it is just me and him... I'm surprised he remembers that he has a daughter actually. One night he walked in and literally did a double take, "who's you?" he asked before thumping up the stairs to pass out. He had drank before that but ever since mum died, his initial mid life blip evolved into a lifestyle.

I had just arrived at Harringdale Boarding School. Maybe now for once in my life I would have the opportunity to talk to some people my age! Not old, grey wet nurses. I had always been home tutored during my preschool years and some of my high school years, it was pretty lonely to say the least. I would always look out of the window at precisely 3:45pm on the weekdays and see the Yardley children coming home from school, book bag and all. After months and months of guilt tripping my father (when he wasn't completely off of his face), I finally persuaded him to let me go to a school, with real living, breathing pupils.

Yet, little did I expect to be sent to a boarding school. But I was thrilled, it was permanent at least. Although this may have been a little late in my education, seeing as now I am in my final years of schooling... Harringdale 'Boarding College' wasn't my first choice either, it was grand, opulent, magnificent; I only wanted regular, plain and public; but I was in no position to complain.

"Good day." Spoke a lady from behind a grand oak desk. She was shuffling papers in her hands. "You must be Miss Collins?" Her tiny eyes pinned on me.

"Yes Miss." I replied, peering out of the windows. There were vast fields surrounding the mansion, and from the looks of it, miles and miles of woodland. "Mrs Foley will see you in her office, she is expecting you." I turned my head anxiously, there were so many doors. "To your immediate right, Miss Collins." Her glasses glinted in the sun making her seem a lot scarier than she probably was. She almost looked mole like.

Without further adieu I tapped lightly on the indicated door, then heard a stir from inside the room.
"Come in." The voice was deep and grumbly, like a lion that had just woken. My stomach twisted upon hearing the sound. As I entered, my eyes drifted to the many photographs that were covering the walls, each placed in a uniquely crafted gold gilded frame. They were mostly of students and classes with a date written underneath. Yet there was an interesting mix of photographs of beagles. Mrs. Foley was an older lady, the first thing I noticed was the incredibly stern look on her face. Her hair was short, it was an off blonde colour which matched her brown and cream coloured clothing perfectly. She looked like a custard tart gone bad. She too was wearing spectacles which looked far too small on her large wrinkled face.

"Right." Her barky voice cut through the silence. "Scarlett Collins I presume?"

I nodded.

"Welcome to the Harringdale Boarding college." She could not have sounded more enthusiastic if she had tried her upmost. "There are some rules which I must go over with you. As you should know, this institution prides itself with excellence; therefore certain provisions are implemented in order to maintain this quality."
I nodded again hastily.
"Firstly you will do as you are told, we do not tolerate misbehaviour, truancy, lateness, ill manners... Need I go on."
"Yes Miss I-"
"Mrs Foley."
"Mrs Foley, I understand perfectly." She continued: "You must be in your dormitory by precisely 9pm each night." She took a gulp of the tea, though it has been on her desk for a good half an hour. "You will attend every lesson without fail, nor excuse."