The Exclusives

The train

I open my book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. I'm almost finished and I'm loving it. I'm engrossed in the story until I hear the compartment door open. A smooth, gentle voice says,

"Is this seat taken?" I look up to see a boy with a sharp jaw and wavy black hair that falls over his brow.

"N-no." He sits across from me, his deep emerald eyes looking around the compartment. I try to appear uninterested in him and open my book once more. Thirty minutes later, I finish the book and set it aside on the seat next to me.

Suddenly, the boy speaks, "You a Capote fan?"

A little taken aback by his voice I reply "Not in particular. This is my first time reading his work."

He nods his sharp chin towards the book. "It's good, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I just finished it." Another awkward half-hour goes by. I pretend to be on my phone but really I'm stealing glances at the sharp jawed beauty across from me. That's when I see the logo on his backpack.

"You go to Chestworth?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Yes. I'm a year one."

"So am I! What are you in for?"

"Journalism and poetry."

"No way! I'm corporate writing and poetry!"

"Oh wow! We might be in the same class!" Even though I barely know this handsome boy, I am glad to have someone in my poetry classes. We talk for the majority of the train ride. His name is Carson Miller and he's from Charlotte, North Carolina. His favorite book series is Harry Potter, surprisingly nerdy for his striking appearance. He's vegetarian and listens to Tyler the Creator. Our conversation was awkward if anything, but pleasant. I'm happy to have made an acquaintance besides Nessa.

We arrive at Chestworth in all its brick and glory. I say an awkward goodbye to Carson, gather my luggage, and head towards Nessa who is waiting in the throng of students outside the school. She squeals when she sees me and gives me a big hug

"Izzy! I missed you so much! We are gonna have the BEST time here. I'm so excited!"

"Me too, this place is huge!"

"I know right! Here, let me help you with that." She takes my tote bag and leads me towards the stairs. The school is even bigger on the inside. It has marble floors and a glass overhang walkway. Students are filing through the equally impressive courtyard to the dorm buildings.

"We're in Austen room four. Each dorm house is named after an author." as if the school wasn't grand enough, the dorms were ginormous. Each house had six rooms consisting of two beds, a bathroom, two desks, a closet, and a dresser. Bigger than college dorms! Nessa and I unpacked and talked for the next couple of hours.

"When I was on the train I had a fun conversation with a guy who's in our year. He's in corporate writing and poetry."

"Ooooh, was he cute?" I blush at Nessa's remark. She squeals. "OMG, he was cute! Admit it."

"Okay, he was... attractive. But he's also smart and respectful."

"You should talk to him next time! What was his name?"

"His name was Carson? Carson Miller?" Nessa's jaw drops

"WHAT!?" she gasps.

"Yeah...? Do you know him?"

"Carson Miller as in Chase Miller's brother!?"

"I don't know. And?"

"And you cannot, I repeat, absolutely not, get involved with the Millers."

"Why?"

"Have you not heard? Chase was the biggest troublemaker the school has ever seen! Drugs, parties, failing classes, STDs, you name it! The only reason he wasn't expelled is because their parents are filthy rich. Like, super-rich."

"So? Maybe Carson is different. He seemed fine to me."

"Izzy, your first lesson of Chestworth is to never, ever associate yourself with a Miller, they are nothing but trouble."