Family Secrets

1

I have never seen so many good looking people in one place. There has to be something in the water. Maybe it’s the air? The sky definitely looks bigger over here. Maybe their buildings are just taller so it gives the impression it’s bigger.

“Aisling did you hear anything I just said?”

Suddenly my attention is snapped back to my very annoyed cousin. Crap. I didn’t hear anything he just said. I was too busy watching all the models walking into school.

“I’m so sorry, I was completely distracted by all the so called students. How on Earth is this a school?”

“What do you mean?” He laughed. “These are all students, except that one” pointing at an older man who was stepping out of his car. “That’s the principal. I’ll be taking you to meet him in 10 minutes so you can get enrolled.”

My jaw dropped. “That’s the principal? He’s gorgeous! How is he old enough to be a principal?” The man stood at around 6feet, adjusting his well tailored suit and running a hand through his sleek brown hair as he made his way inside.

Everyone seems to be tall around here too. Cue the short jokes for the next 25 years of my life. Great.

“Honestly Aisling” he chuckled. “Clearly we are just blessed with good looks in this town. Now come on.”

He opened the car door heading to the same building Mr. Fit just entered. Quickly grabbing my bag, I ran after Owen. Knowing my luck I’d get lost in the crowd never to be seen again so I needed to keep close, at least until someone gave me a map or something.

The school was something out of every American high school movie I’d ever seen. The longest corridors, lined floor to ceiling with steel blue lockers. Every so often I’d glance into a classroom just to see a sea of faces staring back at me. My school at home was no way near as big as this. In my year we had 100 people maximum and that felt like a lot. I’m not sure I even want to know how many people are here. More people to be introduced to as the “foreign cousin”.

I don’t know why we moved. My mum barely spoke about her family here. So when she told me we were moving to Ravenshill, it was definitely a shock.

The limited information I had was that my mum flew to England when she was 19, leaving Ravenhill behind along with two older brothers, Arian and Declan, her twin sister, Anya, and a young brother, Charlie. There must have been some kind of family argument because once she left, there was no contact or so I was told.

On my mum’s 30th birthday, I have the faintest memory of answering the phone to a lady with an American accent who asked to speak to mum. I remember being so excited to hear a different accent instead of just English. I thought it must be someone famous and rushed to my mum. Her face dropped when she took the phone, hearing the voice and walked away speaking in hush tones. When I asked her who it was, she said it was the wrong number. Being eleven, I thought nothing of it. From time to time if I asked my mum about that phonecall her mood would switch immediately and she would change the subject so I eventually learnt to leave it alone.

Owen picked us up from the airport when we arrived last week and took us to the motel just outside of town. Mum said she needed to sort some things out with the family before finding a more permanent home. Owen was Arian’s second son, and so far seemed to be really friendly so I had high hopes for the rest of the family.

From what Owen was saying they sound like an incredibly close family, something I’m not used to as it’s always been just me and mum. They all live really close to each other, it sounded like he had said in the same house but I must have heard him wrong.

After travelling through the labyrinth of corridors we finally arrived at a large door with a brass name plate

[Headteacher Mr. Fife]

Mr. Fit is actually Mr. Fife. Ha. I really hope I don’t get those muddled up. Owen triple knocked as he opened the door.

“Good morning Mr. Fife. I have my cousin, Aisling Connor, here for her enrolment. My mom called you a few weeks ago to discuss”

My head spun to look at Owen. A few weeks ago? That means this was planned for longer than I thought, and mum was clearly talking to the family here. What on Earth is going on. He didn’t acknowledge my glare as he continued talking to Mr. Fife.

“Miss Connor, it’s a pleasure to have you join us” he grinned, extending his large hand. I returned a meek smile shaking his hand.

“Just Aisling is fine Mr Fife”. Dammit he’s hot for a teacher.

“Well just Aisling” he winked, “I have arranged for you to have a buddy for you first few weeks to show you around, introduce you to some of our good eggs shall we say and help you get settled in. How does that sound?”

Please be someone normal.

“Sounds great Sir. Thank you” I said mustering up my best smile.

With that there was a knock at the door, a petite blonde stuck her head around the corner. Mr. Fife stood as she entered the room.

“Ah Chelsea, we were just talking about you” he smiled. She was gorgeous. Shoulder length ice blonde hair, piercing blue eyes and freckles.

“All good things I hope!” The blonde said with the biggest grin. She turned to face me with the same bubbly energy.

“I’m so happy to meet you! I’m Chelsea, as Mr. Fife just said. Duh” she giggled. “I love your hair! Are you a natural redhead? I always wanted red hair, in combo with my freckles I would have been unstoppable, don’t you think?”

Before I even got the chance to reply she was off again.

“My dad says I should be happy with my hair, cause we always want what we don’t have you know? I think he’s right but a girl can dream. Or maybe get a wig!” She burst out laughing.

“Chelsea”. Mr Fife said firmly, breaking Chelsea’s attention from her one person comedy show.

“I think it’s almost time for your first lesson, hm? Owen and I have some matters to discuss privately” Owen stood and nodded.

“Oh yes” she said hurriedly “Sorry Sir, ignore me. Come on Aisling let’s head out. I’ll start giving you all the juicy details about everyone” she said smiling at me. I like her.

Owen cleared his throat, “Not too much of course Chelsea, remember?” Chelsea nodded and smiled at the men. Acknowledging his not so subtle hint we left Mr. Fife’s office.

What the hell was that about?