Chapter 3.2: Lost
900 Words
Riley POV
I strolled out of the packhouse, breathing in the fresh air, smelling the familiar scent of the pine trees in the forest. It was refreshing. Back at Nightingale Academy, you were expected to remain indoors, keep to a strict curfew, and adhere to a strict schedule. Any lateness and you are instantly punished. Rudeness was not tolerated. Low grades were deemed irresponsible and plain lazy. This right here? Just the simple outdoors? It was pure heaven to a girl denied the mere essentials of living for so long. Not even Sofia could ruin my mood.
The walk wasn’t particularly long, but it was inconvenient. I arrived at the school gates earlier than predicted and took the time to glance around with interest. The Academy resembled a large grey stone building, a heavy black ornate gate, and intimidating, large wooden doors leading to the inside. Students gathered in their usual cliques: cheerleaders, jocks, nerds, and the average Joe. I ambled past them, ignoring the curious looks and hushed whispers, and walked down the hallways until I found what I was looking for.
“I’m new here. I need my class schedule.”
My tone is polite. Restrained.
The woman barely looked up from behind the desk, a bored expression on her face. Evidently, she didn't enjoy her job very much.
“Name?”
Her tone is disinterested. I was just another student amongst a sea of them.
“Riley Smith.”
I struggle not to let my own anger show in my tone of voice. I didn't need to make waves on my first day.
"Oh yes. We were notified of your arrival. Here is your schedule.”
She practically threw it at me. I caught it mid-air and instantly looked down at it.
I skimmed it as I half turned around. Advanced mathematics, advanced science, history, Advanced English, Gym, and a free period. I frowned. The classes weren't necessarily a problem; I could probably pass them quite easily, but I wouldn't have signed up for them willingly. Why do extra work if you don't have to?
“Why the advanced classes?” I asked tightly.
My grades were excellent, but this felt like a setup of some kind. The woman sighed heavily as though I’d demanded the moon or something equally ridiculous. Was it that hard to do her job? Miserable cow.
“Alpha Smith was very specific about the classes you were taking. The more challenging the class, the less free time you’ll have,” she said monotonously as though reciting it from memory, and to be fair, she probably was. It sounded exactly like something my father would have said.
In other words, the less trouble I could make. Bastard was doing everything in his power to cause trouble for me, on the pretence of being 'concerned or caring.'
This wasn't some loving devotion from a father. This was an all-out war. He'd thrown the first grenade, but it had missed its mark. Big time. I wasn't going to miss, though, when it came to my turn.
“I see,” I murmured, inwardly cursing my father to the very depths of hell, “I guess I should get going then.”
I was going to disappoint my father if he thought that I would fail my classes and give him a reason to punish me. He probably assumed that the last school was a piece of pie or something. Dumbass. My grades were almost perfect, and the classes at Nightingale Academy were far superior to what this one would have to offer.
“Your last name is Sullivan,” she said suddenly as though remembering it just now, causing me to look at her, bewildered.
Say what now?
"My last name is Smith," I corrected her firmly.
“Your father wanted your last name changed on the school records to prevent you from being connected with your sister. As far as the teachers know, you are Riley Sullivan, not Riley Smith. Please remember that,” she said, huffing and eying me with hostility.
So even my name was being denied to me. I almost snorted. This was perfect. Now nobody would know I was Sofia's sister, even by accident. Even the teachers would think I was my own person. For once, they wouldn't be comparing me to my sister. Excellent. I kept my face expressionless, though, not wanting to give myself away. For the first time, things were beginning to look up. My father had done me a favor, although I doubted he would see it that way.
“Thanks," I muttered, turning on my heel.
There was nothing more to say. I trudged out of the office and bumped into somebody accidentally, my papers strewn across the floor. f**k. Now I was definitely going to be late. It didn't help that I felt as though I had literally bumped into a brick wall. I had almost gone tumbling down on my ass. That would have been embarrassing. As if I didn't have enough to contend with on my first day. Damnit, Riley, get a f*****g grip, I scolded myself.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized half-heartedly as the person knelt to gather up papers for me.
After all, they had bumped into me as well. I didn't hear them apologizing, though. Arrogant or what?
I looked up into his eyes and was instantly lost.
- Writer
