Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
I’d gone for option one, the wisest choice. My long locks were tamed into a half-up, half-down style, doing the whole two bun thing, on either side of my head. A light layer of make-up was on, as was lotion, so the dreaded ashy knee couldn’t sneak up on me.
All in all, I didn’t look too bad. The get-up was cute, even. A horn honked, and then Dad’s voice was calling up the stairs to let me know Audrey was out front. Because I didn’t have a parking permit yet, I was riding with her.
I grabbed my leather satchel affixed with another giant bow and headed down. Mom and Dad were waiting at the bottom of the steps. He’d purposely decided to go in late today so he could be here, like I hadn’t had a first day of school for the past twelve years. It secretly warmed my heart.
“Oh, stop right there!” Mom commanded, holding her cell up for a photo.
I withheld a sigh and flashed her a bright smile, hearing the camera flutter repetitiously. Did she really need twenty photos of me in the same pose? If you asked her, the answer would be yes.
“You’re so beautiful Rhiannon. Isn’t she beautiful, Marcus?”
“Yes, she looks just like her mother.”
Mom shot him a look I couldn’t decipher. Maybe she thought he was full of shit, but he wasn’t lying. I mean, it was glaringly obvious she and I were as different as night and day.
If we were princesses, she’d be Tinkerbelle and I’d be Jasmine, but Mom was still drop-dead gorgeous. I assumed that’s what he meant.
“Yeah, the girls certainly don’t look like you these days,” she muttered, snapping one last picture even though my smile had faded.
“What does that mean?” I walked the rest of the way down the steps.
“She meant people don’t make babies as beautiful as you,” Dad replied.
My entire face screwed up. “That gave me so many unneeded visuals!”
They laughed me off.
I gave them both a quick hug and then finally slipped out the door, inhaling a deep breath of fresh air as soon as they were shut away behind me.
Audrey went through a security check point, showing an ID card and explaining my situation before we were waved through.
Various other students drove in behind us, most of their cars costing more than my parents made in a year. A few were on the level of my Soul, which really didn’t make me feel better or worse. I wasn’t a chick who swooned over shiny new things.
The main building looked as it did on the school’s pamphlet, minus a couple thousand square feet. I lifted the Campus Map Key my mother had given me and skimmed over it again. There were four brown buildings. All of them were ridiculously large and far apart, housing different things.
Wide, smooth stretches of sparkling concrete ran between them, fluffy grass on either side.
“This is insane,” I repeated for the third time since I’d gotten in the car. I was sure the whole damn town could have fit back here.
“Oh, hush. You’ll be used to it in no time. And I’m so fucking glad you’re here!” Audrey squealed, doing a little jig in her seat. She, of course, had gone for the white jacket look.
“I’m supposed to go to the Malvagio building for the attendance office.”
She nodded, slowing so a group of girls could cross in front of the car. “I’ll drop you at the pathway so I can go claim a spot. These people are savages when it comes to parking in the front.”
“Okay.”
“You just go through the doors, around the lion thingy, and it’s on the left. You can’t miss it.”
“Okay,” I repeated, unbuckling my seatbelt.
“I can come with if you want. Hold your hand and whatnot.”
“Shut up and go park.” I laughed and climbed out, waving her off.
She pulled away from the curb, leaving me to fend for myself. With a quiet breath, I turned to face the building’s entrance. Students milled about, but no one stopped to stare or gawk at the new girl. At a school like this, I imagined none of them cared all that much.
I looped my satchel over my shoulder and began the trek inside. The statue Audrey had been referring to was dead center in the middle of the auditorium. It was a mix between an actual lion and a seahorse. The lion portion was at the top with its claws raised. It was…interesting, I guess. In a hideously fascinating sort of way.
The banner behind it read, ‘Home of The Sea Lions.’ In smaller print: ‘Academic Excellence funded by the Barron Foundation.
I expelled a breath and shook my head. Of course, Judas’ family was involved with one of the most prestigious schools around.
Circling around the monstrosity, flats gliding over the dark marble floor, I took in my new surroundings. The second level of the building over-looked the first. Above that was a dome shaped glass ceiling. I spotted the metal sign reflecting the word Attendance Office, but before I could approach it, the guy standing on the other side of the statue caught my attention.