I blinked against the dim light of the outside as trees zoomed by outside the car window. My mother and father were both deep into some important conference call and couldn't be bothered with things like the scenery. I for one thought it was beautiful. Trees went on and on for what seemed like miles. After living in a big city all my life, this place seemed like a breath of fresh air. It would almost be like we were on an actual family vacation if I wasn't being abandoned.

My parents were very business oriented people. They couldn't afford to have a daughter hanging around the house at all hours of the day. So I was being sent away to one of the most prestigious boarding schools in Massachusetts. Spencer Academy.

It was a good three hour drive from our family estate and there for I didn't expect them to visit me very often. And I couldn't go up to spend the weekend with them. I didn't even own a car. At seventeen years old I didn't even have a license. With a personal driver on speed dial who needed to learn to drive?

I pursed my lips and glanced over at my parents. Both dark haired, serious faced beings. They probably didn't even remember why we were driving all this way. Too busy running up their phone bills. I sighed and settled down low in my seat. I was already dressed in my brand new, ironed uniform and folded my hands over my stomach lightly.

Even if they hardly realized I existed, I would miss my parents. I would miss our great big house in the middle of the city. I'd miss sitting at a table for breakfast every morning with my maid/nanny. I'd miss my old school, with all my old teachers. I didn't have any friends to miss or who would miss me. That was the one good thing about being as shy as I was. You never had to get close to someone and then leave them.

The car turned a corner and a huge building came into view. I sat up in my seat and pressed my hand to the window glass. Spencer Academy stood proud and tall at the top of a slight hill. The surrounding woods were deep and mysterious compared to the well kept lawn of the school. I eyed my new home as the driver pulled up beside the building. My parents were too busy to climb out of the car with me.

I watched as a group of girls hurried by in their uniforms and into the school, laughing as they went. Frank, my driver, was hurrying to pull all my luggage out of the trunk. I went to help him but he waved me off and smiled.

"You'll have enough work dragging it all up to your nice new room, Ms. Dillard," he joked. I smiled and hugged my shoulders against the chill. I would miss Frank. I'd known him since I was a little girl and I'd always thought of him like a sort of uncle.

"Thanks, Frank," I breathed into the air. He turned and smiled at me. I could feel tears brimming up in my eyes as he pulled me into a hug. I held him tight and considered not letting go.

"Now, now, Ms. Dillard," he said patting my back, "you be the brave girl that I know you are and you march right into the school." He pointed confidently at the building behind me and I sniffed.

"I'm going to miss you, Frank," I whispered sadly. His already warm smile softened even more and he shut the trunk.

"Oh I'm going to miss you too, Max." I smiled at his nickname for me and hugged him again. Now that all my luggage was on the sidewalk I just had to say goodbye to my parents. Walking briskly over to my still open door I leaned in to look at my mom and dad.

"Ok," I murmured, "well…Frank took all my bags out…I guess I'm off." The only response I got was a chorus of "uh huh" which I wasn't even sure was directed at me.

The car engine revved up again and I felt my stomach tighten. I didn't want my parents to just leave me here all alone without a proper goodbye.

"I…I'll miss you guys," I blurted out. Nothing. This call must've been really important. I glanced at Frank in the rearview mirror and he sent me an apologetic look. I had to accept that I wasn't getting anything else. "Ok…well…I'll see you at Christmas then." I shut the door loudly and stepped back as the car pulled away from the curb.

I watched it until it disappeared around the corner and didn't even realize I was crying until a sob escaped my lips. Ducking my head down I wiped my eyes quickly and hurried back to my bags. There was three rolling bags and one duffel bag to carry. Gripping all of it I started my slow trek to the main office.

The wide hallways of Spencer Academy seemed empty and lonely as I dragged my luggage through them. The tile floor smacked under my flats and the papers pinned to the walls fluttered lightly as I passed. For a moment I thought I was lost until I saw the sign directing me to the office and I sighed in relief. I just wanted to get my room number and put all my bags down to rest.

Sliding through the door I noticed a woman with a phone pressed to her ear seated at a desk in the center of the room. I patiently swiveled my luggage towards the far wall and took a seat. The chairs were wooden and uncomfortable and I fidgeted around for about ten minutes before she hung up the phone.

"How can I help you, dear?" the woman called. She had graying hair pinned up into a high bun and wore half moon glasses on the tip of her nose.

"Oh," I clambered to my feet and stumbled around my luggage, "I'm Maxine Dillard, I just got here and I was looking for my dorm papers…?"

"Of course." She smiled mechanically at me and turned to her computer screen. After typing away silently for a minute or two the printer hummed to life and she stood up. Walking to the machine she picked up the printed papers and glanced across the top.

"Ok, Maxine Dillard, here are your dorm papers -your room number is just there- and also your class schedule and a map up the school." She passed all the papers to me across her desk top and flashed another practiced smile. "Welcome to Ipswich."

I nodded mutely and scurried back to my luggage. Clutching my papers in one hand I shouldered my duffel bag and wrapped my free fingers around the rolling luggage. "Thank you," I said lowly as I moved out of the room. Tripping back into the hallway I looked down at my dorm papers. Room 203. I huffed as I turned and started pulling my bags back towards the front entrance. I really should've made Frank drop my bags off by the dorms.


Ok so that was chapter one. Short and sweet. Ill be posting the next chapter in a matter of hours! Reviews are loved!

Thanks for reading!
~monie