Chapter 1
Disclaimer: The amazing Isobelle Carmody owns the characters and plot of Obernewtyn, I just wanted an insight into Rushton's World (hence the title). Sorry if I've made mistakes; Rushton is a more complicated character than you think.
I heard a number of quiet footsteps and realized that this was the promised tour of Misfits who worked in the house. I picked up the stupid new pig and went out to meet Ariel, who was sure to be leading the expedition.
I greeted him, and had just begun to recount to him my purchase of the squirming creature I held in my arms when I noticed one of the Misfits. She was around sixteen (A/N: I didn't want to make the age gap too big, because that's just weird… I may very well be wrong about her age, and I know that Jes is sixteen and Elf's probably younger… but whatever.), with long eyelashes that curled gently against her cheeks. As a lock of black hair fell from behind her ears she looked up and her gaze locked on to mine. I saw fear and then defiance swirl through her expression, and then she looked down again, her lips pressed tightly together. I forced my eyes to roam through the whole group to cover the attention I had paid the new girl.
"This is Rushton" Ariel said. "He is our farm overseer." Ariel seemed suspicious.
I gave a brief explanation about the farms, and when I had finished my eyes flickered involuntarily back to the new girl. I had not paid any attention before, but she had long, glossy dark hair tied back in a thick braid, and skin that was as pale as cream. Her mouth twisted and worry filled her eyes as she analysed my brief glance, and we went our opposite ways.
Who was she, just a girl bordering on womanhood, to enter my world and turn in inside out? I did not like this sensation of my façade slipping.
She must not be allowed to interrupt my plans. I made up my mind, right there and then, to hate her.