Bex climbed out of the limo, sliding her sunglasses on to her face as she peered up at the mansion she called home. Letting out an involuntary sigh of relief, she couldn't help but smile at the prospect of a new term. Unlike most people her age, she hadn't been dreading the arrival of a new school year, but then again, she wasn't like most people. And the Gallagher academy wasn't like most schools. Not by a long shot.
That wasn't to say she hadn't enjoyed the holidays. She had spent most of her time in England, without her parents, but not alone, Bex thought, immediately pushing the memories to the back of her mind. She knew that should be a dream come true for a girl her age, no parents and a luxury apartment in central London, but this summer had definitely been less relaxing than she had planned, not to mention whenever her parents were away on one of their 'trips' her stomach tied itself in a knot so tight it would be worthy of Cameron Morgan, knot tying extraordinaire and Bex's best friend.
"Thank you, Lucas" said Bex, already slipping out of her British accent, as she heard her driver approaching with the luggage. Turning on her heels she gave the ageing, frail looking man a smile of gratitude before reaching out to take the brown leather bag he held in his left hand. The bag was most likely more aged than the man holding it, but she knew that looks could be deceiving, for both bags and those carrying them.
All around her, car doors were slamming and the voices of Gallagher girls rose louder as friends greeted each other and exchanged holiday stories fit for James bond novels. Making her way up the steps and into the building that was so much more than her school, Bex soaked up all the details she'd missed over the summer months. Needless to say, a few changes had been made since their founder, Gillian's time but the mansion still held its original stonework. And beauty, for that matter. Bex headed for the staircase leading to the senior's common room and shared bedrooms. The new arrivals to the school and to the sisterhood, either stood in awe or confusion, most probably depending on their parentage, Bex thought to herself. Thankfully, the first day of school protocol kicked in and she easily dodged the flying bags and excited students rushing to hug each other after the long break. Passing the ever ageless Professor Buckingham, as she stopped one of the newbies about to set off one of the less fun security breaches; Bex was reminded no matter how much she loved the building, her main appreciation would always be the teachers at the Gallagher academy, perhaps Professor Buckingham most of all, she was even too good to be legendary, the best always were. That would be her one day: Rebecca Baxter didn't leave any room for doubt.
Just as she was about to reach the stair case and escape to her room, Bex's ears identified a high-pitched yelp, from within the loud bustle of the new term, that could only belong to one girl. A grin swept over her face and she quickly turned down the science corridor to where the yelp had originated from. As she suspected, Bex immediately caught sight of a pixie like figure kneeling on the ground surrounded by dishevelled papers which, she had no doubt, been the cause of the aforementioned yelp. Walking with the artful silence she had perfected at the age of 6, Bex stepped in front of her scrambling friend, placing a hand on her cocked hip. "Homework already, Liz? Shouldn't you at least unpack first?" she said.