Two thousand, three hundred, and forty-eight miles, that's the exact distance between the life I once knew and the new one my parents chose for me. My name is Spencer Carlin, I'm sixteen years old. Around this time last year I was living in Los Angeles, my hometown, and I was happy. In fact around this time last year I was preparing for the new school year at King High with my girlfriend Carmen Disantos. Everything was great and I couldn't have been happier. Unfortunately nothing good lasts forever, at least for me. You see, instead of starting another great year with my girlfriend Carmen, I'm being forced to start my junior year of high school 2,348 miles away in some preppy all girls boarding school in Ohio. You see my parents didn't exactly like the fact that Carmen was involved in gang activity. They feared for my life and since they can afford it, they thought the best thing for me would be to attend school here, Westcott Academy, my own living hell.
"What's the last name?" asked a short gray-haired women with huge black glasses on.
"Carlin, Spencer Carlin," I answered dully.
"I got you right here Miss. Carlin, you will be in Tressman Hall in dorm 503, and you have been assigned bunk 2B. Your suitcases have already been delivered to your dorm. Here is your class schedule and a map to help guide you through the halls of Westcott Academy. I hope that you come to love this institution as much as I do Miss. Carlin!" said the woman enthusiastically.
"Oh I don't doubt I will," I answered sarcastically.
I grabbed my paperwork and made my way over to my dorm. I only got lost about eight times, but eventually I found the place. I can't believe the size of this place, the building my dorm is in is bigger than King High! I made my way up the stairs and down the hallway to my new home for the next nine months. I went inside the dorm, there were two sets of bunk beds, and two dressers. Each bunk and dresser was labeled. I looked for 2B, bottom bunk. The dresser had four draws, I had the two bottom. This really sucked that I would be sharing space with someone I didn't know. I was the first girl here, so I decided to unpack my stuff.
"Seriously I can't believe we have been assigned to the same dorm room this year! I swear we are fucking lucky Ky!" said a hot looking Latina girl as she made her way into my room.
"I know! I could not handle another year sharing a room with Rhonda! She smelled like straight up body odor and ass!" said a short girl with brown hair.
"At least you didn't have to room with Tiffany, she hoards candy in her room and makes the place so fucking sticky!" said the Latina.
"Hi, you must be one of our roommates! I'm Kyla, and this is my best friend Madison," said the short girl.
"Hey, I'm Spencer," I said in a friendly manner.
"Nice to meet you Spencer. I haven't seen you around here before," said Kyla.
"Yeah this is my first year here," I said.
"Oh well don't worry Spencer, we'll show you the ropes around here. Stick with us and you'll be fine," said Madison.
"Thanks. I really don't know my way around here," I said honestly.
"We can definitely help," said Kyla as she started to unpack her things.
"For starters you better change into your school uniform. They will expect you to wear it to dinner tonight," said Madison.
"Seriously? But school doesn't officially start till Monday," I said annoyed.
"I know, but that's the rules here. After dinner you can wear whatever you want, but during the day it's these monkey suits or detention," said Madison.
"Where can I change" I asked.
"Go out this door and make a left, and then a right. You'll find the bathroom. That's where we get ready, shower, and they have changing rooms, said Kyla.
"Thanks, I'll be right back," I said as I left the room to go change.
When I got back the room was quiet. Madison and Kyla were putting away their belongings in silence. I looked over to the other side of the room and our last roommate was putting away her stuff in the dresser we would share. I watched as the brunette pushed the picture frames I had placed on top the dresser of me and Carmen to the side to make room for her stuff.
"Hey, what are you doing? I already put my stuff on the dresser!" I said upset.
"It's not like I took your stupid pictures off of the dresser, I just pushed them back to make room for my stuff," said the brunette.
"Okay well since we are sharing the dresser, I think you should have the common decency to at least ask me before you move my stuff," I said to the brunette.
"If I want to move the damn pictures then I will do so blondie," said the brunette.
"Fine, if you can move stuff then so can I," I said as I grabbed a box she had on the dresser and put it on the floor.
"Don't touch my stuff!" the girl said as she grabbed the box out of my hands.
"Well don't touch mine then!" I yelled back at the girl.
Suddenly our door opened and I girl with short black hair peeked her head into the door.
"Ash, I need to talk to you about something," said the girl.
"Alright be right there," she told the girl.
Before leaving she turned her attention back to me.
"If I come back and see you anywhere near my things you will be sorry," said the brunette as she made her way to the door.
"Oh I'm just so terrified!" I said sarcastically as she left the room.
"Wow, who the fuck does that girl think she is," I asked Kyla and Madison.
"That's Ashley Davies. Let's just say she's not the kind of girl you want to make friends with," said Madison.
"Why because she's a bitch?" I asked seriously.
"No because she has a reputation," said Madison.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well Ashley used to date this guy Aiden for like two years, he goes to Woodberry Preparatory, which is like 2 blocks from here. Well last year Ashley got pregnant by Aiden, but aborted the baby. Ashley lost it and now she is into girls and she sleeps around and I heard she's hard core into drugs. She's bad news and even though we live together, you might want to keep conversation with her to a minimum," suggested Madison.
I was about to respond to what Madison said when I heard a bell ring.
"What's that?" I asked.
"First dinner bell, for juniors and seniors," said Kyla.
"Man I hope they have something good tonight" said Madison as she stopped what she was doing and made her way to the door with Kyla following behind.
"You coming Spencer?" asked Madison.
I smiled at my new friends and followed them to the dining hall.
Once we got to the dining hall the place was packed. There had to be over two hundred girls, and this wasn't even half of the school. I followed Madison and Kyla into the dinner line. Tonight they were serving salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, and red jello. Man did I miss home already. My dad was an amazing cook. Since my mom was a surgeon, she never had time to cook dinner for the family. Therefore the responsibility fell on my dad, and boy did he know what he was doing.
"Please tell me they have better dinners then this stuff," I said to Kyla and Madison as we made our way through the dining hall over to an empty table where we sat down.
Soon three more people joined our table, a really nice girl named Chelsea, her best friend Sasha, and Sasha's girlfriend Jessica.
"Well this is one of my least favorite dinners. When they have pasta it's pretty good. I mean it's not the best food, but it's not the worst," said Kyla as she took a spoon to some of her mashed potatoes.
"Guys this is Spencer, she's new this year and our roommate," said Madison introducing me.
"Nice to meet you Spencer," said the three girls with smiles.
"Where are you from?" asked Chelsea.
"Los Angeles," I said with a smile.
"Oh I love it there! My family has taken me a couple times for vacation! It must suck having to leave California to come to this place," said Jessica while shoveling in salisbury steak.
"Babe can you not talk while eating," said Sasha as she looked at her girlfriend.
"Multitasking baby," said Jessica with a smile.
I listened in briefly while Madison told our table about her summer romance with some guy named Roberto. I let my eyes scan the room for a second till they landed on the bitchy girl from earlier. Ashley was sitting with the girl who came to our room earlier and she was also with two other girls. The girls all seemed to be deep in conversation except for Ashley, her mind seemed to be elsewhere as she poked her fork at her food. She was probably thinking about something else to bitch about.
Suddenly I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and smiled when I saw that it was Carmen.
C: Hey baby, can you call me?
I had pretty much finished my food, so I got up and took my tray.
"I'll meet you guys back at the dorm," I said making my way over to the trash can.
"Do you remember how to get back to the room?" asked Madison.
"I'm sure I can handle it," I said as I dumped my tray and made my way through the doors.
I walked outside to the court yard and found a quiet bench to sit at. I took out my phone and dialed the person I needed the most. After a couple rings she finally picked up.
"Hey baby," said Carmen.
"Hey baby, it feels so good to hear your voice right now," I said missing my girlfriend.
"How is Hell Academy?" asked Carmen.
"Fine I guess. My roommates are cool, well two are, the other is a bitch. The food here sucks too and I have to wear this stupid uniform," I said looking down at my light blue polo and navy blue skirt.
"Baby I have to go. Krystal and I are going to Brett's for a party tonight," said Carmen as she seemed distracted by something.
"But we didn't even get to talk at all baby," I said disappointed.
"Tomorrow you can tell me everything baby, you will have my undivided attention. Got to go baby, love you," said Carmen as she hung up, not giving me a chance to respond.
I sighed then put my phone back in my pocket. I decided not to dwell on the fact that the person I needed to talk to most blew me off for some stupid party. I spent about five minutes staring into space. I decided to just go back to my dorm and get ready for bed. As I got up and turned to the right I accidently crashed into the person walking towards me, knocking myself and them to the ground.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" I said frantically.
"Seriously blondie are you blind!" yelled a familiar brunette.
"It was an accident Ashley. I'm sorry. Trust me, I would never intentionally come anywhere near you," I said annoyed as I got back up.
I reached my hand out and offered to help Ashley up. She looked at me then moved my hand out of the way and got up.
"Watch where you walk next time blondie," she said coldly as she stormed off.
Luckily I was able to find my way back to my dorm room. Kyla and Madison were already in their pajamas and getting ready for bed. I decided a shower would be perfect right now. I grabbed my things and made my way to the bathroom. When I got back, now in my pajamas, I put my stuff away and decided that I would do some reading before bed. I put on the lamp on the dresser by me and Ashley's bunk. I then grabbed a book and my reading glasses and got in my bunk. I got comfortable and started to read where I left my bookmark. Kyla was asleep and Madison had her eyes shut and headphones in. After a few pages I heard the door open, revealing Ashley wearing a white and black tank top and black booty shorts. She did have a gorgeous body, not that I was looking or anything. She didn't say anything as she climbed up into her bed above me. I heard her stir around a few times above me. I then saw her lean over and shut off the lamp, leaving me in the dark.
"Seriously?" I said in an angry tone.
I got up and put the lamp back on and got into my bunk once more. In less than a minute Ashley reached over and once again shut off the lamp.
"Some people are trying to sleep," she said as she tried to get comfortable again.
"And some people are trying to read!" I said as I got up and put the lamp on once more.
I stood there for five minutes waiting for Ashley to shut off the lamp again, but she didn't. Feeling victorious I decided to get back in bed and get back to my reading. In a matter of seconds Ashley reached over and unplugged the lamp entirely.
"Fuck it!" I whispered to myself as I removed my glasses and rubbed my eyes. This was going to be a long nine months. VERY LONG…