Hi guys , yes I will be updating my criminal minds story soon. Anyway I sort of hit a block and to get back into writing after watching Dead Poet's Society , I decided to explore this story. After the 25th of June I will be freeeee to write to my heats content until august. So updates may be slow but I hope you enjoy it. Obviously any dialogue used is from the movie and not my own. I only own the female characters. Anyway I'll stop rambling annnnnnnnd enjoy:D
The auditorium at the Welton Academy chapel was beginning to fill as the impending annual "Desideratus Ceremony" was about to commence. Seventeen year old Neil Perry was stealing a last minute laugh at a crude joke his friend Charles Dalton had told.
"Seriously guys, cut it out Nolan will be beginning the ceremony and we've gotta be ready" hissed Richard Cameron. Cameron had a small build that looked rather feeble in-between the tall, lanky Neil and boyishly handsome Charlie. "Okay, okay Cameron, seriously, relax" laughed Charlie as he slapped Neil on the back and grabbed his pillar. Neil grinned at Charlie as he picked up the wooden staff bearing a flag displaying Welton's emblem and the word DISCIPLINE in bold writing. How apt thought Neil smiling to himself and he held his pillar high above his head. Cameron rolled his eyes, took a breath exaggeratedly exhaled and shook his head in the fashion of a fifty year old man. Knox Overstreet who was standing behind him flashed a look at Charlie who winked at him.
Neil shook his head as the bagpipes began to play, fasten his grip on the pillar. The four seniors marched in a perfect procession following Welton's headmaster, Mr Nolan, an old boy and the bagpipe player. Neil noticed that the auditorium was unusually crowded, there seemed to be an additional two rows of pews. Have they really taken in that many first years? Neil thought as a tried to inconspicuously glance at crowd. However as the procession passed the two rows of pews at the front of the church, Neil had to forcibly stop his mouth from dropping open. The front two pews on each side of the church were occupied by about five girls and their parents. Girls? He thought. Why are they here? Neil felt a gentle flush creep up his neck as darted his eyes to the front of the hall and kept his eyes fixated on Mr Nolan. By nature Neil was not self conscious, he was an affable boy with a tranquil confidence which made him a leader but nearing ten years at Welton Academy, he had not been in a room with more than two girls his age since he was eight. He noticed that Charlie had somewhat attempted to stand taller in an inane endeavour to appear important and that the normally pompous Cameron was sweating profusely. Knox seemed to be the only boy who was calm at the alarming sight of adolescent girls, slightly turning his head to inspect them. Neil stole at quick glance at blonde girl sitting on the edge of the pew. I know her. Neil inconspicuously turned his head towards the blonde girl, then her parents.
There sat a proud looking man with a thick moustached and a lady with too-straight teeth, an unnatural smile and the remainder of once daffodil blonde hair, inherited by her daughter. Neil recognised the father to be Mr Walter Rogers, a business associate and schoolmate of his own father. Neil remembered meeting their daughter approximately five years ago at a dinner party. Her name was Claudia, Clarissa or something around those lines. Caroline. Caroline Rogers. Neil remembered, though his memories were not fond. He recalled Caroline was haughty girl who had just sneered at Neil for the entirety of the evening.
As the headmaster, Doctor Nolan approached the pillar Neil and his friends walked down the aisle to take their seats next to their parents. He raised his arms in pastor like manner to cease the murmur rippling throughout the audience. He beamed proudly and announced:
"One hundred years ago in 1859, forty one boys sat in this room and were asked the same question that greets you at the start of each semester. Gentleman, what are the four pillars?"
Neil rose in sync with the rest of the male students and recited the four pillars in faux loud and enthusiastic voices.
"."
"In her first year Welton Academy graduated five students. Last year we graduated fifty one and over seventy five per cent of those went on to the Ivy League." Nolan continued vehemently promote Welton's successes and proud tradition, which enthralled the parents whom would sit their in the assembly with smug faces believing their child to be a master of the universe. However for all those seasoned Welton students, the speech would instil a horrid fear of the consequences of failure (or the ridiculous perception that failure was lower than an A grade) or bore them to sleep. Neil sat between his father and mother feeling a mix of apprehension to what the following year would hold and excitement of seeing his friends after a tedious summer.
"As you know, our beloved Mr Portious of the English department has retired last year. You will have the opportunity to meet his replacement Mr John Keating, a graduate of this school and who, for the past several years has been teaching at the highly regarded Chester School in London"
Mr Keating a quaint looking man rose and gave a little wave as the audience provided mandatory applause. Nolan again shushed the audience with the wave of his hands.
"Mr Keating is not the only change at Welton this year. In discussion with the Board of education, as well as many teachers at the school Welton this year has open her arms to ten female senior students. These are high achieving girls scoured from all over the East Coast , who we believe would highly benefit from attending Welton.". Nolan motioned to the girls in the front two rows and they all rose looking at one another as if they all hoped to sink into the floor. Caroline maintained indifferent expression inferring that she was almost bored; however it was the girl standing next to Caroline who caught Neil's attention. She was a small girl with stormy grey eyes and auburn hair; she looked dreadfully embarrassed and sat down almost as soon as she had stood up. Neil could easily sympathise with the girl, it was always a terrifying experience to be displayed in front the entirety of the school, which was something that the administration seemed to believe would build character.
"Naturally the girls will be warmly welcomed into Welton Academy and we look forward seeing their progress throughout the year, as we do with each one of our students. Now that ceases any announcements, timetables will be collected from your Heads of year. I will ask you to now go and unpack your belongings. Thank you ladies and gentleman". As the families began to vacate the hall, Neil noticed Caroline make eye contact with him and smiled. Neil nodded a polite smile back and turned to his father.
"That's Caroline Rogers son, she's the daughter of a good friend of mine. I hope that whilst you are keeping on top of your studies you do find sometime to get to know her. She is a delightful creature". Neil nodded his head at his father's wishes and looked over his shoulder to see look for Caroline, instead meeting the intense stare of the grey eyed girl. Once she noticed Neil gazing she blushed copiously and averted her eyes to the floor.
Too long? Too short? Too cliche? Constructive criticism is always appreciated , please no flames. And yeah , reviews are nice.
Cheers guys
M
xx