Note: I don't own anything but my own characters...I've been sitting on this story for awhile and with the New Year just around the corner, I'd thought I'd post this before 2012 starts...Enjoy!
The shrunken head with a knife through it didn't even faze me as I drove up the road to my new school. From what I've heard about this school, I was going to enjoy it here. Better than that other school my uncle tried sending me to or actually staying with him in London. I sped up as I whipped down the road sending dust up behind me. The thought of my uncle sent a wave of anger through me.
The sight of the school appeared before me. It looked to be an old weathered Victorian manor and seemed to be holding up well. I slowed and braked turning the bike into an arc sending pebbles and dust up into the air. I flicked down the kickstand and stepped off. I smoothed down the skirt I was wearing before removing the black helmet. I propped it up on the seat to run my fingers through my black and blood red hair, giving those watching a sight. I grabbed the helmet again and dropped the bike's key into my boot before walking towards the doors.
Sitting behind a desk was a blond woman who completely ignored me. She was flipping through a magazine while listening to something on her iPod. I opened a small pocket on my backpack and pulled two bags out. I dropped them onto her magazine and waited while she stared at them. She slowly removed her earphones.
"I'll sell you some if you point out the direction to the headmistress's office. I have an appointment with Miss Fritton."
"What are they?" she asked.
"Home blend but something stronger than what I know is available in London. Five quid per pill and each pill lasts about 12 hours. So am I keeping my meeting with Miss Fritton or talking pills with you?"
She pressed a button and leaned in to speak, "Miss Fritton, your appointment is here."
"Thank you, Beverly. Please escort her to my office."
I grabbed back the bags. Beverly stood and held out a 10pound note. I shook out 2 pills and handed them over. I dropped the rest of the pills and the money back into the pocket of my bag.
"Just don't drink caffeine. Booze is fine just no caffeine," I warned.
She showed me to the office and knocked. After a signal from inside, she opened the door and motioned for me to enter. An older woman with a blond bob of hair sat behind a desk. Definitely not pretty in the classic sense but wasn't completely a dog either.
"Ms. Black, I presume. I am Camilla Fritton, headmistress here at St. Trinian's. Please take a seat. We do not get many new students here especially at half term. Your records show several boarding schools throughout Europe until last year then nothing."
"My uncle thought he could teach me at home," I seethed, holding back the anger.
"Your accent is quite unique."
"American mostly. So that Bag of shit, sorry Bagshit at Cheltenham…"
"Bagstock, my dear. Miss Bagstock," she smiled.
"Yeah, well she took one look at me and my records before declaring I was more a student for St. Trinian's than Cheltenham. I called her a racist pompous bitch before leaving. So rather than heading back to London, I thought I'd see what this place was like before saying fuck it and leave my formal education behind."
"One should never leave formal education behind. There is always something to learn even if it's not in a classroom. I believe you will fit in nicely here, girlie. Would you like a tour of the school?"
"Nah, I think I can find my way. Is there somewhere I can put my bike? I left it out front."
"I doubt it's still there. Some of our younger girls might have taken it apart. No matter how many times they are talked to they still seem to strip unknown vehicles."
"It would be amazing if they could, Miss Fritton. I'll leave it out there for a bit while I walk around the school. I don't have much but if it's alright I will have it delivered tomorrow."
She nodded and watched as I left the office. I shrugged off my bag and my leather jacket as I meandered down the hallway. I could feel eyes on me as I walked so I suspected cameras hidden throughout the school. I wondered who was watching me on the other end.
I climbed up the stairs and paused at the top for a second taking in the graffiti on the walls. Behind me were windows and I glanced out at my bike. I chuckled as I watched one younger girl approach the bike but not able to touch it before it shocked her. I started up another staircase when someone coughed. At the top stood two girls, maybe my age or a year older. One had her hair in a short black bob and was wearing a black pencil skirt and a white button up tucked into the skirt. The other had her hair in curls, had full on makeup, and a short uniform skirt with a white top and vest overtop.
"I'm Kelly, head girl here at St. Trinian's. This is Annabelle," the bobbed girl said.
"Angelique Black. Angel is fine. Are you two my welcoming committee or should I be aware of the entire school mobbing me and trying to knock me down the stairs?"
"Follow us while we show you around the school and up to the dorms."
I started after them but kept my eyes glancing around for any sudden movements. I knew I would fit in well here but if the girls were like me, something would be happening, almost like an initiation. I half listened to Kelly as she gave me the shpeel about the school. Annabelle seemed to follow but not adding anything to the conversation.
We ended up in the dorm just after classes had let out so they were quite full. The dorm was a singular attic room that ran the entire length of the school so there was plenty of room.
"Quite the eclectic taste of decorating," I commented at the distinct sections of the room.
"We have the Chavs, the Posh Totties, the Emos, the Geeks, the Ecos, and the First Years."
"Not another Emo," one darker girl cried, as she adjusted the tied shirt at her waist.
"No Emo, just me."
"Then why you wearin' dat Morticia outfit?" she gestured to what I was wearing.
I had on a short black and white tartan uniform skirt (although not as short as Annabelle's), a tight long-sleeved black top, white lace gloves, and my usual knee high boots. My hair was two toned, blood red on top with black underneath.
"Firstly, Morticia only wore black and since I'm wearing white, it's not a Morticia outfit. Secondly, I don't classify myself as anything with having dealt with labels for too long. Thirdly, you're being a bit of a bitch for judging those who are different."
The dorm went quiet. Annabelle backed away from me and the girl in front stepped closer. Her hands were closed into fists and I became aware she was going to attack.
"I ain't no bitch," she yelled as she threw a right hook.
My hand came up, grabbed her wrist, and spun her so I had both our arms wrapped around her neck. She tried to buck her head back into my face but she missed and I jabbed my knee into the back of hers so she collapsed.
"I don't take well to being attacked. Can you show me where my bed is so I can make a call to have my things dropped off?"
Kelly walked me past the glamorous girls, the ritual chanting girls, the few nature loving girls, and the techno-geeks to a bed near the first years. I guessed the bed across from mine was Annabelle's from the photo of her and Kelly sitting on the nightstand. The bed was a simple single bed with a couple of drawers underneath. I had my own nightstand and a shelf above for my things.
"Simple. Cool. Now who wants 50quid to set off the prank you have planned?" I asked.
"We don't have a prank set up," Annabelle said.
"Really?" I drawled before quickly grabbing her and pushing her onto my bed.
A bucket of something wet and sticky dropped onto her before a bag of feathers was smashed into her face. The dorm went up in hysterics. I placed my helmet on the shelf and my jacket on the pillow. I kept my bag with me. I turned to leave and just before descending down the stairs, I turned around.
"If I can manage to get my entire school high and not be caught, a small prank of goo and feathers isn't going to get me. And that's one of the smaller things I did."
I headed down to the front driveway. My bike was still in one piece. I grabbed the key from my boot but before pushing the button, I skimmed my fingers across the handlebars. The small shock warmed me to the core. I disengaged the mechanism and started up the bike. I drove it to a garage that I spotted through a window. The inside was a mechanic's dreams come true. Every piece of equipment or tool that one would need was in there.
"Awesome," I breathed as I tucked my bike inside and re-engaged the security feature.
On the way back to the school, I pulled out my mobile and dialed a number.
"Hello," a crisp voice answered.
"Hi, Marie. It's Angel."
"Your uncle is upset with you. He came by yesterday asking where you had gone. Did you really need to attack him?"
"Be glad that I didn't do more than break his nose. I found a school that'll take me in. Hopefully I can finish my final year before he can find me. I need you to send my trunk."
"I'll try but I caught sight of a man following me yesterday."
"Fuck. OK. Can you have your brother drop it by? Load it up in his van?"
"He'll do anything for you, Angel, so sure. You've never told me much about your uncle but after meeting him, I want you to be careful."
"I'll try, Marie."
I gave her the address and directions to the school before saying goodbye. I looked up at the building and hoped he wouldn't find me here.