I got this idea a while ago, and I just had to write it down. Tell me what you think!
It was just beginning to drizzle as Caleb pulled up to the school. I looked it over a bit hesitantly. It resembled a jailhouse, with the chains and other decorative designs covering the walls. How quaint.
My brother turned to look at me as he parked next to the sidewalk. "Nervous?" he asked. I shook my head. It was just another school out of the many I'd transferred to over the years.
"That's my girl." he grinned at me as he leaned back and pulled me into a hug. I blink back useless tears as Caleb pulled back and mouthed an unneeded 'Good luck' to me.
I slip out of the car with my light suitcase in my hand as I waved a farewell.
A pang of anxiety shot through me as I looked at the school once more. From the car, I hadn't been able to see the full size, the full impact of the school I was about to enter. It was big, the biggest school I'd been to so far.
I knew not to get attached. My brother could check me out of of the school at any time, minute or day. I'd made the mistake of forging what I though were unbreakable bonds at my last school, and look how long that had lasted. Two weeks, a record for my forever traveling brother.
I started to walk towards the school, dragging my suitcase behind me. Once i reached the mighty doors, I observed them for a few seconds, marveling at the out-of-date design. They were large, with no knobs, only strange knockers with lion heads on them. I shrugged as I pushed the door open, wincing at how it was.
How am I going to get used to this?
I thought with a little chuckle. As I finally got the doors open, I was greeted by an unsmiling bald man who sat behind a large desk. "Beatrice Prior, I presume," he murmured without looking up from his newspaper. "Follow me. The principal makes a point of meeting all of her new students. Right this way." he got up and I stifled a gasp as I saw how short he was, which was saying a lot compared to me. He stiffened as if he'd heard my gape.
"Right this way." he repeated as he led me into a large room. It was strangely empty, with only two chairs, a desk, and a large chair behind the desk. The woman behind the desk grinned at me, flashing her pearly whites at me in a strange grimace like smile. Her teeth are so white they blind me for a second. She must bleach them, or something. "Well, well. You must be Beatrice Prior." she says, looking me up and down. I smiled back a bit cautiously at her greeting. "Call me Tris." I murmured.
The Principle's smile grew all the more wider. "Tris it is!" she exclaimed in a sing-songy voice most adults reserved only for kindergartners. It instantly made me hate her. I bit back a rude retort. Wouldn't be good of me to make enemies with the principal. At least not on the first day.
"I'm Mrs. Tudor, Tris." she sounded each word in her sentence with the odd smile still painted on her face as she stared at me unblinkingly, as if waiting for a reply. "Okay." I finally just said, trying to communicate every bit of awkwardness in the one word. Her smile strained slightly before she continued.
"Based on tests scores and behavior in your past school, we sort you into what we call Faction Dorms. In these Faction Dorms will be people, just like you." she informed me. I nodded. Factions? Now that was interesting. We had never done anything like this in my old boarding school.
She lifted my folder from the binder in front of her, adjusting her bright pink glasses as she read. I was pleased to see her smile waver once before finally disappearing . Thank god for that.
"Its says here you've transferred from eight different schools."
"Uh-huh."
"In all of them, you've obtained high, above average scores."
"Sadly." I mime a sad face. She chooses to ignore my disrespect.
"You've been suspended twice."
"Really? I have?"
Her eyebrows knit together as she slams the folder onto the desk. I don't flinch, looking her in the eye as she does the same. She looks away first ad I push away the urge too leap up and pump my fist triumphantly. "Disobedience, will not be tolerated at this school, Tris." she makes a point of using the nickname I gave her, as if she expects us to be friends.
Please.
"You have been given a chance to turn over a new leaf, here Tris. I will ignore the bad stuff about your folder, and only look at the good stuff if you show me good behavior." she continues on and on, giving me the disobedience lecture I've received at every one of my schools. I feign engagement in the conversation and try to nod every once in a while. Acting like I care what she's saying.
I'm probably going to be gone in a week. So who cares.
"- I do hope you'll enjoy your school year, Tris." she finishes with another signature blinding white smile. "I'll allow one of our fellow students, and role models for new students to come and assist you now." She leans into an intercom and says into it, "Chassity Jones, please report to the principles office." I wonder who this Chassity Jones is, and whether I'll like her.
Probably not.
I nod, lifting up my luggage and taking the sheet of paper she hands me. "This has all your information." she explains. "from your cabin to your schedule, everything you need will be on here. You'll need to memorize it."
I shrug, though I doubt I'll be here long enough to even have to memorize it. At that second, a girl wearing all yellow flounces into the room. Her smile is all teeth, and is almost as blinding as Mrs. Tudor's. I decide I don't like her immediately.
"Ms. Tudor," she curtsies to my disgust, "I bid you good day." The principle mimics her large smile. "Chassity, please help our new girl out. Alright?"
The girl nods, as obedient as a puppy dog. I shake my head, disgusted. She leads me out of the office, making small conversation. I make no effort to follow it, instead focusing on gathering my turbulent thoughts.
"So what dorm are you in?" she asks. I shrug. She stares at me for a second before blabbering on. "You better hope your in either Amity, Erudite, or Candor. The other two are either lame or like, to dangerous." she lets out a nervous giggle.
"Too dangerous?" i echo, a small seed of interest sprouting inside of me. She looks over at me and lets out another giggle. "That's Dauntless. They're the bad cabin, the ones who take risks, the ones who do bad stuff." she shivers once. "they're really scary."
I nod, and look down at the sheet of paper the principle gave me, running my hands down it until I find my cabin. A gasp escapes from my lips.
Chassity follows my gaze and gives me a pitying smile. "I feel bad for you. Abnegation is like, so lame." she snickers and I have to force myself not to smack her.
Well, what do you think? Review for more, please!