TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED - "GALLOPING FOXLEY"
Want It, Need It
My father had wanted me to go to boarding school ever since I was a little girl. Or at least, as far back as I could remember. I had never desrired to attend one, but just out of preference. The girls all seemed too high-strung and the boys...well they seemed dominant and controlling. But, I had found myself being shipped away to one by my father.
In shock, I had asked him why and he replied, "You need the proper discipline, Retta. Plus, there is the problem with finding you a proper suitor."
Ah, yes...Marriage. I even hate just thinking of the word itself. I never liked boys that much, and I had even told my father that. But of course, Mother interveened and said it "Was a lady's job to serve her husband properly". I cringed at the thought and looked out the window of our automobile.
My fatehr and I had sat in silence the whole trip to the school, which was about an hour away from our land. I didn't want to speak, I just wanted to enjoy my last day of freedom.
"Are you glad we registered you?" My father said, cutting the peace short.
I glared up at him. "I suppose..."
My father sighed. "Retta, darling, I and your mother are doing this for your own good."
"Apparently not!" I snapped, crossing my arms and feeling the hard bones of my corset pushing into my skin. "I'm not like the other girls here, they're all proper-"
"You'll become that way, Retta. Some of those girls have been here for awhile."
I just sat staring at him, my arms still crossed.
"You could start being like them if you tied your hair up." My father laughed, making me glare at him again.
"I told you, I'm against it. And I get nausea if I leave it up for too long..." I returned my gaze out of the windows of our automobile.
My father followed my actions. "Well, you're wearing your corset, right?"
I shifted uncomfortably agaisnt the corset again. "I'm surprised you couldn't tell. The damn thing is nearly constrcting me."
"It's for-"
"My own good. I know this, father." I cut him off, like I usually do. It gives him the sign that I don't wish to talk anymore. And now, I really didn't want to talk.
What was left of the short way to the school was spent in silence. I kept my gaze down and sighed numerous times along the way. When we pulled up to the school, which was called Repton, I felt my pulse quicken.
I was never prepared for this, I had always gone to an all-girl school. I had never been around boys, as I said before.
Our automobile stopped, and our driver got out and opened my father's door. My heart was about ready to implode itself as my father motioned for me to step out. It's not like I had a choice.
My steps were slow and I stumbled as I walked, a habit I have when I'm nervous. My father and I walked towards the school, and it was bigger than I had immagined.
The boys and girls of the school were scattered around the grounds. I could see some of the girls shoot quick glances at me, then turn away to talk to their friends. I noticed almost all of the girls had their hair tied up into an elegant bun atop of their heads. My black hair just fell clumsily over my shoulders and messily in my face. I was nowhere near being "ladylike", as my Mother said.
"This is a fine school, Retta, darling." My father said, using my nickname and turning to me. I rolled my eyes, a smile hinting the corners of my lips.
My father smiled back at me and chuckled lightly. "There's that smile."
My smile grew despite myself. My father turned back to the school and stepped foward, away from our automobile.
"You'll make your mark soon here, Retta." My father began saying. "Just think, soon we'll find you a suitor. And your moth-"
Out of nowhere, a boy walked into my father. The boy was very tall, at least to me, and only glanced at my fatehr before walking away. My father, being the polite and proper man he was, called out to the boy.
"I say!" My father said, making the boy turn around to face him. "Don't they teach you better manners than that?"
The boy just glared down at my father with cold eyes. I watched the altercation from beside my father, staring at the boy infront of me.
"I believe, an apology is in order..." My father said to the boy. The boy began to walk towards us, and I took a step back.
"I'm so sorry..." The boy said sarcasticly. I have to admit, it made me giggle. The boy shot me a look, the same look I gave my father, and I shut up immediately.
My father scoffed. "I don't like your tone, good sir." My father had never been this strict with someone before. Not even towards me/
The boy smiled faintly. "Really?"
"You strike me as impudent and ill mannered," My father began to say as the boy's smiled faded. "An I can only hope my daughter won't pick up such habits."
Just before anything worse could happen, a man walked over to us. My father and this man started to talk, and I assumed the man was the Headmaster of the school. I took this as an oppurtunity to get a good look at the boy who had just sassed my father. I looked up at this boy, almost glaring at him. He glanced at me and flashed a smirk at me.
I turned away from the strange boy, hoping he hadn't noticed me staring.
"Oh, Mr. Masson, it's lovely to see you." The Headmaster said, shaking my father's hand. I just stepped away back in silence towards our automobile, leaving my father to talk.
"This must be your daughter!" He said, making me look up.
"Oh, Yes. Retta! Come here and meet your new Headmaster, darling!" My father called me over, and I obeyed. I walked over to them from the automobile and stood there.
"Hello, nice to meet you." I said fakely, desprately trying to act "ladylike". I curtsied, severely tottering as I dipped down and back up.
The Headmaster smiled at me. "What a lovely little girl. How old are you?"
"Fifteen, sir." I said, regaining my posture. I heard the boy infront of me snicker. I looked at him, and the Headmaster followed my eyes.
"Ah, I see you've already met our Head of House, Bruce Foxley." The Headmaster smiled at this boy named Bruce. "He's our lead sportsman, too."
As the Headmaster was speaking, Bruce brought his walking stick up to his shoulder. I had just noticed the stick, and I was staring at it. I wondered why he'd need such a thing, especially if he was a 'lead sportsman'.
I held back my urge to roll my eyes. Or, at least speak-out-of-turn...as mother would call it. My father took the oppurtunity.
"His manners need improving..." My father said, looking at Bruce.
The Headmaster smiled. "Really...?" He paused, taking a quick glance at the boy. "I dare say, it's the excitement of being back."
Bruce just smiled. "Exactly, sir." He smiled and I got the wierdest feeling in my chest. Damn, his voice was smooth.
"Why don't you go check on the new boys and take your picks, eh?" The Headmaster said as he glanced behind his shoulder to a group of boys.
"With pleasure, sir." Before he walked off, Bruce gave me a quick glance. I looked into the smae cold eyes that were staring down at my father. After a second or two, he smirked at me and walked off.
I stood there for a minute, watching him walk away. My father put his hand on my shoulder, making me jump and spin around.
"Alright, Retta. You should go up to your room now...and get your things unpacked. I'll have them sent up to you shortly." My father smiled at me and I smiled back.
"Yes, Dad." I said, hugging him before walking off.
He pulled back and looked me straight in the eyes. "You'll be fine here. It's a jolly-fine school, darling."
"She'll make her mark, soon." The Headmaster cut in, making me shoot him a glance.
My father chuckled. "That's just what I've been telling her."
I smiled at The Headmaster and began to walk away. I stopped infront of The Headmaster.
"It was nice meeting you, sir." I said, curtsying again. My balance needed improvement still, but I knew it would get better.
"Same to you, young lady." The Headmaster said, smiling down at me as I rose up from my curtsy.
I heard the school bells ring, and I began to walk to the entrance to the school. I turned around to wave to my father for the last time, and I heard him and The Headmaster talking about me as I walked away.
I could only make out the sentances, "She is very nervous...it's her first time around boys in this fashion," and, "She'll be just fine, Mr. Masson. I assure you."
I entered the school's foyer, and before I could even breathe, two girls approached me. I had recongnized them from the schoolyard. They just smiled at me.
"New girl?" The red-headded one said, smiling at me.
I looked at both of the girls questioningly. "Y-yes." I stammered, my shyness begining to show.
"We saw you with Foxley." The brunette one said next. She glanced up the stairs and her smile grew.
I paused, looking up the stairs after her. "Do you two know him?"
They both shook their heads, their hair still in perfect buns. Unlike mine, which was still down over my shoulders.
"My brother is a Head-of-House, as well." The brunette one said. "His name is Julienne. And he's Foxley's best friend."
I just stared at the two girls infront of me, still very confused of who they were. I figured I'd be formal and ask their names.
"And what are your names?" I said, a smile hinting the corners of my lips.
"I'm Grace, and this is Martha. We're sixteen." The brunette one said as she motioned to the red-headed one.
"Who are you?" Martha said raising an eyebrow.
"Retta Masson..." I said, glancing back up the stairs. "I'm fifteen."
Martha and Grace smiled. "Oh, Galloping Foxley has plans for you." Grace said in a sing-song voice, her smile becoming wider.
Martha giggled. "Oh, he loves the new ones..and he loves them young..."
"Do you mean Bruce?" I said, raising an eyebrow like Martha. My heart was becoming heavy at the topic of Bruce Foxley.
Grace rolled her eyes. "Nobody calls him by his real name. Everybody calls him Galloping Foxley."
I just stared at the two girls. "Why do they call him that? Does he own horses?"
The girls burst out laughing at me. I began to feel my face burn with embarrassment.
Grace and Martha calmed down and looked at me. "You'll find out why soon enough. I could tell by the way he smirked at you..." Martha said.
Grace looked up the stairs and then she smirked at Martha. Martha glanced at her, and then to me.
"You should probably be gettign to your room, huh?" Grace said, her smile returning.
I was becoming frightened at these girls' demeanor. "Yes, I suppose so..." I said turning to the stairs. I was jsut about to begin to climb them.
"Oh, and Retta?" I heard Martha call out. I turned to face her hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"We'll see you later. Good luck with Foxley..." Grace said as she walked away with Martha.
I heard them giggling and whispering things as they walked down the halls. I saw them both glance back and then turn away quickly.
"I wonder what Julienne will say?" I heard Martha whipser, making Grace burst out in a fit of giggles.
I continued to stare at those two girls until I couldn't see them through the crowd of students anymore. When I really couldn't see Grace's red hair, I turned away and began to walk up the stairs to my dorm.
As I walked up the stairs, I couldn't help but wonder who on earth Bruce Foxley truely was. I knew that if it was bad enough to earn him the nickname "Galloping Foxley" and to where girls knew about him, it couldn't be good. My heart was already telling me to pray I wouldn't come into contact with him anytime soon.