Chapter Two – Moving In
The boys placed my trunks at the end of my bed and against the wall once we got to the surprisingly large bedroom I would be sharing with Kate. They then took up perches around the room while Kate gave me a quick tour of our space, showing me which of the cupboards and drawers would be mine.
"Need any help unpacking?" Kate asked. I smiled and nodded, and we moved over to open my father's trunk. I unlocked the inbuilt combination lock (dad's birthday of course) then pulled open the lid.
"That's so cool" Tyler commented as he saw the second, much smaller trunk nestling inside, surrounded by clothes. I smiled at him
"Thanks – my dad made it for my 16th birthday" I pulled the box out and sat it on the end of my bed. That box was filled with photos and memories – small trinkets and keepsakes from my life to date. Caleb, who was sitting on my bed, gently traced the outline of the carvings on the top.
"He carved all the things that were important to me onto it." I explained, starting to get clothes out of the trunk and tidy them before putting them into the drawers beside my bed.
"So where do you come from?" Pogue asked, as Kate unzipped my suitcase and started taking out my hanging clothes and finding them a place in the wardrobe.
"I used to go to school at Boston Public School. Me and my parents lived near by." I answered.
"Why did you decide to come to Spencer?" was Tyler's question.
I glanced quickly at Kate before answering
"They offered me a full scholarship. I want to go to Harvard, so I was hardly going to say no!" with a small smile.
"Our Dad's went to Harvard" Caleb informed me. I caught his eyes quickly and smiled before ducking my head back down to finish unpacking the trunk.
By this time Kate had hung all of my clothes and was rummaging through the bottom of the suitcase when she quickly went to close it but was intercepted by Reid.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa Kate – now that was just getting interesting" he drawled trying to open the suitcase while Kate tried equally hard to close it. I had a sudden thought – I had packed all of my underwear into that suitcase.
"Reid, let go!" Kate ordered, basically lying on the suitcase to keep it closed. I lunged across the room to help her.
"Did you find her porn collection?" Pogue joked, only to get a death glare from Kate.
"Better! Black Lace!" He stated suggestively, starting to tickle Kate to make her let go. I pushed him off her, only to have Tyler scoop me up off the floor and pull me away from his friend. He dumped me on my bed beside Caleb, before going back for Kate. I went to stand up again but Caleb wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me back against him
"Hey – no fair, that's just ganging up now!" I exclaimed, my heart going a mile a minute at the close proximity to Caleb. He laughed holding me tighter so I couldn't wiggle away.
Kate screamed as Tyler and Reid ganged up on her, yelling for her "rotten, no good boyfriend" to help her out. Pogue just lay back on Kate's bed and laughed.
Suddenly there was the noise of a throat clearing from the doorway. Everyone froze, looking up to see an older man standing in the doorway
"Uh oh, Provost!" Caleb whispered in my ear, releasing his arms from around my waist. Kate and Tyler jumped up off the floor, while Reid just lounged back further.
"Miss Clarkson?" The Provost asked. I nodded, my face once again in full blush mode. "Could you come to my office for a quick chat?" He frowned at the boys. "Kate, you know the rules about boys in the dorms" he scolded. Kate looked apologetic and went to say something but was cut off by Reid
"We were just carrying the trunks up Sir" he grinned cheekily "you know, helping the new girl and all"
"Doing our civic duty, y'know" Pogue added laughingly.
"Out, now!" the Provost commanded. The boys stood up and left the room with Reid and Pogue making faces at the Provost behind his back while Tyler shook his head and Caleb shot one last grin over his shoulder.
I stood and followed the Provost from the room, still blushing like crazy. Kate smiled and went back to the suitcase, shaking her head a little.
The walk to the Provost's office seemed even longer due to the total silence in which it was carried out. Once we were inside the austere room he gestured for me to take a seat and sat behind the desk.
"So how was your trip from Boston Miss Clarkson?" He asked cordially.
"Very good thank you sir." I replied nervously.
"And you are happy with your room with Miss Tunney?" he enquired. I smiled and nodded
"She seems really nice".
"Now, Jade, you have a slightly different situation to any other student in this place in that you are an emancipated minor under my supervision for the first 3 months" the Provost stated. I nodded – none of this was new to me.
"So this means that if you have any problems at all you are to come to me or Matron, who runs the dorms." He instructed. "Also, because of your scholarship, you are required to keep a high GPA" I nodded again.
"I understand you have requested a cafeteria job for while you are studying?" He asked. I agreed and he handed me a piece of paper.
"Here are the days you will be working, what you will be paid and your duties" he explained and I glanced down at the piece of paper seeing I would be working mornings Monday to Friday and Tuesday and Thursday dinners, which was about what I had been hoping for.
"Do you have any questions?" He asked finally. I shook my head
"No sir. I don't think so" I replied.
"Alright then. Well, welcome to Spencer Academy" He finished, reaching across the desk to shake my hand. I smiled and thanked him then left his office.
