Chapter 2.
It was the morning after the Farleys moved into their new house and they were now headed straight for Madison Preparatory School. They had been on the road for almost an hour.
Endless scenery of lush green hills couldn't get rid of the current grudge that Andrea held and couldn't keep her awake after a long night that consisted of moving into a new house and an early morning of packing for a new school.
"So…" Kaitlyn whispered, looking at Andrea with droopy, tired eyes, "how long before you end up getting suspended at this school?" She sneered.
Andrea squinted her eyes at her stepsister, before letting out a short laugh and shaking her head. "How long before I give you another black eye?" She muttered, just quiet enough so her father wouldn't hear, and glanced back out the left-hand side window.
"Don't count on making any new friends if you continue to be, well, you." Said Kaitlyn. Andrea didn't even have to look at her stepsibling to see the smirk as she spoke. "I don't need you embarrassing me either."
"Kaitlyn, I'm tired, okay?" Andrea's harsh voice unintentionally grew louder as she looked away from the window. "I didn't go to bed until twelve, was forced to get up a three a.m. and I haven't had any breakfast. Can you just get off my nerves and stop being such a bitch?"
"ANDY!" Andrea's shoulders jerked when her father yelled from the driver's seat. "Can you not do this today, please?" He pleaded, causing his daughter to scoff.
"But dad!" Andrea screeched. "Kaitlyn…"
"Not today, Andy!" Phil interjected. "This is your first day at your new school, my first day at my new job. I don't need this." He stated.
Andrea groaned and folded her arms. She felt like her father was being one-sided against her.
"Do you know if this school has a decent cheerleading team Phil?" Kaitlyn asked, causing Andrea to roll her eyes.
Before Phil, or Andrea, had a chance to say anything, a few large, almost archetypal, red brick buildings appeared in the distance. A clock tower, that read about a quarter to seven, was situated at the front.
"Here it is." Phil marveled at the sight as he continued up the lengthy driveway. Students sat in groups on the grass in front of the buildings.
'Uniforms.' Andrea cringed at the run of the mill white shirts and navy blue pants or skirts that the students were wearing.
Andrea sighed, and could've sworn she heard a sigh from Kaitlyn as well, as the red Ford Explorer screeched to a halt at the side building under an arch.
Andrea closed her eyes and took another deep breath before taking her seatbelt off and stepping out of the car.
Wearing a black Beatles t-shirt, that had been cut to stop just at her bellybutton, and denim shorts she definitely stood out of place amongst the uniformed students. Kaitlyn, in particular, looked out of place in her hot pink capped-sleeved shirt and white Capri pants.
Phil and Kaitlyn both made their way to the trunk to grab some bags as Andrea stood in front of the school entrance and continued to gaze around at her new school, stretching her strained back as she did.
"Andy, come grab a bag." Phil ordered.
Andrea nodded and, without looking, swiftly turned to her right, only to crash into someone as she did. She almost fell back when she felt two hands lightly grab her shoulders to steady her.
"Woah, sorry." A deep voice muttered quickly and Andrea looked up to see a pair of pale blue eyes. She had bumped into a fair skinned boy with short brown hair. He wore a different uniform to the rest of the school, a dark blue button-up shirt and matching dress pants.
"Sorry." Andrea managed to mutter back under a short, breathless laugh.
The boy smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes, as he slowly let Andrea go before he spun on his heel and made his way for the entrance doors, subtly glancing back over at her before going inside. Three other boys, wearing the same uniform, followed behind him.
"I didn't realize there was an ROTC program at this school." Phil watched as the boys entered the building.
"I didn't realize there were boys at this school." Andrea responded while in a daze. Her eyes widened soon after when she realized what she let slip out of her mouth, and her father looked up from the trunk of the car with a blank expression. "I-I mean, let me get that for you dad." She grinned innocently and gestured towards the blue duffle bag in his hands. She grabbed the bag and turned towards the entrance.
After years of going to an all-girls school, finally going to a coeducational school might be a nice change. Or so Andrea thought anyway.
"Couldn't you wear something a little more appropriate by the way?" Phil looked his daughter up and down. "If we hadn't been in such a rush, I would've ordered you to change." He stated as they stepped inside and made their way up a short flight of stairs.
Andrea rolled her eyes and smirked. "Don't worry dad." She replied. "It won't be long before I put on a uniform and look like everyone else here."
Phil shook his head and chose to ignore that remark. "We need go to see the principal." He said as they headed towards another staircase.
"This place looks kinda old." Andrea's voice echoed through the empty hall as she heaved her heavy bag up the steps. "Do you think it's haunted?" She pondered aloud.
"What is wrong with you?" Kaitlyn hissed in a hushed tone.
"Hurry up girls!" Phil demanded as he spotted a sizeable map of the school on a wall.
After circling the school, they finally found the principal's office. Phil opened the door to be welcomed by a secretary seated in front of the door.
"Hi." Phil greeted the drained secretary with a smile only for the grey-haired woman to scowl in return. "Uh, this is Andrea Farley and Kaitlyn," he waved to the girls as he introduced them, "they're here for their first day."
"Principal Phillips is out at the moment," stated the secretary, "I'll have Miss Walburn show the girls to their dorms." She said before picking up the phone.
"At least we don't have to share a room." Andrea remarked, smirking at Kaitlyn.
"Andy…" Phil practically growled. Just as he opened his mouth to say something else the sound of clicking heels drew closer and closer.
"Hi," a woman, looking to be in her early thirties or so, greeted the Farleys, "I'm Emily Walburn, the school councilor." She put her hand out for Phil to shake.
"Nice to meet you." Phil shook her hand. "I'm Phil Farley, these are my daughters Andrea and Kaitlyn." He introduced the girls once more.
'Daughter.' Andrea had to refrain from saying. 'You have one daughter, and a menace.' She thought. Her arm then grew tired and sore so she dropped her bag carelessly onto the ground with a heavy thud.
"Nice to meet you." Miss Walburn happily greeted the girls. "Are there any questions you girls have, before I show you to your rooms?"
"Do we have to be stuck inside the school grounds all the time?" Andrea inquired. "Like, are we allowed out or are we kept here like prisoners?"
Emily Walburn's welcoming grin almost completely disappeared before she let out a nervous chuckle.
"Andy!" Phil snapped. "I'm sorry." He apologized to the school councilor.
"Oh," Miss Walburn hesitated, "no, that's okay. Lots of kids feel the same way when they first come here."
"Lots of kids know how to keep their mouths shut." Kaitlyn joked under her breath so only Andrea could hear.
"But, to answer your question," Miss Walburn glanced at Andrea, "yes, you are allowed out on the weekends. There's even a small shopping district not too far from here, that you can go to by bus." She explained before peaking down at her watch. "We better get going, classes starts soon."
Phil glimpsed at his own watch. "I really should be going as well." He announced.
Kaitlyn pulled Phil in for an awkward, cringe-inducing hug. "Get mom to call me when you get home." She said as she released her stepfather from her clasp.
Miss Walburn slowly started to lead Kaitlyn down the hall as Phil tried to say goodbye to his daughter, who was disinclined to even look him in the eye.
"Bye, Andrea." He said, struggling to get Andrea to look at him.
"Bye." She finally glanced up. "I hope you get stuck in a traffic jam." She quipped, although the vacant expression latent on her face showed that she was not in a joking mood.
Phil gave a hearty chuckle and pulled Andrea into a one-arm hug. "You know I love you." He stated sincerely, kissing her on the forehead.
Andrea pursed her lips into a forced smile. "I know." She sighed.
"Stay out of trouble." Phil let Andrea go and left.
Andrea picked her bag back up and realized Kaitlyn and Miss Walburn were far ahead of her. "Hey, wait up!" She darted to catch up to them.