Chapter 2

Wow. Oslo sure was one of the most beautifulest cities I had ever seen. Wait, was that even a word? Yeah, sure it was. What other word could you possibly use to describe such a city? It was sunny, refreshing and so green. The amount of old buildings that made up the city was amazing and really surprised me. I had done a history project on it once. I also found out my ancestors were Norwegian. And surprisingly, it felt like home.

But the fact that I missed my parents too much to tell still stood, hanging low in my stomach. Luckily there were paper bags in the car incase my prediction of my breakfast leaving me was true. Oh and let's not forget the nerves that seemed to hang around me like a deathly curse.

We had left the airport for Oslo's School for Girls right away, no time to waste to get me settled in before dinner. Gerda was a quite scary driver, which didn't help my stomach at all, nearly spilling the contents of it all over her leather seats.

"Use the bag dear! Oh gosh. Anything but the seats." She sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Sorry," I was glad I didn't throw up on her seats, they were so smooth. Very expensive I would believe.

"It's fine, dear. So, there's a few things you should know before we arrive, about Oslo's. It's quite old and hasn't had a renovation since about 1984." She smiled, swerving out of the way of a bouncing tyre on the road, cursing in her language.

My jaw dropped. "19-...1984? That's exactly thirty years ago." I looked over at her and frowned. God it must be an old school.

"Yes. It's interior is beautiful. Therefore they've kept it the same. The uniform is comfortable as the girl's tell me. It's a white button up shirt with a green tie-scarf thing. It has a black skirt with Norwegian patterns at the bottom, you can wear stockings if you want. The sweaters are dark green as well. The shoes are just black slip-ons. Your room-mate should have one for you. You can put it on when we get there. You will fit in perfectly. You will have a room mate as well. Although I don't know who, but all of our students are the nicest, so no need to worry."

I felt a bit more confident at that. And at least it was summer. Plenty of time to make friends and become an actual person. I actually felt better.

"A-are there any pretty girls?" Great, nice one Anna.

I felt a deep red surface my cheeks and looked away quickly, trying to hide it.

"Excuse me?"

I blushed more.

"I-I meant, are there any girls? I mean- of course there are girls, I mean are there any hot ones- wait, what?"

"Dear me, what sort of coffee did they give you on the plane?!" She laughed, causing me to sigh for relief.

"Oh, they gave some pretty good coffee actually."

"It seems so."

Glad she forgot about what I said. It would have been hard to explain what I meant. And well, I'm sure she'd send me home for such thoughts, being a school full of religious people.

The rest of our drive was pretty peaceful, with me just gazing out of the window all the way there. I thought about the type's of people I would meet. I had seen too many movies with high schools and spoilt girls. I prayed it wasn't like that, that I would actually have real friends. I had never...actually had friends before. It was odd, and I was quite freaked out. What if I acted like a complete idiot and made a fool of myself?

No, no. Stop, you're going to make yourself even more nervous than you are, and I don't think Gerda's seats would agree with that.

Right.

Gerda turned to me and smiled. "You will be alright, Anna. Stop stressing dear."

I smiled back and nodded, looking back out the window.

Suddenly Gerda was squealing in her seat, turning up the radio. "This song is so good! But it's so sad. Have you heard this song, Anna? It's from the 50's." She grinned and started singing along to it.

I frowned but then smiled at the realization. "Yeah. Donna by Ritchie Valens. Such a beautiful song."

Gerda nodded and sung along. Soon I was singing along as well, and my nervousness had disappeared. Music always calmed me. Always made me feel at home and in serenity. I felt it was all I ever needed.

We had arrived at the school around 12 PM. And my Gosh was it huge! It towered over the trees like a castle. By the outside, I could just imagine the inside. Picking up my bags from beside the car, I ran towards the massive doors that was the entrance, that would be my door to a new life, a new future.

Two gentlemen pulled open the doors for us, leading us in. I honestly felt like I was in Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because no normal school I had ever seen on movies looked anything like this. It was magnificent! The interior was so old but beautiful, had that vintage in it that everybody couldn't help but love.

I took my time wandering around, studying every mark on the old ancient walls that made up the building. I couldn't believe that this was still a school.

I didn't notice I had stopped halfway down the hall until Gerda laughed and pulled me along.

"Come dear. Plenty of time to look around when we get there, alright?" She smiled, squeezing my arm slightly.

I felt a bit uncomfortable at her closeness but assumed it was due to all the students she looked after. I nodded and followed closely behind, still looking around. It was really cozy too, and the smell was...different. It was like, a mix of roses, musk and incense. I liked it. Actually, it was my knew favorite smell.

The walls were purple with some type of Norse floral pattern, like they would have on dresses. There were vases of flowers laying around that looked to be kept in well care everyday. The only sound was our footsteps when we walked, the long dark carpet running all the way up to the big doors up the end. There were other big doors to the side that lead to who knows what rooms. Wouldn't you think that there'd be just empty rooms? I mean, how much stuff would they have to fit in so many rooms?

Suddenly I heard something. It was coming from one of the rooms behind me. Music. Amazing music that drew me in. It wasn't loud, but it was beautiful. It sounded like...

A piano..

It started getting louder and I instantly turned on my heels, running towards the massive doors that led to the sound.

"Anna, dear! Where are you going?" I heard Gerda call out, but ignored her and kept running. When I got to the doors, I hesitantly opened them and poked my head in.

Gerda came beside me and looked in as well. She smiled and pointed to who was playing the piano so beautifully. "She's the schools finest musician. Such a beautiful voice and amazing fingers with the piano."

I frowned and watched her. A pearl-skinned and platinum blonde haired girl, her hair down her back as she ran her fingers slowly now across the keys of the black piano. Her hair glowed in the sunlight that shown through the parted drapes that covered the huge triangle window infront of the piano. The music she was playing now though...it sounded familiar. But I just couldn't put my finger on it!

"Come dear. Your room mate is probably getting worried that we are not showing up on time." She tugged me by my arm.

I sighed and went back out with her, still listening to the notes the girl was playing as we furthered away from her. I could listen to that music all day, and all night. Maybe it was possible that it could have been a sudden new favourite type of music for me? Maybe. I had never heard someone play such beautiful music.

Gerda led me towards and through the large oaken doors. I was quite nervous as to what awaited me on the otherside, whether it be plastics (even if Gerda assured me all the girls are were well behaved, I've learnt that behind the teachers backs, they can act like spoilt brats), sluts, or mean ass teachers. Or what if it was the complete opposite? What if they were way too nice? I couldn't deal with that. No way. I don't think I would survive if my room-mate was some "goodie-twoshoes" that has a color co-ordinated wardrobe.

"On your left is the bathrooms. They close at 10PM every night. Over there through those doors are the classrooms. Classes start at 8AM sharp. If you are late, you receive a detention. I suggest not to be late.."

I shivered. Sounds more like a warning that if you want to survive the morning, don't be late or get a detention. "Why? What's so bad about detention?" Nice. What a stupid question.

"You will find out when and if you ever get a detention, dearie."

"I'm not counting on it."

"Well, that's good to know. Anyway, here's your dorm room. Your room-mate will be waiting inside. She'll show you around and tell you everything you need to know about Oslo's. I hope you enjoy your first day here." She smiled at me warmly before turning around and making her way back out the large doors.

God I was so nervous. My heart wouldn't slow when I stepped up to the door to my room. It was like the door only got taller and bigger when I reached out to grab the handle. I honestly felt belittled. By a door. "Pathetic Anna." I took a deep breath before grabbing ahold of the knob and twisting it slowly.

I heard a gasp then shuffling. I peered in and saw a dark skinned girl standing, her jaw open slightly. Her frown turned into a wide grin as she walked forward and took my bags from me. "You must be Anna! I'm Tiana. Here," She picked them up and carried them over to what must have been my bed. It was plain, like most of the room. But I smelt something delicious near the small kitchen that contained of a mini fridge and a sink with a few cupboards. Wow, this school must have cost more than I thought.

"So, how was the trip over here?"

I blinked a few times before I realized she was looking at me expectantly.

Speak you idiot, don't want to make a bad first impression.

"Oh, um yeah it was okay. Nothing too exciting, I guess." I gulped, feeling sweat beads on my forehead.

"Yeah? Cool."

"Yeah."

A minute of silence was enough to drive me mad. She was just standing there.

"Anna. You really don't need to be so nervous around me. If it's sharing a room, I can sleep outside the door if you would prefer that, to get you settled in."

My eyes widened at her words and I shook my hands. "No no! I'm sorry, I'm just not used to sharing a room with another person. Nothing's wrong with you, I'm just super shy."

Tiana rose a brow and smiled. "Oh. Well, you don't have to be shy with me. We're going to be the best of friends, I can tell."

I looked down at the floor and sighed, rubbing my arm nervously. Best of friends. That's if I don't mess it up.

"Anna? You've never…had friends have you?" She sounded worried and I looked up, biting my lip and shaking my head slowly. "Well, we're going to change that." She smiled and walked over to the door, opening it and waving for me to join her.

"Where are we going?"

"We are going to introduce you to a girl. She's very much like you. Actually she doesn't have any friends. I tried, but she ignores everyone that goes near her."

"And what makes you think that I can change her mind?"

"Because you are so much like her Anna."

I rolled my eyes and followed her down the hall. We walked all the way up to the end near the entrance. My breath caught in my throat when I heard something so familiar it dragged me towards it. The sound of music filling my ears as I instantly walked to the big doors I had been at only so little ago. It was a relief to hear it. Yep, it was my new favourite genre. Good-bye rock and hello instrumental.

"Her."

I frowned and looked in, the sight of the platinum blonde once again playing the piano like it was natural to her. "Her?"

"Mhmm. She's the one. The mysterious blonde who's walls cannot be broken down by any girl in this school. But I think you'll have some luck, Ms. Arendal." She giggled in a whisper and pushed me forward.

My heart was thumping out of my throat, looking back at the dark-skinned girl and shaking my head. She just nodded and gestured for me to continue. I shakily took a breathe and walked forward. So close yet so far. I was directly behind her now and when the floor creaked under my last step towards her, her fingers fell off the keys. My nerves spiked and I was frozen, standing their like a dumb dork, just staring at her as she stopped playing.

No, please continue.

She didn't turn around, but I knew she was frozen as well. Most likely from fear. I took a step back and the boards creaked again. I looked back at Tiana and she nodded with a grin. I gulped and turned back to the blonde, taking a few steps forwards before I was beside her. The chair she was seated on was large, so I gathered enough courage up to sit beside her, our shoulders a few inches apart. She looked down at the white keys and sat completely still. I licked my lips before looking beside me at her. From here, I could see her petite nose, the light dusting of freckles on her cheeks and on the bridge of her nose. But I couldn't see her eyes completely. I wanted to make her look towards me so I could see them, but she seemed to refuse. I looked down and at her face, hoping to attract her attention. My heart caught in my throat when she looked back at me. But her eyes went from my legs and up to my eyes. Blue. They were blue. Bright blue beautiful eyes that I couldn't seem to stop looking at the whole time she was looking at me.

I heard Tiana behind me gasp, not taking my eyes of the girl infront of me. When she suddenly stood and walked away through the large doors, passing Tiana, I frowned and reached out. I stood and walked after her before Tiana stood infront of me, stopping me. "Whoa whoa feisty pants. She may be a beauty but you need to take it slow."

"W-what do you mean?"

"I saw the way you looked at her, Anna. And I CAN'T believe you got her attention! That says something. She noticed you. She never notices gosh the way she looked at you-"

"Wait, what? She- no- you think I have a thing for her? I don't, let me assure you." I bit the inside of my cheek, stepping back.

"Uh huh. Whatever you say, freckles. Come on, we better head back." She walked back down the hall and I followed, thinking about what just occurred and who it was. How could she have noticed me like she did? I'm not even something worth noticing.

We stepped into the room again and I looked to Tiana, frowning and still confused. "What is that girl's name? The blonde?"

"Oh, her name's Elsa Haig. She's from some small town near the bottom of Norway. No one knows why she came here, but she used to cry everynight in the janitors closet. She still does at times. Some of the girls made a rumour that her father raped her or he killed her mother. But I don't believe that otherwise she'd surely have marks on her if her father was an alleged abuser."

I frowned and held my hand to my chest, looking to her. "Is that why she stays away from people? Because they make rumours?"

"Yes, we believe so. We've never seen her smile. But she takes private tutoring for singing. We heard her a few times, and god does she have the voice of an angel. Maybe I'll take you to listen to her tomorrow."

I smiled and nodded. "That sounds great."

"Awesome. So, soup for lunch?"

Well, chapter 2 is up and going. Why do I feel like this is going to turn into some sort of Mean Girls story?

I am very sorry for not uploading it sooner, life's really taking a hit at me. It's not as long either, but hey, Elsa's in this one. I really need to make it longer.

~Brooke