Chapter Two: No Discussion

I walked down the revered hallways of Dalton Academy with one purpose to not be seen. It was difficult considering I was the only female in the entire school under the age of twenty and I am 5'10", not exactly the best to blend in at an all boys school. Actually soon-to-be former all boys school. I still couldn't believe that this was happening, that I was going to be, probably, the only girl to ever attend Dalton Academy.

I made it to the headmaster's office with no problem from anyone and I took a seat. As I waited I straightened my skirt and tightened my tie and fidgeted uncomfortably. I was nervous, not because I was about to meet the headmaster, but because I was about to meet my fellow classmates in maybe twenty minutes. I was an outsider, a foreigner, trespassing on a sacred cult that no girl had ever been a part of. The headmaster's secretary told me that the headmaster wished to speak with me and told me to enter the office. I stood up straight and held my head high as I walked towards the headmaster's office.

"There's no going back now. Don't screw this up." I murmured to myself. This was my saving grace; there was no way I was going back to St. George's.

"Good morning Alexandra." The headmaster greeted me in his gravelly voice as he gestured for me to take a seat.

"The same to you sir." I replied stiffly while sitting down, breaking out the sir's that had been bred into me at a young age because of my upbringing.

"Have you moved all your things into your dorm room yet, or do you need help?" he asked.

"Yes sir, all my things are in the room already thank you for asking." I replied quickly.

"Have you given any thought as to which extra-curricular activities you are joining." He asked me in way that made it obvious that I was going to join some extra-curricular activity whether I wanted to or not.

"Yes sir, I was looking at trying out for soccer and the Warblers." I replied simply.

"Good at Dalton we expect a high level of excellence outside of school and the Board of Trustees doesn't want any student to forget that." He said. In other words, the Board of Trustees is looking for any reason to get rid of me, I noted.

"Thank you sir, I won't let you or the Board down." I spoke with all the sincerity that I could without sounding like I was up to no good.

"Alright I will remember that and now it is time for you to meet your fellow classmates. I hope they make a good first impression and that you do the same." He told me in a tone that left a silent or else at the end, and stood up and walked towards the door and motioned for me to do the same.

We walked through the halls of Dalton wordlessly towards the auditorium. I looked down at my uniform and laughed silently, I looked ridiculous. My uniform, from the waist up, was an exact replica of the boys' uniform. I was wearing a white button down shirt with a red and blue striped tie underneath a navy blue blazer with red piping. Then I was wearing a grey pleated skirt that was supposed to look like the boys' slacks and to make matters worse I was wearing navy knee-high socks that made the length of my legs even more noticeable. I mean really who says a seventeen year old should wear knee socks in a way that's not ironic. At least I was just wearing a pair of black ballet flats instead of the flat mary- janes that the Board of Trustees suggested. I mean really mary-janes with a pleated skirt, what am I five.

My musings were interrupted by the hum of numerous boys chattering, as we neared the auditorium. I knew that they were all probably wondering why the afternoon classes were canceled and they were told to meet in the auditorium. Suddenly I was incredibly nervous and questioning whether or not this was a good idea. The headmaster had left my side and was now speaking to the crowd of anxious boys about something that I didn't hear.

"No Alex you need to calm down. This is the best thing for you. Don't doubt yourself, ever. You've got to want it to win it and you want this more than anything else."I thought to myself repeatedly, trying to calm down.

"Now I want you all to keep in what I just said because I would like you all to welcome our new student Alexandra Zamperini here to Dalton and make her feel right at home." I heard the Headmaster say and I knew that I had to face my classmates. I couldn't help but smile as heard murmurs in the crowd like "Isn't Alexandra a girl's name." or "He just said her, did he mean to say her?" I knew they would be in for a shock when they saw me. I was 5'10" and tan with wavy blonde and green eyes that didn't know if they were green, blue, or grey. Many times I had been told that I should just become a model and forget school because I had the body and the face for it. I always had words with those people.

I walked out onto the stage to stand next to the headmaster and I smiled at my classmates feeling the nerves fade away. This was after all what I did best, the impossible. I felt every single eye in the room on me so I just kept smiling as the headmaster began speaking again.

"This Alexandra she is your new classmate. I know many of you are wondering why a girl is here and the answer is that she is the great-great-granddaughter of Andrew Dalton, the founder of this very school, and when a member of our Dalton family is in need we will help them. She is also just as qualified to be here as any of you boys. That is all; you are dismissed for the day." He said to all the boys in a tone that indicated there would be no further discussion on the matter.

He stepped away from the podium and told me I was dismissed as well and he hoped that over the weekend I could get to know my peers better, and that class started eight-thirty sharp on Monday morning.

I walked down the stairs leading off that stage and over the heads of some freshman boys I locked eyes with a pair of too green eyes that I knew I had seen before. I stared at his eyes and began to panic. There was no way that the boy from Paris, the boy from the metro, the boy who saved me, could be here in Westerville, Ohio of all places. It had to be him; I had never met anyone with eyes that color before. I saw the recognition in his eyes and I knew it was too late as he made his way over to me.

AN: Please review. Any questions or comments are appreciated.