TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED - "GALLOPING FOXLEY"

Want It, Need It

I sat in the parlor for the remainder of time until six o'clock crept upon me.

I was perched on one of the sofas in the commons area, and a few girls passed me by and stared. I admit, it was probably unusual for them to see a new girl sitting alone. But, it's always been that way for me.

"No one likes a rebel, Retta." Mother would tell me.

I never listened to Mother, I always listened to my Father. Mother was high-strung and proper, and expected a lot from me. Considering I was the only daughter, she expected me to be a "lady". Father raised me, so it's not surprising how I am.

The clock in the parlor chimed.

It's five fourty-five.

I figured, if Foxley's dorm is on the otherside of the school, I should start walking. I don't have the slightest idea where it even is, and I don't wish to keep him waiting. From what I've heard, that young man sounds dangerous.

I rose from the sofa and began walking towards the exit of the building. The sun was just begining to set, and the skay was turning purple already. I knew that the students of this academy probably had a curfew. I figured Foxley would send me off before then.

The few students of Repton who were still outside at this time, ignored me for once as I walked by them across the courtyard. In fact, it suprised me. I was the only girl who had her hair down. The ribbon used to adorn the bun was tied lazily on a clump of my hair. It was out of uniform, but no one seemed to notice or care. I'm not even sure my hair is long enough to hold a bun, it just hangs over my shoulders.

I walked across the courtyard to the boy's dorms, and more and more boys started to appear before me. My mind began to wonder if there were rules against girls going over tot he boy's dorms. I thought for a moment, but quickly brushed the thought aside. As I was walking around the boys, I was expeccting them to make cat-calls at me, and attempt to flirt. In that case, I would confront them. But, nothing happened. The boys that bothered to pay any attention to me at all would just stare at me as I passed. I'm sure none of the girls would venture over to the boys' side of Repton, but someone was expecting me and I don't want to endanger myself further.

I made it to the dormatory and was lost already. I stepped inside and looked around, trying to find the nearest boy to ask for directions. I noticed the building was different than the girls' building. It was...bigger somehow. I knew that they had just started excepting girls into the school a few years ago, but one would think the girls would be equal to the boys.

I walked over to a brunette haired boy, who looked to be about Foxely's age. He was talking to two other boys of the same age possibly, and something about him screamed "one of Foxley's gang". My inner voice was screaming at me again to "Be ladylike, listen to Mother for once. Don't make a fool of yourself!"

I took a deep breath and walked up to the boy, stepping slowly, as if on a minefield.

"Pardon me," I said delicately. My shyness was showing again, as it usually does when I'm around new people. The boy turned around and looked down at me, raising an eyebrow almost teasingly, just like Foxley. I shrank back a bit, but continued on.

"But, could you direct me to Bruce Foxley's dorm, if you know him?"

The boy glanced back to the boys behind him and smiled. "Foxley, eh? Do you know him?" He said as he turned back to face me.

The way he spoke to me just then made my attitude snap on again. I raised my eyebrow at him this time and crossed me arms.

"Why on earth would I be asking to see him if I didn't know him?" I said, straightening my back up proudly.

Pride is deffinately a sin I possess when intimedated.

I could tell he was taken back by the fact that a girl could bite back, and he changed the subject.

"What's your name, girl?" He asked, smiling down at me suspiciously. I rolled my eyes. "Is it important for you to know it?""

"Not really, I suppose...Is Bruce expecting you?" He asked next. I wondered why he was asking me so many questions. Something was telling me that this boy was Foxley's protector of some sort.

"Yes, in fact, he is. At six o'clock to be precise..." I said forcefully, trying to intimedate the boy infront of me. "Now, will you please take me to him?"

The boy sighed and took my hand. "Fine. Come along, then..."

He dragged me over to the stair well and I caught a glance of the clock, and it read five past six. Had it really taken me that long to walk and confront the boy who is dragging me to my doom? I sighed to myself and continued to walk up the stairs with this boy.

"You know," He said abruptly, causing me to look up towards him. "I heard my sister talking about a girl who looked like you..."

I felt my heart skip a beat. "Who is your sister?" I asked cautiously.

"Martha Windsor...do you know her?"

My face paled, but at the same timed it burned again. I paused.

"...Yes, so then, you must be Julienne?" My voice faultered.

I knew this boy was connected to Bruce Foxley. His demeanor screamed "Foxley" and "Martha and Grace" all at once. The whole idea of it made me head spin.

"Yes, that's right. Now, how do you know Martha?"

"I'm new here and she was the first girl to speak to me."

We made it to what I believe was the third story of the dorms. I had stopped counting the flights of stairs after Julienne and I began to discuss his sister.

"Oh, then you are Retta, aren't you? No wonder you want to see Foxley, he's been talking about his new girl!"

I remained silent the rest of the way. I had nothing to say, I knew I was trapped now. Foxley had gotten me, and I couldn't do anything about it. I blushed and let go of Julienne's hand, only to walk by his side as we walked down the hallway to Foxley's dorm. We made it all the way down the hall, and only two doors remained on either side of us.

"Which one is it?" I asked, glancing both ways at either of the white brown doors against the green painted walls.

"Both." Julienne answered, smirking. "You'll need to know this if he chooses you."

"Pardon?" I asked, now looking at him.

"That one," he said pointing to the left. "Is Foxley's private study. The other is his dorm."

Julienne took my hand again and led me over the door on the right. He stepped infront of me and knocked on the door. I wondered if Foxley would be angry that I was a few minutes late, and I knew it would affect my chances of me being "chosen". I smiled faintly to myself. and hoped it would.

"Enter!" I heard Foxley's commanding voice say from the other side of the door.

I invoulentarily tensed up and my mind went insane at the sound of his voice. What does he want with me? Am I here for a reason? What would Father say?

Julienne lightly pushed me on the shoulder and it sent me out of my lethargy.

"Go on, then. He's waiting!" Julienne said motioning to the door.

I sighed, heavily and shakily and reached for the door. I turned the knob, and when I heard the lock click I opened it.

Foxley's room was startilingly gourgeous, it was different from the other dorms. I could only imagine what his study was like. The room was painted a dark evergreen and the entrie room had wood finishings. It was beautiful, and it seemed I had spent an entire minute just staring at the room.

Then, the voice like venom bit at my neck. I shivered at the sound of it.

"Oh, Retta. What a lovely surprise..."