A/N: Gosh, I'm so lazy! I haven't updated in such a long time! I should have, because I got the "Mystery in the Mist Edition", of The Great Mouse Detective. It's pretty awesome. Oh well… Any who, here's the next chapter!
Olivia woke up that morning to see a dark brown mouse with a pink nose standing over her.
"Good morning!" greeted the young mouse.
"Um, hello…" Olivia replied in a meek, shy voice. She had never been properly introduced to this "Ms. Maple", and waking up to her staring down at Olivia was nothing short of odd, if not… disturbing.
"My name is Matilda Maple", she said proudly, knowing full well that her name was quite catchy. ", and you are?"
"Olivia Flavasham.", said Olivia simply. There was nothing out of the ordinary about her name, so she didn't need to say it with, well… such finesse as her new roommate.
"Olivia Flavasham.", said Matilda, as if to taste the new name. "It's not as splendid as mine, but it will do." Olivia was shocked that this girl had judged her so quickly, as if you could someone only by their name. Matilda could see that she had insulted her.
"Oh, beg my pardon! I'm sorry, I never explain myself as other people do. That's why I was sent here at this age. 'To bold', my Mother said, 'to brash', my Father agreed. Father always agrees with Mother, though. 'We simply must send her to Darlington, she'll be taught not to speak her mind there!" Matilda finished with angry huff.
"Did they really say all that?" asked Olivia.
"Well… not those exact words, but they might as well have." stated Ms. Maple. "Of course, I always tend to-", she suddenly drifted over to look at the clock. "Oh, dear! We've only fifteen minutes before class starts!" Olivia began to run to her new wardrobe, within which she found a girls white frock: the uniform for ladies of her age. She set it upon her bed and changed into a fresh set of chemise, drawers, and stockings. She then pulled the frock over her head and looked into the full length mirror next to her wardrobe, her mouth agape. Matilda looked over at her.
"Oh! You look so, so…"
"Stupid.", Olivia stated with bluntness that even her new friend could accomplish.
"Not exactly the word I was looking for…" Matilda drifted off. It was true though. The straight, white lace did not at all suit Olivia's' colorful personality.
"Oh, well." sighed Olivia as she ran her brush through her mop top of hair a few times. Just as she was putting her brush down, Matilda grasped her hand and dragged her through the door.
As they had been running to their class, they had realized that they had all the same classes together, which were in order: Deportment, Elocution and French, Needlework, Gardening, Cooking, and History.
"These classes don't sound very fun." Whispered Olivia as she sat down in her seat. "I don't even know what 'deportment' means.
"Don't worry; it's just a class on manners." Ms. Maple whispered back as the teacher entered, thereupon she quickly sunk back into her seat.
"Good morning, class." She said stiffly.
"Good morning, Ms. Cordally." The class said in unison.
"I do believe we have a new student here at Darlington." She quickly looked down at her papers, then back up.
"Ms. Flavorshame?" Olivia sighed frustrated. It wasn't a hard name to pronounce. Would anyone ever get it right?
"It's Flavasham." Olivia said in an irritated huff. Suddenly everyone was silent, even Matilda.
"Excuse me, young lady, but certainly do not have that sort of tone in my classroom, nor do you speak unless spoken to. As punishment, in this class, you shall be known as Ms. Flavorshame and no one will address you as anything else, and all of your papers in this class will have that name. Have I made myself clear?
Olivia sat in her desk, mouth gapping. She was in shock.
"I said, have I made myself clear?"
"Crystal, Ms. Cordally." Olivia said like an automaton.
"Good. Now, close your mouth. You look like a codfish." Olivia did as she was told, fearing what might happen, were she to disobey.
"Now class, today we are going to discuss…"
Olivia's' other classes weren't that different from her first, unfortunately. All of them seemed rather boring; the sort of teachings that would be used to train a housewife. She didn't really feel like she was using her brain in any of them. The only thing that she had to use her mind for so far was French, and even that wasn't too much of a challenge. However, French class had the only teacher she liked: Madame Dubois. Olivia smiled fondly, remembering her French name as she sat down in the dining hall with Matilda and rolled her food around on her plate.
"Mademoiselle Flavasham", she in her little Scottish accent. It really wasn't that different, but it was foreign, and she liked it.
"Olivia, are you alright? You seem a little up in the clouds." Ms. Maple questioned. Her friend hadn't exactly had the easiest day at Darlington.
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry, I'm just getting used to things, that's all. Once this week is in full swing, I'll feel right at home." Olivia knew these weren't her real feelings, though. The only place she really felt at home was…
", with Basil." She said in the softest of tones as she lay awake in her bed, not able to fall asleep. She decided to get up and write a letter to him, to inform him of how she was among things. At least it took away her nerves. After sealing it in the envelope, she laid back down in bed; putting it under her pillow for safe keeping. Smiling, she couldn't help but feel a little piece of Basil was there, too.