"I don't wanna go, Daddy!" the five-year-old protested.
"I know you don't, Sophie, but I can't homeschool you on the road anymore," her father protested.
"I'm scared,"
"I know you are, but you don't have to be, Miss Grimwood's nice and you'll make friends, lots of friends,"
"Do you have to go?"
"Yes, but I'll visit,"
Sophie's blue eyes pooled with tears, "Daddy..."
She clutched his leg.
"Sophie, I promise it'll be okay,"
"Don't go,"
"You know I have to,"
It took great effort but Sophie was placed back on the bare bed.
"I love you, Sophie,"
The young girl watched her father leave through tear-filled eyes. Throwing herself to the floor where she sobbed herself to sleep. When she woke up again hours later, she first went to the window, peering out at the foggy landscape nervously. Next, she went to her suitcase, white with pink accents and her name it had been a gift from her aunt, opening it she found her clothes and her stuffed dog but nothing that put her young mind at ease. Her daddy had to come back. But she knew he wasn't going to appear out of anywhere with a grin. Bursting into tears again, she slid to the floor. Crying until she could cry no more. Trying her best to understand. Why? Why did she need to go to a school like this one? She was beyond confused. She put her head between her knees, curled her arms tightly around herself and tried to breathe like she was taught to when she got scared but every time, she dared a peek she was reminded of where she was and why she was there. It hurt.
Then, she heard music coming from somewhere down the hall. Filled with curiosity she got to her feet, light-up sneakers padding across the floor with mouse-sized steps. She opened the door just a crack, wincing at the moaning sound it made. No one appeared to be in the hall so she took her chances and stepped out, sticking to the opposite wall like glue. Inching her way down the hall, toward the music she stopped outside the room it came from. Slowly, afraid of being caught she glanced inside the room.
A classroom with large windows that flooded the rows of desks with sunlight Sophie hadn't seen from her room. Wooden cubby shelves filled with baskets lined the bottom of the windows. At the front of the room where the teacher's desk should have been, there was a keyboard that was being played.
Is that my teacher?
She didn't look like a teacher. Not like the ones she saw in storybooks and TV shows. She wore a dog-themed shirt, blue jeans, and sandals. Her long dark brown hair pulled into a braid that hung over her shoulder, tied with a bow. That is where human features ended as she had a pair of semi-translucent, darkly colored fairy wings, pointed ears, and fangs. In curiosity the five-year-old craned her neck to get a better look which caused the door to creak, making her jump.
"Hello,"
"Hi," Sophie whispered.
"Nervous about school, aren't you?"
"How did you know?"
"I was in your place once, my name's Christina, what's yours?"
"S-Sophie,"
"It's very nice to meet you, Sophie, why don't you come in here and talk? I promise you don't have to be scared of me,"
Hesitantly, Sophie shuffled her way into the classroom taking a seat at the desk directly across from Christina.
"What do you like to do for fun?" Christina prompted.
"I like exploring" Sophie decided.
"I like reading, it's my way of exploring"
A knock on the classroom door grabbed their attention. Miss Grimwood stood in the doorway with a smile.
"I see you two have met," she said, "Do you feel better, Sophie?"
"Yes, Ma'am,"
"The other girls will be here tomorrow, for now, dinner's waiting."
Sophie was out of the room faster than a bullet.
…...
The next day Sophie shuffled nervously into the room where the other girls were being dropped off by their families. There were vampires, werewolves, mummies and more. Sophie hid behind the nearest armchair, only her eyes peeking out.
"Sophie, sweetie, why don't you come say hi?" Christina asked, waving her forward.
"Humans, Really, Christina?"
"Gory I wouldn't care if you were the vampire queen herself! GET DOWN OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE!" Christina roared turning on the sharply dressed woman, dropping off one of the girls.
"I'm not human anyway," Sophie whispered, hiding behind Christina.
"CHRISTINA!"
"Hi, Winnie!" Christina grinned, embracing the ball of energy that knocked into her, "You had a growth spurt I see,"
"Yeah, Papa says it's like I grew overnight! Where's Sibella and Elsa?"
"High school remember?"
"Oh, yeah, is Tannis here yet?"
"Why don't you go see?"
Winnie rushed off excitedly.
…...
Once everyone had arrived they gathered in Christina's classroom where they would start each morning.
"Welcome everyone!" Christina greeted, standing in front of her desk, "Some of us already know each other but there are plenty of new faces so why don't you stand up one by one and tell us your name?"
Winnie shot out of her seat, "I'm Winnie,"
Sophie watched curiously.
"And I'm Phantasma," the ghost girl to Winnie's right said.
"Tannis," the mummy whispered.
"I'm Valerie," scoffed the raven-haired vampire a row back.
Shakily, Sophie rose to her feet, "I'm Sophie,"
Then she sank into her seat content to be ignored the rest of the day.
….
The rest of the day was spent much the same. Getting to know you games and easy refresher assignments. Now, school was over and the girls were gathered in the living room talking amongst themselves. All except for Sophie who sat at the window and watched the outside world with interest.
"Whatcha looking at?"
Sophie turned to Winnie who stood with Tannis, "Nothing really," she mumbled.
"How do you like school?" Tannis questioned.
"I'm not sure yet,"
"I'm sure you'll like it," Winnie encouraged, "Wanna play tag?"
"Okay," Sophie smiled, "I like that game,"
"Race you outside then,"
Miss Grimwood watched from the window with a smile a few minutes later. Sophie would be just fine.
…...
Running in and around the pumpkin patch, Sophie felt better than she had in days. Slowly, the other girls ventured outside to join them. Well, Phantasma joined them, Valerie stood rooted in place with a scowl.
"Don't you wanna play?" Sophie asked curiously.
"I don't play," Valerie snarked, "Now, go away, Normie,"
"Valerie, what have we told you about being nice to others?" Christina inquired, pointedly, stepping outside with a basket over her arm.
"Just because you could've been my mother doesn't make you her now!" Valerie snarked.
"Go clean the whiteboard," Christina declared.
"That's not my job,"
"It is now. Now go and do it," Christina responded sternly, "As I've said before you don't scare me, neither did your father,"
Valerie stormed off.
"Well now," Christina turned to find the girls staring at her, "Who wants to help me pick cherries for our pie tonight,"
"WE DO!"
"Come on then," Christina laughed.
…..
Later that night the girls sans Valerie gathered in Winnie's room.
"What did Valerie mean earlier?" Sophie asked.
Winnie cringed, "We can't talk about it,"
"But what is it?"
"You're too little to understand," Phantasma replied.
"No, I'm not!" Sophie replied, balling her fists, "Daddy says I'm very smart,"
"We aren't allowed to talk about it," Tannis stressed.
"But I wanna know!"
"Know what?"
Christina stood in the doorway.
"We're doomed," Winnie squeaked.