A/N: I realize the first chapter was kind of depressing. I promise it
will be happier. for the most part. from now on. I hope you like it
anyway.
P.S.: For MR Rocks and anyone who agrees with her, I return the comment, which I refuse to write out. If you didn't like the first story, why the heck did you read the sequel?!?! And learn some grammar. Sorry to my other readers. I'm venting. If you don't understand, feel free to read the reviews. Any way, moving on.
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Chapter 2: New Beginnings
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One year later.
The twins sulked in their bedroom, thinking hated thoughts about their grandmother. John was pacing as he glared angrily about the room, while Nicole sat in a corner and looked like she was about to cry.
"It's not fair!" he burst out angrily. "Why do we have to go away to school? We both know how to read. We could have a tutor or Grandmother could teach us. Why? Why? Why?!" he exclaimed.
Nikki's threatened tears coursed silently down her cheeks as she said, "I don't want to either, but it is only during the week. She said we get to come home on weekends and holidays." She paused before she said hesitantly, "Besides, I want to meet some new kids and Grandfather agrees that we need more schoolin'."
John sneered at her, well as close to a sneer as a six-year-old can get. "If Grandfather told you to jump off a cliff you would. You were always his favorite."
"So what?" she yelled back hotly. "At least I'm not a show off. 'Look at me, I can play piano.', 'I can read and write,'" she said mockingly. "I am just as good as you. I bet the teacher will like me better anyway," she said turning away from him.
He glared at her back speechless in his anger. He hated her all the more because, she was right. He did show off, but only because she was the favorite and, it seemed to him, that she got all the attention. He had always been jealous of her bond with their grandfather. He even got jealous of little William. Although he couldn't blame him, he was just a baby after all. He just hated feeling left out. But despite his envy he knew he could always count on his twin to be there when he needed her most.
As the minutes passed the silence grew thick with tension. Each wished they could take back the cruel words but neither wanted to give in. Suddenly it was as if the tension snapped as they both simultaneously blurted, "I'm sorry." They ran to each other and embraced. With no words being said, they nodded in agreement. They would try school for a while. Grandmother had said it they had trouble they could always get a tutor. Besides there was they chance of meeting new playmates.
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The red brick building loomed above them. The school was a reformed mansion outside of Liverpool. The towering spires housed the students while the other 20 rooms served as offices and classrooms. The twins cowered closer to their grandmother. She held them by the hand as she led them up the steps. She rang the bell. The door opened to reveal a tall stately woman. She was blond and had blue eyes that twinkled as she smiled. Despite their fears, the twins smiled back.
She held out her hand as she said, "Hello, welcome to the Greenridge School. I am Mrs. Thatcher. I am headmistress and also a teacher here."
Eleanor shook the offered hand, instantly liking the woman. "My name is Mrs. James. I am pleased to meet you."
Mrs. Thatcher smiled again as she asked, "And who are these precious little darlings?"
The twins smiled shyly at her. With a spurt of sudden courage, John blurted out, "My name is Jonathan James and her name is Nicole James." Smiling broadly he said, "We're twins."
The headmistress's smile widened as she replied, "Well that is special. Not many people are twins. I am sure you'll have a lot of fun here." She stood back up and smiling at Eleanor said, "You have lovely children Mrs. James. I hope they will be happy here."
Mrs. James smiled sadly as she replied, "There my grandchildren actually. But thank you. I hope so too."
"Well, shall we go inside and get you two settled?" she said as they stepped into the foyer. "I know you would like to stay together but the boys and girls stay in separate dorms. You will see each other at meals and in class though."
The main staircase was a wonder. It split in two and swirled and curved up wards until it reached the third floor. "The teacher's living quarters are on this floor. If you ever need anything you can find some here to help you," she explained as she led them towards one end of the hall. "At this end is the stairs to the boys rooms. Jonathan you will be staying in this tower. And this is your room she said," she said unlocking a door half way up the tower. His mouth fell open as he entered, the biggest bedroom he had ever seen. The double feather bed barely took any room the armoire and desk was overlarge and there were windows everywhere. The only odd thing was the shape of the room. Two of the walls were curved, which is perfectly normal for a tower room.
While he walked around in complete awe, his grandmother was smiling happily. She was glad for anything good in his life. God knew these children deserved some happiness for once. They dragged a reluctant John away from his new room, and went to Nikki's room. It was just as luxurious as John's. They went back down stairs. After introducing the twins to the other children in the recreation room, the two women went to the main office.
After taking their seats Mrs. Thatcher said, "They seem to be adjusting well. I just have a few other questions. Mainly, for registration purposes. Who should I contact for progress reports or emergencies, you or the twins parents?"
Eleanor bit back a surge of grief before saying, "My son and his wife died last year in a train accident. Me and my husband are their guardians."
The headmistress nodded comfortingly. "One more question are there any special restrictions or accommodations that the twins need?"
"Yes, if it is possible I would like to continue with John's piano lessons with a professional music teacher, if possible," she said. The headmistress nodded affirmatively. Eleanor paused before saying, "I should mention, John has a protective and slightly jealous side. He doesn't take kindly to teasing or insults especially aimed towards Nicole. He's not a troublemaker but he has a mean temper."
Mrs. Thatcher frowned contemplating this information. Finally she said, "I understand and thank you for your warning. I will just hope the issue never rises but I will keep my eyes open. So unless you have any questions I guess I will see you again this weekend."
Eleanor stopped to hug and kiss the children goodbye reminding them that they would come home on the weekend. As the door closed behind her she sighed and as tears slipped down her face her she reverently prayed that all would work out.
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I hope you liked it. Please review I would really appreciate the feedback. More coming soon.
P.S.: For MR Rocks and anyone who agrees with her, I return the comment, which I refuse to write out. If you didn't like the first story, why the heck did you read the sequel?!?! And learn some grammar. Sorry to my other readers. I'm venting. If you don't understand, feel free to read the reviews. Any way, moving on.
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Chapter 2: New Beginnings
************************************************************************
One year later.
The twins sulked in their bedroom, thinking hated thoughts about their grandmother. John was pacing as he glared angrily about the room, while Nicole sat in a corner and looked like she was about to cry.
"It's not fair!" he burst out angrily. "Why do we have to go away to school? We both know how to read. We could have a tutor or Grandmother could teach us. Why? Why? Why?!" he exclaimed.
Nikki's threatened tears coursed silently down her cheeks as she said, "I don't want to either, but it is only during the week. She said we get to come home on weekends and holidays." She paused before she said hesitantly, "Besides, I want to meet some new kids and Grandfather agrees that we need more schoolin'."
John sneered at her, well as close to a sneer as a six-year-old can get. "If Grandfather told you to jump off a cliff you would. You were always his favorite."
"So what?" she yelled back hotly. "At least I'm not a show off. 'Look at me, I can play piano.', 'I can read and write,'" she said mockingly. "I am just as good as you. I bet the teacher will like me better anyway," she said turning away from him.
He glared at her back speechless in his anger. He hated her all the more because, she was right. He did show off, but only because she was the favorite and, it seemed to him, that she got all the attention. He had always been jealous of her bond with their grandfather. He even got jealous of little William. Although he couldn't blame him, he was just a baby after all. He just hated feeling left out. But despite his envy he knew he could always count on his twin to be there when he needed her most.
As the minutes passed the silence grew thick with tension. Each wished they could take back the cruel words but neither wanted to give in. Suddenly it was as if the tension snapped as they both simultaneously blurted, "I'm sorry." They ran to each other and embraced. With no words being said, they nodded in agreement. They would try school for a while. Grandmother had said it they had trouble they could always get a tutor. Besides there was they chance of meeting new playmates.
************************************************************************
The red brick building loomed above them. The school was a reformed mansion outside of Liverpool. The towering spires housed the students while the other 20 rooms served as offices and classrooms. The twins cowered closer to their grandmother. She held them by the hand as she led them up the steps. She rang the bell. The door opened to reveal a tall stately woman. She was blond and had blue eyes that twinkled as she smiled. Despite their fears, the twins smiled back.
She held out her hand as she said, "Hello, welcome to the Greenridge School. I am Mrs. Thatcher. I am headmistress and also a teacher here."
Eleanor shook the offered hand, instantly liking the woman. "My name is Mrs. James. I am pleased to meet you."
Mrs. Thatcher smiled again as she asked, "And who are these precious little darlings?"
The twins smiled shyly at her. With a spurt of sudden courage, John blurted out, "My name is Jonathan James and her name is Nicole James." Smiling broadly he said, "We're twins."
The headmistress's smile widened as she replied, "Well that is special. Not many people are twins. I am sure you'll have a lot of fun here." She stood back up and smiling at Eleanor said, "You have lovely children Mrs. James. I hope they will be happy here."
Mrs. James smiled sadly as she replied, "There my grandchildren actually. But thank you. I hope so too."
"Well, shall we go inside and get you two settled?" she said as they stepped into the foyer. "I know you would like to stay together but the boys and girls stay in separate dorms. You will see each other at meals and in class though."
The main staircase was a wonder. It split in two and swirled and curved up wards until it reached the third floor. "The teacher's living quarters are on this floor. If you ever need anything you can find some here to help you," she explained as she led them towards one end of the hall. "At this end is the stairs to the boys rooms. Jonathan you will be staying in this tower. And this is your room she said," she said unlocking a door half way up the tower. His mouth fell open as he entered, the biggest bedroom he had ever seen. The double feather bed barely took any room the armoire and desk was overlarge and there were windows everywhere. The only odd thing was the shape of the room. Two of the walls were curved, which is perfectly normal for a tower room.
While he walked around in complete awe, his grandmother was smiling happily. She was glad for anything good in his life. God knew these children deserved some happiness for once. They dragged a reluctant John away from his new room, and went to Nikki's room. It was just as luxurious as John's. They went back down stairs. After introducing the twins to the other children in the recreation room, the two women went to the main office.
After taking their seats Mrs. Thatcher said, "They seem to be adjusting well. I just have a few other questions. Mainly, for registration purposes. Who should I contact for progress reports or emergencies, you or the twins parents?"
Eleanor bit back a surge of grief before saying, "My son and his wife died last year in a train accident. Me and my husband are their guardians."
The headmistress nodded comfortingly. "One more question are there any special restrictions or accommodations that the twins need?"
"Yes, if it is possible I would like to continue with John's piano lessons with a professional music teacher, if possible," she said. The headmistress nodded affirmatively. Eleanor paused before saying, "I should mention, John has a protective and slightly jealous side. He doesn't take kindly to teasing or insults especially aimed towards Nicole. He's not a troublemaker but he has a mean temper."
Mrs. Thatcher frowned contemplating this information. Finally she said, "I understand and thank you for your warning. I will just hope the issue never rises but I will keep my eyes open. So unless you have any questions I guess I will see you again this weekend."
Eleanor stopped to hug and kiss the children goodbye reminding them that they would come home on the weekend. As the door closed behind her she sighed and as tears slipped down her face her she reverently prayed that all would work out.
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I hope you liked it. Please review I would really appreciate the feedback. More coming soon.