Chapter Eight – So Much I Don't Know

I spent Sunday exploring Phantom Manor. The house was so big that some of the hallways were locked. Most rooms were almost as big as mine, with elaborately carved furniture and embroidered comforters. Everything was impeccably clean. I hadn't seen any maids around so I assumed they didn't live in the house.

I came to a door at the end of a long dark hallway. So far all the other doors in the hall had been locked so I assumed this one would be too. I tried in anyway and to my surprise it opened. I peered inside curiously. Why was this door of all the doors in the hall open? It was so far away from everything else in the house. Who would even want to use it?

There were boxes stacked in all corners of the small room. It was really more like a closet. The boxes weren't marked and they were all sealed except for one near the door. I looked into the box. Inside was what looked like a stack of diaries. I picked one up and opened it:

Dear Diary,
Everything has been ruined. Marissa revealed my most precious secret. I
Thought I could trust my own sister but now I know I can only trust myself.
What will I tell Jordan? HOW will I tell him? And I have to tell him now.

"What are you doing in here?" a voice asked. I dropped the diary back into the box instinctively and whirled around to find my mother.

"I..I was just exploring," I stuttered. She looked nervously around me to the open box.

"You were snooping," she accused. She pushed past me and closed the box roughly, "Don't come in this room again,"

I stared at her. What was she hiding? What had been written in those diaries that she didn't want me to see?

"I came to tell you that my mother wants to see you," she said pushing me back out of the room. She turned around and locked the door. Why was she locking it now if it hadn't been locked before?

"Follow me," she said hurrying down away from the mysterious room. I hesitated and then followed. I told myself to ask about that room. Maybe Randall or Gary knew something about that room.

I let my mind wander to the subject of Nadine Campbell. My Grandmother. Why would she want to talk to me now? She hadn't seemed too interested in me yesterday during breakfast. Why now? I assumed she wanted to tell me to keep my mouth shut about the real reason why I was here. I knew the Campbell's were a prominent family in Ottawa and they wouldn't want a scandal.

Nadine was sitting in the same room I had first spoken to my mother in. She was dressed nicely, as I'm sure she always was. I sat down across form her and waited for the speech to begin.

"How have you enjoyed your first couple days here?" she asked.

"Very much, I've never seen a house this big," I told her.

"Good," she said. She just sat there and stared at me for a moment.

"Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?" I prompted her.

"Yes," she said blinking, "As you know, your presence here had been explained using a lie. I came here to ensure that you would keep it all secret," she paused for a second to see my reaction. I didn't do or say anything so she continued, "We have a reputation to uphold so you must act like a proper young lady. There is much you can learn from Julianna," she said.

I almost laughed. Were there people so blind that they couldn't see what Julianna was really like?

"You will go to school at White Hills Academy, a very well respected and prestigious private school, come home at night and do your homework. You mat socialize with friends only after they have been approved," she said.

I started to object but she interrupted me, "We can't have you standing out in any way. You must not call attention to yourself,"

"Are you finished?" I asked.

"Yes," she said, "Do you have any questions?"

"No, you have made it perfectly clear that I am a prisoner under your command," I said looking her right in the eyes. My angry tone didn't faze her. Her small mouth just formed a smirk that told me it didn't matter what I said, she'd always be in control.

I got up to leave, "The only thing I don't understand is why I am here at all when I seem to be a burden," I said.

Her smile widened as if she had been waiting for me to ask that very question, "There is so much you don't know, and I intend to keep it that way," was all she said.

I turned and walked away. In my room I sat on the bed and thought about that days events.

First there was the secret room with all the boxes. The diaries belonged to my mother and she had written about a secret being revealed. What was the secret and why had Maria been so nervous about seeing my in that room?

Then there was Nadine telling me all the rules. One thing was for sure, there was a lot I didn't know and despite Nadine's vow to keep it that way, I intended to find out the secret of Phantom Manor and it's occupants.

I didn't sleep very well that night. I had a lot of things on my mind. I missed everyone form home and I wished I could talk to someone about what happened today.

The though of those diaries just sitting in that locked room waiting to be read nagged at my brain relentlessly. For some reason I knew there was something in that room that would change my life. Again.

I also had to start school at White Hills Academy tomorrow. The last time I had started a new school was in grade nine and I had Lana with me then. Now I was starting in the middle of the year and I was all alone.

The only thing that comforted me was the thought of seeing Adam again. He seemed like a really nice guy.

I finally fell asleep hoping the next day would be better than I anticipated.

Gary drove both Julianna and me to school the next day. I was surprised my mother wasn't coming with me. But she said everything was ready so there was no need for her presence. Julianna didn't speak to me; she hadn't since Saturday.

"Good luck," Gary told me when we arrived. I thanked him and turned towards the school. It was beautiful really. Huge brass gates with the school's emblem on them were towering over me. The school itself was made of white brick and it looked as though it had three or more levels. It almost looked like castle with its high towers and I even noticed a bell tower.

Julianna was nowhere in sight so I entered the school on my own. Everyone wore the same black and red uniforms. It made me wonder why Julianna had bought so may clothes.

I was supposed to go the main office to get my schedule and locker assignment. I followed the posted signs that med me to the main office. The secretary was an older woman with dyed red hair and thick glasses.

"Hello dear, how may I help you?" she asked.

"Hi, I'm Lucky Sinclair, I'm new here," I told her.

"Sinclair, Sinclair," she murmured flipping through a stack of papers, "Sinclair, here it is," she handed me a schedule and a locker number. There was a map of the school on the back of the schedule. I was grateful for that because I didn't know how I would have found my way around without it.

I found my locker easily and put my jacket inside.

My first class would be English. It was room 209 on the second floor. I used the map and hurried up to the second floor. I didn't want to be late on my first day.

I ended up being early. There was no one in the room except the teacher.

"Excuse me, hi, I'm Lucky Sinclair, I'm new here," I told the man who looked to be in his early thirties with sandy blond hair and green eyes. He was kind of good looking.

"Oh hi, I'm Mr. McCoy, welcome to White Hills," he smiled showing off dimples in his cheeks. He gave me the books the class was reading and the latest work I would need to complete. He told me to take a seat near the front. I was putting all my books in my bad when I heard a familiar voice, "Good morning Mr. McCoy," I looked up to find Adam, looking very cute in his uniform. His glasses had wide black frames, reminding me of the lead singer of Weezer, who happened to be Carter's favourite band. Why did everything have to remind me of Carter?

"Hello Adam," Mr. McCoy smiled.

When Adam saw me sitting there he grinned.

"And hello to you again," he said sitting down next to me.

"Hey," I said softly.

"I guess we were never properly introduced, Julianna isn't very good at those things," he said, "I'm Adam Goode,"

"Lucky Sinclair," I said.

"So, what were you doing with the wonderful peacocks?" he asked.

"You mean Julianna?" I asked, "I'm staying with the Porters for awhile, I'm a..." I paused, not sure what to say, "A family friend,"

"Really," he said.

"Why do you call them peacocks?" I asked.

"Well, because they like to strut around showing off, just like peacocks," he explained.

"Clever," I said laughing. Now that I thought about it, I realized he was right. They did strut around. Other students started streaming in and sitting down in their seats. Finally the bell rang and Mr. McCoy started the class.

"Everyone, we have a new student, this is Lucky Sinclair," he introduced me. I blushed a little. I didn't like being in the spotlight and had always felt sorry for other new kids being introduced at my old school.

I stood up and smile at everyone. No one smiled back except for Adam. I noticed some girls in the back row whispering and giggling. The kept glancing up at me and then giggling again.

I sat down quickly.

Mr. McCoy started teaching again but the snickering in the back row didn't stop. In fact, it didn't stop al day. In every class I heard someone whispering and laughing. I knew it was about me; I wasn't just being paranoid, because more than once I saw them looking straight at me.

At lunch I found the cafeteria and bough my lunch. I didn't see any empty seats near Julianna, not that I would have sat with her anyway.

I sat at an empty table near the window and started eating my ham sandwich.

"Hey," a voice said. I looked up to find Adam, "Can I sit here?" he asked.

"No, this table is saved for my many friends," I said sarcastically. His smile faded.

Oh, there you go an alienate the one person whose been nice to you all day, I thought.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a little bit on edge right now," I apologized, "Of course you can sit here,"

His smile reappeared and he sat across from me. His tray was piled high with every food available in the cafeteria.

"Hungry?" I asked.

He answered by shoving some French fries into his mouth. When he was finished chewing he said, "I guess you haven't made many friends," he glanced down at the empty table.

"No, you are the only person who has ever spoken to me," I admitted.

"I guess that makes me your best friend then doesn't it?" he said grinning through a mouthful of cheeseburger. He inhaled every scrap of food on his tray and I stared at him. I'd never seen anyone eat that fast before.

He saw me staring and laughed, "I didn't eat breakfast," he explained.

"So, I see the Goody Good and the orphan have become chummy," Julianna's voice said nastily. She was standing at the end of our table with her groupies behind her.

"Give it a rest Jules," Adam said rolling his eyes. I could see that he was used to her insults.

"I've heard a lot of things about my house guest," she said ignoring Adam, "I can only pray they aren't true because I wouldn't want a prostitute living anywhere near mw and I'm sure my parents wouldn't either,"

"Prostitute?" I gasped in surprise, "I'm not a hooker so you can stop spreading lies about me," I stood up to face her.

"I'm just glad you aren't a part of my family and I feel sorry for those people who are related to you," she said.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her the whole truth but I remembered my Grandmother's warning and held back.

I glanced at Lauren, hoping she'd defend me like she had at the mall the other day but her eyes were pointed at the floor.

Julianna had everyone wrapped around her little finger and there was nothing I could do about it.