Disclaimer in part one.
Did you think I forgot? Well, life's been happening, so I've been trying to write. Unfortunately, most of the writing I do is the super-scary stuff—college application essays. (Dun, dun, dun) However, I'm really trying to write this, and finalize what exactly I want happening. (I'm actually trying to be a writer and plot things out.) So, updates are going to be sort of slow, but I'm trying! Please hang with me. I love y'all to death!
Jules shifted, frustrated, and angrily tossed the book back into her bag. She folded her arms. Next to her, Grace patted her hair—which looked perfect as always—and twisted her rings around her fingers nervously before moving on to absently spinning the charms on her necklace. Jules fidgeted more.
The headmaster, who had written them to make sure they stopped by before returning to classes, was, of course, out at a meeting when they had arrived. The secretary had advised them to wait until he returned—"It won't be too long." She promised. Grace had sighed and pulled out her iPod, flicking the wheel until it hit any song by Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Alanis, or Fiona. Jules had stupidly forgotten her iPod at home, and contended with rereading 1984, which she didn't even like but it was in her backpack. It was thirty minutes later, more than halfway through first hour, and the damn headmaster had yet to show. She turned back to the god-awful, depressing book.
Finally, he bustled in, muttering something to the assistant about the "goddamned board of Trustees." She pointed in the twins' direction, and he smiled. "Julia. Grace. Come in to my office. It's nice to have you back." Jules raised an eyebrow; he sounded so phony. "Take a seat," he said, striding to his chair and looking important as he walked and flipped through memos at the same time. "Anyways, girls, sorry to keep you waiting so long. Had I known—" he hesitated uncomfortably, and Jules almost reminded him that Sara had called on Tuesday, "What your exact day of return was, we certainly would have set some time specifically aside." The girls nodded mutely, so he took a deep breath and continued. "Anyways. We're quite sorry for your loss. I know that sounds completely clichéd, but we are, and I know I speak for the staff when I say we're all here for you, if you decide you need something. I understand that you're living with your cousin; I've been in contact with Ms. Sidle. Your mother was very prescient in transferring you to a private school for your last year; we're very close-knit and supportive. We'll be able to handle your…special circumstances better than a public school." The girls nodded again. He looked between them nervously, and kept talking. A thin rim of sweat appeared below his hairline. The brisk, straight-up-here's-the-deal method that reassured and even inspired anal helicopter parents was not going over well. Jules wanted to do something obscene or rude, like flip him off or pick her nose. "How are you feeling?" he tried again.
"Really sick of that question." Jules said tartly. Her sister gave her a look, and then apologized to the headmaster.
"Alright." The headmaster said shortly. "Anyways, the second thing I need to talk to you two about—most of our other seniors have been meeting with Vicki, our college advisor, several times since their sophomore year. Now, we understand that you two are new—but you both should meet with Vicki by the end of this week, so that we can compare match colleges, reaches, your activities, and such, so that you can start the application process. You're both quite bright, and applications will be due before you know it. And, from my meeting with your mother, I know that this is quite important to her—that you two receive the best postsecondary education possible. What exactly do you two have in mind for next year?"
They looked at each other, and Grace sighed heavily. "I'm not sure we're really ready to answer that question, sir."
He pulled his lips in until he had a fish-face. "Well. You're both quite bright. I don't need to tell you that the deadlines are literally weeks away. To write the best essay, to get your paperwork in order—it takes time, ladies; you need to get serious." He smiled brightly. "Why don't I call over to Vicki right now—see if she has any openings today. If you go together, I'm sure we could fit you in over lunch or something. Vicki's an excellent resource; any school would be honored to have such a dedicated counselor. She'll know every visiting admissions officer to any school; with her, the ground will be caught up extremely quickly."
"Sir, thank you for your generosity." Grace began to speak, because Jules was too angry to know where to begin, "but, right now, we're still recovering—it's been…I can't explain it, I really can't, but it's been unspeakable. We'll get everything figured out, in time, but right now, we've missed almost three weeks of school. We need to focus on making up that ground first."
He opened, and then closed, his mouth, "Right you are. You're quite bright, you know, we do have great faith in you. I'm sure everything will work out. I'll give your names to Vicki; she'll be in contact with you."
"Thank you," Jules said, extending her hand. "We should really get back to class."
"Yes. Of course. Enjoy your day," he winced at his final thoughtless statement.
"We'll be sure to keep in touch over our delicate psyches and uncertain futures." Jules smiled. "Have a wonderful day."
As soon as they were out of the office, Grace grabbed her sister's elbow. "What the hell was that about?" she hissed. "There wasn't any reason to be so awful to him."
"What?" Jules replied irritably. "He was being a superficial, inconsiderate prick. What an ass."
"Still—respect and all that? Remember?" Grace's eyes teared up. "God, what is your problem? Suddenly, Mom's gone, and you're—acting differently. You need to calm down. He was trying."
"Gracie, no." Jules felt deflated. "Jules—he was just being a jerk, and I didn't feel like calling him on it, and I didn't feel like brushing it away, either, you know? I just…wanted to…I knew I could get away with it, so I did."
"That doesn't make it right." Grace hissed, frustrated. "Don't you get it?"
"Oh, Grace. Cut it out. Listen. I'm sorry, alright. God, I won't do it again."
"Whatever," Grace muttered, close to tears. "Let's just get to English, alright?"
That was the worst thing, Jules decided, staring around and wishing to be anywhere else: the school was small, and private, so there was only one or maybe two sections of several of the classes, so she was stuck with Grace, who honestly seemed really upset with her, for most of the day. She watched her stalk off in the direction of the AP Lit class.
Grace pushed the door open; Jules quickly tripped forward so she would arrive at approximately the same time as Grace.
The dozen students in the class were arranged in a circle; a class discussion was obviously going on. As soon as she saw this, Grace, who had marched away from her sister blazing and self-righteous and royally pissed and confident, wilted quickly, and seemed to fold inwards. Jules stepped up. "Hi, everyone." She tried to smile. "Where should we sit?" she knew—well, she hoped—that they still remembered them.
Mrs. Dunbar recovered first. "Yes. I did get a message from Ms. Sidle saying you'd be returning." She smiled briefly. That was the second bad thing about a small school—Mrs. Dunbar didn't have to explain to the class, or wonder, if they knew whom, exactly, Ms. Sidle was. Everyone knew everyone's business. "Come, sit down. We're discussing some parts of Crime and Punishment, and, since you haven't started, why don't you just listen? And stay after class, so I'll get your schedule worked out. It's nice to have you back. I'm sure you'll both continue to make great contributions to the class."
They nodded briefly and took seats at the back of the class. Jules slouched down as far as she could, crossing her arms tightly. She scribbled This sux on a bright blue Post-It, and slid it towards her sister. Grace crumpled it up before putting it in her bag. She had a distasteful expression on her face and didn't look at her sister.