A/N:
So many of you are annoyed by Charlie. He will redeem himself, I'm telling you!
A few hoped you'd get to go to a party with Bella, and I'm sorry if you're disappointed that you won't. A bulk of the story takes place at The Academy, so let's get there! :-D
Title: The Perfect Partner Program
Author: MarieCarro
Beta: EdwardsFirstKiss
Pre-reader: brwneyedgrl01
Genre: Angst/Hurt&Comfort/Romance
Rating: NC-17
Summary: The summer of 2005 was the summer that changed Bella Swan's life forever. Sent to Ohio by her mother to attend a school for debutante girls not quite up to par, she meets Edward Masen, an apprentice. But is that really all he is? AH
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Word Count: 2, 776
CHAPTER 3 ARRIVING
"You have to call me every night, Babe. I won't accept anything else," Becca mumbled into my hair, her arms tightly wrapped around me in a hard embrace.
One month had passed with incredible speed, and I hated that it was already time for me to leave for Ohio and the Academy. I had been locked in a hug with Becca for the last ten minutes, and I didn't want to let go, but Dad and I had a flight to catch from Sea-Tac to Columbus International.
The Academy or "school" was located in an old castle they rented outside of Columbus. According to Maggie, it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen, and she could barely contain her excitement when she came up to me at school and asked if the rumors of me spending the summer there were true. Once she'd gotten that confirmed, she refused to let me out of her sight and even sat with Becca and me at lunch to tell me everything about her own experience at the Academy. It didn't matter that Becca was casting annoying glares at her the entire time.
"I promise," I said and tightened the hug for a second before letting go, but we still held each other's hands. "Nothing can keep me from talking to you, ever."
Tears filled Becca's eyes, but she did everything to hold them in. "Whatever happens, don't let them change you too much, okay? Always remember that there are people back home who love you exactly the way you are." One lone tear escaped the corner of her eye and I used the corner of my sleeve to wipe it away.
"Please, don't cry. You'll only get me started."
Becca sighed. "I just can't believe I won't see you for the entire summer."
"Me either," I agreed sadly.
Dad came up to us, then, and gave us an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, but we have to go."
I squeezed Becca's hands one last time. "I love you, Sis," I said, and ducked inside Dad's car.
"I love you, too, Babe," Becca replied and remained in the driveway until the car disappeared completely from her sight.
I felt Dad's eyes on me, but I was still very hurt that he had acted so passively when the news of my departure had been announced, and that was why I refused to look at him.
"Doll, I'm sorry. I never wanted you to go to the Academy."
My eyes began to tear up, but I still refused to turn around. "Then why didn't you stop it? You just sat there."
"It's complicated," he replied quietly.
"How complicated can it be? You're my dad. Shouldn't you have a say in the matter at all?" I pressed. I was aware of how difficult Dad thought it was to stand up to Renée, but I had always thought that if it came down to it, he would take my side.
"The day you're married, you will understand."
I scoffed. "Which will be to George, because that's what Renée wants, and you've just proven that she's the only one with a voice in this family."
"Now, Bella, I think you're being a bit unfair here. Your mother only wants what's best for you, and George's not that bad."
I finally turned to Dad, but it was to look at him in shock. "Are you serious? I can't believe you just said that."
He looked very uncomfortable and sighed. "Doll, please—"
"Dad, do me a favor and stop talking, okay?" I interrupted. I had a feeling it would only get worse if we continued the conversation. Dad didn't realize how wrong he had dealt with this, so for the sake of our relationship, I placed my headphones in my ears and opted for listening to music until we reached the airport.
I felt a surge of sadness as the scenery of my hometown blurred past us through the car window because even though I was only going away for the summer, I had a feeling nothing would ever be the same when I returned. I hadn't even turned seventeen yet, but I was well aware of the impossibility of remaining the exact same person after the summer no matter how resistant I'd be to the Academy's changes.
If those changes would turn out to be good or bad … only time would tell.
{=A=}
"Well, it sure is impressive," Dad said as we drove up to the gates, and I had to agree with him even though I kept my face a stone mask.
It was a castle, just as Maggie had said, with a gigantic green lawn in front of the entrance and huge oak trees that framed everything so that it looked like a picture from a storybook.
The gates didn't open as we closed in on them, and Dad frowned in confusion. "Bella, call that number in your letter and ask them how we get inside."
I silently took out my phone and was about to dial when the sound of static crackling caused us both to whip our heads around. I spotted an intercom nestled in the perfectly trimmed bushes that surrounded the driveway and pointed it out to Dad.
Instinctively, he leaned out of the open window to get closer to the speaker when a male voice greeted us.
"How can I help you, Sir?"
"Uh, Hi, my name's Charles Swan. I'm here to drop off Isabella Swan."
"Can you hold up a valid identification for the camera, please?"
"Wow, tight security for a school," Dad mumbled at me from the corner of his mouth, and I cracked a smile which in turn caused him to smile back. I hadn't given him a smile since we had left home.
Dad pulled out his wallet and held it up so that his driver's license was visible, flashing his badge at the same time.
"Thank you. Welcome to the Academy, Sir, and Miss Swan."
"Thank you," Dad replied politely and drove inside once the gates had opened.
When we closed in on the main building, I saw a black-haired boy dressed in a dark blue shirt and black pants. He was around my age and appeared to be waiting for us.
Once we'd stopped, the boy walked around the car and opened my door before offering me his hand to help me climb out. I hesitated in taking it. I could climb out of a car by myself, thank you very much, but I accepted his offered hand, anyway. I thought it was best not to get off on the wrong foot with anyone so early on, but I still pulled my hand back as soon as I straightened up.
The boy smiled widely and then turned to Dad as he came up to us. "Sir. Miss. My name's Seth Williams. I can park your car while Miss is getting settled."
He was a valet? At a school? I guess it shouldn't have surprised me. It was a staple at any socialite gathering that someone else parked the car while you went straight into the main event.
Dad looked Seth up and down. "How old are you, Seth?"
"I am almost eighteen, Sir," Seth answered proudly, but Dad wasn't easily impressed.
"Hm, have you used a gear shift before? I'd rather not have the transmission ruined before I take the car back. It's a rental," he said with narrowed eyes.
"Don't worry, Sir. I was taught to drive a gear shift before I was fifteen. I promise that no harm will come to your car."
"Alright then," Dad said after a second and handed Seth the car keys.
"Thank you, Sir. You and the young miss can go right inside and announce your arrival at the desk."
Dad nodded and, with me in tow, walked to the large oak doors of the entrance.
Inside, was warm and inviting. The walls held yellow tapestries, and the room was decorated with furniture in the same wood as the beautiful ornate fireplace in the corner.
A woman in her mid-thirties with carefully styled caramel hair falling past her shoulders stood by the desk and looked into a leather-bound ledger, but looked up when we entered.
"Ah, Welcome! How can I help you?" she said with a smile and put the ledger down on the desk.
Dad walked forward and held out his hand to shake the woman's. "I am Charles Swan, and this is my daughter Isabella," he introduced me, and I shook the woman's hand as well. Something glimmered in her green eyes when our gazes met, but it was gone a second later, so I was sure I'd imagined it.
"Of course! It's lovely to have you both here." She waved us forward and ran her fingers down the names in the ledger book. "Yes, here you are," she said and pointed at my name. "I just need your signature so that we know you have arrived." She handed me a pen, and I did as she told me to, but I had a strange feeling as I did so. Almost as if I was entering into a contract with the devil.
"Perfect," she said once my signature was in her book. "Now I can introduce myself." She smiled again, and while it was a warm and kind smile, something told me it wasn't genuine. "I am Mrs. Esme Cullen, Headmistress, and co-founder of the Academy, and I welcome you to my school. Let me show you around."
I walked slightly behind Mrs. Cullen and Dad as she gave us a tour. I wasn't too interested in the grounds, but I did catch her telling Dad that the area belonging to the school stretched over a thousand acres and included gardens, stables, and large pens for the horses to roam in when they were let out of their stalls.
I hoped they weren't going to force me near the horses. Ever since I was a kid, and I'd been bitten by one at a carnival, I'd been afraid of them, and there was not a chance in hell I'd ever ride one.
Mrs. Cullen led us up a couple flights of stairs and stopped outside a white door that she opened with a small golden key which she then handed to me. "This will be your room during your stay with us."
The room was stunning with its gray-blue walls, beige carpet, and white marble fireplace. It definitely fit inside a castle. The double bed with its cream-colored tufted headboard looked to be very comfortable, and the duvet matched the walls.
"The dresser next to the bed is for your personal items. There is a safe hidden in the bottom if you have anything you want to keep extra secure, but I can assure you, there has never been a theft at this school," Mrs. Cullen told us proudly. "The closet is by the window and your own bathroom is just through that door." She pointed at the white door that was opposite the closet farthest into the room. "We always eat together in the dining hall. This summer, there are fifteen girls, including yourself, and you'll all be introduced to each other later this afternoon."
Dad and I stood in the room awkwardly, and Mrs. Cullen excused herself and said that my things would be brought up shortly before closing the door and leaving us alone.
I sat down heavily on the bed, and I had been right about how comfortable it was.
"At least you'll sleep well," Dad said, his thoughts in line with mine.
"Yeah, I guess," I mumbled and nodded.
He pulled one of the padded, wooden armchairs up so that he could sit right in front of me, then he grabbed my hands in his. "Doll, I know this is not how you wanted to spend your summer, and I know you blame me, and you're not wrong in doing so. I'm not going to make excuses because you are aware of what a coward I am when it comes to your mother."
"Dad—" I started, but he held up his hand to stop me.
"No, it's true, Doll. However, despite all of that, I want you to try and make the most of this experience, okay? Even if you don't agree with everything they do here, promise me that you'll try? And maybe even make friends?"
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Friends? You do know what this place is right? It's an institution that transforms a girl from being normal and cool into an aspiring socialite trophy wife, and those girls don't have friends. They have connections and gossip partners."
Dad sighed. "Bella, please?"
I looked down at the carpet and then conceded. "Okay, Dad. I promise."
He smiled at me and then leaned forward to kiss my forehead. "I will call you from the road, and when I'm back home, I will call as often as you want me to."
I stood up with him and wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face into his jacket. "I'm gonna miss you, Dad. So much."
"I'll miss you, too, Doll." He tightened the hug for a moment and then pulled away. He cupped my cheek and stroked it. "Take care of yourself, honey."
I swallowed and nodded silently as I could feel the tears I'd held at bay were on their way to escaping my eyes.
Dad turned and left the room, closing the door after himself, and I was completely alone. I sank down in the chair he'd occupied and finally allowed myself to cry, and once I'd opened the floodgate, it was almost impossible to stop.
When my things were brought up, I hid in the bathroom until whoever brought them had left, and then I was back in the chair, curled up in it, and didn't move again until there was a knock at my door.
"Who is it?" I asked and my voice shook terribly.
"It's Mrs. Cullen. Can you open the door, please?"
I did as she asked, and she took one look at my red and puffy eyes before she sighed. "Oh, dear, why are you crying? Everyone's waiting downstairs for you."
"They are?" I asked and frowned in confusion.
"Of course. I told you that you would all be introduced to each other this afternoon." Mrs. Cullen didn't look pleased with my lack of punctuality, but her eyes were still sympathetic.
"I'm sorry," I apologized. "I just—"
She waved me off. "It doesn't matter. Just make sure to wash your face and change into something nicer and then come downstairs."
I nodded, and Mrs. Cullen left again. I was embarrassed that I had already made a fool of myself by being late, but there was nothing I could do about that now. I went into the bathroom and used cold water to try to make the swelling around my eyes go down.
It was still obvious that I had been crying, but at least, I looked better.
My suitcase was on my bed, and I looked through my clothes for something "nicer" to wear, and I automatically reached for one of my "Renée approved" dresses, but then I thought better of it.
I had promised Becca that I wouldn't go down without a fight and that I would try to remain as much myself as possible while I was here, so why not show that right off the bat?
Digging through my bag, I found a "nice" dress that was more suited for me and changed into it. It wasn't bad, so I didn't feel that they could really complain too much. But black wasn't a color that was approved by debutante's as it was viewed to be much too harsh and brass. The dark purple cardigan I put on over it wasn't approved either because it wasn't so-called "clean" with its printed letters on the front, but I had always loved it and it was one of my favorites. My white converse shoes were the icing on the cake, and I hoped I wouldn't make anyone on the staff choke.
I was pleased with my outfit, and it screamed me, and I wasn't going to hide who I was.
Before I left the room, I sent a text to Becca.
"Time to meet the wolves. Wish me luck!"
A/N:
First impressions of the school? What do you think? And what are your thoughts on Mrs. Cullen?
And Bella and Charlie had a heartfelt moment there, and he admitted that he took the coward's road with Renée. He knows he's not handling things well, but he feels rather helpless right now. However, as I said at the top, he will redeem himself!
You'll have to wait for the next chapter until Monday, so I hope these chapters will get you through the weekend ;-)