The drive to the school was very awkward as Daniil chose not to say anything. Clove told herself repeatedly that she would not be the first one to talk to the other, it just wasn't her style. She then let her mind drift off back to the one boy she couldn't get off her mind, Kyle. He was perfect in her eyes, it didn't matter that her friends warned her relentlessly that he was a player and only used girls for that one thing. She didn't care he was perfect in her eyes, he was basketball captain; hottest guy in school and the week before she had left he had shown an inkling of interest in her but it was al ruined when her mother sent her all the way to the middle of Russia where she did not know the language or the people.
"How you liking my country?" Daniil asked.
"It's…snowy." she replied, Clove had never seen this much snow in her life, California hardly snowed during the winter seasons and right now she couldn't believe when she was younger she actually wished for snow, but now when miles of it is stretched out in front of her, she was sick of it.
"Why, you never see snow before?" he inquired, if there was anything Daniil couldn't do it would be to shut up, once he started talking he could barely stop.
"Yeah, I have. Me and my mom go to Wyoming every Christmas to spend it with my grandma," Daniil just nodded, he could not understand a word Clove was saying as she spoke so fast for him. "Are we there yet?" she asked.
"Yes, just around the corner you will see Achinsk Mixed Boarding School, there are 2 dormitory buildings: one for the boys and the girls. There is also 10 department buildings - you speak Russian?"
"No."
"Well you shall learn, Russian is a good language, you know," It was then Clove's turn to nod, her mother told her it was an international school and everyone spoke English - she had no intention to learn Russian. "Look! We're here!"
Clove turned her head to look out the window and she saw the most beautiful building, it was hidden by trees (which explained why she couldn't see it before) and was like a large alcove full of learning and children. The snow falling onto the ground made it look like a winter wonderland and for the first time since she got off the plane she actually felt happy about her situation. Yeah, she might b in the middle of Russia, so what! Yeah, she may never see Kyle again, who cares? And most of all she was sure she was the only American girl there so it wouldn't be long before cute Russian boys were putty in her hands.
As soon as Daniil parked the car Clove wasted no time before exploring and leaving her bags for Daniil to carry. Holding bags weren't her thing.
"Miss Vanderbilt, wait! You must go straight to the principal's office!"
"Mr Kripkii, can't I do that another time? I am exhausted!" she was lying of course she just wanted to find her way to the boys' dormitory.
"No, no, Principal wants you now!" she sighed, she was never willing when it came to taking orders, especially from a male figure, she stopped caring about what a man thought of her a long time ago.
"Okay, Mr Kripkii," she sighed. "Lead the way."
It was also an awkward trek to the principals office, too! He didn't know what to say to her as he thought she was a shy American unlike the ones he was reluctant to let his son watch on TV, hopefully coming to a Russian boarding school would help her confidence, he thought.
Clove thoroughly concentrated on the snow beneath her sneakers - as you can probably guess she wasn't prepared for this weather, when her mother had told her that she was being packed off to a boarding school she at least expected it to be somewhere in the States; maybe New York.- and trying to act like she was on her own and not with a man, who she seemed to think was disagreeable, and try to "enjoy" the weather.
"Here we are, Madam Abelev's office. First door on the right at the end of the corridor." he said with a grin, happy to get rid of the girl, he had never met a girl to be so quiet; or maybe it was just around him?
"Well, thank you, Mr Kripkii. I hope to see you again." she replied.
"Well, I don't," he muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" she asked confused.
"Oh, nothing!" he said, putting on a fake smile and walked off.
Clove swallowed down the bile that was rising up her throat, she didn't no why she was frightened. Maybe because the last time she had been in a principal's office she was being expelled for smoking ecstasy and drinking vodka on the school campus. Even though Clove was innocent it seemed like everybody in her school had put a statement saying that they had seen her smoking and drinking, but Clove liked neither of those activities because she didn't understand why you have to get drunk or smoke some kind of a drug to have a good time - for Clove it was all a mystery.
"Here goes!" she said, as she willed herself to move down the empty corridor.