Emmy had huffed the entire drive to Coates Academy. She was furious at her parents and she felt like they were abandoning her.
"How about we take a little detour in to Perdido Beach for ice cream?" Mrs Soren suggested, looking at Emmy. Emmy ignored her.
"How come we never stop for ice cream when you only drop me off?" Caine asked.
"We stopped the first time, remember?" His dad reminded him.
"Do you want ice cream Caine?" Mrs Soren asked.
"Nah, I want to get to the school before Drake does."
"Why?" his Mum asked.
"One of the wardrobes in our room doesn't close properly because the door is broken, so whoever gets there first and puts their stuff in the other wardrobe gets it."
"They might have replaced it over summer." Mrs Soren said.
"I doubt it," Caine said.
"How did the wardrobe door break?" Mr Soren sounded confused.
Caine hesitated before he shrugged, "I don't know."
They didn't stop for ice cream, instead sticking to the highway until they met the turn-off for Coates Academy. The road up to the school was winding and at an incline. When they came to the gates Emmy couldn't help but feel both afraid and impressed. The gates were made from iron and they had the Latin motto of Coates. Emmy's old school didn't have a motto, let alone one in Latin.
"Welcome to Hell," Caine whispered with a smirk.
"They must be so glad to have the Devil back then," Emmy retorted.
"Shut up, or I will hurt you," Caine warned.
"What are you going to do? Attack me with your cloven hooves?"
"Good idea." Caine stamped down hard onto Emmy's foot.
"Ow!" Emmy cried, "Mum, Caine stamped on my foot, on purpose!"
"Only because she said that I was the Devil!"
Mrs Soren sighed, "Emmy, don't call people names. Caine, don't stamp on people. Now apologise to each other."
Emmy and Caine looked at each other. Their Mum always made them do this. "Sorry," they both reluctantly mumbled.
Finally they reached the school building, where many other pupils were saying goodbye to their parents. Most, like Emmy, weren't going to see them again until the break for Thanksgiving. The car stopped and they all got out. Mr Soren unpacked the boot and piled its contents at his children's feet.
"Okay you two," Mrs Soren addressed Emmy and Caine. There were tears in her eyes. Caine had warned Emmy that Mum usually got emotional at this point and for that reason normally just their Dad drove Caine to Coates. "We both love you two so much. So be good, and stay out of trouble. If you ever want to talk to us, we are only ever a phone call away. Look out for each other and remember to work hard." Mrs Soren embraced Emmy in a big hug and kissed her on a cheek. Emmy let her; she didn't have to receive any more of her Mum's annoying affection for a long time.
Mrs Soren turned to Caine to hug him. He didn't really hug her back. And when she moved to kiss him, he pulled away. "No way," he protested.
Mr Soren moved to hug Emmy, "I love you Princess."
He only gave Caine a handshake, as they never hugged each other. "Remember our deal," Mr Soren said quietly, trying to make sure that he wasn't heard.
Caine nodded, "I will." Caine and Emmy stood and waved as their parents got in the car and drove away. When they were far enough away they stopped waving.
"What's the deal?" Emmy asked.
"I have to make sure that you come home in good enough shape," Caine said. "If I do then Dad's getting me a car, anyone I want."
"Define 'good enough shape'."
"No visible scars and not pregnant."
"I think I can manage that myself," Emmy's voice revealed her resentment.
"Good, that means I get a car," Caine smiled. "Now beat it."
Emmy stood her ground, "Mum said you have to show me where to register."
Caine pointed towards the main door, "Go up to the front desk, say your name and grade, then follow the map to your room and annoy your unlucky roommate. And that is all the advice that I'm giving you." Emmy rolled her eyes.
"Hey Caine!"
Caine turned around to the source of the call. "Hey Andrew, how was your summer?" Emmy looked at the boy who Caine was talking to. The group that Andrew had been with walked over to Caine. Most of them were big and brutish, clearly bullies.
"Not too bad," Andrew answered. "How about-" Andrew paused when he noticed Emmy and a smile crossed his face. "I know you're good with the ladies, but this is fast even for you."
"Hey babe!" One of the bullies called out at her. Emmy stared at him with disgust and was pleased as he withered.
She looked at Caine, whose face had momentarily turned to anger but was quickly composed. "Don't call my sister babe," he said slowly. The bullies all took a step back from Emmy, as if she was bomb that might explode.
"What's her name?" Andrew asked, not daring to speak to Emmy directly.
"Why does it matter?" Caine asked.
"I'm Emmy," Emmy answered.
Caine looked at her with a frown, "What are you doing?"
"Introducing myself to your friends, obviously."
"Who said you could?" Caine challenged her.
Emmy looked as if she was thinking hard, "Umm… let me think. Oh, yeah. Me."
"Just go and register," Caine pointed towards the door again.
"In a minute, so what are all your names?" she asked the group.
They looked at her, afraid. Then, almost in unison, they all looked away as another boy approached, and they noticeably had the same fear of him as they had of Caine. The boy at first sight did not seem like a bully. He was tall and lean with sandy hair that covered his eyes. But the way that he looked at everyone, and the way they looked at him told Emmy that he was probably one of the worst bullies. He immediately saw Emmy and his cold grey eyes met hers.
"Hey Soren," the boy said. He pointed his thumb at Emmy "Who's this?"
"She's my sister, Emmy," Caine answered. "I guess your stuff is already in the working wardrobe?"
The boy had a mean smile, "Yeah, bad news for you."
"No, I had an idea." Caine looked at the boy who had called Emmy babe. "Benno, your room is opposite ours, isn't it?" Benno nodded. "Move one of your wardrobes into my room and take the empty wardrobe into your room. The rest of you help him." They instantly did as they were told, leaving Emmy, Caine and the other boy.
"I take it you're Drake, Caine's roommate," Emmy said.
"Good observational skills," Caine said sarcastically.
"How do you know that? Do you talk about me to your sister, Caine?" Drake asked.
"Not really," Caine said.
"So do you have to be a protective big brother now?" Drake sounded amused.
"I don't need protecting," Emmy said, trying to be brave.
Drake narrowed his eyes at her, "I don't like little girls like you."
Emmy smirked, "Do you prefer little boys then?" Drake snarled at her.
"Emmy, go away," Caine ordered.
"I would, but I can't carry all my bags by myself."
Caine groaned, "Fine." He picked up some of Emmy's bags and said, "See you Drake."
"Ugh," Drake grunted, "Look who's coming."
Emmy noticed a smile cross Caine's face. She searched to see what he was looking at. All she could see was a dark haired girl make her way towards them.
"Hey Diana, how was your summer?" Caine beamed at her.
She did not reciprocate it, "Horrible, but I did have to spend it with my family."
"Yeah," Caine agreed, "family sucks."
"Love you two big bro," Emmy said sardonically.
Diana looked at Emmy and smirked, "Oh, is this your sister?" Diana held out her hand for Emmy to shake it.
Emmy accepted it, "I'm Emmy."
"Diana," she replied, holding Emmy's hand longer than a person usually would. Eventually Diana let go.
"Go on ahead," Caine told Emmy, "I'll catch up."
"Bye," Emmy said, smiling at Diana but not at Drake. She walked away towards the front desk, not noticing Caine wasn't following.
Caine turned to Diana, "Well," he asked with urgency.
"Don't worry: zero bars," Diana reassured him.
Caine breathed a sigh of relief, "That's one less thing to worry about." He jogged to catch up with Emmy.