Chapter Five

There are times I felt a glimpse of hope, and this was one of those times. I was finally leaving this place. And, maybe it wasn’t permanent because I would be back during the holidays, but it would surely give me some reprieve.
 Without saying my goodbye, I stepped into the bus that would take me to my new world. A glance at Father Antione showed that he was red in the face. Was he expecting me to be all merry towards him? No, that’s never going to happen. If he wanted to save face in the public, he should have done the right thing.

    I looked forward, waiting anxiously for the bus to move. I didn’t want to think about anything. I wanted to have a new life, and I was going to have that.
 A couple of people came into the bus. They would be dropping along the way, so it was nice. A chubby teenager sat beside me, picking his teeth and gassing without a care. I had the undeniably urge to change my seat, but I knew I wasn’t going to be allotted that pleasure, so I slumped into my seat.

    Soon, we were moving. I zoned out of it all, preferring to lose myself in the beauty of the trees, and just move. The winds tussled my hair, as I thought of what awaited me, but I couldn’t pinpoint what. I was simply clueless about what would happen in my future.

    There was no use thinking about it. Time was not on my side, and if it were, I would be its instrument. Nothing has ever happened to me, just by wishing for that to happen. I couldn’t even inform my parents of my leave because of that awful Father Antione. I was more or less on my own now.

    I didn’t know when I drifted off to sleep. I didn’t know when we got to my destination, until the plump man shook me awake. I jumped out of my skin, as my nostrils got assaulted with the farts he’d unleashed once more.

    I grabbed my belongings and ran toward the front row. The driver was glaring at me for delaying him so much. I muttered my apologies, and was about to step down, when he called me back.

    “The Father told me to inform you that you should take the changes in your life with an open mind, and obey the teachers and superiors. Don’t project your dreams on anyone if you want your stay to be seamless at this high-school.” He informed me. He waited a bit for what I was going to say, but I didn’t say anything. He sighed loudly. “You may go girl. Don’t cause any more troubles,” he said softly.

    “Thank you,” I gulped, dragging myself and my luggage out of the bus. 

    I stood there long after the bus had gone. There was no sign of life here, just grass, and the gigantic gate that shielded the world from the high school. This will be the start of something I couldn’t put into words, and I had to do it.

    I wheeled myself into the school easily, thanks to the unlocked gate. Dusk was fast approaching, making everything have a haunted feel to it. I really need to lie down, because this place was starting to creep me out.

    I didn’t know where to go, and the whole place was deserted, with four buildings standing in the vast compound out front. I couldn’t see anything else. 

    There was a small cubicle out front, looking harmless. I could get help there. I dragged my luggage towards the said cubicle, and as I was to walk in, I missed a step, as my toe hit the rock. I found myself half-flying, and half screaming, as I stumbled forward. A pair of strong hands held me tightly, before I could make a fool of myself.

    “I’m so sorry,” I said quietly.

    A soft laugh eschewed, and then I was placed firmly on my feet. I felt like a deer caught in headlights. I hadn’t been expecting my first day to be this awful. I avoided looking at the stranger.

    “Are you ok?” A deep male voice sounded.

    It captivated me, and I found myself looking up at him. “I think I am,” I managed, as I looked at the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. 

    Yes, I used beautiful, and I’m well aware of this fact. I had never seen someone as fine as a woman and created a male. It was almost painful, because why could someone be so beautiful?

    His blue eyes were the most stricken features on him, and the slightly tipped lazy smile he was adorning was equally enchanting.

    “That’s good. The whole place is quiet at this time, and I think it would be best if you went directly to your room,” he advised easily.

    I looked back at my luggage. “I understand all that, but I haven’t filled in the necessary things, and I need to. I don’t even know my room number,” I said tersely.

    He nodded. “That’s not a problem. I will get it all sorted. Come with me,” he ordered sternly.

    I hesitated slightly, my hands finding its way to my luggage. He turned towards me, with his brows raised. “Relax, I’m not going to harm you.” He said amused.

    The breath I didn’t know I had been holding, flushed out of me. I followed him into the little cubicle. There was a dull light illuminating the place, and I couldn’t see a soul. Where were they all?

    “Umm… where is everyone?” I asked as politely as I could.

    A slight smile. “I honestly don’t have any idea. I believe that they are in their various rooms though, which you ought to be in. Didn’t anyone tell you no-one comes to this school at this time of the night?” He queried.

    My heart pumped wildly, as he went beneath a desk, bringing out a folder and then using his long fingers to brush through its pages. The movement made heat soar up my neck.