Chapter 2

Noah pulled up in front of the school and I tilted my neck back to look up at the imposing building.

“Wow. It’s huge,” Leo said in awe.

I glanced at him from the side of my eye with a cocked brow. Since when did Leo become a nerd? He used to be the biggest playboy back when we lived in the woods. I lost count of the number of girlfriends he had but I let him run wild because I know that at the end of the day, he will find his way home. With me.

But I have to agree with him, the school really was huge, a 30,000 square-foot construction bordered by natural forest. It was set in private land no doubt owned by a monarch or someone equivalent. The walls of the school were done in shades of grey, white, and black to match the uniform. Kill me now this looks like a prison.

A total of 12 country flags lined the front of what I assume to be the administrative building and I’m going to call bull right now and say that Princeton doesn’t have schools in those 12 countries so why have so many flags? Not that it’s any of my business anyway.

The school’s structure was imposing, looking like a reconverted castle of some sort. The walls were high, the gates huge and black, and the windows for every classroom were high and unbarred. There were movements from upstairs but no one was around downstairs. It’s still early in the morning so I guess that’s why.

Leo was already getting out of the car. I wouldn’t have guessed he was interested in school. Last year Maggie got us a private tutor to help us catch up with what we were missing in school and I did better in my grades than him but look at him, he looks like a kid in a candy store. And then it struck me like a ball in the face. He is excited about the girls he will meet. Why didn’t I think about that? Leo, why do you always have to break my heart this way?

I watched him grab his bag from the backseat and when he held the door for me I almost melted. The one nicest thing he has ever done to me. Now if he would just stop playing with my feelings and be like this to me all the time my life would be so much easier.

“This is awesome,” he laughed as he took his phone from his pocket and took a picture of the school then sent it to a group chat.

“What group chat is that?” I asked peering over his shoulder.

He shrugged. “I created a group chat with some of the other Ptakallis teens.”

I raised a brow. “They’ve forgiven us for abandoning them?”

“Only because Maggie made some donations and employed a few Ptakallis to her new hotel. Asher also offered Trevor and the Westies Alpha a job and some money so I guess,” he shrugged again, “yeah maybe they have forgiven us.”

Money speaks. I guess I never knew that until I became Maggie’s daughter.

It was then I noticed that Noah had come out of the car and was now standing beside it waiting.

“What are you waiting for?” I asked.

“For you kids to go inside.”

I frowned at him. “You don’t have to wait. We are not kids and it’s not like we are going to bolt now.”

“I am staying right here until you both are settled in class.”

“You can’t be serious,” I rolled my eyes.

He glared. “Mrs. Dark Storm’s orders.”

I was about to respond with a hot retort when Leo nudged my shoulder. “Hey look.”

I did and saw a tall woman accompanied by a tall man in a black suit approaching us with huge smiles on their faces and clasping their hands in front of them like characters walking straight out of Nanny McPhee or Mary Poppins.

“Welcome to Princeton High, Ginger, and Leo. Is that short for Leonard or Leopold?”

“Wasn’t that in his student file or something?” I blurted out before I could help myself. Behind me, Noah cleared his throat and I turned to throw him a glare only to catch him already staring a hole into my soul.

The woman who had a name tag with her position under it; Mary Thompson, Head Administrator, smiled at me and her smile looked thin and forced. “Of course, I just wanted to make sure. Here at Princeton, we prefer to use our full names rather than resort to short forms after all we are in the business of producing distinguished ladies and gentlemen.”

The man beside her nodded with an equally thin smile. His name, Thomas Firth, Deputy Administrator.

“You sound like you walked out of a 1992 magical kids movie. As the villain of course,” I said imitating her English accent. “Anyways, I prefer to be called Ginny if you don’t mind.”

“Ginger,” the woman said as if she didn’t just hear what I said. Before I knew it both the woman and the man linked arms with Leo and me and started to walk us down the stone walk to the main entrance.

“Let’s hurry now. Get acquainted with your classmates before assembly begins.”

Assembly? What is this, preschool?

I turned back to call Noah for help as the woman’s hand tightened around my arm and she practically dragged me away but the smug sonofabitch merely twitched his fingers at me in a small wave.

“Have fun, kids,” he said out loud.

I bet he’s happy to have me out of his hair. When I first met Noah I thought he was hot. I mean yes he’s smoking hot but there’s only so much of his attitude that I can handle, besides my hands and eyes are full of thoughts of Leo.

As soon as Mrs. Thompson and Mr. Firth pushed open the front door noise poured out into the hallway. The noises of distinguished ladies and gentlemen of Princeton High.

Mrs. Thompson released us and turned to Leo. “I know you will have a great time here. We are happy to have you around.”

I thought she meant that for the both of us until she turned to me and her smile became even thinner. “Try to make friends. Good friends.” Then her eyes fell on my skirt. So that’s why she hates me? Honestly, I’m surprised she didn’t trip and fall when she first met us outside. She nodded at Mr. Firth who remained silent. “Let’s get ready for assembly.”

They fled and I'm guessing my appearance has something to do with it.

As soon as they were gone Leo turned to me biting his bottom lip with a glint in his eyes. “Hell yeah! This is awesome!”

“I guess,” I shrugged. “It feels like a prison.”

I had just finished talking when a loud bell rang and students began to pour out of every nook and cranny of the hall, all dressed in Princeton uniform neatly washed and ironed until their corners were sharp enough to cut glass. Their feet were almost soundless against the black tiles as they marched along the hall in groups of three and four talking as they headed somewhere. The sun streamed in front of the glass-paneled windows that lined the hall, making them look like soldiers in a post-war movie.

“I guess they are going for the assembly now?”

“Let’s go!” Leo hooked his arm through mine and we joined the crowd and that was when I became conscious of just how different I looked. Not that I hate the way I look mind you but I was the odd one. My black eye shadow, black-tinged lips, and piercings didn’t exactly make me stand out like what the standard Princeton student should look like. I suddenly felt the urge to run out through the doors and escape the school. But if Maggie knows I’m ditching school I don’t think she’ll be too happy especially since she paid tons of money just so we can complete our senior year.

So with no other choice, I held my head high and walked into the large assembly hall. If I thought this school was huge before this assembly hall is proof that I still haven’t grasped how massive it is. The ceilings were high, the windows were equally high and huge. There were two floors in the hall.

Leo and I joined the crowd and were about to look for a seat on the ground floor when someone tapped our shoulders.

“Seniors stay upstairs.”

“Oh.”

We followed the blonde guy and he led us upstairs where the senior classes took their seats on the red plush chairs. The lights came on and all gaze turned in our direction.