After several hours a few bathrooms, and food stops, they were finally there. Zari looked out the window, eagerly looking at the beautiful campus. The buildings were all wood and stone strategically placed around the mountainous terrain. She gulped, staring wide-eyed at the welcome banner before her.
"Miss, You may get out now," The driver interrupted, pulling up to the curb. Zari grabbed her bag and gripped onto the phone, tightly stepping out of the car. She was well aware that all eyes were on her. She slowly walked forward to the desk setting her backpack down on the floor and holding her hands in front of her shyly.
"Welcome to Springfield Mountain Academy, Zari! We are so pleased you will be attending this semester and hopefully year." A middle-aged woman with dark brown hair done up in a neat bun exclaimed happily. She was wearing a red blouse and grey dress pants, sticking her hand out towards Zari. The scared girl shook her hand and nodded. "I'm happy to be here" The lady smiled and handed her a red folder full of papers. "That has all the information you will need while you are here with us; Piper will show you to your room" She smiled again and signaled over an older girl who was wearing a hoodie and jeans like herself.
"Hey! I'm Piper, and I will be your big Sister here at school, so if you ever have any questions ask away" She had light red/orange hair that was shoulder length and curly. "hi," Zari replied, shyly shaking her hand as well. "Follow me; we are going to go to the freshman girls dorm, one of my favorite dorms on campus. I am also staying there as a senior" Zari nodded and followed piper along a rock pathway towards a medium-sized building with a sign out front labeled Piller. Piper quickly typed a 5 digit code into the keypad and opened the door holding it for Zari and her bodyguard Brian. She was thankful that Piper had not asked any questions about him, she didn't want to explain. She was in room number 17 on the lower floor. She walked in and placed her backpack next to the desk, someone had already made up her bed and some other people were bringing in the rest of her things. She walked to the end of the room where there was a window looking out to the woods. She smiled imagining how much Astrid would have loved it here.
"I, unfortunately, have to go, I have a meeting I have to attend. It was great meeting you Zari! Here is my phone number in case you need anything" She smiled warmly and handed her a piece of paper.
"Oh and one more thing, you have this in your packet but just in case. Dinner is at 6:30 in the building directly across from this one." With that, she shut my door and left me alone in my room, well as alone as you can be with the bodyguard right outside listening. She glanced down at her watch, realizing it was only five, and she had a whole hour and a half before dinner. She plopped down on her bed, running her fingers through her wavy red hair. She couldn't think of anything to do, so she pulled out her phone and opened Netflix, scrolling through the options before deciding on Legends of Tomorrow; she didn't care if it was a children's show. She loved it, and so did her sister. After watching a few episodes, it was time to go to dinner. She would normally change, but she didn't want any unwanted attention and hoped to blend in. She left her phone in the room and stepped outside, scowling at Brian, who was sitting on the floor of the hallway.
"Um, Brian?" he looked up at her and stood up quickly.
"Yes, Ma'am?" She looked down at her feet.
"I'm going to go to dinner now. Can you please stay as far away from me as you can? I don't want to scare people, and I also hope to make some friends" He nodded.
"Although if something goes wrong, you know I must intervene," this time I nodded and started walking to the dorm exit. Some other girls were filing down the stairs, talking and laughing, sneaking a few glances back at me. I tried to push the anxiety down as I continue towards the door. As she approached she noticed one of the girls had stayed back and was leaning against the door frame blocking my exit. She was wearing a black beanie, jeans jacket, baggy black skater pants, and classic black vans like mine. I slowly looked up to meet her harsh gaze. Her dark brown eyes peered into my soul, looking for my secrets buried deep within. Trying to break the silence I cleared my through awkwardly.
"Hi, I'm Zari," I said trying to sound cheery and nice even though I was slightly intimidated by this girl.
"I know who you are Zari," The girl said coldly before continuing "I know who your family is, I know what happened all those years ago" Zari tried to think of what happened with her family years ago, she was not surprised that someone knew her family she was used to that however thee idea of someone knowing something about her family that made them hate her was a bit unnerving.
"I really have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm trying to get to dinner on time so if you won't mind moving that would be great," She said calmly stepping forward. Still, the girl did not move nor did she speak.
"Excuse me. Move out of the way!" Zari exclaimed forcefully taking yet another step forward so now the two were nearly inches apart. She could feel the other girl's breath on her face.
"As you wish Z" she mockingly said stepping out of the way maintaining eye contact the entire time. Zari gulped and stepped pasted her walking towards what she assumed was the dining hall. Something about that girl made her heart race, even thinking about her caused a slight blush to her cheeks. What made her feel this way she didn't know, maybe it was because of how downright rude and mean the girl was, but something told her that's not who she really was or at least not who she wanted to be.
She followed a few students a few yards away from her into the dining hall. She shoved her hands in her pockets and kept her head down while she waited in line, only looking up when it was her turn to get food. She got some mashed potatoes and peas along with some chicken strips and headed towards an empty table. She placed her tray down and began to eat her food slowly. She was not ready for classes tomorrow. That meant she had to see and talk to people.
"Hey, can I sit here?" A friendly voice asked from behind her. Spinning her head around, she saw a young African American girl who looked like a freshman. She was wearing black leggings and plain black sneakers with a white knitted sweater.
"Sure!" Zari replied happily as she watched the girl take the seat across from her.
"I'm Angie, and that's Emma," She stated, gesturing to the girl sitting down next to her. I was so focused on her; I had failed to notice her friend.
"Hi, I'm Zari," She said, taking another bite of her diner.
"Ah yes, My mom told me about you. She was friends with your Uncle a while back," The brown-haired, blue-eyed girl said gently.
"that's cool! How did your mom know who I was?" Zari asked curiously.
"She works here, admissions," Emma explained, taking a bite of her food.
"Angie and I met this morning; I showed her around."
"cool," Zari replied, looking down at her hands.
"I have a question, though. Who's she?" Zari pointed towards the girl from earlier sitting across the dining hall with a few people she had never seen before.
"Um, I believe that's Sophie; she's from Cali. Why?" Angie answered, looking back at Zari
"Oh no reason, she was just a bit rude earlier, that's all."
"Ya, what with her anyway?" Emma asked glancing over at Sophie
"Well, I don't know much but from what I have heard she is openly gay and hates the du Pont family although no one knows why" Angie explained quietly so no one around could hear.
"well, that explains why she was so mean to me. I mean when will she realize I also don't like my family and am not what everyone says I am?" She sighed.
"What is true about you then, I have heard all the rumors and stuff," Emma replied looking into my eyes caringly.
"Well for one, I don't want to go into business as all the newspapers say. I want to be an Actress or Doctor. I also am not dating a prince named Luke from Belgium or whatever that is a lie and um what else, oh yes, my sister and mom did die in a plane crash that is not fake news, they are not hiding somewhere. We found their body" She let that sink in watching her new friend's jaws drop.
"Wow, good to know, and um I know you probably get this a lot but I am sorry about your sister and mom. That must be hard" Angie reached across the table and gave Zari's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Hey, do you guys want to head back to the dorm?" Emma asked standing up with her tray. Both girls nodded and followed her out of the dining hall and into the corridor. Brian was still following her but he was keeping his word and staying away.
"Hey you guys go ahead I need a moment," Zari said stepping into the girl's bathroom. She put her hands on the side of the sink and took a deep breath looking into the mirror and observing her tired face. She turned to walk back out a few moments later putting her hand on the door handle only for it to be opened before her causing her to fall to the ground a large weight upon her chest. She took a deep breath in after having the wind knocked out of her opening her eyes to see Sophie hovering above her. She gulped in her heart suddenly racing as she looked into Sophie's eyes. They stayed silent for what seemed like an eternity before Sophie got up holding her hand out to Zari with a slight scowl on her face.
"Take my hand" Sophie insisted leaning her hand down slightly.
"I promise I don't bite" Zari hesitantly took her hand and allowed herself to be pulled up.
"are you ok?" Sophie looked her up and down trying to figure out if she was hurt.
"I thought you hate me?" Zari said ignoring Sophie's question.
"I don't hate you, I hate your family. Their's a difference" Sophie replied
"now are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine" Zari answered looking back up to meet Sophie's stare. Sophie nodded and was about to leave when Zari called out.
"Why do you hate my family? I mean I know they suck trust me but, why do you hate them so much?" Sophie sighed and bit her lip causing a flutter in Zaris's stomach but again she pushed the feeling down.
"They did something to my family. I can't forgive them for it. Look, I get that your not like them or whatever but my family would never approve of me being friends with a du Pont, they are already skeptical that I go to school with one."
"I get it, I won't want to hang with a du Pont either. They are all homophobic and racist, two things I am not. I am sorry for whatever they did to your family and I wish I could help but, I can't even be myself around them because they would never accept me for who I am"
"and what would that be?" Sophie whispered stepping closer to Zari a grin appearing on her face. It was as if she knew Zaris's secret from the beginning.
"You can tell me you know. I don't like to make a habit of outing people" This caught Zari off guard.
"I uh- What?" She tried to play dumb but they both knew the truth.
"Just say it please, I can't be sure unless you confirm"
"I, yes you are right. I'm- I'm Queer" a huge smile appeared on Sophie's face.
"There ya go, I knew you could do it!" She exclaimed happily leaning forward and embarrassing Zari in a strong yet compassionate hug. Zari froze at first but soon melted into the hug smiling into Sophie's shoulder. When they broke apart Sophies face suddenly turned serious.
"I'm sorry" Was all she said before running out of the bathroom. Zari stood there confused for a few minutes before deciding to head back to the dorm as well. What was wrong with that girl?