I trudged into the immense ornate Assembly hall. It looked more like the reception of a five star hotel, than a boarding school assembly hall. But having lived the life I'd lived, I failed to be in anyway impressed by the granduer.
That was more than could be said for some of the other, royal blue and jet black, clad girls walking alongside me.
"wow!.. this place is amazing!.. I can't beleivemom and dadactually let us come here!.." I smiled wryly as I overheard the curly blond gushing to the identical girl standing next to her. They really were mirror images of each other.. right down to the identical diamond studds embedded in their incredibly small ears.
I wish I had your enthusiasm.. I mused to myself as I thought back to my reaction after finding out from my dad - well, my dad's PA - that I was being shipped off to boarding school.

2 days ago
"My mom just died!.. I don't need to 'interact with other kids my age'!" I bit out scathingly.. "I need my father!" I added slightly desperately.
I felt the familiar stinging behind my eyes, and I sqeezed my eyes shut, trying to vent the flow of the tears welling up in my eyes.
"I know sweetie, but you dad.. well he's mouning too, and I guess he feels that at this point, he can't really be there for you properly the way you deserve." Marie intoned calmly.
I scoffed contemptuosly, "more like, he's far too busy to be bothered with a whiny little brat like me.. well fine!.. I'LL GO.!.. If he doesn't want me here!.. I don't want to be here.. I hate him." I spat venomously.

Despite my furious exterior, Marie knew me far too well to be fooled, she spread her plump arms out and enfolded me in a deeply comforting hug. I rested my head on her head and sobbed my heart out. She stroked my hair fondly and began singing my favourite lullaby. It was in french - her native tongue - but, I loved it regardless.
"Marie.. he can't do this!.. he can't make me leave you.. i need you..." My voice broke and I continued to weep into her cotton summer dress.
"I know darling.. I'll miss you too.. I love you baby.."

As I packed my bags and prepared to leave. It occured to me, that this felt more like losing my mother than that moment in the hospital when my mother had peacefully shut her eyes, and the heart monitor had let out a shrill single beep. Marie had been far more of a mom to me than the woman who'd given birth to me.
Marie had been there on my first day of school.. She's cradled me and sung to me softly when I had nightmares about the hauting bogeyman. It was she who'd sat me down and explained slowly, that Melanie Turwood had been telling lies when she told me that If I started bleeding out of my Vagina, it meant that I was going to die a horrible death because all my internal organs would flow out too.

The funeral had been incredibly tough, but not for the orthodox reasons. Instead of weeping and wailing as was customary. I couldn't bring myself to shed a single tear over a woman who'd only been my mother biologically and in name. Apart from her elbow lenght golden hair and extrememly petite figure, she'd given me nothing else.
My father on the other hand, seemed to have decided the day I was born, that since a man of his importance could not be saddled with a child, he'd simply substitute his time, his love, his attention.. with money and endless pink frilly things. Hence my loathing for all things pink and frilly. Ironically, I still dress slightly girly, just.. not with pink!.

Present day
I turned around to the blond twins as I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Hi!.. I Annabelle Derron.. this is my sister, Miranda... I just wanted to say hi, seeing as It's highlt likely we're going to end up in the same dorm."
"I'm Chloe Buttersfield." I replied pleasantly, extending my hand, which she grasped in a surprisingly firm grip.
The whole time she spoke, I watched her intently. Over the years I'd formed a habit of reading people from their movements, facial expressions and eyes as they spoke.
Despite her barbie doll appearance, she seemed to radiate an air of intelligence and authority. He sister on the other hand, mantained a rather vapid expression throughout the entire exchange.

I turned my attention back to Annabelle.. a slight giggle escaped me before I was even aware of it. She looked at me puzzled.
"what is it?" she asked, slightly self-conscious. [there was another tick in her favour. she didn't throw me a dirty look.]
"I'm sorry.. just that you gesticulate a lot when you talk.. it reminded me of someone else I know." She nodded in understanding, her might forming an 'oh' sound before regressiing bck to her dazzling smile.
"If you don't mind me asking.. who?."
I fell silent for a moment, recalling those dark wavy curls, contrastiing with bright, piercing blue eyes. and that smile, that 100 watt beaming smile of his.
I blushed slightly, "I really don't mean to be rude, but I'd rather not talk about it." I grinned apologetiacally. Sighing with releif when she shrugged andbroke into an understanding grin.

"Chloe Buttersfield, Annabelle Derron, Miranda Derron, Charlotte Frenstine. Amethyst house." We all shuffled forward as the strict looking woman dressed in black and cream barked out our names.
We attempted to manouver both ourselves and our luggages with as little hassle as possible, and traverse up the marble stairs to the dorm she was pointing to.
"Cythia Jones, Melodie Smythe and Gabriella Rossi.. Ruby house." I turned back in horror as I heard the sickeningly familiar name. I saw the long brunnete hair swish as Gabriella turned and started up the stairs on the opposite side of the vast circular hall.
I turned back and continued up to my new home. Looks like boarding school just became an even hotter hell...