Lanchester Prep

Books. I love getting lost in a good book. They're an escape from the harsh realities of the outside world. Lanchester prep was supposed to be good for me but even though I have friends I've never felt more alone.

My favourite thing about Lanchester prep are the libraries. If I could, I would live between these floor to ceiling book shelves.

When my father told me and mason, my younger brother, we were moving I thought my world was ending.

Private school was one thing but boarding school... that was a whole other story.

I was 16 and I was finally making friends. Real friends and being told the news made me feel like the ground was being ripped out from under me. But now that I'm here, I don't think it's as bad as I thought it would be.

Yes, there are some real assholes in this school but it's not like I'm going to be here for much longer and as soon as I graduate, I'm leaving and never looking back.

"Annabelle" I hear Emilia say "you ok? You're doing that thing again" she says as she drops down into the chair across from me.

"Yeah, I'm fine Em. Just thinking" I reply.

"About what?" Em asks "lover boy?"

"How many times do I have to tell you?" I ask "I don't like Theo. I'm just tutoring him and stop calling him lover boy"

"Yes but" she says dragging the word out "what do you usually tell me about those romance books you're always reading. Hmm?"

"They're fake this..." I say "this is reality and I've already told you I'm not into Theo"

She sighs and leans back into her chair. "You coming to that party later?" She asks.

Parties have never been my scene but ever since I've been roommates with Emilia I find myself sitting in a corner with a red plastic cup in my hands every week.

"Yes" i sigh "where is it" I ask.

"It's in C block, Levi and his friends are hosting it"

"No, I'm not going" I say grabbing my bag and shoving my book in. I stand, quickly pushing my chair under the table and making a beeline toward the door.

Levi Lanchester. He's hated me since the day I stepped foot in Lanchester prep and I don't know why. I've only spoke to him once for god sake and it's not like it was a full conversation. I said 'hi' and he looked at me like a had two heads.

"Come on Anna-" Emilia is cut off by the librarian, Eleanor.

"Shhh" she says harshly causing me to laugh.

"Bye Eleanor" I say.

"Goodbye, dear" she says with a smile.

The door closes behind me but Emilia is hot on my heels and her arm loops around mine until we're walking at the same pace.

"I'm not going to that party" I say.

"Come on An, it'll be fun" she says enthusiastically "I bet we won't even see the boys"

"Oh I bet we will" I mutter as we turn the corner making our way to A block, where our dorm is "I don't want to see them Em, they'll just be assholes like last time and I'm sick of it. I don't understand why they hate me so much"

"They don't hate you... they just don't like you very much" she says "but that's not the point." She waves her hand in the air "There are going to be so many people there we could avoid them.

"Plus, they always have the good alcohol and their parties ever get shut down by dicks" by dicks she means Mr. Richards, our head of year.

Parties may not be my favourite thing but I can tell Emilia really wants to go and I would never leave her to go somewhere by herself. "Fine" I say "I'll go to their stupid party"

"Yay" she squeals, grabbing my hands and jumping up and down "it's going to be so much fun"

Releasing my hands she skips towards the door that leads to A block and holds it open "after you, your highness" she giggles.

"What am I going to wear?" I ask as I make my way towards our room.

"I've got a dress that you can wear. It's black and it's got long sleeves" She says.

"But how short is it?" I ask raising an eyebrow at her.

"Oh come on, I know your ass will look great in it"

======================

"Why does it have to be so cold tonight?" Emilia asks rubbing her arms trying to create some heat.

"It's winter Emilia of course it's cold" I say.

"How do you look warm right now, I feel like a fucking ice block" she asks.

"I don't know, i don't even think it's that cold tonight" I say "but if you're feeling that cold maybe we should go back to the dorm and watch criminal minds while we're wrapped in our warm blankets"

"Oh shut it" she says linking her arm around mine "we're going to this party"

I sigh "it's not to late to turn back" I say as the door to C block comes into view.

C block is significantly bigger than A block, where me and Emilia dorm. C block is home to the snobs who think they're better than everyone else because they use daddy's money so they don't have share a room.

"Hey, Emilia, Annabelle" I hear a deep voice say from behind us. We both turn to see Milo Parker jogging towards us.

"Hey Milo" I say, I keep my face neutral with a polite smile but on the inside and cackling. Emilia has been in love with Milo since before I even came to Lanchester prep.

"Wasn't expecting to see you going to the party Annabelle" he says with a snap chuckle.

"Yeah well I didn't really have a choice" I laugh as I motion towards Emilia, who blushes. She's always so quiet around him, which I find crazy by the way. I can never get her to shut up but one look from this boy and she can't speak. It's so cute.

"Come on" he says "it's freezing out here, I don't understand how girls can wear clothes like that when it's this cold"

"Oh don't be a baby" I laugh "it's not even that cold"

As well get closer to the door Milo pushes post us and holds the door open for us.

"Thanks" I say.

And from behind me I hear Emilia mutter "thank you" in the quietest voice I've ever heard.

"No problem" he says.

We follow the music, that's blasting out of speakers, until we reach the common room.

"See you guys later" Milo says and then he's gone. The crowd of people swallowing him whole.

"I think that's the quietest you've ever been" I say over the music.

"Oh shut up" Emilia shoves my arm but she's smiling like an idiot. "You want a drink?" She asks.

"Yeah, I'll come with you" she grabs my hand and pulls me to a large wooden table filled with alcohol in the corner of the common room. "I can't believe you got me to come to this party" I say over the music.

"Oh come on it's going to be fun" she says "and I don't want you standing in the corner the whole time, we're going to have fun, play truth or dare. Ooo or even spin the bottle."

"You know I'd never play either of those games right?" I say.

"Yeah, well... it was worth a try" she laughs and hands me a cup. I take a sip and cringe, the alcohol burns as it goes down my throat.

I lean back against the table as I wait for Emilia to get her drinks and my eye catches someone else's. Levi Lanchester.

He's leaning against the wall across from us, beer bottle in hand. I can see two of his friends next to him. Ares Lewis and Percy Alexander.

Ares has a pretty blond wrapped around his arm, his very muscular tattooed arm and Percy is staring at the swarm of bodies dancing in the centre of the common room.

Levi's eyes drag down my body and back up before he takes a long drink from his beer bottle holding eye contact. It's a game, it's always a game. He wants me to back down first but I'm not a loser and I don't give up a challenge.

I keep my eyes on his as I sit myself on the table and cross one leg over the other. The movement causes his eyes to flick down to my legs.

"Come on" Emilia says walking away from the table.

I jump down from the table well aware that the dress has rode further up my thighs and walk next to Emilia. I can still feel his eyes on me.

"Levi's staring at me again" I mutter.

"So..." she says "I've got a question"

"And what is that question Em?"

"Do you want to go stand in a corner or... do you want to give him something to look at?"