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Gianna Hill

God I hated summer days. Not only is it way too hot but people are way too happy. It's that time of the year when people find any reason to go outside. Every place is crowded and noisy with little kids running everywhere. But the heat is the cherry on top. I hated it. I preferred summer nights. It's cooler and most of all…peaceful. While everyone else is burnt out I’m sitting on my balcony enjoying the night sky.

It was a weird summer night. My parents had been home the whole day and insisted on having a family meeting. It couldn't be good because my parents prioritized their work more than their children. So the fact they took even the slightest bit of time off said a lot. They were hard workers and it showed. From the fancy cars in the driveway to the house, it definitely showed.

Sloane and Robert Hill the perfect couple with the perfect family. They owned the biggest private equity firm in the country. Their lives must be flawless. Right? No. It's so tiring having to put on the act of being perfect. That's why I stopped long ago and haven't looked back since. I wish I could say the same for my brother Jonah. He strives for perfection, he’s everything I'm not.

My parents were smart for having two kids. They had a backup just in case one of us turned out to be a fuck up. And Jonah was far from being the mess up. He was a straight-A student who never missed a day of school.

Our parents knew he’d run the company someday so they were much easier on him. Whereas they treated me like the scum of the earth. A disappointment.

Okay, I'm overreacting. But anyone could see that Jonah was the favorite. He was their golden boy and yes I envied it. I was younger than him so you’d expect me to get showered with love and affection. However, I got the opposite, I got the saddened glares or the “be more like Jonah” talks. It hurt not being able to live up to their expectations.

That hurt soon turned to anger, that anger festered into something I couldn't even describe. My only way to cope was to take it out on myself. I started to become more distant, barely going to school and sleeping all day. It's a surprise that I didn't get left behind. When I did go to school I gave everyone a hard time. I constantly got sent home for fights and skipping classes.

The sudden knock on my bedroom door brought me out of my scrambled thoughts. Quite footsteps made their way out onto my balcony.

I turned to see Jonah. “Mom and Dad want to see you. They’re in the living room.”

I nodded.

“Gigi, is everything okay?.” He asked.

“Not sure.”

As soon as I entered the room, I noticed a sudden silence that filled the air, causing me to feel a little uneasy. The sound of loud whispers, which I could hear from the hallway, quickly ceased. My parents were seated on the couch, but as soon as they saw me, they rose to their feet. Their expressions were serious and steady.

“Gianna.” My father finally spoke. My name was like a bee sting on his tongue.

“Father,” I nodded “Mother.”

“Look. I'm done beating around the bush with you.” He now sounded agitated.

“Oh?” I replied sarcastically.

“We are at our wit's end. So in August, you’ll be attending Leighton Academy.”

Leighton Academy of Sciences and Arts is a school that you’d have to be extremely smart or rich to get into. I know for a fact my dad paid his way to get me a spot. And that he paid even more to get me in at such short notice.

“The boarding school?” I laughed out loud. “On my senior year? Please tell me you’re joking.” I looked at my mom who avoided eye contact.

“We think that this will fix you. It’ll get you right on track. Maybe broaden your horizons.” My mom spoke.

“Fix me? I'm your daughter for goodness sake! I don't need fixing! I'm not going to Leighton… I can’t.” Tears began to form in my eyes. I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare.

“Well, it's too late. Tomorrow is your orientation. You’ll get a tour of the damn place and meet your headmaster. Who I happen to be good friends with.”

Gee… thanks dad.

“Wow… so this is how it is?” I let out a deep sigh, “You guys are just gonna ship me away? And not even think to talk to me about this.”

My mom's face reddened, “I’ll say this one time and one time only. You live under my roof so whatever decisions you may think you have regarding your education, you don’t. Please get it out of your head.” She gave me one last glare before walking out.

“We have a four-hour drive to take in the morning. Get some rest, Gigi.”

“Yea. Sure.” I stomped my way up the steps, I was now having a tantrum at the ripe age of 18. I stopped when I saw Jonah standing at the top of the stairs. He had heard everything, how embarrassing. I tried to walk past him but he blocked my path with his body.

“What do you want? Are you going to scold me like your daddy?” I joked.

“No. I’m here to say goodbye since I won't be able to in the morning.” He looked down like he was thinking of what to say. “Um. I know we haven’t been as close lately, which sucks. But I do love you and I think Leighton isn’t such a bad idea. I know you may not see it but this is the fresh start I know you’ve been craving. I know you’re going to do so well there. I never even went there yet you say I’m the favorite. Well, I don't want to hold you up any longer.” He stepped down and hugged me.

This was the first time in years that my twin brother had given me a hug. Or acknowledged my existence, he even went as far as to say he loved me. “Good night sis.” For some reason it made me feel a little better.

“Good night bro.”

Last night, I couldn't fall asleep, so I spent hours watching police interrogations on YouTube. As the night went on, I became more engrossed in the videos, completely losing track of time. Suddenly, I heard a creaking noise and looked up to see my dad standing in the doorway of my room. His expression was a mix of concern and confusion, and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me as I realized how late it had become.

“Why are you still in bed? Get dressed we’re waiting in the car.”

I scurried up and rampaged through the pile of clothes on my room floor. I threw on some grey sweatpants and a pink crop top. I didn't bother with my hair and just kept it in the frizzy ponytail that it had been in for the past two weeks.

My mom gave out an exaggerated sigh when she saw my outfit. I knew a long speech was coming so I put on my headphones and tuned her out. The car ride was insufferable, my parents constantly took business calls and bickered over which directions to take. My phone had died so I was forced to listen to all of it.

It was a relief when we pulled into the entrance of the school. The building had a classic vibe, with red brick walls and white-trimmed windows. It was big and kind of spread out, with a bunch of steps leading up to the front door. There were some old-school lanterns by the entrance, giving it a cozy, welcoming feel. It had colorful gardens all around adding to the fanciness of the place.

The outside of the school was empty which I didn't expect. All but except a man who stood at the massive doors of the place. He stood with his hands in the pockets of his tailored suit. The headmaster, with his silver hair and wrinkles, had a vibe that was both wise and a bit intimidating. He looked like he could handle anything, standing there in his sharp suit by those massive doors. His face had a few lines, sure, but they just added to his character – like he wasn't just running the school, he was part of its history.

-End Of Chapter-

I need some feedback let me know what I need to do to make this story better.