Prologue
I kicked the ball to Alex, my best friend in the whole world, well really the only friend. He stopped the ball with his foot and urged me to look towards my house. I looked over to see my mother walking over to us. I put on my toughest face and crossed my arms over my chest.
My mother stood over my 10 year old body and spoke sternly, “Cassandra you need to come home right this instant. You must pack up your things. You are moving to England’s finest: Birmingham All Girls Finishing School.”
To say I was shocked was an understatement. I didn’t want to leave my hometown and I especially didn’t want to leave Alex. I didn’t say anything to anyone as I followed my mother back to the house and started to pack my things. I couldn’t believe I was leaving Frankenstein, Missouri for Birmingham, England.
I packed everything up and we left for the airport the next day. I didn’t say anything to anyone until we landed in a place called Birmingham, England. Mother and I got into a cab and I pushed up my thick framed glasses on my small face, trying to take in the huge building in front of me. It was extremely tall, maybe 6 stories. There was a separate building that had a beautiful garden with benches and tables and chairs everywhere. There were girls wearing grey skirts and white short sleeved button down shirts that were tucked into their skirts, scattered all over the garden, of all ages. I was let out of the car and followed my mother who was speaking with a very professional looking woman.
I was led to a room and the professional looking woman turned and bent down to my level and spoke to me softly, “I know your mother already told me your name but I want to hear it from you.”
I looked at her, “My name is Cassandra James but I like to be called Cassie,” I said barely audible.
The woman smiled kindly, “Well hello Cassie James, I’m your Headmistress but you can call me Jessica.”
I smiled back as she stood back up and grabbed my hand to lead me inside the room.
She led me inside and there were two beds on opposite walls and two empty desks next to each bed along with a small dresser at the foot of each bed. There was a small window in between the two beds. I walked over and looked out, I didn’t pay attention to how many stairs we went up but we seemed to be a couple of floors up.
“This will be your room for the next four years then you will move downstairs for your last four. Your roommate hasn’t seemed to arrive yet. Well as you can see one of these beds is yours. Several uniforms are in your dresser. You may decorate your side of the room how you like but it must be appropriate. If you ever need anything, my office door is always open,” She seemed really nice and welcoming.
‘I might actually like being here for the next eight years,’ I thought.
My bags were left by the door and my mother and Jessica left, leaving me alone. I sat down on the bed and looked around some more, trying to take in the fact that I was left on my own for the next eight years. I laid down and closed my eyes until there was a knock on the door.
I got up and opened up the door to see a girl taller and prettier than I am.
She held out her hand and in a thick British accent said, “Hello there, I’m your roommate, Poppy Abbott. We’re going to have so much fun together.” I shook her hand and let her in.
I looked down and played with the hem of my shirt as I said, “Umm, Poppy? My name is Cassandra James but I prefer to be called Cass or Cassie.”
She squealed and said, “Say something else.”
“What?”
“Your accent, it’s American right?”
I nodded and she continued, “I love hearing Americans talk, It’s interesting to hear how different you guys say things.”
“Oh, well what do want me to say?”
She put her finger on her chin thinking, “I don’t really know to be honest. But I do know something, that when you leave here you will leave with a slight British accent and will be saying everything that we would.”
I sat down on my bed and stared at the wall. This was going to be an interesting eight years.
