Day of arrival
Veronica POV
My stepdad had been driving since dawn, but for past two hours—since he had turned off the highway onto the winding road that led through the hill country— I had been sleeping. Well not really sleeping— a part of my mind had remained awake. I rode in the back seat with my eyes closed and my head settled against the backseat. That way I could keep from joining there conversation. I will not talk to them, I have nothing to say to them. When the car drew to a stop I could not help but to open my eyes to see why. When I did, I found my mother turned sideways, looking back at me.
"Hi, sleepyhead," Said my mother. "You've been missing a lot of pretty countryside—pastures and brooks and rolling hills. It's been like something out of a picture book."
"Has it?" I said in disinterest. I straighten myself in my seat and glanced out the window. "Are we stopping for gas?"
"That and directions," My stepdad said. "According to the map, this must be Darkwood Village. We shouldn't be to far from the school by now."
My Stepdad stepped out of the car and went into the gas station to pay for the gas and to ask for some directions. I glanced down the narrow street where one block was lined with storefronts.
"It's in the middle of nowhere," I said. "There isn't even a movie theater."
"I think it's nice," My mother said. "I grew up in a little town like this one and it was delightful, with no noise, no pressure, everybody knowing everybody else. I didn't realize places like this existed anymore."
"When we get back from Europe," My stepdad said as getting back into the car. "maybe we can find one. To live in, I mean."
His voice was gentle—phony, I thought. But my mother didn't seem to think so. She smiled and titled her head.
"The middle of nowhere," I grumble again. "A whole year here! I won't be able to stand it."
"I wouldn't worry." The gentleness was gone from my stepdad's voice. "I doubt that you'll be getting into the village very often. Your life will be pretty centered around school."
I signed and leaned my head against the back of the backseat.
"Honey, please." My mother said as she turned to look at me with worried eyes. "Just give the school a chance. You seemed so happy last spring when you visited the school."
"That was before I found out Emily wasn't going," I said. "I still don't see why I can't go to Europe with you guys. I won't be any trouble. I'm sixteen. I can take care of myself."
"Veronica, That's enough." My stepdad said with an edge to his voice.
I sighed and stared out the window. Lost in thought. Trees grew thicker along the sides of the road as the fields gave away to woodland. Dense and dark and still smelling of summer, they laced their branches across the road. Like guards, I thought, protecting something that líes beyond. Moments later we finally arrived at the school I would be staying at. Mom got out of the car and shut the door behind her. I also got out of the car and quickly grabbed everything I packed from the trunk. My mom and I walked to up to the school. It looked old and cosmopolitan. Nothing to fear, right? I thought. I opened the main the door and we walked into the old but rather dashing lobby.
"May I help you?" Someone asked from behind us.
"Oh, yes actually, you see my daughter here is a new student." My mother replied sweetly.
"Well, ma'am you have to sign your daughter in and then she can be on her way to her dorm room." The lady said.
My mother went with the lady to her office leaving me in the lobby. I looked around to get familiar with my surroundings. Everything seemed so set back in date, like something from a scary movie almost.
"Veronica, is it?" Said the lady who had brought my mother to her office.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Your dorm room number is 718, now be on your way and here is your uniform. There is an assembly later today and all students are required to go in uniform. See you there." She said as she went back into her office.
Great. She tells me the room number but nothing else not even which floor I should look for it on. I walked up several flights of stairs, but there was no sign of anyone at all. That's when I heard a loud noise that frightened me. I started running in the opposite direction of where the noise had came from. I kept running until I bumped into someone and fell on the floor with all my stuff. I looked up embarrassed and saw a young man with a face of an angel.
"Hey, watch where you are going." He said with a irritated tone of voice.
"I'm...I'm sorry." I said.
"Why were you running anyways? There is nothing to run from." He stated.
"I..I..I was running because I heard a loud noise and it scared me."
"You must get scared easily." He said.
"Hey leave me alone."
"Fine." He said as he walked down the hallway.
