Chapter 2


    Only the intimidating silver gates of the prestigious Preston Hills Academy stood between me and my


    dreams now. Everything about the school screamed luxury. The brick walls surrounding the school


    were neatly in ce, imposing on anyone who dared to enter. The grass inside the gate was that to


    rival a top country club. Each lush, green grass de the same short length as the one next to it. Even


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    the sun seemed brighter over the school. I took a deep breath as I stared at the gates. I''d alreadye


    this far. There was no turning back now.


    "Can I help you?" An elderly security guard asked as he approached me from the guard house. I smiled


    and nodded.


    "I''m a transfer student. Today is my first day," I exined as I pulled out my transfer paperwork. He


    looked it over carefully before ushering me to a gate door beside the gates that blocked the road.


    "Take this up the hill to the main building. Inside there are signs to get to the front office. They can help


    you in there," he instructed. I thanked him before I dragged my suitcase behind me and started the long


    walk up the hill.


    I reached the main building and found the front office. After my paperwork was settled, I was issued a


    school ID, meal card, and ss schedule.


    "And this will be your homeroom teacher, Mr. Weathers," the office secretary exined, pointing out a


    young-looking man with short brown hair and a strong build. He turned his head at hearing his name


    and smiled at me as he held out a hand.


    "Everyone calls me Jason. Even the students," he introduced himself. I stood and shook his


    outstretched hand.


    "Skyler Park, or Sky," I introduced myself.


    "Why don''t we show you to your room, and then you cane to ss with me," he offered. I thanked


    him before grabbing the handle of my suitcase and following him out of the main building.


    "So where are you from, Sky?" Jason asked, making light conversation.


    "San Fransisco... in California," I replied.


    "Got a sport?" He asked. I nodded as a wide grin broke out on my face.


    "Fencing," I answered excitedly. We came to the first dorm building and went inside.


    "Fencing, huh? You''re in luck. This year we got a new coach straight off the Olympic team," he smiled.


    As if I didn''t already know. That was my whole reason for being here. We went up the elevator to the


    second floor as he exined the different amenities provided in the dorms. Apparently there was a


    lounge, snack hall, study hall, andundry rooms inside the dorm building alone. We stopped at room


    210 where he used my key to open the door. Based on the personal items inside, I could tell someone


    already lived here. I was hoping I wouldn''t have a roommate, but it was an empty wish.


    "For now, let''s drop your luggage off and go get you a uniform so you can head to ss with me,"


    Jason suggested.


    "I got my uniforms in the mail beforeing. Just give me a minute to change," I stopped him. He


    smiled brightly.


    "Great. I''ll be waiting in the lounge then," he said before setting my room key on an empty desk and


    leaving. I sighed and looked around the room. It was a simple but roomy set up. There were two desks


    on either side of the room with a couch near the center of the room facing a television. There was a


    bed pushed into a corner with adder off to the side leading up to what looked like a closed off loft


    with a window. I climbed thedder to find the spacious loft empty. I guess this one was mine. I went to


    my suitcase and unzipped it before getting out my navy and while school uniform. I striped my clothes


    off and checked the bandage around my chest to make sure there weren''t any lumps. My chest wasn''t


    that huge to begin with, but I wrapped it down just in case.


    After putting on the button-up shirt, cks, tie and jacket, I grabbed mynyard with my ID and meal


    card and keys to the room before meeting Jason in the lounge. I held an easy conversation with him as


    we walked towards another building. Inside, it finally looked like a school with hallways and ssrooms.


    We walked into a room bustling with rowdy boys. This was going to take some getting used to.


    "Quiet down boys! Find your seats. We have a new student joining us today. He''s from Colorado. His


    sport is fencing. Sky, introduce yourself to the ss," Jason said, moving to his own desk.


    "Hi. I''m Sky Park," I said shyly.


    "He looks like a girl," Someone said from the back of the ssroom. I felt my cheeks heat up into a


    blush.


    "Cody, enough. I know that was you," Jason warned him before turning his attention back to me.


    "Sky, there''s a seat over there next to Leo," Jason said, pointing out an empty desk. I shuffled to my


    seat and sank into the chair. The desks were set up two per table. I assumed the guy I was sitting next


    to was Leo.


    "Independent study. Don''t get too loud," Jason announced as he sat back in his chair with a book.


    Everyone began talking to one another almost immediately. I turned to my desk partner hesitantly. His


    hair was dark with hints of natural highlights showing due to the sun''s rays filtering in through the


    window. His eyes weren''t quite blue, but weren''t quite green. Everything about his demeanor seemed


    intimidating and standoffish. His broad shoulders and slim frame didn''t seem to match as his eyes


    scanned the book he was reading.


    "Hi," I said to him, despite the warningsing off of him to leave him alone.


    "I''m not interested in the new kid. Just because we sit together doesn''t mean we have to be friends, or


    even talk for that matter. I like to be on my own and, as you can see, I''m in the middle of reading, so


    don''t bother me," he said quickly and quietly, all the while, his eyes never left his book. I cleared my


    throat ufortably before facing forward again.