Pretty Vicious Things: A High School Bully Romance (Edgewood Academy Book 1) Read online

  “Come in,” a voice boomed.

  Dad.

  She opened the door, stood back, and gestured for me to go in first.

  Dad’s office was amazing. All antique furniture and deep red walls. Long, brown curtains draped down to the carpet. And it smelled like polish in here. Dad stood from his place behind a large desk and came around to hold out his arms to me.

  Though we’d had our disagreements (me coming here being one of them), his embrace still felt like home.

  “I’ll give you your privacy,” Alice said, shutting the door after Dad thanked her politely and warmly.

  “Sit, sit!” Dad exclaimed, pointing to a sofa at the back of the room.

  We both sunk down on it together.

  “This place is beautiful, Dad,” I said, still looking around in shock. “You did well.”

  “Didn’t I? I’m telling you, this job position is a once in a life time opportunity.”

  “What happened to the old principal?” I asked. “He retired?”

  “No, he’s still here. But he’s the vice-principal now.” Dad lowered his voice. “He’s not my biggest fan. That’s for sure.”

  I laughed. “If he got demoted, can you blame him?”

  “Well, the board won’t tell me exactly what happened. Mr. Knight tells me that he demoted himself. That the stress of the job was too much and he wanted to take the time to work on the novel he’s always dreamed of writing. But I don’t believe him.”

  “Why?”

  “The pay, the benefits, the security of this job position; it’s a lot to give up.”

  “Some people have dreams outside of their careers, Dad.”

  He thought about this for a moment. “True. So, how was the train journey? Not too strenuous, I hope?”

  Instantly, I thought of the douchebag. Strenuous was one way of describing it.

  “It was fine.” I leaned forward and ruffled Dad’s hair to distract myself. “You need a haircut.”

  His hair was so long now, it was falling into his eyes. Though he was in his late forties, he still had no grey hairs, something that Mum was increasingly jealous of. But he had cute little crows feet around his eyes, which crinkled when he smiled.

  “I’ll get it cut soon. You like the suit?”

  He stood and modelled it for me.

  “Lovely,” I answered. “Designer?”

  “The woman in the department store picked it out for me. Blueberry, or something.”

  My mouth dropped. “Burberry? You bought yourself a Burberry suit? That must have cost a fortune!”

  He blushed, which was where I’d inherited it from. “I told you. The job pays well.”

  “Too well,” I muttered.

  “Which reminds me,” he said, walking over to this desk. “I got you a present. Lessons start in two days and you’re going to need a little something to get you by.” He grabbed a box bag from under his desk and presented it to me.

  I lunged for it and stared inside.

  “Oh my God,” I squealed. “A MacBook? You got me a new laptop?”

  “Your mother told me your other one stopped working.”

  That was one way of phrasing it. When Mum had told me she was moving back to Brazil to accept a job offer that was stationed there for two years, I’d been so angry, I’d grabbed the first thing I could and thrown it at the wall. Which happened to be my prized laptop.

  I’d seriously regretted doing that once I’d calmed down.

  “You like it?”

  “Love it,” I amended. “Thank you.”

  “No problem. But honey, I need to cut this short. I’m sorry, but I’m almost back to back meetings today. I wanted to show you around myself, but my diary is tight today.”

  “I’m sure I can find my way around,” I said, standing. “If you give me a map or magic beans or something.”

  He laughed. “Don’t be silly. I’ll get someone to show you around. You’ll love her. She’s been so helpful to me lately.” He bent down to press a button on his phone.

  Instantly, a nasally voice came through the other end. “Can I help you, Mr. Brighton?”

  “Deidre, please send in Sophie Knight.”

  Knight? Where had I heard that name? Wasn’t that the surname of the old principal?

  “Right away, sir.”

  Not a minute later, there was a knock on the door and Dad ordered them to come in. And then came an angel.

  I wish I’d been joking. With the light from the window of the corridor illuminating behind her, she looked like someone sent down from heaven. She was already dressed in her uniform and had long, light brown hair that curled and bounced past her shoulders, pale skin, features so perfect they had to be sculpted by God himself, and bright blue eyes.

  She was, in a nutshell, the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.

  “Principal Brighton,” she greeted. A glowing smile spread across her face. “You must be Isla.”

  She reached out a hand and I shook it. I felt ratty and drab in comparison to her, and I’d never been the kind of girl to be insecure. But I bet Sophie made everyone feel that way.

  “I’m Sophie,” she said.

  “Hi,” I mumbled.

  “Sophie’s the student president at Edgewood and she kindly offered to show you around and take you to your room,” Dad explained. “Leave your stuff here. I’ll get maintenance to bring it up to your room.”

  “Okay,” I answered, kissing his cheek. “See you later?”

  “Dinner,” he said, just as his phone started ringing. “I’ll come and grab you at six.”

  I nodded and let Sophie drag me out of the office.

  “He’s been really busy,” she said. “I’ve been helping out with admin stuff as much as I can. My dad used to be the principal, you know.”

  So I’d been right. “He did?”

  “Yeah, but he demoted himself to chase a dream. I say, good on him.”

  “I agree.”

  We walked down the wonderfully lit corridor, Sophie’s steps light and almost dancer like. I studied the school uniform on her. Pleated, navy skirt. Knee high, white socks. Black T-bar heels. A white shirt, no tie, top button done up. A navy blazer.

  Boring.

  “I read your interview,” Sophie said. We reached a cross junction of bare, cold corridors and continued straight. “Just so you know, to the left leads you back to the main entrance. Right takes you towards the left wing of the school, which is where we have Languages and English.”

  “Oh, thanks.”

  “So your interview. Did you really mean everything you said?”

  “A lot was taken out of context,” I said. “But yeah, it’s basically all true.”

  Her eyes widened. “People think it’s weird that I have such a close relationship to God, but I don’t think it’s weird at all. My faith keeps me going.” She gave me a wry smile. “I’m ecstatic that you’re here, Isla. You can understand what I’m going through.”

  Not quite. I wasn’t religious, but did have strong beliefs. “We’ll keep each other going.”

  “Of course! I won’t leave your side. You’ve got a friend in me. If you want one.”

  I smiled at her. “Oh I do. Thanks.”

  Sophie continued to point out places she thought I might need to know, but honestly, I wasn’t taking any of it in. She mentioned going one way to reach the swimming pool, and another way to reach the gym, and another for Science labs. Eventually I’d get it, but all I wanted was to find my room, change into something fresh and nap for a thousand years.

  “The dorms aren’t in the main building,” Sophie informed me as we reached a door that led outside. “The teachers' chambers are. They’re on the top floor. But our dorms are in the newer part of the school.”

  She opened the heavy wooden door and across the concrete quad, was another brick building in the shape of a U. That, too, was huge.

  “How many dorms are there?” I asked.

  “There’s around five hundred students. E
ight dorm blocks. Four floors. You’re in Trafalgar. I’m in Churchill. Unfortunately, the dorms are either girl only or boy only. Never mixed.” She started forward and I scrambled to keep up. I doubted I’d like this walk from the dorm building to class when it started raining.

  “How many rooms are on each floor in each block?” I asked.

  “Seven or so. Some dorms have more, some less. For example, on some floors, there’s one single room and the rest are doubles. I have my own room.” She beamed. “You have to share, though.”

  “I’d thought as much.”

  “It’s not so bad. You’re sharing with Grace. She’s my best friend. So I’ll be seeing you all the time when I come over anyway.”

  “Is Grace nice?”

  “She’s a little rough around the edges, but she’s fiercely loyal to the end.”

  So, basically, she was a bitch. Great.

  “Each dorm has a dorm mother or father.”

  “A what?”

  “A teacher. I think they pull straws, to be honest, because I don’t know why anyone would choose to live with a bunch of bratty students and then have to patrol the halls at night to make sure we’re all in bed when we should be. Anyway, dorm parents basically double up as counsellors, health advisors, disciplinarians, you name it.”

  “What’s mine like?”

  “Miss Hall? She’s okay. She won’t bug you if you don’t bug her. Doesn’t patrol very often either.”

  Good. I could deal with that.

  “Did you read the rule book?” Sophie asked, slotting a key-card into the lock on the outside of the main building door. A green light appeared, and the door sprung open.

  We stepped in and into a long hallway comprising of eight doors. I supposed they were each the entrances to the blocks.

  “Briefly,” I said. Truthfully, I’d skimmed and then thrown the guidance book in the bin in a fit of anger.

  “So you know there’s no leaving your room after ten unless it’s to use the bathroom. Definitely no leaving the block. Weekends, it moves to midnight, but you have to be back on school grounds by eleven – for us, anyway. Younger kids have different rules and stuff that you don’t need to worry about.” We stopped outside of a glass door with a plaque that read ‘Trafalgar’ on it.

  “This is me, I take it.”

  Sophie nodded. “Each key-card works certain doors. Mine wouldn’t let me in your block, and yours wouldn’t let you into mine. But they all open the main door.” She unlocked the door and handed me the key-card. “For you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re on the second floor.”

  She talked and talked and talked some more while we finally stopped outside of room one-oh-six. Finally.

  “Go ahead. Unlock it.”

  With shaky hands, I gripped my key-card and unlocked the door.

  Chapter 3

  The first thing I noticed about the room was that it was big. Bigger than my old room. Bigger than any room in our old house, and we hadn’t exactly lived in a small place.

  The second thing I noticed was the girl with bright, red hair. She sat cross legged on the left bed and openly glared at me. Sophie pushed me inside and closed the door behind her.

  “Good, your luggage is here,” she said.

  Either we’d been walking slow, or maintenance had hidden passages to get up here, because wow was that quick. I stepped forward and ran my hand across one of the boxes Dad had shipped over here a few weeks ago.

  “What’d you think?” Sophie asked.

  I looked up and surveyed the room, trying to ignore the weird girl on the bed whose side of the room was bright and wonderful. All the furniture was the same. Dark mahogany with brass accessories. The beds weren’t quite single, and weren’t quite double. But they had red, sheer curtains tied around each bedpost.

  Both sides of the room had a walk in wardrobe, a large desk with a red stool, one tall set of drawers, a bedside table, and a bookshelf. Though my roomie had somehow managed to attach a full length mirror to the front of her closet door.

  “It’s lovely,” I said. “Really nice.”

  “It’ll be better once you unpack your stuff. Anyway, Isla, this is Grace. Grace, Isla.” She narrowed her eyes at Grace. “Don’t be rude. Come over and say hello.”

  Begrudgingly, Grace clambered off the bed and stalked over to us. She was tall and slim with hazel eyes and freckles everywhere.

  “Hey,” I said, holding out my hand.

  Grace ignored it until Sophie elbowed her hard in the side. By the time Grace reached forward, I’d already retracted my hand. Like I needed her fake politeness.

  “Don’t mind Grace,” Sophie stage whispered to me. “She’s like a bear with a sore head sometimes.” She spun and leapt onto my bed, bouncing slightly. “Go have a look where the bathroom is. Trust me, it’s not as bad as you think.”

  I nodded, grabbed my key-card and slipped out of the room, grateful to have a moment to myself. I found the bathroom without problem and Sophie was right. It wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. It was spotless, for one. Everything was white and porcelain. The sinks were lined in a row with a shelf and mirrors in front of each one. Toilet cubicles were directly opposite. And then through that section and around a corner was a communal changing area which led to shower cubicles. There was one door, which I opened and saw a claw-foot bath. Score.

  I was grinning as I walked back to my room, but as I neared, I heard Sophie and Grace talking. I must not have shut the door properly when I’d left.

  “…well. Good job.” That was Sophie.

  Grace: “You sure this is what you want?”

  Sophie: “Of course I am. Don’t tell me you’re backing out.”

  Grace: “I’m not!”

  Sophie: “Good. Because I need you. I need all of you with me on this if it’s going to work.”

  Grace: “I’m with you.”

  Sophie: “The stench is revolting. But it’ll be gone before long.”

  There was laughter while my heart plummeted. Sophie had sounded…cruel. Completely different to the girl who’d just spent the last ten minutes chewing my ear off about God and how amazing the school was. And what were they talking about?

  I pushed open the door and Sophie looked up from her nails, beaming at me.

  “So? What did you think?”

  “I think I’m going to like it here,” I said, but I was a little defensive now.

  “Good,” Sophie said, standing. “Because I’m making it my personal mission to make sure you have the experience of your life here.”

  Beside her, Grace continued to glare.

  ***

  Sophie left soon after that, leaving me with the pitbull and a bunch of stuffed boxes. I changed into a pair of leggings and a baggy top and started on unpacking my stuff. It didn’t take as long as I thought, but the minutes seemed to drag by when your roomie sat and stared and huffed.

  I tried making conversation a few times.

  Honest to God, I did.

  I asked if she’d been a student here for long, to which she’d snorted and answered that she was an ‘original’, whatever that meant. I asked how the food was down in the dining hall and she’d rolled her eyes at me and muttered ‘pig’ under her breath. That had made me stare down at my figure with scrutinising eyes. Yes, I had hips, butt and thighs, and my stomach probably could have been flatter, but I’d never had an issue with my weight before.

  It didn’t help that the only girls I’d so far seen were super slim, though.

  I’d stopped trying to speak to Grace after that.

  Dad came half an hour later than he’d said. He waited at the open door while I grabbed some stuff and stuffed it into a clutch bag. Grace glared at him too, but my dad was too busy texting away on his phone to even notice.

  We walked through the school in silence. My eyes flickered everywhere. I couldn’t wait to have some time to myself to explore this place. It had to be a part of history, and the history nerd in me was
desperate to find the hidden nooks and crannies of the building. I could almost see the ghosts of the royalty who had lived here before floating through the barren hallways, whispering and courting and socialising. A gust of cold air rippled past me, and I shivered, both amazing and creeped out by this majestic school.

  We climbed the stairs to the fourth floor. The teacher’s living quarters wasn’t so nearly modern as the dorms. Dad actually had to take out a ring of keys from his pocket to unlock the door.

  “This is where the faculty sleep,” he said.

  The door swung open noisily and we walked inside. The floors were an awful patterned carpet, and the walls had horrifically old fashioned wallpaper plastered across it. All the dark, wooden doors down this corridor were non-descript. There were no room numbers; just a handle with a space for a key.

  But right down the very bottom of the corridor was the place we were heading. Dad unlocked the door and stepped aside to let me in first.

  It was beautiful. He had his own suite. An authentically old decorated living room, a small kitchen with basic appliances, and through the archway at the end of the room was the bedroom. I could make out a four poster bed in the dark, but that was it.

  “How comes I didn’t get my own suite?” I teased, pouting.

  He laughed and ruffled my brown hair. I swatted his hand away. “Go sit down and make yourself comfortable,” he said. “Pizza okay, tonight? I’ll go stick it in the oven.”

  I nodded and leapt onto the hard sofa. A small TV sat on a unit in front, and I reached towards the coffee table for the remote, when my own face caught my attention.

  I groaned.

  “What?” Dad asked from the kitchen.

  “You have the magazine here?”

  “Of course,” he said, walking towards me. “I’m incredibly proud of it. Do you know how many parents have contacted me congratulating me on raising such an incredible daughter?”

  “It makes me sound like a freak,” I muttered.

  “I think it makes you sound perfect.”

  “And that’s the problem. All the kids here are gonna think I’m this goody-two shoes freak, and they’ll think they don’t have anything in common with me. This interview has practically singled me out from everyone.”