Boarding School

Prologue

Adrenaline is pumping through my veins. The thrill of danger, the threat of getting caught, or worst, of being arrested. The urge to do something, anything, because life is too damn short to waste it being good and careful, or obeying the rules. It's all so overwhelming, yet it's never enough. I need more. I always need more. I slowly bring the cigaret to my lips, as I inhale the poison through my lips, smoking the life out of my lungs. Who cares? I'm gonna die anyways, just like everyone else. Why make such a big deal out of it? 

My phone finally rings, and I quickly so that the noise doesn't wake up my parents, or worst, my older brother. I can't have him be involved. He would tell my parents what I'm doing, and I can't have them know. Kate's voice is blurry because she's running, I can guess it because of her heavy breath, and all the wind whistling in my ear through the phone. "Hey, Anita" she whispers, probably hiding from someone. "Get out your window. Now!" she says before hanging up. I sigh, not because I'm annoyed, but because I need to give myself some courage. 

I throw my leather jacket on, quietly open the window of my tiny dark bedroom, and jump out of it, not even minding the fall that is coming next. I'm used to it by now. I gracefully let myself drop to the ground, and at the last second, I roll on my shoulder, and land on my feet, like I always have. I've been jumping out the window for years now. And unlike Kate, who broke her wrist three times jumping out of hers, I learn from my mistakes. The slight pain I feel in my left knee every time my foot hits the ground reminds me every day that landing on your feet is always the worst idea. Always, no matter what. 

I run silently to the bushes, where I suspect Kate is hiding right now. Instead of finding her squat down behind those, I'm suddenly thrown to the floor as she just let herself fall from the tree onto my shoulders. "Got you" she giggles, before getting back on her feet, and pulling me up. "This time" I smirk, as we both brush the grass and dirt off our clothes. "So what's the plan?" I ask as she gets a piece of paper out of her back pocket. She hands it to me, her face back to being straight. I quickly read it, it says "2:30 am, come alone". A shiver runs through my entire body, and I can't help but feel a new rush of adrenaline pumping through my veins. "Okay let's go" I say, trying to convince myself that it's going to go down well, but that's when I hear the door open behind me.

"Mom" I breath heavily, knowing what's coming next. "Thank you Kate" she simply says, and I slowly start to understand. I turn around, and look at my best friend who's whole face expresses regrets. "I'm sorry Anita, I really am, but you need help, and I can't..." she tries to explain, but I simply hug her. She sighs out of relief, and I know she did it to help me. I kiss her cheek and walk towards my house, not even looking at my mom. Inside, my father is waiting for me, sat at the table, a paper in front of him. "Sit." he summons, and I obey, not even bothering to give them attitude. "Anita we can't deal with you anymore" my mother sighs, as she takes place next to my father". I snort. As if they ever did try to deal with me. If it hadn't been for them being neglecting parents, I wouldn't be this bad of a girl.

"We're sending you to a boarding school." my father states, his tone makes me understand that there is no point in arguing with that. "It's a very reputable school, with great academics, and strong values, such as respect and discipline. You could use some of that..." he explains, as he pushes the paper towards me. It's a flyer of the school, the pictures are nice, and the students seem to all be good polite kids. Boring. They're all wearing a very formal uniform, which I already hate. At least it's not an all-girl school... I pick up the paper and get up. "When am I leaving?" I ask, and my mother looks down to her hands. "Tomorrow first thing in the morning" he says, and I nod. I then run up to my room and start packing up my clothes, before I realize there's no use since the paper mentions that students are not allowed to bring anything inside the school, for safety and security reasons mostly. 

I sigh, and sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall I have stared at since I was nine. Seven years later, the white paint is slightly yellowish, and small holes are the only mark that my numerous pinned posters and pictures have left, memories of a younger and better self. I have to admit that being sent off to this boarding school, that seems to be more than strict and rigorous, terrifies me. I have never been away from my house more than a couple of days, and even though I am a tough girl, and I won't miss my parents the least bit, I do enjoy comfort. I have the disgusting feeling that my new school is going to severely fail at providing me this sense of home, and I am going to terribly miss Kate and Charlie, my brother.

I undress very quickly, and throw myself under the covers, eager to fall asleep, and forget for a second that tomorrow is the beginning of a new life for me, I know I won't manage to ever feel comfortable enough in this bed that already doesn't feel like mine anymore, so I stare at the ceiling, hoping for the night to go by quickly.