Parallel (Travelers Series Book 1)

Parallel (Chapter 9)

Chapter Nine
Dominion Hall Academy

There’s finally a break in traffic and we roll into the parking lot with several minutes to spare. I sit there, staring out the passenger side window completely stunned. The campus is almost identical to Dominion House for Girls, only the plaque at the front gate reads, DOMINION HALL ACADEMY, EST. 1924. So instead of housing foster delinquents, it is home to the nation’s finest youth in the country. The shift in priority is evident. Even though the sprawling campus hosts the same set of buildings, I’m shocked to see how pristine everything looks. How in the world am I supposed to acclimate myself to this?

Cooper parks the car in front, facing the brick buildings. “I know. It looks the same doesn’t it, but different at the same time, huh?”

We stay sitting in the parking lot, staring at the students amble about before class, while I gather enough courage to get out of the SUV. I was able to fool my aunt and possibly even Jaime, but this is an entirely different ballgame. How am I supposed to pretend I’ve been a part of this world in front of teachers and classmates? They’re basically strangers to me. There’s no way I’m going to be able to pull this off.

“You’re telling me.” I cling to my backpack and resign myself to the fact that I’m no longer in Kansas anymore and suck it up. Hey, school is school, right? How much different can it possibly be it be? At least I know my way around the moss covered buildings.

I know this is a long shot, but I ask anyway, “Are you a student here too?”

“Sorry, darlin’. Been there, done that.”

Great, I’m on my own again.

“Ah, come on. It won’t be so bad. Besides, you have Jaime. Just stick close to her and you’ll be alright.”

Easy for you to say.

“You’ll be fine, trust me.”

“Ugh! Stop doing that!” Cooper’s refusal to stop reading my mind infuriates me enough to give me the courage to finally get out of the SUV and face my fears: my first day of school. Not that anyone will know, but on the inside, I’m a ball of nerves. This is way worse than going to a new school for the first time. At least then, we’d all be in the same boat. But here, everyone will assume I know everyone and I don’t have the slightest clue as to what I’m doing.

I scramble out of the truck, glad be free of Cooper’s intrusion into my thoughts, but stop short, with one leg dangling out the door. “If you’re too old for school, just who are you anyway? Or is that something you can’t answer either?” I’m being snarky, but he deserves it. “And what’s up with the accent?” Even though this is Virginia, which is technically the South, you don’t hear too many Southern accents this close to the District.

Cooper’s face tightens, like he’s annoyed, but then lets out a deep laugh. “Boy, nothing gets by you. I may be past my prime, but I’m your friend and I hope you know that. And yes, I can even answer your other question. I’m originally from Richmond.”

Okay, being from Richmond explains the slight inflection in his voice and I believe him when he says he’s a friend. I don’t really have a choice but to trust him at this point. “We’ll talk later.” I finally manage to extricate myself from the SUV.

Damn, I get several steps away from Cooper’s truck and realize I forgot to ask if he’s picking me up after school. Oh well, I can figure that out later, I think to myself as I make my way down to the grassy quad in search of Jaime. I assume she’s outside waiting for me before class so we can walk together. While I scan the area for her shimmery platinum hair, I feel something hard hit the back of my head.