Page 6 of Disobedient Pawn

I looked at her, not sure if she was serious that her father would punch her or not. “Yeah well, my father knows what an asshole he’s been. Instead of apologizing, he continues to try and paint over all the bad stuff with fancy schools, clothes, and fake smiles.” I gave Ivy a hard stare. “But, I’ll never forgive him now. Not ever. So, he can continue to try and suck up all he wants, but I’m doing my time in this place, and then I’m gone, and I’ll never have to see him again.”

“I wish I was that brave. My dad scares me too much,” Ivy said.

“So your dad actually hits you? Why haven’t you called the police,” I asked quietly so the few people hanging around in the halls didn’t hear me. Ivy laughed like I said the funniest thing in the world. “What’s so funny?”

“My dad is the sheriff, and his soul was purchased and paid for a long time ago. Just like all of us here.” We stopped at an elevator to take us to the second floor, and I stared at Ivy, trying to understand what she meant. “And if you’re smart, you’ll stay on the Dean’s good side. He has the power to make your life a living hell.”

That seemed a bit dramatic, before I could ask anymore, the elevator dinged, and as it opened, a group of guys walked out. One of them bumped into me like we were on a football field, and I stumbled sideways. My suitcase fell to the ground with a bang while the folder and book slipped from my hand. Papers scattered in all directions.

“Hey! Watch where the hell you’re going,” I said, glaring at the group. The guy that ran into me made a sexual gesture with his tongue as they all laughed and walked away. A decent attitude was one thing money couldn’t buy.

“Sorry about that,” Ivy said as she knelt and helped me gather up the mess. “That was Axel and his boys. He’s the captain of the football team,” she said, and I rolled my eyes. Could the cliché of this place get any worse?

“It’s fine. I just want to get to my room and put everything away. Tomorrow is a new day.” It was what I told myself to try and get through the shit, but so far, tomorrow had never brought anything better. “Do you know if I’m rooming with anyone?”

“Um, yeah,” Ivy said, her voice apologetic, and I knew, without her saying another word, that I wasn’t going to like whoever it was. Not even a full day, and I already wanted to burn the place to the ground.

The dorms were divided once you got to the second floor. The east wing, or Nu Alpha Phi, was the guy’s area, and the west wing, Xi Beta Theta, was for the girls. I stared at the double doors and Greek letters that meant nothing to me. We didn’t do this in Canada. I had no idea what it meant, but I saw all the hype in movies and how it was supposed to be like a sisterhood or something. Or maybe that was a sorority. I wasn’t really sure. The couple things I was certain of was that I wouldn’t be out cheering and yelling and all that. I also doubted that everyone got along and sang kumbaya while holding hands.

“You coming,” Ivy asked as she held open the door for me.

“Sorry, just looking around.”

“There are cameras everywhere except in the dormitories. Each wing is really too big to be a single sorority and fraternity, with how many students there are. The dean is really strict about tradition, so no one dares to try and change it.”

Well, that answered that question.

Some girls dressed to party laughed and jogged along the hallway, never giving Ivy or me a second look.

“This is your room,” she pointed to the one with a Barbie pink wreath hanging on the door. “I’ll meet you here at seven-thirty tomorrow morning. We have first period together, and you can sit with me for lunch if you want.”

“Sure, that sounds good. Where is your room?”

Ivy pointed back the way we’d come. “The first hallway we passed, if you turn there and follow it to the very end, you’ll find my room. You can’t miss it. My roommate and I have little wooden signs with our names on the door.”

I looked at the pink wreath again and knew I’d much rather have the wooden sign. “Do I need a key?”

“Vicky already has it.” Ivy got close to my ear and whispered. “Find a way to get on her good side. She runs pretty much everything and everyone in this wing. If she doesn’t like you, she’ll make your stay hell. She loves it when people compliment her clothes and hair.”

“So what you’re saying is typical mean bitch?”

“I hope you’re not talking about me.” I closed my eyes and swore in my head before turning around to face my new roommate. She was everything I wished I was. At least five-ten, with a knockout figure, long black hair, and stunning lashes that accentuated her hazel eyes. She could be a model on the cover of any swimsuit magazine.

“Nope, Ivy was talking about one of the teachers.” I looked at Ivy, hoping she’d take the hint. She was so pale it looked like she was about to pass out. “Isn’t that right Ivy?” I urged.

“Yes, that’s right. Mrs. Grey is terrible. She’ll find a reason to yell at you even when there is none. Total bitch.”

Vicky lifted an elegant brow, she didn’t look convinced, but when we stood quietly and stared at her, she seemed to accept the response. “That’s true. Although she loves me.” Her eyes flicked up and down, and I could feel her gaze as she analyzed and disapproved of me all in one glance. “I’m going to assume you’re my new roommate?”

I badly wanted to say, ‘No, I just like wandering strange schools with my suitcase.’ But I decided I’d already sidestepped one pile of shit, and there was no need to step in another so soon.

“So it seems,” I said.

“Well, don’t just stand there. Come on in. You can go, Ivy. You’re dismissed.” Ivy practically ran down the hallway, the navy and gold kilt fluttering behind her before I could tell Vicky that was a bitch thing to say.

I stepped inside the room, and it felt like I was being caged in with a hungry tiger. Vicky stared at me as if she was looking for an opening to attack. It was unnerving. I didn’t really care what she thought of me, but we would be rooming together for far too long to start off hating one another.

“So let’s get the rules straight, shall well?” I looked over at Vicky as she sat on the edge of her bed, which had fancy little pillows the same color as the wreath on the door. She stretched out, her yoga outfit showing off her lean figure.