I was gang hugged again, except for Papi, who just kissed me on the cheek and disappeared, then ushered into a waiting black town car along with my stuff. Releasing a huge sigh as I rolled past the rough concrete building I’d grown up in, I rubbed at my burning eyes and stared at the ceiling again. It wasn’t long before the warm leather pressing into me from all sides and the light classical music coming from the cars radio lulled me into sleep.

—

“Miss? We’re almost there miss.” The driver said loudly and I jolted awake, looking around expecting to find myself in a loud sticky bus with Papi drooling on my shoulder and getting the fancy interior of the car instead. Swallowing, it took me a few tries to get my throat to work before I finally rasped,

“Right. Thanks.” I could tell by how I was sweating and couldn’t see more than a few inches in front of me that it was noon, we had to be close now. Unconsciously wiping my palms on my jeans I squinted and tried to look out the window. Thick green trees lined the pothole-less road we were smoothly rolling down, and the sky was a deep forget-me-not blue behind them. It was sorta pretty. If you were into that kind of thing.

“If you could please change into your uniform at this time miss.” The driver gently ordered and I was about to croak out a “what?” when I noticed the neatly pressed uniform hanging from a golden hook set into the roof of the car opposite me. The bald old man rolled up a solid black partition that totally separated us from each other and I just gaped at the uniform. The first half wasn’t so bad, a short-sleeved white button up shirt, charcoal colored vest with a crest on the left side of the chest, and dark green tie. It was the dark green pleated skirt that was interrupting my breathing. I couldn’t. There was no way.

Yanking my t-shirt off I quickly got the top parts of the uniform assembled, then stuffed the skirt into one of my suitcases. I didn’t care if I they sent me right back to foster care, I wasn’t putting that thing on. We glided to a stop a few minutes later and when I’d assured the driver that I was decent he got out and opened my door for me. Shielding my eyes from the sun I climbed out and took in my new surroundings. The first thing I saw was a huge white statue of some lady praying, then a splashy fountain full of winged angels beyond that, and a huge brown and white brick building with the words “Solomon Spellman School” carved into the front. A white cross had been bolted onto the wall directly next to it and my mouth fell open as I looked at all the sharply dressed teenagers walking around the grounds, gold crosses around most of their necks with only a few of whom stopping to stare at me. Oh god. I was at Catholic school.