Just then the driver took notice of my jeans and opened his mouth to say something but was beaten by a blond older woman who popped up behind me, putting a hand on my shoulder. I whirled around instantly.

“Ah, you must be Shane McCutcheon, so nice to finally have you here. I’m Mrs. Kroll, the Principal of this school.” I blankly stared at the lady, whose tight smile didn’t reach her eyes, and gulped.

“Uh yeah, that’s me.” I tried for a smile but I’m not sure what it ended up looking like. Principal Kroll looked me up and down, her eyes narrowing a bit at my attire but her creepy robot smile staying in place.

“The skirt didn’t fit did it?” She said. It was a statement, not a question. I shivered despite the heat and nodded fiercely.

“Yeah, uh, too big.” I lied quickly, hoping they didn’t get any smaller.

“Well, we’ll make sure to get you fitted first thing tomorrow morning. It’ll be another week or so before classes start.” I was rescued from the ice queen a few seconds later as another woman strolled up to us, holding a folder and wearing a real smile.

“Good afternoon Principal Kroll, I’m guessing you’re Shane?” I nodded again as she reached out to shake my hand, her British accent ringing in my ears. “Professor Peabody, I’ll be your adjustment counselor…and probably you’re history teacher.” She chirped. I relaxed when the Principal returned her greeting, then bade us both goodbye and stalked off toward a boy that had just spit in the fountain.

“She can be a little frightening at first, she’s really quite nice if you get to know her.” The counselor said and I bobbed my head up and down in response. Nice. Right.

“Oscar is bringing your luggage up to your room, it should be there before we are.” She said happily, turning a beckoning for me to follow her toward a set of square red brick buildings off in the distance.

“These are the girls dormitories,” She started once we’d reached them, stopping at one particular one surrounded by trees and more praying marble statues. “The boys are across the lake over there.” My eyes followed her hand across the huge oblong pool of dark water separating the two dorm room and I kept silent, not mentioning that the boy’s dorms were probably the last place she could find me on any given day.