IT GLOWED THIS radiant hue outside, reminiscing into two particular camps, it was provided between the pair portions, which were of neutral warms that created astonishing coalesced rays, which didn't have too much yellow and weren't too ashy or flat either, they could have been pale honey gold or buttery yellow, however it was something that closely resembled gold, that sprang outside, the warmth of the mellow gold and the brightest yellows warred, cascading dappled rays from the early morning blue sky.

  I hadn't been outside ever since we moved here and when I got out that was all I could think of, I'd barely seen the outsides during the day, I spent the couple of days in my room. I breathed in the fresh spring air, soaking up the vibrant sunshine.

  I looked up head, Diane Lauren was by the car.

  ''Morning, Dimples. Enjoying the Morning so far?'' She said peachy, with a huge grin advertising her straight silver teeth, that the sunrays couldn't help but highlight.

  ''It's alright. . . I guess.'' I replied quietly, getting in the car.

  She is the longest assistant to have stayed with Dad, Dad had some strange tendency of firing his assistants, after the fifth week. She however, had been here for six whole months, and I don't know what it was, frankly speaking I'd preferred Elliott, he's punctuality was perfect, he was spruce and might I add, a little OCD on having almost everything organized, that collaborated with certain other aspects that might have been overlooked, about him, one of them was how, he not only reminded me of my grandmother's farm house, the one situated in the western side of Hevellyn Hills, Apolles, it was encampassed around a colorful meadow, really pretty and vivid except for when it could get really exasperating and shitty in summer, in all it's crispy afternoons glory but he embodied the whole crispy afternoon aesthetic like it was his better half.

  He was average mid twenty- something year old man with a freckled face that looked like tiny samples of dark chocolate sprinkles, that had been dabbed in his entire pale ivory face, and his eyes that appeared to be the same hue as his light wheat brown hair, far too empty to express anything of effort, like a stark contrary was his voice that denounced it's possessor, a jovial~bass-ish timbre croaked every time he spoke, sounded more of idiot, that could be easily manipulated, if anything, I apologize for being too honest.

  But he had some ardent reasoning qualities, like how he never slouched or even yawned or mumbled or looked disinterested, his expressions always resonated on neutrality with his magnificent pomegranate reeked boring, comb-over hair cut, that enthralled on his ears, that slightly pointed away from his head, I wasn't suggesting that was a problem, hard to say when both Dad and I had a similar trait, sadly mine were more pronounced than the both of them.

  His clothing could only be nonetheless, no creases or unscrupulous spills for a caffeine addict, straight and pressed, treading to his perfect posture to justify his precision although he always walked like he had a huge block between his legs, that could have a first impression of one mistaking it for rather exaggerated or nervousness, I saw Dad's jaw harden and tick in annoyance at the sight of his plod every time.

  Aside, from etiquette or business wise, I'd included his outfits too, his over rehearsed kinky attire depended on the season, true like all of us, but add a little psychotic obsessiveness to it, and it doesn't seem so friendly or usual any more, it had him wearing shirts, from the purest whites to the deepest shades of it, in an aggressive order, deliberately accompanied with the most ridiculous tight pants wrapped around his short lanky legs, which of course were founded in the deepest gray shades, going up the range, specifically singled out for the first two weeks of a previous spring season. I had only noticed this constant dedication after the second week when I wondered if all he wore was white, it was a suprising shift he made to trudge to the palest yellows that very week.

  You'd think for a man so meticulously rehearsed would act like one but he opposed the nature, being the weirdest clown, in the room with no shame at that, a real jokester, often speaking to me as though I was ten, when I'd blatantly gift him an annoyed reply, he took no offense to my sarcasm whatsoever, although looking back, if I'm to revert to my logical mind, he could have been oblivious about the whole concept, maybe I liked that I could mess with him without his awareness, so they was hardly nothing to feel guilty about, however before I could discover that Dad had long found something wrong with that one, he called him annoying which he was, because he never really'd shut up, but for a reason I also liked that.

  For Diane, the first thing I noticed about her, was how I utterly disliked apricots and that was her every day strong scent with cuts of this citrusy orange flavor to end the misery, she was however too perky and always in the happiest of moods no matter how dull the day might have been, she only spoke when she was spoken to or when she had to, nice and a bit too nosy, but witty at best.

  I wondered if that was it, was that why she was still around or Dad just got tired of firing and hiring assistants every month. Immediately I got in Diane followed and we were set to live. I looked at our house, the doors, I don't know why I was waiting.

  Perhaps in my blind waiting, it was for something- Someone, was I waiting to see Dad. It was definite that I was hoping that he'd come out to wish me some last minute have 'a good day' or wave or smile or tell me 'good luck on your first day', but he didn't.

  I waited and waited, as the gleam of those longing seconds felt like eternity. Eternity of waiting as I now felt the car slowly drive out of the gates and no sign of Dad. I sat back, and reckoned, I was sixteen, and would turn seventeen in autumn, A grown teenager, why would he see it fit to come out though I was five just to see me off.

  I looked out my window as we drove on the road, the streets, things seemed to have changed alot from the time I remember, houses seemed to be more opulently dressed, with the street looking dull and empty.

  We entered the main road, my eyes slowly left the sight of the road to forward. Taken aback, I stilled, I found eyes watching me, on the rearview mirror. Wild silver eyes looking back at me, they seemed just as cold as they were the first time I looked into them.

  I run images of yesterday when I saw him, in my mind, when I looked into ponderous silver eyes, I got this unease tense, it was like looking into a puddle- a clear puddle of water, on a muddy surface, where you could see a side of yourself that alarmed you, gave you shivers to your bones causing all this impending conflict of knowing exactly what gets that shake out of you and causes you to fear. That was how I felt when I looked into his eyes.

  I cut away from his glacial stare, he was a quiet man, and he's silence, his poise behavior made him hard to read, he looked like a distant and observant man, looking at him I disliked but I tried to study his face, observing people was a trait of which I like exploiting, and the silence was what made it able with drifting into further places with your inner thoughts made me feel we were alike in some way.

  I looked at him every now and then as we drove, it was as if he knew, every time, I looked at him through the rearview mirror he'd immediately stare back at me, as if we had the same thoughts. Every time, he caught me looking, I'd immediately turn away. He did have a frightening gaze but I wasn't afraid of him, maybe just alittle.

  It was hard to look at him without him noticing, I wondered if he had the same idea, perhaps that was the reason for all the cautious staring, I looked away. Normally, I liked my cellphone in my hands, but at that moment I didn't even want to look at it. I looked out my window instead, wondering how long it took to get there, I looked at my watch, it had only been fifteen minutes, and it already felt like an hour.

  It was the anticipation urging me to think time was moving at unreasonably slow rate. I was Anxious, I wondered if it was being anxious to get on with the day or anxious to go back to the house and be in my own space again, away from all these faces.

  I'd been thinking it was the same anticipation compelling me not to touch anything and weighing me down- nudging at me.

  I looked outside my window again as we slowly approached a building, we suddenly drove through the gates, to the parking lot and I judged by everything this was it. I glanced outside, then back around the car, a part of me wanted to remain stagnant in the car, just sit back and then go head back home but I couldn't even if I wanted to Dad had made this decision for me and I just had to comply.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  So, I got out.

  The school was much bigger than I imagined. It looked even better than the pictures I saw from its official website. As though, an ancient magnificent castle in winter's themes, of grays and silvers, with an air of prestige and panache.

  As we walked in I noticed some of the students who went there, they were in the school uniform; Dark maroon jackets, with white shirts, dark maroon blazers and studded black buttons, accompained by a charcoal grey striped neck tie, matching with charcoal grey pants for the guys and for the girls checked charcoal grey skirts, the girls wore grey socks above their knees, they also wore charcoal grey blazers instead of maroon, for the shoes, eveyone seemed to be wearing differently compared to the other.

  We were directed by a teacher, who looked like they had also just arrived, just as we got in, to the administration room. I saw more students as we got in. The hallway was filled with them, they moved in groups of two, three or four, four seemed to be the maximum and some others moved alone. I half expected to hear a farm house at noon noise, noticing classes had not yet started, surprisingly everyone seemed to be quietly talking, it was perfect, you could stand in the middle of the hallway and still hear your inner thoughts. We were ushered to the administration room but unfortunately, the secretary told us to wait because someone else was in with the principal.

  Diane and I sat down, she immediately took out her phone and started texting. I, on the other hand glanced around. It was a middle sized room, which was distinctively decorated with the school's theme colors maroon at it's darkiest shade and charcoal grey, a few photos hang on the walls with men and women and students on them, the secretary's desk next to the principal's office door, with the logo and motto right above the principal's office door, there was a water dispenser a few inches from the door. And a line of chairs where were we sat.

  It seemed like we were the only ones there, all except for a girl, she sat two seats away from me. She was staring at the door to the office, I assumed her parents or guardians were the ones in there, because she was alone. She looked just as impatient as I was. I wondered if today was her first day as well, but she already wore the uniform and she seemed quite familiar with the place, so I guessed that wasn't why she was here, her bag was on the seat next to her. She had her legs folded with her left foot impatienly tapping the floor. I was unable to tell her expression due to the angle she was sitted, but she seemed uneasy. She sat back, folding her arms.

  She had the lightiest golden brown hair, it was long and curly with wild waves, to its very end neatly tied into a ponytail. I looked ahead and sighed lying back, what ever business she came for was sure taking it's time, I was getting more agitated and anxious. I was lost in thought when I started subconsciously moving my legs as well, it quietly thrummed at the floor.

  The girl must have noticed because when I glanced around again I found her staring at me. I had an unanticipated clear look of her now. She had a pretty heart-shaped face with plump cheeks, that were covered in caramel brown freckles, and I don't know or think in that matter of fact, if I could ever get this right, but they was something so impeccable about her light hazel, doe eyes, as though they had seen the world's impurities but never suffered the diseases it was corrupted with, still promenaded with innocence and fragility, the hue essence so gentle and swirled in with kindness. She reluctantly looked at my foot thrum at the floor and her lips stretched a teasing smile towards me.

  I immediately succumbed to that, little gesture that spoke jeering volumes, tearing away from her gaze as I squirmed, my legs instantly stopped the thrumming, and they got deathly rigid that it appeared to me that they had gone completely numb, and then came this unnerving awkwardness part between us, I felt a wave of stupidity wash itself into my stomach. But I found it more embarrassing to hid away in a glacial squirm, than to just pretend that it was pure coincidental. And so I thought of readdressing the whole thing all over again, beginning with formalities, however my neck felt too rigid to make myself to turn back at her.

  I felt nervous and unsure, for the next couple of minutes I thought it through, I made up my mind I was going for it. I counted. And I turned just as I did the door swung open and a lady walked out, she was a brunette, in a grey shirt with formal jade green pants, she clutched her purse and looked at the girl. Excluding the dark hair and electric blue eyes they shared some resemblance, and I assumed she was the girl's mother. The girl got up, she and the lady walked side by side toward the exit door.

  ''Finally french instead of Spanish. . .'' The girl spoke, her accent was british.

  ''I'm sure you'll like your French classes more than your Spanish, but this is the last time I'm coming here to have your classes switched, that lady can be alittle tacky and bran sometimes, trust me when I say brunch with her is stale, don't punish Mommy like that alright, Delilah?'' Her mother said, ire pinching at her tone.

  They turned out. And I adjusted my thoughts.

  Before I could think of anything else it was my turn to go in. And what run through my spine was the uneasy feeling I got during jet plane take offs. My body felt numb and nauseous and I'd be paralyzed with atmost fear, closing my eyes and waiting for all of it to be over, was the general experience for me.

  I assumed I'd get over the feeling considering how many flights I've been on but it was the same thing every time. I remembered my first flight- take off, my legs went completely numb and I considered throwing up every dizzy second, I kept staring at my window thinking we'd crash immediately we were a thousand feet high. Dad sat across me, he'd just stare at me have a nervous breakdown at times, and at other times he'd be already asleep. Thankfully I never did throw up.

  The principal looked at my folder, she particularly looked at my grades through out last year and prior this year. I had an A in every old and new subject, Dad requested I should take, all except for one, my Italian class, I was fluent with my languages; French, spanish, Portuguese and German it depended on were we'd be staying and I thought it was a great idea to learn each language, and since we spent the last six months in Rome, Dad added Italian to my list, I wasn't very good at it, I remembered skipping alot of my classes spending my time exploring one of my favorite cities.

  The principal didn't seem too stuck on that B- she was a late middle aged woman, who had black hair, bunned and really dark brown eyes. She looked at me and adjusted her glasses.

  ''You play a handful of sports: tennis, basketball, netball, volleyball, badminton. .'' she read aloud.

  And I thought they were more, but those I thought were necessary, when you spend all those years travelling you pick quite a variety of hobbies, what can I say, I was good at finding a new one and adjusting to it nicely.

  ''You are most welcome to Hevellyn Hills High school, Mr. .'' she glanced at my folder again ''Alwyn Westlake. . .''

  She had a ridiculously high pitch voice that made a squeaky sound in every vowel she uttered, she turned to Diane.

  ''So Mrs.Westlake-'' Diane stopped her right there, she cleared her throat frantically and shook her head, looking as though a firearm had just been placed two inches from her nose.

  ''I'm not his mother-'' she corrected flatly, as the principal's eye brows slowly returned from their arched position.

  "Oh. Sorry, then his stepmother-" she proceeded.

  "No-" Diane denied.

  "His Aunt?" she asked.

  I felt this prolong, as she listed and Diane denied, I wondered why she wouldn't just let Diane speak, my eyes lifted to the principal then onward to Diane every five seconds in that minute of their rounds. She actually got to adoptive parent after oddly saying, Mom's ~cousin's ~sister- in- law's kid. Sometimes, I like to consider she was just merely joking but then again that candid, confused but straight face said otherwise.

  "I'm his father's assistant." Diane interrupted her.

  Finally, She would have never guessed that as far as she was going and I was biting my tongue, resisting the urge to yell it out for Diane.

  "Oh. So. . He needs to take replacements tests for all his classes and we could have an interview before and then afterward, he can be assigned to a class. Then we can discuss a few highlights that's all." she explained, Diane simply nodded.

  ************

  DIANE GOT ME the acceptance form that included the particulars; time table, classes, sports programs, membership to preferable club, locker number, school uniform, school sports attire and the list went on and on. It also included mandatory requirements, a number of school traditions and functions, the school's hand book and a long line of expenses, , it was all the new classes I had and all the programs l had to join.

  We were done with that and on our way out we made a few stops; for the tuition payment and the uniform fitting. I tried on my new uniform to make sure I got the correct size, I actually liked how I looked in the uniform but instantaneously hated that I had to wear it everyday of school. Tomorrow I'd receive school text books from each class and some remaining things, classes were to start at eight a.m sharp and end at three p.m. As I'd officially start tomorrow.

  When I sat at the back of the car I felt relieved and settled, glad to be heading back to our house, even though it wasn't so bad. I had much to tell Dad, this time have an actual friendly conversation, I wanted to tell him about my day from principal Russell to the interview to the new classes to All the details, but unlucky, I had no chance to even utter a word to him during dinner. Dad had company, Franklyn, some executive producer and Kelsey a writer. Familiarly also know as Dad's Hevellyn hills' friends. Their conversation, I was sure beat the borring one I would have told. I could always be optimistic and say atleast I also had friends here, of course nine years ago. Now my only friends were on a virtual platform whom I visited from time to time and they'd reciprocate, here however I was absolutely sure they thought I was Dead.

  After dinner that night, I went through the school's hand book. They were so many, many Don'ts, risks of expulsion. I skipped to the end of that tedious shitty book and onward to the best part- the very last page was: Suspension to minor offenses and Expulsion to whomever broke the mandatory ones. I already liked were this was going, I thought why not give Dad's school a shot.