The next morning, I awoke before anyone else in the dormitory.

Outside, the sun had yet to rise and darkness coated the entire room, clouds blocking out any chance of moonlight. A soft breeze travelled through the partially open window; a strange occurrence for January but not something I intended to dismiss. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I pushed the blankets off my legs, throwing them over the side of the mattress and onto the cold, wood floor.

Soft snores from the bed across from my own reached my ears as I tiptoed over to the window and glanced across the vast grounds, still embedded in the early morning darkness. In the distance, a running stream passed under a stone bridge and I could hear the sound of the water in the early morning silence. Everything was more peaceful than in London. Absent were the sounds of motor vehicles or those on their way to work.

I tapped my fingers on the window ledge, moving from foot to foot to try and contain my energy. The tapping grew louder, a little more frantic.

Before I woke anyone up, I pushed myself away from the window and tip-toed to my trunk. I pulled out a pair of shorts that had once belonged to my cousin and a while pull-over with three buttons leading to a small collar.

After closing my trunk, I crept across the room to the bathroom and changed, creeping back to my own bed. Across the room, someone moved. I stuffed my pyjamas under my pillow, grabbed my shoes off the floor and lightly jogged to the door, exiting the room just as someone sat up and looked directly at the door. I hoped they hadn't spotted me.

The entire school was silent as I made my way through the hallway and down the main set of stairs. Darkness encased the entire entranceway, not even a slither of moonlight could break through the clouds that covered the sky. I stopped on the bottom step and quickly put my shoes on, tying the laces and slipping out the front door.

Outside, the wind rushed past me. Small goosebumps formed on my arms as I stood on the main steps and tied my hair back. I stood on the steps and stretched my legs and arms out, moving my neck to try and relieve the stiffness that had set in overnight. Once warmed, I set off at a slow jog around the grounds.

Not being familiar with the area, I stuck as close to the driveway as possible and simply ran laps across the grass in front of the school. It was roughly the same sized area that I used to run at home with Michael and after twenty-minuets, I stopped to catch my breath. The temptation to tap my fingers on something had faded and my head felt clearer than it had been when I first woke up.

I stood by the trees for a few moments longer before making my way back across the grounds and up the steps into the school. I stepped through the door and almost ran directly into someone heading towards the door.

"Sorry," I said, catching myself before I fell over.

"It was my fault; I wasn't paying attention," the girl said. She pushed her dark brown, curly hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear.

"You're Felicity, right? The scholarship winner?"

"How did you know that?"

"I know everything." She laughed. "I'm Katie, head-girl. This is Jo, my deputy head." Katie gestured to the blonde-haired girl beside her who offered a slight wave.

"The allow nicknames? Mrs Maddox said things were formal here, and the girls in my year refuse to call me anything other than Felicity. Apparently, Flick isn't appropriate." I rolled my eyes.

"The teachers don't like them, but the girls don't mind, usually. You're in Victoria Havisham's year. They'll do whatever she says.

I laughed. Her sharing her last name with a Charles Dicken's character who went insane after she was jilted at the alter amused me more than it should have. Not that I couldn't see the similarities. Even after spending less than a day in her presence, I knew she was the controlling, obsessive type.

There had been students like that at my last school and I knew how to handle them. Victoria wouldn't be any different if she decided to follow through on her threat from the previous day. Other than academics, I was rather good at standing up for myself.

"I thought as much," I said.

"Any problems with her, or anyone else for that matter, come to us. We work as mediators for disagreements."

"What were you doing out there so early?" Jo asked, her green eyes looked me up and down.

"I went for a run. Restless energy and me aren't friends; I can concentrate better if I run first." I shrugged and Jo nodded slightly.

"Do you play Lacrosse? We have practice in the morning – even if it is dark – and it might be a way to burn off the excess energy."

It was then I noticed the Lacrosse sticks they were both holding and the matching polo-shirts and sport skirts.

"Never played before. My hand-eye coordination isn't great."

"Think about it. I'm not sure you'll get away with running this early in the morning without an adult or anyone with you."

"That's a rule? But I'm on the grounds, anyone can see me."

"It's a safety thing. You need to be accounted for at all times. You'll get used to it." Katie paused. "We should go or we'll be late. It's not a good look for the captain to be late. It was nice to meet you, Flick."

"You too."

Katie smiled and slung her Lacrosse stick over her shoulder. I stepped to the side and watched them disappear outside. In the early morning darkness, I was stunned by the difference in how Katie and Jo had behaved towards me compared to Victoria and the other girls in my year. They seemed nice, far different from everyone else and certainly seemed to counter some of the thoughts I had about private school girls and the way they behaved.

I jogged back up the stairs and into the dormitory, noting how everyone had stayed asleep whilst I was gone. I walked the length of the room, kicked my shoes off and dug out my school dress from my trunk, balling it up along with a pair of stockings before walking to the bathroom.

From the bathroom, I listened out for the sound of a floorboard creaking as I took one of the washcloths and wiped it across my face. I brushed my teeth and changed from my running clothes into the light blue, chequered dress that fell just below my knee and made me feel like I was wearing a tablecloth. My old school didn't have a uniform.

"Girls! It is time to get up, lessons start in an hour and a half and your breakfast window is not open." Miss Jones' voice travelled through the gap in the door. "Where on earth is Felicity?"

"I'm here," I said, stepping into the dormitory. Miss Jones jumped.

"Already dressed, I see."

"Yes, Miss. I'm an early riser."

"Very well." She turned to the others. "I expect you all to be in the dining room in twenty minutes. Felicity, make sure you tie your hair back."

"Yes, Miss." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

Miss Jones turned on her heel, the keys at her belt knocking against one another and echoing through the room. Throughout the room, groans came from the beds and low-level conversation broke out amongst the girls. I walked back to my bed and grabbed my hairbrush from the nightstand along with a blue ribbon that had been given to me along with the uniform. Mum said that the ribbon had to be worn with the uniform, so I looked tidy and respectable. I wasn't sure how that worked.

The other girls slowly started to emerge from their beds, moving to the bathroom to wash, brush their teeth and change. I ran the brush through my hair and plaited it to one side. After returning the brush to my nightstand, I climbed off the bed and started to root around inside my trunk for, pulling out my workbooks and pen. Most of my money from babysitting head gone on school supplies. At my old school, they were given to us. At Maddox, we were expected to supply our own.

I placed the books on the bed and perched on the edge, watching the others as they slowly started to emerge from the bathroom fully dressed but still appearing in a daze. The only person who didn't seem that bothered about being woken up was Victoria. She had been the first to emerge from the bathroom in her uniform and spent several minutes brushing her hair before she tied it back. There was an air of perfectionism around her in everything she did.

Victoria glanced in the mirror on the dresser near the door and smoothed out the top of her hair. She paused and through the glass I could see her staring at me, her piercing blue eyes reflecting the light in the room. In the mirror, she smiled at me before turning on her heel and stalking down the room to my bed as I bent over to my shoes on. I could see her shadow looming over me as I clicked the buckle in place.

"You left the school without permission," she said. She had a matter-of-fact tone, and when I looked up, she had crossed her arms over her chest.

"I went for a run in the driveway, I didn't leave the grounds," I said.

"Rule number one, a teacher or dormitory Mother must be informed if a student leaves the school outside of the designated times."

"Were you spying on me?"

"You weren't exactly quiet. Perhaps you should read the handbook. Maddox Academy girls are expected to do as they are told and not disgrace the school."

"Why would I read the handbook if you have it memorised? Besides, going for a run will hardly disgrace an entire school. It was an honest mistake." I rolled my eyes.

"No, but wearing shorts will." Her eyes darted to the pair of black shorts I had yet to put back in my trunk. "I'll report you to Miss Jones if you do it again."

"Go right ahead; I have another idea anyway."

I didn't have another idea, but she needn't know that. I jumped off the bed, threw my running clothes into my trunk and left. I closed the door behind me and paused at the top of the stairs, wondering what I had gotten myself into when it came to Victoria. At first, I thought she was just pompous and full of her own self-importance but judging by her tone, I knew she would tell on me if the opportunity arose, if I had no idea that that rule was in place. I had already lost the copy of the handbook.

I sighed to myself and jogged down the spiral staircase to the landing, having no idea where I was going or how to find the dining hall. A map of the school or a tour would have been better than a hair ribbon. Still, I knew my way to the main entrance and could figure things out from there. There were a lot more people walking around now, all of them dressed in the Maddox uniform.

"Flick?" Katie's voice came from behind me. I turned and watched her and Jo jog down the final few steps. Both had changed out of their Lacrosse kit and into their uniform. "You look lost."

"I am. No one showed me where the dining hall is. Or where anything is." I shrugged.

"We can help with that, just follow us." She nudged her head to the left and I followed her.

"Did you get in trouble for the run?" Jo asked, peering around Katie to look at me.

"No one knows. Well, other than Victoria who has threatened to tell Miss Jones if she catches me again. I don't know if she meant the run or the shorts."

"We have a solution. We spoke to Mrs Leverton, our Lacrosse coach and she said you're welcome to run around the pitch during practice. You won't be breaking any rules and if you want to, you'll be welcome to join practice."

"I'll do anything if it means getting Victoria off my back." I paused. "I may or may not have told her I had a plan, even though I didn't." Jo laughed.

"Now you actually have one."

I smiled and followed them both through a maze of hallways that took us further into the school. Portraits lined the walls and there were small side tables with vases of flowers on them. From the outside, it looked large but the inside of the school seemed to go on forever and I had no idea how I would find my way around or even arrive at my lessons on time without getting lost.

Katie and Jo started to discuss their Lacrosse practice as we went, talking about who scored a goal or who might make the team that year. Lacrosse seemed interesting, but I had never been one for sports that required coordination. My cousin had gifted me a bicycle she didn't want, and I rode it into a wall. I would stick with running, but at least I could go for a run and not have Victoria on my back.

The three of us walked through another hallway and through a large, open door. Students sat at several long tables with toast and bowls covering the centre. I had never seen so much before, especially as it seemed free to take and some of the girls were simply grabbing some toast and leaving the table.

"You look as though you've never seen a breakfast table before," Katie said.

"I've never had breakfast before."

"Never?"

"It was always a run, chores and then school. Hardly time for anything else. I had fruit and some milk at school at break, but breakfast just wasn't an option."

I shrugged and Katie looked at me as though I had just slapped her. I had never thought not eating breakfast was strange, but apparently, it was. Still, if I could have a little something before class, I didn't intend on turning it down. Nothing is worse than sitting in a silent classroom and trying to cover up the grumbling of my stomach.

"Come on, I could eat like a person starved."

Katie smiled at me; her dark eyes seemed to shine. They were warm and inviting and the opposite of Victoria's which were cold and judgemental. Perhaps not everyone had a judgemental view of those who didn't come from money.

I suppose I would just have to wait and see.

~~~

First Published - May 10th, 2020