Nervously, Freya woke up the next morning, anxious about her first day at Finnick Valley, an all-boys private boarding school in Massachusetts. She got up, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her.

After getting dressed, she walked into the kitchen and saw her dad brewing coffee.

They always have their French vanilla coffee in the morning to give them motivation and strength.

"On a scale of one to ten, Dad, how 'principally' are you feeling?" Freya asked, chuckling at her use of the word "principally".

"If you had asked me that yesterday, I would have said ten."

"And today?"

"To hell with today, let's go back to bed," Dean jested, taking a sip of his coffee instead of laughing and spilling it everywhere.

"Dad, don't say that. We got this. Remember what you said last night: we're the Maddox family."

...

While in the car on the way to school, Freya passed by many unfamiliar places and people, yet she was busily texting on a device she knew so well.

"Is that Vita?" Dean asked casually, already knowing the answer. "Tell her I said hello."

"Okay, Dad," Freya replied, rolling her eyes.

Vita texted, "My parents are acting crazy."

"What did they do this time?" Freya texted back. "Did they pull the fire alarm at your house again? They always do that when they're nervous and see a hint of smoke."

"I know, exactly my point. They're always on edge, like they're high or something. I need help."

"Hey, Dad, do you know what would be a crazy idea?"

"I'm scared now."

"No, don't be. My crazy idea is having Vita come live with us. Her parents are loonies."

"That would be a crazy idea. Her parents, who you call 'loonies', would chase us down to the ends of the Earth to get their daughter back."

They both agreed Dean's idea was crazier than Freya's as they headed to school.

...

They arrived at an old gray stone academic building with two or three floors and very open windows.

Freya's palms were pasty with agitation.

Her dad noticed and took her clammy hands in his, whispering, "Outcasts together."

It was enough to get her out of the car and with him through the front doors.

They both knew they needed to go to the office, which was inside on their left, but all gazes converged on them the moment they entered the building.

They stood out like sore thumbs.

Dean, wearing his pineapple dress shirt under a suit and pants, and Freya in her fuzzy red sweater and denim skirt, stood out in the crowd.

Dean had a tall and lean build with a slightly rugged look. His hair, a mix of silver and black, gave him a distinguished appearance. He had expressive eyes that always seemed to be observing everything around him. His face was framed by a neatly trimmed beard, and he often wore a warm, reassuring smile. Despite his formal attire, his casual demeanor made him approachable and friendly.

Freya had striking red hair that cascaded down her shoulders, complementing her bright blue eyes. Her face was dotted with cute freckles, giving her a charming and unique appearance. She had a lively and spirited look, making her stand out in any crowd. This contrast was amusing, considering there was a dress code they had to follow, which they failed to. All the students wore navy blue clothes while the teachers wore black.

They quickly walked to the office, dodging curious stares, and slipped inside, closing the door behind them with a soft click.