Charleston High School was a vastly improving establishment, with its new students coming in with great numbers each year, that they had to keep building to be able to hold them all. They never refused an applicant and unfortunately it also became the poorest and lowest of the unified school districts. Everything was used, books, desks, supplies, sporting equipment, computers were outdated, telephones looked like they dated from the 90's, including their machines in the office.

          But nobody was prouder of it than Sky Contour, for this was the same high school her father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great, great grandfather had gone to. It was also the first high school ever built in Charleston. The oldest part of the building was the front as it dated back in the late 1800's and she loved the architecture of the structure, the one part that will never be replaced as long as it stood there.

          Sky was standing just outside of it, staring up into its glorious, crafted brilliance. How much she was going to miss this wonderful place. It was the last week of the quarter before the new semester started and they were into semi-finals of their courses. There were students heading for their first period of the day.

          "Sky!" A young girl, of Sky's age, walked up to her from across the street. She had blonde hair and was wearing tight jeans with a blue and white striped shirt. She had a bag slung across her chest.

          "Hey Emiko." She smiled at her friend.

          "Hey, you won't believe the rumors that are going around town right now." she said breathlessly and started walking with her toward the school.

          "What rumors?" she asked, not really interested in the town's gossip, it was always about someone.

          "Well, everyone is saying that you're going to start attending Vamcult Academy! Is it true?" Emiko asked eagerly with excitement.

          Sky stopped dead in her tracks. "What? Where did you hear that?!" she said in astonishment and disbelief.

          "At the doughnut shop on Parker Street. Some old lady was telling Mrs. Trusts about it." she told her as they passed the administration office and into the grounds of the school.

          As they passed, people were saying hello to them, but Sky was oblivious to them all. How the hell did people know? How does anyone know? She barely found out herself last night! She looked away finding it hard to believe that people knew about it before she was even given the chance to say anything.

          "Is it true then?" Emiko asked, looking unconvinced as she finished saying hello to a young freshman girl.

          Sky looked around her and for the first time noticed that people were staring at her and whispering to each other. One girl gave her a dirty look, and another looked at her up and down, shook her head, and laughed. She turned red from the unexpected embarrassment that she didn't think she would have received.

          "Sky, are you okay?" Emiko asked her with a frown.

          "Miss Contour, a word please!" Sky's English teacher, Mr. Johnston, yelled out as he walked up to them.

          He had a bit of a port belly and he was going slightly bald on top. He had glasses and a thick mustache, but with that aside, he was actually a really sweet guy who loved his work. He helped out those who were far behind without a hint of giving up on them, unlike some teachers now days.

          "Oh, hello Mr. J." she said with concern. Was she in trouble?

          "Good morning Sky, you're needed in the principal's office right away, before class starts." he said to her joyfully. "Don't worry, I won't mark you down for being late since I know where you will be." he laughed and walked away.

          "Oh, and by the way, congratulations on being accepted to Vamcult Academy!" he yelled out across the yard where everyone heard and smiled.

          Sky wanted to disappear at that moment for making the rumors official by a teacher saying it aloud. She could see and hear everyone's tongue start lagging away with the newest gossip for the town to know.

          "So, it is true! You really got accepted?!" Emiko practically yelled with delight.

          "Shhhh!" Sky looked around to see the other students staring at them. "Oh, come on!" She pulled her friend after her, ignoring everyone who tried to talk to her, took her into the girl's bathroom and locked the door.

          "Ow that hurt Sky, you didn't have to be so rough." Emiko said rubbing her upper arm.

          Sky didn't listen to her for she was looking into the stalls to see if anybody was in there with them. When she didn't find anybody, she turned to her friend she had known almost all her life.

          "You can't tell anybody about this understand?" she said seriously.

          Emiko looked at her skeptically. "Alright." she said after a moment.

          She told her everything that she knew about the transfer, who transferred her and how they had to move to Vamcult Island and start a whole new life.

          "You're going to be living on Vamcult Island?" Emiko asked in awe.

          "Yeah." Sky said miserably. "But I don't want too. I know absolutely no one and its three hours away from everyone I do know."

          "Yeah, but Vamcult Island!" Emiko smiled hugely. "And the best part is you're going to Vamcult Academy."

          Sky looked at her. "Miko didn't you hear a word I said?" Apparently not. "Aren't you curious on why Lord Sayles wants me to go there in the first place?"

          "Who cares!" She jumped in giddiness.

          Just then there was a pounding on the bathroom door. "Whoever is in there needs to unlock this door right now!"

********************

          Sky sat in a chair in the principal's office waiting for her to be done looking over the transfer papers, with an expression of disbelief and bewilderment on her face.

          "Well then..." she said finally with a sigh. "It seems according to these transfer slips that you will be leaving us this coming Friday and starting at the Academy on Monday."

          "Monday?!" She really wasn't ready for this.

          The principle ignored her outburst and set the papers back into its folder that was marked with Sky's name.

          "Personally, I'm quite confused on why you have been accepted to such a prestigious school. looking over your academic records in the past two and half years has shown no significance of Vamcult Academy's requirements."

          Sky frowned at the implied meaning. "Are you saying I'm too stupid to even be considered?"

          The principle looked at her with a shocked face. "Why, no I'm not. I was just simply saying that there are students here with a greater GPA and academic progress of perfect scores that try to apply at Vamcult and are still denied, stating that their requirements have not been met."

          The principle folded her hands in front of her on the desk. "However, there is a reason after all. I may not have been informed why, but that is not my concern. The seal on the transfer slips has been documented of the Duke of Vamcult Island, therefore, they must have protocols of the requested document papers of your school records. I'm also required to inform you that throughout your last week of school here at Charleston High that you inform your teachers and that you receive your report cards from each class to take along with you."

          Sky sat there wondering why this was happening to her. It shouldn't be all that bad right? The principle took a note pad and wrote something down then signed it.

          "Here, take this with you and show it to each of your teachers, it's signed with my approval for your request of your report cards." She handed the note to Sky and she put in her bag.

          "Well, you may now go Miss Contour, and good luck at the new school." she said to her and went back to her duties.

          Sky got up and went to leave the office, but then she thought of something. "Principle Reyes, do you know why Vamcult Academy only attends at night?"

          The principle thought for a moment. "Honestly, I can't say I do. It always made me wonder as well why they had young high school students go in the middle of the night, but then again they are the number one educated school in the country, so maybe their methods should be reckoned with. You should be very grateful to be accepted Miss Contour."

          She gave a weak smile and left the office. She walked down the empty hallway of the school. She didn't understand why she had to go to a school meant for geniuses. She's not a genius, far from it, and she will never be one. She was just barely getting by in her classes. She didn't want to know what they were teaching in Vamcult Academy. What if they taught something that was like three times worse than trigonometry? Or taught formulas that only NASA can comprehend? What would happen when they fully realize that when a teacher asks her a question and she will have absolutely no idea how to answer? She'll be the laughingstock of their school.

          She stopped. "I'm going to be the dumbest kid there." she said in dread.

          Oh, that's perfect. The stupidest kid without a doubt. There was no way she could compete with any of them. How the hell did they expect her to survive in a place like that? She can't go to something like that, she'll have to do anything she can to convince her parents to change their minds and refuse the Duke's request. There just had to be a way. With determination set in her mind, she went to her first class of the day.

********************

          "What, you're transferring?" Ana, who was Sky's other best friend, exclaimed in bewilderment.

          Sky, Ana, Emiko, and their friend Sandra were all seated at an Ice cream parlor, as they like to call it, The Ice Box.

          "So, it's officially true then?" Emiko asked, trying to confirm it with finality in her mind, looking at Sky with a spoon of ice cream halfway up to her mouth.

          "What! You knew about this?!" Ana yelled at her with an accusing look.

          Emiko started stuttering at Ana's outburst, not used to being confronted by her.

          "Well, there has been rumors going around the school about this Ana. I'm surprised you haven't heard wind of it, but then again most people run the other way when you come near." A very calm and collected Sandra, who was carefully eating her ice cream, said not looking at anyone.

          Sky always thought she was a strange one. One day, in fourth grade, some kids were bullying her, trying to get a reaction out of her, but whatever they tried to do Sandra just stood there not saying a single word. She pretty much acted as if they didn't even exist. Well, Sky wasn't so calm about it. She marched right up to them, told them off, and to leave the girl alone. They just called her mean names and walked away, but ever since then Sandra started joining her in things as if they had been friends since they were born.

          "I didn't actually think they were true!" Ana spits out in shock.

          Ana was a spitfire and a bit of a hothead, but she was honest to the core. One of the reasons why Sky valued their friendship so much. No matter what the situation was, Ana always said what was on her mind, regardless if it might actually hurt someone's feelings. She always had a comment about something.

          "Well, it's true." Sky knows she means well, but sometimes she could be a little brash and hardheaded.

          As far as Sky knew, Ana was the realest person she knew.

          Sandra ignored Ana. "So, is it true that you're transferring to Vamcult Academy?" she asked Sky instead.

          "Oh, come on, that one can't be true!" Ana practically yelled. Some of the other customers turned in their direction at her outburst.

          "Calm down Ana, people are beginning to stare at us." Emiko whispered, feeling a little embarrassed.

          "Let them stare then! If they have a problem with my yelling, then they can kiss my ass and move the hell on!" Ana again yelled out.

          "Ana please!" Emiko pleaded with her, sinking lower in the booth.

          Ana ignored her and looked at Sky, waiting for her reply as well as the other two. Sky felt like she was put on the spot suddenly.

          "Isn't that what Mr. Johnston said this morning?" Emiko asked.

          "Um, yeah that's true too." Sky said meekly.

          "Are you serious?!" Ana looked bewildered. "But...why?"

          Sky shrugged her shoulders. "Believe me, been asking the same question, no one will tell me."

          Sandra frowned and looked up at her for the first time since they seated. "That's a bit odd isn't it?" she asked her.

          "Yeah, well what's even odder is the one who is requesting for me to go." she whispered, not wanting anyone outside their group to overhear what she was about to tell them.

          "Who is it?" Ana asked, her interest suddenly peeked with excitement upon hearing the whispered response.

          Sky looked at all three of them and at Emiko a bit longer, knowing she already knew, looking around making sure no one was looking at them, she brought her head in closer and the three of them followed suit.

          "Lord Sayles, the Duke of Vamcult Island."