It had started out small enough. Just a simple, ridiculous idea. A silly idea really, one that was more of a dream than an actuality. In truth, Ava can't even remember where the idea came from. There were lower level schools of course, local colleges, public schools, private schools that had more scholarships available.

But none of those had the right paths afterwards. Not to a career that would... well quite simply one that would provide enough money. Provide the right path in life.

A thought she would never dare speak aloud, not when her mother could hear her. Or her sister, Lillian, the sweet girl was only 7 but knew how to weasel out secrets to exchange them for sweets. It was just the three of them. Well, them and Ruby. And maybe it was Ruby who had put the thought in her head, as her best friend it was basically her job to influence and encourage Ava. A job she took seriously. But Ava wouldn't speak the thought aloud to her either.

Ruby would understand, if there was anyone who understood what it was like to watch a parent suffer it would be her.

But she would also never compromise her morals to get what she needs.

Ava on the other hand...

Ruby would tell her to stop being so dramatic. That she was fine. That both she and her mother were okay now. But she couldn't shake that fear. That utter terror of not having enough. Not enough food, not enough money for heating, water, lights... not enough to keep existing.

She had been too young then, there was nothing she could do at that time. Now there was, and she wasn't going to waste the opportunity.

So, when there wasn't enough for lights, or heating, Ava was in the library studying. Unlike Ruby she wasn't a natural at academics, she could remember the plots of books and the broad meanings of subjects but specifics? Dates, facts, finer details. Maths was fine but not a feasible career.

English, philosophy, classics, those were the areas she excelled at.

Which meant nights studying and staying out of the house. And even more nights studying once Ruby revealed the sheer amount of effort and energy required to get a scholarship.

Ava ended up uprooting her entire life. All but stripping back until she could start all over again. Everything from her wardrobe, to her schedule, to her friends, to her clubs. Everything and anything that would allow her to craft the perfect image. The one needed to get what she wants.

Ruby had helped her with clubs. The two of them had met at their former secondary school, a local place that took in children from the shire schools and the two nearby towns. It was a large concrete monstrosity built in the 90s, but a prison site that boasted plenty of clubs that she and Ruby had spent a night ranking in terms of their value to scholarship applications.

Student Council, Orchestra, anything sport-team based all ranked high.

Art clubs, book clubs, games, and socialite clubs had ranked low.

Then of course there were the volunteering opportunities. Something that had Ruby grating her teeth as it meant sacrificing job hours for a no pay work placement. But those rich dicks at Maxton Hall liked the volunteer work, especially when it was with high profile placements that looked good on CVs. Waitress at an unknown cafe was less appealing.

So Ava had changed that about her life as well.

The clothes weren't as bad. It was irritating to buy new stuff when the old was fine, but you had to play a part in a place like Maxton Halls. Had to build up a personna and play nice. Have broken bags, and scuffed shoes would stand out.

Plus, a shopping trip had been fun, and Lillian had enjoyed playing dress up. To her little sister the day trip out had been an adventure to a big city that had a shopping mall. They had even taken two buses instead of one, something that had astounded the young girl.

It was that same bus Ava sat in now, music playing through her headphones with one earbud in Ava's ear and the other in Lillian's. Her sister hummed along to the music, louder than necessary and Ava shared an embarrassed wince with an amused Ruby.

"Everyday," Ava murmured, a blush warming her cheeks. "Everyday she sings along and I have to suffer Mrs Patrice's judgement."

The woman in question was already glaring back at them when she and Ruby looked over at the older woman. Ava had never seen the woman without that drag along bag, or that pursed expression.

"You'd think she would be used to it by now." Ruby murmured from the seat behind Ava, leaning forward so she could whisper in her ear. "Do you think she sleeps with that expression on her face?"

"It certainly seemed like her face was carved into that expression."

"Oh," Ava frowned, turning back to see what had caught Ruby's attention. "Do you want my seat?"

Of course. Kindness came naturally to Ruby. It was so easy for her to give things up for others. As simple as giving her seat to a pregnant woman. Ava wondered if it would one day kill her. The crippling need to prove herself, the one that had her remembering every word of praise and bending over backwards to do favours for others.

"Where's Ruby going?" Ava turned at the sounds of her sisters voice, smiling down at her.

"No where, darling." Lilly wrinkled her nose as Ava smoothed down her hair. She had it down lose today, a decision they would both no doubt regret when she comes home tonight inevitably covered in paint and glue. "She's just giving her seat to the nice lady."

Lilly frowned, "but she's talking with that man."

Ava frowned, feeling her nose wrinkle in a way that absolutely mimicked Lily. An expression only deepened when she saw who Ruby was talking to. It wasn't exactly a secret how attractive Mr Sutton was, the girls at Maxton talk after all.

"Who is he?"

"Just a teacher." Ava turned back around, smiling tightly at Lillian as she shifted onto her knees so that she could peer over the bus seat with curious eyes. "He teaches philosophy."

Lily scowled, annoyed by the word she didn't understand.

It was an effort not to chuckle, especially when she knew how it would start an argument.

"The study of religions and moral ideas. Like," She paused, wondering how best to word it. "Learning about the different churches, and sometimes we learn about why laws and values are the way they are."

Lily nodded, twisting back in place before slumping back onto her seat. Ava doubted that she understood but it didn't exactly matter when they were five minutes away from her day of arts and crafts.

"You girls ready?" Ruby smiled down at them, eyes shining with excitement.

"Yeah!" Lily shouted, once again too loud and Ava let her eyes flutter shut. It was going to be a long day.

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"Bye Ruby!" Lily called out, waving Ruby off as she walked straight into the main courtyard. "Say bye Ava."

Ava sighed, playfully glaring at her sister who only stared back with innocent eyes despite her commanding tone. Nevertheless, Ava copied the little girl's movements, waving back at her friend as she led her sister around the side of the school building, down to the lower classrooms and away from the fancy castle towers.

"It's art today." Lily stated from where she was lagging behind Ava, as if she hadn't said so a hundred times on the ride here.

"Really?" Ava indulged her with raised brows and a held out hand for the young girl to take.

"Yup." She made a popping sound at the end of the word, skipping closer and taking Ava's hand. "I wanted to paint a dragon but we have to paint sunflowers for the display."

"Why don't you paint a dragon at home?" Lily hummed in thought at the proposal, swinging their joined hands as they walked down the cobbled path to the old guard entrance. "That way you can paint both a flower and a dragon."

Lily nodded. Just once. A sharp movement of the head.

"Okay."

They reached the doorway where one of the day-teachers was waiting for them. Ava recognised her as the one of the house Matrons, Mrs Forbes, an older woman who wore her greying hair in a tight french know that match the severity of her perfectly ironed blouse and a-line pencil skirt.

"Miss Sinclair- s." The woman stumbled over her words, clearly not expecting both sisters to be there.

"Hi!" Lily called cheerfully, excited to start her day. Already she was tugging her way out of Ava's grip, eager to get past the old wooden door and into the land of paint and posters.

"Ah, ah, ah." Ava called, tugging her back as she crouched down in front of her.

Lily groaned, a loud and dramatic sound that had Mrs Forbes smothering down a laugh.

"Aaaavvvaaa..." She whine, head tilting back as she lead her full body weight away from where Ava held her hand tightly.

"Lil-leeeee" Ava teased, tilting her head from side to side. "Don't I get a hug goodbye?"

Lily sighed, straightening up as if it were the most painful and irritating thing for her to do. Ava only raised her brows, waiting for her to cave as she always would. Just as expected Lillian shot forward, nearly knocking Ava from her feet as she wrapped her arms around her waist.

It was easy to sink into her sister's embrace, curling around her body and nestling her face into her hair. For a moment she allowed herself to just breathe. To take in the sweet scent of Lily's shampoo. Eventually, the teacher coughed and Lillian started wiggling in her grip. Laughing all the while as though they were playing a game.

She wished they were playing a game. And not that she wasn't desperately clinging to her little sister and her childish innocence.

"Are you ready to say bye, Miss Lillian?" The question was directed to Lillian but Ava knew it was meant for her.

So she nodded, rising to her feet and smoothing down her sky blue skirt as she smiled at Lily.

"Bye Ava!" She calls, racing inside.

"Bye Lils!" Ava is left mostly talking to the stern house matron before her. Already forgotten in Lillian's eagerness. For a second she stares after her. Into the darkened hallway of the primary school at Maxton Hall. It's only once she moves to turn away that her attention is brought back by Mrs Forbes clearing her throat.

"Miss Sinclair." She begins, expression neutral and voice calm.

Ava steps closer, straightening up as she stares down the woman before her.

"The upcoming bill for Miss Lillian's next term hasn't been paid," Ava's expression shuttered. "As you know we like to have such things paid in advance, and though we made an exception for you to pay by term rather than year in account for-"

"Yes, my apologies, Mrs Forbes." Ava smiled tightly, "That was a mistake, I will get it rectified."

The matron didn't smile back. She only fixed Ava with a measured look.

"I am aware that your father has been most generous in paying for Miss Lillian's schooling despite the lack of... blood relation-"

"And I am sure this had merely been a confusion with his secretary."

Shrewd eyes narrowed on her and Ava fought the urge to shrink under that piercing gaze. Mrs Forbes was not a woman used to being interrupted.

"For future reference, in the following year, we expect yearly payments." Mrs Forbes raised her chin, back straightening to add emphasis to her words. "We won't be facilitating any family disputes."

"Of course." Ava kept her voice calm, even as she held her school tote bag in a tight grip. "I will pass the message along."

The woman nodded, turning in a dismissal and leaving Ava standing alone outside the closed door embellished with the Maxton Hall logo.