"Zara, will you please hurry up!" I heard my Mom shout as I just straightened my last strands of hair with a flat iron. As today was my first day at school, I had to look my best. My dark brown hair was naturally wavy but I decided to straighten it today. My cream sundress went well with my dark brown eyes. Smiling at myself in the mirror, I started to put my make-up on. In my previous school I had been the Queen B for like the whole time I went there. I had also been dating the hottest guy in school; Carl. Who I had to break up with since I was leaving the state, well to be honest we were only dating because we had to. He was the guy who every girl wanted to date; I was the girl who every boy wanted to date. And so we both decided that we should go out. All our relationship consisted of was of kisses, not those making out ones. These kisses were well ... kisses. I mean I had known him since kindergarten, and it was so weird like having him as a boyfriend. So that explains my unsuccessful relationship. Just as I finished applying my lip gloss, I went downstairs, to find my Mom in the kitchen. On the way I nearly tripped over the cardboard boxes which were piled up in the living room. I opened one of those boxes to take out my white sequined purse which my dad had given me for my 16th birthday last year. After getting out of the card board boxes maze I headed for the kitchen. I sat at the kitchen table, and poured coco pops into my bowl. I looked up to see my Mom, I was shocked. I always thought that my Mom was the prettiest Mom you could ever have, but now looking at her, I wasn't so sure if that statement still applied to her. Under her big brown eyes, she had black bags due to the lack of sleep she must have had last night. Last night had been the first night that she had slept without my dad. I suddenly felt sorry for her. They had broken up because of me, but my Mom said that it was her fault. Last week we had been a perfect family, and then suddenly I started to have these nightmares. Like really bad freaky ones, when I told my Mom about them she had told me that it was time for me to know the truth. She had said that she was a witch and so was I. All of her ancestors were wizards and witches. Yeah, I mean that's what you would like to hear when you tell your Mom that you are afraid to sleep due to the nightmares you're having. NOT. And to make it even more bad, my Mom said that I had to go to a magic school, and the first thing that came to my mind was Hogwarts. Since wizards and witches existed, so must Hogwarts right? But no, apparently it isn't real. But today I will be attending the top wizardry school on Earth. And I happen to get an admission since my ancestors are from the royal blood line. WTF? So yeah, I am a witch, I will be attending a witchcraft and wizardry school, and I apparently belong to the royal blood line of whatever. When my dad heard all this, he exploded. Yeah, that doesn't sound so nice; trust me hearing your dad shouting at your Mom, isn't a good thing to hear.
Apparently, my Mom hadn't told him that she was a witch. And my dad said that she should have told him before, not that he was against witches or anything. He just said that she had broken his trust and blah, blah, blah. And now here I am in a new house which we just moved in yesterday. And all of this happened within a week, can you actually believe that? I mean a week is only 7 days and 168 hours. Don't ask me how I knew that.
"Mom, are you okay?" I asked, as I took a spoonful of coco pops. She suddenly jerked up, as if I had scared her. Freaky.
"Uh, hello sweetie. When did you come downstairs?" she asked.
"I've been here for quite a while." I answered, and wondering if she would ever be the same again.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't get much sleep last night." She said as she got up and turned the ON button on the coffee machine.
"Yeah, it looks like it." I am such a bad daughter, who would say that to their Mom! "I am sorry, I mean, you still look pretty. It's just that you look a bit sleepy so-."
"It's ok, Zara." She said, giving me a hug as I put the spoon on my mouth. "It's your BIG day today" she said emphasizing the word BIG.
"Yeah, I can't wait." I said sarcastically.
"Oh Zara! It's not that bad as you think, I have been to this school and you'd be having the same head teacher as me. I have talked to her and she has promised me that she would make you feel at home." She said as got her hot mug of coffee and sat at the chair beside me.
"You went to that school? When was it built?" I said, and then I realised that I had just called my Mom old. Great. "Not that you are too old or anything."
She laughed. "It was built in 1100's. It's the oldest school of witchcraft and wizardry."
"Older than Hogwarts?" I asked, remembering that it wasn't real, but hey, I read the series and watched all the movies. That school looked pretty ancient to me.
"It doesn't exist; I have told you that before. Yes, it is probably the oldest school on earth." She said moving her finger around the rim of her mug.
"And I'll be staying at this antique school for 4 months! I will miss you." I said, as I rinsed the bowl in the sink and put it in the dishwasher.
"Oh Zara! I will miss you too." She said, embracing me in a hug again. "And I thought you liked vintage things."
"I do" I said pointing to my cream cashmere cardigan which had belonged to Queen Antoinette. How cool is that! My dad won it on an auction. "But I'm not sure if I would feel the same for a building made out of old bricks."
"Trust me, you would love it." She said. Then she looked at her diamond watch which my dad had given her for their last wedding anniversary. "I will be in the car waiting. We don't want to be late for your first day." She gave me a hug and left. My Mom always gave hugs when she was upset. It kind of gets annoying after a while.
Sighing, I checked that my iPhone and my iPod touch were fully charged and put them in my purse. After checking my hair and make-up in the mirror, I went outside.
***
My Mom stopped the silver Porsche in front of the big black iron gates. They had the initials W.H in golden swirls at the top of the gates. The Whisper Hollow Academy. Cool name. My Mom slid a card through the machine which beeped and opened the gates. Cool. I think I might get one of those cards, since my Mom has one.
Before I got out of the car, I did a last minute check if my make-up was ok. I mean, I was going to meet the head teacher, I needed to look good. As I tried to stable my white high heels on the gravel my Mom said, "We have an appointment with the Headmistress, after that she has promised me she would show you around the school." She stopped walking, and turned around to look at me. "I won't be able to stay for the showing around part, sweetheart. I have to go to my lawyer and sort some things out."
I then looked at her clothes; she was wearing a tight black pencil skirt which went up to the top of her knees and a well fitted black blazer. She was going to the Court. She was talking about the divorce. Even though I had wanted my Mom to show me around, as she had been here and everything, I gave her a smile and said, "It's ok, I don't really mind mom."
"That's my girl." She said as she hugged me. AGAIN. The school was the size of Buckingham Palace in London and it looked like it too. The reception area was covered in red walls and black wood furniture.
We were told by the receptionist that the headmistress was waiting for us. We went up the staircase which was covered with red velvet carpet. The Headmistress' office was the largest office I had ever seen. Ok, maybe I was exaggerating, but the office was much bigger than my dad's.
"Amelia!" the headmistress said, as she hugged my mom tightly. My mum hugged her back. "It's so good to see you again."
"Me too, you haven't changed at all, Headmistress Leonora." My mom said with a big smile. Headmistress Leonora had big brown eyes and dark brown curls. She looked the same age as my mom, which was scary since my mom had said that Headmistress Leonora was here when my mom attended this school. Could witches never age?
"Just Leonora, dear." She said, and then looked at me. "And this must be Zara."
"Good morning, Headmistress Leonora." I said politely, I knew how to behave in front of adults, unlike some other rich spoilt children. I mean after all, my parents are multi billionaires and they always had lots of meetings and I sort of learnt the manners from him.
The headmistress looked impressed, "I am so glad to have you here Zara." She said happily, as she hugged me; I hugged her back and gave her my best student smile.
I looked at my mom who was crying, "Mom, there's no need to get emotional." I said, trying to fight back my own tears.
"They are tears of happiness, sweetheart." She said as she wiped her eyes. "You don't know how long I have been waiting for this day." Her eyes looked better than before because she had applied some foundation. "It's time for me to go."
She gave me a hug and said, "I will ring you every day or mail you, okay?" I nodded in reply; I didn't say anything because I knew if I did, I would be telling her not to leave me.
"I have promised you Amelia that I would take good care of her." Headmistress Leonora said as she patted my mom's shoulder as she tried to fight back her tears but continued to spill across her cheeks.
"I trust you." My mom said, looking seriously at the Headmistress. She then looked at me and smiled, "Take care, Zara."
"You too." I hugged her for the last time and the she left. And I was left alone in a building full of witches, well ... including myself.
***
"I will show you around now." The Headmistress said, as I followed her out of the office. When we left the building, I gaped. In front of me was the most beautiful garden I had ever seen.
"On the left, are the boy's dorms and on the right are the girl's dorms. Ahead you can see the school garden." The Headmistress pointed to the buildings when she explained.
"They're beautiful." I said, the buildings were like mini palaces.
"Come on; let me show you the garden." The Headmistress said giving me a sweet smile. I really seemed to like her.
The garden was filled with students. There was a very old fountain in the middle. Cool. Just as I looked around, I noticed a big crowd of girls on the right hand side of the fountain. They all seemed to be wearing high heels (not designers) and dresses (which looked like designer ones but weren't). I then definitely knew that this school's Queen B would be among them. Just before I thought of how to introduce myself, Headmistress Leonora bold voice rang out."Boys and girls, this is Zara Delayne the new girl!"
Everybody stopped talking to look at me. The girl's whispered at how good my clothes were and the boys were placing bets on who I would go out with. This is a shame since I'm planning to be single after Carl. I tried not to remember our weird relationship and smiled at everyone I saw. Some girls smiled back at me and some were too busy gaping at the girl who their boyfriend's had their eye on. Well, I can't help attracting attention. Headmistress Leonora whispered, "Do you mind if I leave you here?" I nodded my head in response. I didn't know what I should be doing so I just smiled at anyone who met my eyes. When Headmistress Leonora left, suddenly a tall slim blonde girl stepped forward.
"I am Henrietta, the Queen B/Head Girl" she said and gave me an I-am-the-boss-around-here look. And she actually said the word "slash'. I seriously felt sorry for this school for having such a bad Queen B. She put her hand forward, trying to shake my hand. More like shake my ass bitch. My dad always told me to never shake hands with the enemies.
"You SHAKE the hand." She said trying to hide her anger.
"Excuse me? I don't shake hands with just anyone." I said back, through gritted teeth, and turned around to walk away. When suddenly she grabbed my shoulder and turned me around forcefully. Ouch.
"You ALWAYS shake the Queen B's/Head Girl's hand? When asked. Understand?" she asked.
"No, when the Queen B/Head Girl has earned my respect, then I would shake their hand biotch!" I replied back and gave her an innocent smile.
"I'm sorry?" she asked, shocked at what I just said.
"Apology accepted." I said, my smile getting wider. Before Henrietta could say something I heard a low whistle from behind me. I turned around to look at a big group of fit handsome boys. Their leader was the one who had whistled. His bright blue eyes checked me out, and whistled again.
"It looks like we have a cat fight here." He said in a deep sexy voice.
"No, we were just introducing ourselves." I corrected him.
He moved one perfect eyebrow up, "You are?"
"Zara Delayne." I said curtly.
"The new girl." Henrietta added.
The boy laughed, "Jealous, Hetty?" he asked. "Although I doubt she is the real Delayne kid." Well, remember telling you that my parents were really famous and sensational and still are. Lots of couples wanted the fame so they changed their surnames to Delayne and had kids and said that they were the Delayne kid. I mean how sad is that! But the truth is that I am the REAL Delayne kid.
"No, Zac. Why would I be jealous of her?" she said, looking at me up and down and then scowling. "She's just a wannabe."
Anger fumed inside me. She had just called me a wannabe. That statement was so, so low. "This," I said angrily as I pointed to my cashmere cardigan. "Belongs to...-."
I was cut off by Hetty's bitchy voice, "My grandma probably has that as a memory of her young childhood days."
Everybody laughed. Yes, I was getting humiliated, but I had to get my place as the Queen B so hard work was needed. "It belongs to Queen Antoinette. And what you're wearing is no more than $100. And all you girls are wearing cheap versions of that." I said pointing to their outfits, some of them felt really embarrassed and some felt angry (probably at me) for telling everybody that they can't afford designers. Tough Luck biatches.
"You got owned." Zac told Hetty who was breathing so hard and deeply, that all of her body was moving. Not Cool.
I then knew that I had to go, otherwise I will be beaten up big time with Hetty's Gang. Just as I was about to leave, I decided to say something. "Here's a word of wisdom, no one can be better than me so don't try to get in my way. "
And I looked at Zac giving him my best evil look, "And by the way I AM Jack and Amelia Delayne's daughter. You can ask the headmistress if you don't believe me." I said through gritted teeth.
And with that I left.