Page 1 of Finding Her

poppy

When my parents dropped me off at boarding school for the first time, my mom squeezed me tight and told me not to have too much fun.

My sister, Ivy, pulled her off me and told her not to worry, though when she hugged me, she whispered that she wouldn’t tell them about me having fun with boys and going to parties.

But I wasn’t going for the boys or the parties or even the cute uniform. Sure, all of those were benefits, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in any of them, but there was one thing I wanted above all else by coming here.

A friend.

Maybe it was super cheesy, but it was true.

Moving five times in twelve years meant that I hadn’t gotten the chance to settle down anywhere.

I’d made plenty of friends, but never a best friend.

Never someone who got the chance to really know me or liked me enough to keep in touch after I inevitably moved away.

But boarding school could be my chance to actually get to stay in one place and make a mark.

The first year had been everything I’d been dreaming of. I got along well with my roommate, I aced my classes, and my parents promised me that they wouldn’t change their minds about me staying here until graduation.

The second year, however…

I screamed as ice cold water hit my face.

As I rolled over to avoid another attack, I went from having a solid mattress under me to just air.

I was weightless only for a second before I slammed onto the wooden floor.

I groaned as I opened my eyes, waiting for the world to stop spinning.

When it did, I found bright blue eyes staring back into mine.

“Get up,” Lilah said with a smirk. She crushed the empty water bottle in her hand. “It’s the first day and you’re already late.”

My second year at Hartwell Academy was proving to me that having a best friend wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.