Page 5 of I Don’t Need Your Protection (Harrington Bay Academy #1)

My shoes squeak on the floor, causing her head to lift. As soon as she sees me, she smiles, clasping her hands together. “Hello, Addie. Why don’t you take a seat?”

After I do so, she tells me how glad she is to have me in her school. I can tell she cares more about the school’s publicity than the new “scholarship kid.”

She goes over a few school rules, letting me know that all the information is on the school website, as well as a packet in my room.

Normally, I’d be okay with breaking a rule or two, like anyone my age, but since my life is in danger, I need to blend in.

I’m not sure exactly how I’ll blend in with wealthy kids, but maybe I’ll find someone to befriend.

It sucks that I have to hide my true identity, but I want to be safe.

After she’s done, the principal gives me another smile and tells me to continue my tour with Carly. I’m not expected to attend classes until tomorrow.

“We hope you have a meaningful year here at Harrington Bay Academy, Addie,” she tells me with another grin.

I force a smile. “Thanks.”

As I make my way out of the main office, a presence slips behind me. It takes me a second to realize it’s my bodyguard. He follows me out of the office, where we meet Carly outside .

“Is it okay that you’re missing class?” I ask her.

“It’s fine. I don’t really care about school.” She shrugs. “It’s not like my scholarship is dependent on my grades. I’m what these kids call a ‘charity case.’”

“Huh?” I ask as she leads me and Caleb toward the stairs.

“I’m a scholarship student,” she explains. “Like you, right?”

“Right.”

“But my scholarship isn’t dependent on my grades like yours and other students.

I’m only here because Harrington is trying to improve her image.

See, my dad worked for one of her family’s companies and they had to fire some people.

Including my dad. So my dad and a few others made a big issue about it, and in order to appease him, she gave me a scholarship to Harrington Bay Academy.

And my dad got his job back. I’m an experiment, and if things go well, she’ll probably offer the scholarship to many underprivileged kids.

” She shrugs again. “Not that I really care what school I go to, but I heard the food was good here, so I decided to attend.”

“Since freshman year?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

“And do you like it?”

She pushes the golden doors open and we turn toward one of the buildings on the other side of the campus. “I guess. I mean, like I said, the food’s good and my friends are awesome. They’re the only ones keeping me sane.”

I smile, the corners of my lips quaking. I miss my friends. I had many back home, when my parents were alive, and my life was normal. I’ve kept in touch with some of them over the past month, but now that I’m in hiding, Addie Hayes disappeared from the face of the earth.

“What about you?” Carly asks Caleb. “Are you here on scholarship?”

We both turn to look at him. He keeps his head straight, eyes locked on the area before him.

Either he didn’t hear the question or he doesn’t care enough to answer it.

Truthfully, I kind of forgot he’s here, which is weird because you don’t forget a guy who looks like that . But then again, that is his job.

Carly clears her throat and talks about some memories she has from this school. “And we’ve reached the girls’ dorm,” she announces. “The boys’ is over there.” She directs Caleb to a building on the other side.

He keeps his eyes on me. “I’ll check it out later.”

“Okay, sure.” She beams at me. “Let’s go inside.” She locks arms with me, yanking me into the building and up the stairs. Caleb disappears, but I feel his presence here.

“So let’s see…” Carly says as she taps on her phone. “You’re in room 110. That’s the last room on this floor.”

“How many floors are there?”

“Three. I’m on the first floor, too. Room 105. We’ll see each other often, so if you have any questions, I’m your girl.”

I take in a relieved breath I didn’t know my body was craving. Being alone in a new world is pretty scary, so it’s nice to have someone here for me.

“Thanks.”

“Sure. I can usually sense if I’ll get along with someone, and I can say without a doubt that you and I will be best friends, Addie.”

I smile. “I’d really like that.”

She scrunches her nose. “Just be wary of the mean witches. They’re everywhere in this school. I had one as a roommate once. Ugh.” She shivers. “But most of the kids here are cool.”

I glance around because I feel Caleb watching me, but I don’t see him anywhere.

Either I’m imagining things, or he’s very good at his job.

I still don’t know if he’s a student or undercover, but maybe that doesn’t matter.

He’s here to keep me safe and it’s my job to make the most of my new situation.

“Here we are,” Carly says. “Room 110.” She flings the door open.

As we step inside, I see two beds that are made, two closets, each large enough to host all the clothes I brought with me.

Two vanities, two large TVs, two desks, and a table and chairs.

There’s also a kitchenette. The room is three times the size of the one I had back home.

There are two windows that have a view of the beautiful trees, grass, flowers, and sky outside.

“Neat, huh?” Carly says with a smile. “But check this out.” She leads me to a door that opens to the balcony. She bends over the low wall, sighing happily. “This is the life.”

I bend over the wall as well, taking in the fresh air and beautiful scenery. Have I fallen into a fairytale? As much as I hate that I have to live here, this room sure does have its perks.

“Does every room have a balcony?” I ask.

“Yes.”

I glance around. “Do I have a roommate? ”

“Um, I don’t think so. This was Marie’s room, but I heard they moved her into a larger room with two other girls.” Her eyebrows scrunch. “Wait a sec. Why would they do that and leave you without a roommate?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she wanted to move in with them?”

“Well, those three are best friends….Too bad the school didn’t let me bunk in with my best friends, who are together this year. But I guess money really does buy you everything. My roommate this year pretends I don’t exist.”

“Sorry about that.”

She waves her hand. “That’s okay.” She scans around until her eyes land on the suitcases that are resting against the wall. “I guess I’ll let you unpack. Unless you have any questions?”

I shrug. “This is all so overwhelming.”

She nods in understanding. “Everyone feels like that on their first day. I’ll just go over some basics.

Dinner is at six. Curfew is at ten. We’re allowed to leave campus, but not during school hours unless given permission.

You can go anywhere you want on the weekends, but it can’t be too far or you’ll need permission, too.

And if you think you’ll be gone for more than two hours, you need to let the office know.

” She taps her chin. “What else? Oh, duh. No parties are allowed on campus. Girls and guys are not allowed to be in each other’s dorms after nine.

Classes start at eight, breakfast is at 7:30.

Did I cover everything? Probably not, but that’s all I can think of now.

Read the student manual, if you want. Most kids ignore it, hehe. ”

I smile. “I’ll probably skim through it. I don’t want to get in trouble or anything.”

She nods. “Right. We scholarship kids have to be on our best behavior at all times or else we’ll be threatened with expulsion, right? We don’t have rich daddies and mommies to bail us out.”

I force a laugh. “Right. But wouldn’t expulsion taint the school’s reputation?”

She waves her hand. “They’d come up with some lie or excuse to cover it up.”

“Does that happen often? Expulsion?”

She shrugs. “Like any other school, I guess. This place is pretty fair. They won’t expel you for no reason.” She studies me. “Why are you so worried?”

“I’m not. I was just curious. I’ve never been to a rich boarding school before.”

“Yeah, I get that. I was the same, sort of. I’m not so worried about expulsions because meh. School isn’t so important to me. But never mind all that. You should unpack before we have to turn in for the night. Don’t forget to go to dinner at six.”

“Okay, thanks.”

She flings her arms around me. “No problem. I’ll see you later.”

“Bye.”

She’s about to exit my room, but then she faces me. “Oh, almost forgot. The shower was giving Marie problems for days and it broke this morning. They didn’t have a chance to fix it yet, so you’ll need to use the communal shower for a couple of days. It’s right next door.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem. I’ll see you later.” She waves and walks out.