Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1)(2)

We don’t drive far down the road before I see two dormitories, right across the street from each other. They remind me of sorority and fraternity houses I’ve seen on TV, except, they’re massive. Both buildings are white, and remind me of an old colonial style house. There are big, white pillars in the front, and a lot of windows. I already know there are three stories, four if you include the basement. On the main floor there is a student lounge, and all senior dorms are on the main. The second floor is for junior girls’ dorms. The third floor is where all the freshman and sophomores room. In the basement, there are just washers and dryers. I’ve never done laundry in my life. My maid taught me how to do it before I left, so I feel confident. It’s just going to suck having to do it.

Uncle Matty pulls into the parking lot and parks in the first spot he sees. I get out of the dark SUV, thankful to not be in the car anymore. Uncle Matty and Jake both get out; and Jake opens the back hatch and starts pulling out my luggage. I’m suddenly thankful that Uncle Matty and Jake are here to carry my luggage for me.

“Hello, welcome to East Raven Academy,” a perky, male voice says, from behind me.

Uh.

Did I mention that overly happy people get on my nerves?

“Hi,” I say, turning to look at the boy.

He’s dressed nice. Really nice. He’s got on a pair of black dress pants, a white, long sleeved, button up shirt, a gray sweater-vest, and a dark red tie. He has a pin on his shirt that says, ‘Head Prefect.’ I look down and notice his bright red Converse shoes.

Huh, maybe he’s not so bad.

“I’m Austin Vanderbilt—junior and head prefect,” he says, beaming at me. His teeth are almost blindly white. I should tell him that it’s bad for your teeth if you bleach them too much.

“I’m Phoenix B... Uh... Underwood. Junior. New.”

“Phoenix is a cool name,” Austin tells me. “You must have rock star parents or something? Rock stars always name their kids cool stuff.”

I roll my eyes.

“So close. My dad is a self-made millionaire,” I tell him. “He started his business in his parents’ garage.” And now is a member of congress and my mother lives off her fabulously wealthy CEO husband, even though she has her own money from her parents.

But I can’t tell him all that.

“You’re in dorm 27-A.” He holds up a key for me. “If you go in the front door, it’s towards the left.”

“Am I... sharing a room with anybody?” I ask.

“Everybody shares. Though, the juniors have a huge dorm and their own, private bathrooms. Really, it’s not so bad,” he says. “Plus, everybody gets a private dorm for senior year.”

Something to look forward to next year.

“Right,” I say, frowning. “Do you know my roommate?”

He looks back at his clipboard. “Teagan Hudson. You’re lucky. She’s a good one. She’s on the soccer team, she was student body president her sophomore year, and she’s president of the drama club. She’s super outgoing and popular. Everybody loves her.”

Outgoing and popular is not good in my book. Popular people do not like me. Except here, I don’t have my stepbrother, Charlie, to keep me from getting bullied. This isn’t good.

“Thanks,” I tell him.

“No problem, Phoenix,” he says, then looks at Uncle Matty and Jake. “Do you need help with your bags?”

“Naw, I’m good. See you later.”

“Okay. Let me know if you need anything.”

He walks away, and I am left with the two secret service agents.

How am I going to survive here? There is, literally, no privacy except in the bathroom.

East Raven Academy is going to suck worse than I originally thought.

I let the two goons grab my luggage and I head inside towards my dorm. It’s on the first floor, for which I am grateful. Though, I have a feeling that it was set up this way in case I need to make a quick escape through my window.

I walk through a small foyer and sitting area. There are a few girls there, but it doesn’t seem like the kind of place where people really hang out. I wonder where they hang out at here. I suppose that since I’m stuck here, I should at least try to make friends.

My room is on the backside of the building. It faces the trees. It’s not nearly as nice as the view I have of the beach at home, but I suppose looking at the trees is better than looking at the parking lot.

I sigh, turning away from the window.

“Don’t like the view?” Jake asks.

“Missing Malibu,” I say.

Missing my life.

My family.

My car.

Everything.

Jake is pretending to be my older cousin who just graduated from college. Jake looks about twenty-two, but he’s actually thirty-two. He has a wife and a four year old little girl. The girl is super adorable and hyper. I met her, and all she wanted to do was play dress up, tea party and dolls with me.

Uncle Matty is older. Probably about forty five, though I haven’t asked. All I know is that he has a daughter who is my age, and a son who is a little younger. His wife passed away about fifteen years ago, and he has stayed single since then. His mom lives with him and watches his kids while he’s away for work.

I feel guilty that they have to give up their lives to babysit me. It’s not fair to them.