It was the first day back after summer vacation, and the school was abuzz with life. Quite a contrast to the usual quiet exterior. Students, new and old, were saying goodbye to their families, lugging suitcases full of belongings through the wrought iron gates of the school. Old friends reunited, telling eachother tales of their holidays, whilst old enemies put their pasts behind them for one day of peace. The taller students sat themselves on top of the red brick wall that surrounded campus, showing off how they could climb such a thing, only to get called down by security. A few of the classic delinquents passed around cigarettes in a corner and tossed stones at any bird that perched nearby. Geeks and nerds discussed their favourite shows that had aired during the two-month long vacation, and showed off new handheld gaming devices they'd bought. Aspiring council members stood at the gates, handing out a student handbook and leaflet to everyone who entered, informing them about the rules and events of the school.
Yes...
This was nice.
Aside from the few younger students sniffling about being dropped off, being unable to run back to the loving arms of their family once they drove off, everything was peaceful. There were no fights, no scuffles, no drama. Save for the occasional 'bad-boy' hitting on twenty girls a minute, or the 'tough-guy' stealing a nintendo from a nerd. Everyone kept to their group of friends, and the friendless made friends rather quickly. It was like the ideal school. Until you delved deep into every students life, that is.
Since the school focused more on extracurricular activities, their population was small, and was made up of three types of people. The rich, the overly-intelligent, and the just plain dumb. The rich didn't need to worry about qualifications, as they were most likely to get a family company or business as a hand-me-down. The overly-intelligent already had the necessary qualifications to go far in life, and just wanted to kill the extra time they had and find a hobby. If they didn't have the qualifications, then it was most likely that they just got bored and under-challenged by regular school curriculum. The plain dumb... well, nobody really needs an explanation on them, do they?
School hours were short, and had long breaks between curricular classes, but their clubs were matched by none. It was unknown how they got so much funding. Almost anyone could start up their own club, whether it be a book or tetris-playing club, so long as they could prove it had interest and potential. It was much like raising a child. If you can prove they have potential, you'd love and nurture them. If they didn't, you'd stick them in the trash can and maybe, at a later date, set them on fire. Maybe do a couple slam-dunks with them first.
The school building itself was miraculous, standing at an astounding five stories high, with an accessible, flat roof. Some believe that it was renovated from a castle, or mansion of sorts. To the front was the courtyard, simple, paved pathways leading to the front gate and dormitory block with patches of grass off to the side. The back was a wide, open space, large enough for an outdoor tennis court, sports field, and exersise track to be seperate, and then some spare. A few students who had already settled in were sitting on picnic blankets, discussing their vacation and the academic year to come. A short way off was a small block of stables, filled with horses and foals alike for the clubs that needed them.
Honestly, how did the school get so much money?
The dorm block was rather bland compared to the grandeur and splendour of the main school building. The sandblasted bricks reflected the sunlight, looking almost like someone had coated the entire building in gold and silver glitter. It stood at four stories high, with a total of two-hundred rooms, fifty on each floor. Posters were stuck around the building, advertising the less-popular clubs and school events. A few students sat on the gabled roof, enjoying the shade that the intersecting pieces gave.
All in all... It was pleasant.
Despite it being a sad day, marking the end of a vacation, it also marked the start of a new year.
A young girl stood in the foyer of the dormitory, waiting for the student in front of her to get done blubbering to the security guard stationed there. Having never been to a boarding school before, she reckoned this was standard procedure. Pulling her phone out from the pocket on her jacket, she scrolled through her e-mails until she found the one she was looking for. 'Acceptance Notification'. She figured she'd have to show this to the security guard so he could print her ID card, then she would be free to find her room. Unfortunately, the student in front of her claimed to have accidentally lost their letter of acceptance, and was sniffling and sobbing like no tomorrow.
Thankfully, that was the last she would see of the snot-faced student, as they were escorted out by another member of the security. Pulling her suitcase with her, she strode up to the desk, tossing her phone under the small window for the man to look at. She heard a faint 'beep' as he scanned the QR code that was on the bottom of the electronic mail, and the printer started to whurr into action. Taking the opportunity to look around properly for the first time since she entered, it was quite surprising how bland yet aesthetically pleasing the interior was. The foyer was small, with dark red wallpaper and oaken flooring. On the left, the security guard sat in a booth, similar to those you'd see in post offices or train stations. On the right was an enormous poster, advertising all the events to come. Directly infront was a wooden door with a large glass window running down the middle, letting the girl see the narrow hallways lined with doors it gave way to. The entire room was dimly lit by what looked to be a hanging light, that looked similar to a chandelier.
The man behind the glass screen grunted, shoving her phone and a newly-printed ID card through the window. Mumbling a small 'thanks', the girl made her way through the door. It was although she had entered a whole nother world. The hallway was indeed very narrow, it would be difficult for more than two people to walk side-by-side. The walls were painted an off-cream, almost pale yellow shade, and compared to the homely feel of the dimly lit lighting in the foyer, the lights in this part of the building were blinding. Plain, brown doors were parallel to eachother, and covered both walls, with about two meters of plain cream-cheese wall between them. Each door had a metal number screwed on, and at the end of the corridor, it was possible to see the bottom of a staircase.
She was glad it was quiet.
Perching on her suitcase she checked the e-mail again, looking for her room number. Much to her dismay, it seemed like it would be on the second floor. Oh how she wished she didn't have to lug her case of belongings up the stairs, but it didn't seem like she had much choice, if any. Sighing, she got up and picked her suitcase up by the handle, rather than pulling it behind her, and made her way over to the stairs, and then up. It was quite the climb, there wasn't too many stairs but they were tall and far apart.
Thankful to reach the top, a skip was in her step as she made her way along the second corridor. Her room was towards the middle. Swiping her ID card in the slot that was in the doorhandle, either brilliantly or terribly designed, she heard a 'click'. Flinging open the door, she took in the sight.
The room was moderately sized and rectangular. On the left was a single bed, and on the right were a set of bunk-beds.
'Does this mean I'll have multiple roommates?' She thought to herself. On the far wall was a small window, along with a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. The walls were a beige colour, and she guessed that they'd soon become decorated with various things such as posters and calendars. At the foot of the singular bed was another door, with a large 'BATHROOM' sticker. At the foot of the bunk-bed, was a small refridgerator. Presumably for things such as drinks. Would it be impolite if she chose a bed before her roommates got here? Would she seem creepy if she waited for them before she chose? Shrugging, she threw her suitcase onto the top of the bunkbeds, climbing up the ladder and sitting herself down, cross-legged.
She would claim this bed, but she'd have to wait for at least one of her roomies before unpacking. It would be embarrassing if she lodged her underwear in the same place they wanted to keep theirs, after all.
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