by Connie Glynn
Lottie was sure she caught Anastacia’s fingers twitch, but other than that she displayed no sign of her excitement.
‘We very rarely offer places in the fencing team. Being a part of the Rosewood lancers is a tremendous honour, so consider the proposal seriously, girls. The try-outs are in the first week of December; you may practise with the current after-school classes but I advise you to make a hasty decision.’ She nodded at each of them. ‘Thank you, girls, you are dismissed.’
Ellie shot Lottie a look of concern as they left her alone with Dame Bolter. Anastacia looked at Lottie, her eyes appearing to pass right through her before she too turned and left.
They stood for a moment in silence until the door was completely shut. Lottie wouldn’t have been surprised if Ellie was outside with her ear pressed up against it, ready to come and fight if she felt Lottie was being treated unfairly.
‘Miss Pumpkin … may I call you Charlotte?’
This didn’t surprise Lottie. A lot of adults she met had trouble with her last name, finding it a little too silly.
‘Yes, of course, Dame Bolter,’ she said, pretending not to mind.
‘Charlotte, I am a firm believer in the ethos of this school. It’s why I love working here so much.’ She gestured for Lottie to sit in the seat opposite her and she happily complied. ‘I understand you are here under the Florence Ivy bursary programme.’
It was not a question, but Lottie felt the need to nod.
‘I take it upon myself each year to properly introduce myself to any bursary winners. Charlotte, are you aware you are the first exceptional-circumstances bursary winner in twelve years?’
‘No, ma’am.’ Lottie could feel her hands trembling in her lap. She’d known it was a tremendous feat to get into Rosewood on a bursary, but she hadn’t realized how special her circumstances were.
‘At the start of this class, I must admit, I thought maybe we’d made a mistake.’
Lottie sat firmly, refusing to let the hurt show on her face yet she couldn’t deny that she had made little attempt before now to participate during sports classes.
‘But today you surprised me. You pushed yourself and did something exceptional. You became exceptional.’
Lottie’s hands stopped trembling. ‘I … thank you,’ Lottie replied carefully.
‘We will be monitoring your progress in the school carefully, Lottie. Do not disappoint us. We expect great things from you.’ She smiled at her then and it was such a wonderful sight that Lottie felt momentarily dazzled.
Lottie found herself leaving Dame Bolter’s office feeling quite overwhelmed. She thought about her mother, about the tiara sitting on her bedside table, about Ellie and how she’d encouraged her so much already. She did not want to disappoint anyone. She was going to work her hardest to prove to everyone that she was worth having faith in. All she had to do was keep pushing herself and not get distracted by any silly princess rumours or gossip.
As long as she stayed focused and didn’t let anything distract her, she could definitely make them proud.
I will be unstoppable!
15
As the unseasonably hot September drew to a close, the girls awoke one Friday morning to a particularly splendid thunderstorm. The lightning illuminated their room through the chiffon curtains. Ellie threw off her covers and ran to the glass doors, throwing them open and running out on to the balcony into the embrace of the torrential downpour.
Her Star Wars pyjamas were quickly soaked through, hanging thick and sticky on her body, but she continued to dance around with her arms wide open, beckoning to the sky. She clamped her hands on the terrace wall and let out a howl in perfect unison with a burst of cracking thunder. Lottie stared, mesmerized by her affinity with the storm, and for a moment she was sure the thunder called out to Ellie in a deep growl through the dawn sky: Let down your hair.
The electricity in the air had the whole Ivy dorm giddy at breakfast that morning and for the first time in weeks the buzz seemed not to be aimed at Lottie. Ellie and Lottie took their usual seats in the dining hall next to the window overlooking the small pond with the statue of Ryley. Having a space in the hall that was basically reserved for them was definitely a nice perk of having people think she was a princess.
The rain was still pelting down outside, clattering loudly as it hit the glass. The whole outside world was a watery blur through the giant two-storey windows.
‘This weather is insane!’ exclaimed Ellie, stabbing a fork into a huge chunk of honey-roast ham and lifting the whole thing up in one. Lottie internally grimaced. She was already getting used to the extravagant Rosewood dining but, as a proud vegetarian from the age of five, the sight of meat made her queasy. Eating animals just didn’t seem very princessy. How could she expect little woodland critters to assist her in her daily tasks if she was going to turn round and eat them?
‘I’m more concerned about you catching a cold from running around in it,’ Lottie said seriously.
Ellie beamed at Lottie with a toothy grin. ‘I can’t help it. Storms make people act strange.’ She gestured to the room. ‘Look.’
Lottie followed her gaze around the hall. Ellie had picked up on a strange buzz that seemed to be spilling out of all the students. There was more giggling, whispering and giddy mumbling than usual. Something was definitely causing a stir.
‘It’s probably due to the extreme changes in air pressure.’
Lottie and Ellie both jumped and turned to find Binah at the side of their table, dripping wet with an excited grin on her face. How did she even get in here?
‘Good morning, Ellie. Good morning, Lottie.’
‘Binah, oh my goodness, sit down – you must be freezing.’ Lottie quickly pulled off her purple Ivy blazer and wrapped it over Binah’s shoulders. Her huge round glasses were almost completely steamed up and it was a mystery how she could even see anything. What was it with these girls and running around in thunderstorms?
‘Looks like the air pressure may have got to you as well, Binah,’ Ellie teased, that familiar little side smile working its way on to her face.
Binah tutted in response, waving her hand as if batting the comment away. ‘Oh please. It takes more than a cumulonimbus cloud formation to affect my cognitive abilities … but you on the other hand …’ She rested her chin on her hands, a wry smile crawling on to her lips. ‘How are you getting on with that puzzle?’
Ellie looked away in irritation and Binah laughed. She gently patted Ellie’s hand. ‘Try to figure it out from the answers, not the equations.’
Ellie was about to question Binah on this when she cut them off, a glimmer in her eye.
‘I need you both to do me a favour.’
Ellie and Lottie exchanged a look. Binah was usually doing favours for people, not asking for them.
‘There’s a new student joining our year and your company.’
Lottie looked out over the hall and realized this must be what had everyone so excited.
‘No one knows anything about them and, as you know, I like to know everything so I can help everyone.’ Lottie smiled at this, remembering how helpful Binah had been on her first day.
‘So what do you want us to do?’
‘I want you to find out everything you can about them, of course.’
Ellie hesitated for a moment, her eyebrows narrowing.
‘Do you do this to every student?’ she asked, a slight edge in her voice.
‘Only the mysterious ones. Why do you ask?’
Lottie held her breath. Could Binah have looked into Ellie?
To her relief Ellie held her cool. ‘Just curious,’ she said, beaming.
‘So what’s her name?’ Lottie asked, quickly changing the subject.
‘Her? It’s not a girl; it’s a boy.’ Binah’s eyes shot up to the clock at the front of the hall. ‘Oh my! I’d better be off or I’ll be late to class.’ She picked up her soaking-wet backpack and threw it over her shoulder, her massive ringlets flicking water acr
oss the room as she spun round. ‘See you later.’ She delicately skipped away before they had a chance to respond, indifferent to the trail of chaos she’d left in her wake.
Lottie breathed out slowly. ‘A new boy …’ That’s what everyone is getting so excited about? She had to wonder if there was something special about him to have everyone so giddy and before she knew it her mind began asking a million questions. Why was he arriving over two weeks into term? What was he like? Did he bring the storm with him? She wondered if he was some sort of Prince Charming. The last time everyone had been this excited was when they had decided she was a princess.
‘Lottie?’
Lottie was pulled out of her daydreaming to find Ellie standing up, looking very distressed. ‘I’ve been saying your name for ages; what’s wrong with you?’
Lottie couldn’t help feeling embarrassed. She wasn’t sure if it was due to accidentally ignoring Ellie or at the absurd thought that Ellie might be able to guess what she’d been fantasizing about.
‘Sorry I was just …’ Being a cliché, she thought to herself.
Ellie didn’t even wait for her to finish, furiously grabbing her stuff and turning to leave.
‘Let’s go. I don’t want to be in here any more. Everyone’s acting like idiots about a stupid new boy.’ She grabbed another pastry and shoved it in her mouth. ‘What’s so special about a boy anyway?’ Ellie was being uncharacteristically moody and the tension in her voice had Lottie feeling a little nervous.
‘I’m sure …’
Lottie found her voice trailing off. She had no idea why this information was stressing Ellie out so she didn’t know what to say to make her feel better. She followed her as she stormed out of the dining hall.
‘I’m sure this new boy is just a boring kid who will have absolutely no impact on our lives whatsoever,’ Lottie said firmly.
She was not surprised when Ellie ignored these words of encouragement. Whatever was bothering her was clearly out of Lottie’s hands.
16
Lottie found herself alone in the English classroom twenty minutes before the class was due to start, nervously sharpening her pencils and wondering if Ellie would get in trouble for skipping a lesson. Their discussion after breakfast hadn’t gone how Lottie had hoped. As soon as they had arrived back at their room, Ellie had proceeded to face-plant on to her bed with no intention of getting ready for class.
‘Aren’t you coming?’
‘I’ll see you there,’ came the pillow-muffled response.
‘Will I, though? Skipping classes can become a very bad habit, Ellie.’
‘Well, we’ll see if I’ll see you there.’
‘What does that even mean?’
‘You’ll see.’
Lottie groaned and slammed her head down on the desk. She was starting to feel responsible for Ellie. If these really were her last few years of freedom before her royal duties began, then she wanted her to get as much out of them as possible.
‘Excuse me.’
Lottie jolted at the unfamiliar voice and shot upright. She proceeded to hit the owner of the voice hard on the chin with the back of her head, not realizing that the mystery person had been leaning over her.
She let out a little yelp at what felt undeniably like static electricity.
‘You scared me!’ she cried, rubbing her head. She could feel tears springing to her eyes at the shock and had to will herself to calm down.
The boy behind her seemed completely unaffected by the collision. The only sign he showed of any pain was on the slow stroking of his chin as he sat down at a desk one space over from her.
Lottie found her shock turn to a feeling she couldn’t quite place. This was the new boy. He was dressed in the soft plum blazer of Ivy House. Although it fitted him perfectly, he seemed too dark, too wild for such a tame uniform. An uncomfortable feeling began to creep through her and she felt the unbearable desire to both look away and stare at him forever all at once. But there was something more. As Lottie gazed at him, she felt like she knew him. He looked … familiar.
‘Usually it’s common practice to apologize when you hit someone,’ he said smoothly.
‘I … excuse me?’ Lottie blinked. ‘You can’t be serious?’
‘You hit me.’
‘You sneaked up on me,’ she retorted, outraged by his callous rudeness. ‘You should be apologizing to me.’
‘Well, good luck with that,’ he said curtly.
She rolled her eyes, all thoughts of Prince Charming vanishing with every irritating breath he took. It took all her willpower to be the bigger person and not say something she’d regret. Maybe it was the impulsive influence of Ellie, or maybe there was just something about this boy, but as it turned out ‘all her willpower’ was not strong enough.
‘You’re going to regret being so rude to me, you know,’ she said sweetly, pretending to be looking at something in her book. Lottie was surprised with the words that came out of her mouth. This was so unlike her. Be kind was such a huge part of her mantra and yet she couldn’t stop herself.
His ears pricked up as he looked over at her.
Ha ha, thought Lottie. Got you!
A little half smile crept on to his face as a lock of shaggy dark hair flopped in front of his intense brown eyes and Lottie had a severe sense of déjà vu.
‘And why is that then?’ he purred.
Right into my trap. Lottie had to stop herself from squealing, the thought of embarrassing this pompous brat was too good to be true.
‘You’re forgiven, of course, as you’re new. Let it never be said that the Maravish family aren’t forgiving,’ she said, feigning a haughty tone.
‘Maravish?’ he said quizzically.
‘Why, yes –’ she closed the book and looked up at him with as much majestic posture as she could manage – ‘I’m the Maravish princess … but you can call me Lottie.’
There was a pause in which the new boy simply stared at her blankly for a moment, his eyes showing no emotion and making Lottie a little nervous.
‘Amazing,’ he said with no emotion.
This had not been the response Lottie was expecting.
‘Do you seriously not know who that is?’ Lottie neglected to remind herself that she hadn’t known who that was until a month ago.
‘Oh I do.’ He smiled, the gesture not quite reaching his eyes. He looked her up and down before smirking with obvious cynicism. ‘I just didn’t expect her to be … you.’
Lottie found herself genuinely hurt by the insult, though she had to admit she wasn’t acting particularly like a princess right now. She mentally recited her mantra to calm herself down.
I will be kind, I will be brave, I will be unstoppable.
No stupid boy would make her doubt herself. She realized she was sitting there opening and closing her mouth like a fish as she tried to come up with a clever reply, but before she could respond the door swung open and in walked Ms Kuma followed by the rest of the class.
‘Ah fantastic, you’re already here, and making friends it would seem. Thank you, Lottie.’ She beamed over at her, her long embroidered cloak swaying with her lyrical movements as she took to the front of the class.
At least Lottie could count on English to be a pleasant distraction from her strange morning. She’d always loved English and she adored Ms Kuma. It was no secret that her love of English stemmed from her childhood obsession with fairy tales. She was so fascinated by words and how they could be used as signifiers to express abstract thoughts and feelings; it all seemed so beautiful and romantic to her.
‘Jamie, please do stand up and introduce yourself,’ Ms Kuma said grandly.
Some of the girls in the class blushed and giggled as he stood up.
‘Good morning. My name is Jamie Volk and I’m not sure how long I will be at this school. My parents travel a lot so I doubt there’s much point in me getting too comfortable here.’ With that, he sat back down. An awkward silence wriggled its way over the previously charmed
students as the rest of the company tried and failed to figure out if he was joking.
As he finished his curt introduction, Lottie was distracted by the sight of Ellie. She was peering in through the circular glass window in the door, her mop of wet black hair suggesting she’d neglected to bring an umbrella with her. Lottie waved subtly at her, but Ellie’s gaze seemed fixed on Jamie. She looked … uncharacteristically terrified. Jamie glanced over at the door just as Ellie turned round and bolted away. Out of the corner of her eye Lottie was sure she could see Jamie’s fists clench.
This is getting weird, she thought. Her whole body went rigid as a troubling thought came to her. He could be a bad guy; maybe that’s the weird feeling I felt earlier? And she’d just told him she was the princess. She tried to steady her breathing.
‘It says here that English is your best subject?’ continued Ms Kuma, seemingly unaware of any awkwardness. She gave a short humorous snort. ‘Looks like you have some competition, Lottie.’
Jamie’s eyes were still fixed on the door.
Who are you, Jamie Volk? And what do you want with my princess?
As if he’d heard his name spoken, he turned back and gave Lottie a vacant smile. To anyone else in the room it would have seemed like a harmless nod to their supposed joint love of English, but there was something more in his eyes that made Lottie shiver.
After what felt like the most tense and uncomfortable hour of Lottie’s life, Ms Kuma finally dismissed the class for first break, pleasantly reminding everyone as they left their desks to bring in their A Midsummer Night’s Dream homework for next week.
The second they were dismissed Lottie made a beeline for the door and bolted for the stairs as soon as she was out of the classroom.
Behind her she heard a boy’s voice. ‘Wait.’
She knew it was Jamie, but she wanted to get as far away from him as possible and find Ellie. Luckily Jamie was new so he wouldn’t know the shortcuts back to the dorm. Something odd was going on and she wouldn’t feel comfortable until she got some answers from Ellie.
