The End Defines the Beginning : A Boarding School Coming of Age (Harlow Academy Series Book 1)

by Sarah Appleby

  Emily shook her head.

  “Em, are you crazy? You are definitely getting in. You are so smart. You get straight A’s without even trying. Plus, you have talent. You better join a choir or something when you get there. I bet it’s like Glee.”

  It was comforting having a friend like Grace. Being able to count on someone else’s confidence when your own is low was a gift in life.

  “Thanks. I have to say that now that the application is actually in, I’m starting to feel a bit nervous.”

  “You are totally on the team! Why do you think I was worried about you even applying in the first place? I totally knew that meant you would be leaving. I don’t have a single doubt in my mind you’ll be reading that acceptance letter soon.”

  Emily still saw barriers and wasn’t so sure.

  “Thanks for your vote of confidence but I also need a heck of a scholarship to come through. I’m not sure if it would be worse to not get in in the first place or to get in and then not get a scholarship.”

  It was the one thing Emily had no control over. She had crafted an amazing application. Great essays. Awesome report cards. But would Harlow show her the money?

  “Wow. You really do want to go,” said Grace with a wisp of melancholy.

  “Yeah,” Emily said, “I just, well, yeah, I do.”

  Grace knew from her own experiences that traveling was pretty awesome. She had been to Korea a few times and once stopped in Tokyo as well. Travel was a feeling like no other. The excitement of packing suitcases, getting a stamp in the passport, the great unknown. Emily had never left Minnesota.

  “Em, you’ve got this. But if you don’t get in we’ll save every penny we can, do car washes all summer and mow lawns, and I’ll get my parents to bring you to Seoul with us next time? We’ll buy the ticket so they can’t take no for an answer and we’ll get you out of this place…” Grace said, “I mean, not that this place is bad or anything but, I mean… you know what I mean.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Emily, “No offense taken. I get what you mean. And it’s a deal.”

  The girls linked their pinkies in a promise.

  Grace abruptly grabbed her backpack. She dug around for something. Finally, she pulled out a long piece of fabric and threw it in Emily’s face.

  Emily laughed.

  “What…?” Emily smiled, and she looked at a men’s tie. “A tie?”

  “Well, every respectable applicant has to wear one. They aren’t going to let you in wearing that Little Mix t-shirt. Come on. This is the perfect first TikTok and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  PEPPER SEEMED TO be on to things. Because he had always seen Emily as a manipulative brat, even when she didn’t mean harm, he assumed she was up to no good with the Harlow application. To be fair, this time he was right.

  What Emily hadn’t known was that behind closed doors, Marie explained how uplifting this could be for Emily at a tough time in her life. She talked about what a great thing it is to understand one’s potential; and that in actual truth, even Marie was interested to see if Emily could do it, too.

  Auntie Marla had been thrilled to help Emily with her application. She had always loved writing, had even penned a couple books that she self-published and sold at her church fair, so she wanted to be the one to help get Emily’s essays in order. It seemed so many people had crawled out of the woodwork to help Emily.

  Her teachers, principals and singing coach had all written letters of recommendation and worked hard to help her put her best foot forward. Even Pepper had sat down with Marie to ensure the scholarship application had been filled in correctly. Despite his suspicion that the scholarship application was unnecessary if Emily only wanted to “see if she could get in,” Marie believed Emily’s plea that it was an essential part of every application.

  The whole process of applying had brought a surprising confidence to Emily. It had been well over a year since Andy’s cancer diagnosis and it was nice to have the family interested and concentrating on something other than the grief cycle. Emily glowed with pride and wanted to get in more than ever. The months of waiting never seemed to end.

  All the time passing between sending off the application and getting the answer allowed Emily to cultivate a sense of dread and letting people down. If she didn’t get in, would the disappointment grind the all this positivity to a halt? It felts like eons passed. It was like watching hair grow.

  Then, one morning, while watching SpiderWeb videos in her room, she heard a knock on the door.

  “Yup. It’s cool… come in,” she said, turning her cell upside down on the bed.

  It was Marie. She hadn’t been drinking yet, and her eyes were bright with a light that Emily so missed. Her loving and interested mother.

  Marie had a single rose in one hand, and a letter in the other.

  “Em,” she said, “It’s the letter from Harlow.”

  Emily looked at the envelope. It wasn’t big and fat. She had read online that thin envelopes were a terrible sign when it came to admissions.

  Her mom continued, “I just want you to know that everyone is so, so proud of you. It’s been really great to watch you grow up through all of this. And I’m so proud that I have such a bright, young lady for a daughter.”

  Despite the skinny envelope, Emily’s heart swelled at her mom’s admiration.

  Marie handed the rose and envelope to Emily. She tore open the top of it carefully.

  Dear Miss Murphy,

  On behalf of the Admissions Committee at Harlow Academy, it is my pleasure to offer you admission to the class of 2019. We identified you as one of the most talented and promising students in a very competitive applicant pool. Your commitment to personal excellence makes you stand out as someone who will thrive at Harlow Academy. We believe that you and Harlow are well matched and look forward to welcoming you on campus in the autumn.

  I hope this letter fills you with the exhilaration you deserve to feel.

  Sincerely,

  Fiona Jones

  Dean of Admissions

  OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG.

  Emily’s eyes illuminated like the Vegas strip, her mouth gaped open in a smile.

  She looked up at her mom. Her mom beamed from ear to ear.

  “You knew,” Emily asked.

  “Yes, there was another… very big envelope, addressed to us. I opened it first. You actually got a full scholarship, too,” she said excitedly, “We are so proud of you, Em. You did it!”

  She pulled Emily close for a hug and held her tightly.

  The pair pulled apart and suddenly Emily became serious.

  “I need you to sign the letter, Mom,” she said abruptly, “You know, the one that says I’m going.”

  Emily felt her heart fluttering in a very unnatural pattern. She had lied to her mom. And now, she was admitting it. She felt amazing and at the same time guilty for playing her on her mom’s emotions.

  But she needed this. She needed this more than anything.

  Marie’s smile faded slowly and the corners of her mouth grew serious. Her eyebrows furrowed.

  “What,” she asked, “I’m confused… I thought…”

  Emily interrupted.

  “Mom, I just… I really need you to do this for me. I really, really need it,” Emily felt desperation overcome her.

  “I thought you just wanted to see if you could get in,” her Mom said, trying not to be upset.

  “Pepper will probably never let Mom live this down with a million I told you so’s,” thought Emily.

  But this was her life. This was her new trajectory.

  “Mom, I know what I said. And I kind of almost meant it at the time… but after all this time to think about it… I’ve just gotten so excited. About… you know… what this could do for me.”

  Emily felt her throat close up and go tight.

  “I don’t know,” said Marie, “I think me and Pepper are going to have to think about this.”

  “No!
Must. Make. Decision. Now,” thought Emily.

  Emily took Marie’s hand in hers. Her mother’s hand was soft. A sincerity washed over her at the feeling of the soothing warmth of it.

  “Mom,” she said, looking Marie deeply in the eyes, “You and I both know this is the best thing for me. This is the truth. And we both know it.”

  Marie contemplated her daughter’s face. Emily suddenly seemed so grown up. She had never before seen a woman in her daughter’s girlish face, but now, she had transformed in an instant.

  “I know,” she said, “I know. You’re right. It is the best thing for you.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes. But instead of letting them flow, she took a deep breath. And then another. Emily deserved for this to be a joyous day in her life. No tears. Nothing but celebration.

  Marie signed the acceptance letter that day and put it in the mail. Without even asking Pepper.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THE MONTHS THAT followed were full of excitement; it was family wide. She had never had so many video calls and texts from her cousins in her life. It was like the feeling she had whenever a tornado was coming. She would run down to the basement, slightly scared, but also fascinated by the thought of being caught up in something so powerful.

  Her grandma offered to take her to the secondhand shops in some well-to-do neighborhoods to add to her Harlow wardrobe.

  “There will be better brands there,” she had said.

  Emily’s grandma had always been a bit of a peacock. She loved fashion, earrings and red lipstick. Grace had always felt comfortable following her lead in fashion. Sure, she was a granny, but she knew how to follow trends.

  Emily invited Grace along as she needed someone to give her an opinion on clothing. And also, she was the kind of person who got as excited about someone else buying something as she did for herself. She was a shopaholic.

  Emily had tried to get a sense of what kind of street clothes kids wore at Harlow, but all she had were images from the Harlow website. It was hard to fall down on one particular style. Most of the photos featured students in school t-shirts and sweatshirts. Thinking about her current wardrobe, Emily wondered if she would fit in.

  But they were specifically in the shop to get Emily geared up for school wear. There was a dress code for the classroom. Emily’s usual jeans and t-shirt look would not fly. The attire for class was to be dress shirts and tailored trousers or a skirt. They also allowed dresses.

  Emily’s hunt for what the dress code translated in to in real life turned up students wearing what Emily could only describe as “office” clothes. Girls and boys wore blazers, penny loafer type shoes. They looked like adults going to work at a bank. Emily had ZERO clothes like that. She didn’t have a single pair of “trousers,” her skirts were jean skirts, and probably too short for class. The only dresses she owned were summery with spaghetti straps. Hardly the professional look required for Harlow.

  “I started a Pinterest board for your dress code,” Grace said, opening the app up on her phone.

  “You did a Pinterest board?” Emily asked, amused.

  “Yeah, I mean, we only have a couple hours,” she replied, “So we need to stay focused with a capital F. I typed in ‘tailor wear for teens’ and got these looks.”

  Emily peered over on to Grace’s phone to see a bunch of photos of girls their age in blazers.

  Emily pointed to one. “I can’t wear ripped jeans, but that look is awesome.”

  “Yeah, love it, too. Anyway, you could just get some tight skinny black pants or something. But a blazer seems to be the key piece to find. Let’s hope we get lucky.”

  Grace, Grandma and Emily giggled around the shops and found some great bargains. Emily had found a few Ralph Lauren polo shirts, a couple a line skirts made of fabric and not jean, and some black pants that fit her like a glove. They didn’t feel like something she would usually wear, but this was about re-inventing herself.

  The trio were in their last shop when Emily’s grandma announced they should get a bite to eat next.

  Grace and Emily rummaged through racks with no less zeal than they had in the first shop. They were crazed. Suddenly, Grace snatched something from within the racks and held it up.

  “This!” exclaimed Grace.

  Emily burst into a smile. It was a pink blazer, just like the one that Grace and Emily recently admired on Taylor Swift. It was beautiful and looked brand new.

  “Wow, Grace… oh my God, please tell me it’s my size?”

  “A small…” Grace squealed.

  “No way…” Emily walked over to the blazer and gently took it from Grace’s hands as if it was the holy grail.

  She loved pink. She loved Taylor Swift. It was a sign.

  “This will be the last, and maybe only thing that I need…” Emily said, holding it to her cheek dramatically.

  Grace looked at her friend holding the pink treasure and thought how pretty she looked. How grown up. Suddenly she felt miles away from her. A great divide between a Disney loving little girl and a woman, starting her own life fifteen hundred miles away.

  She wanted to be happy for Emily. She was happy for Emily. She knew that Emily had had a rough time since Andy died. She knew she wanted to change her life and transform herself. But who would she be when she came back from Harlow?

  “Just promise me you won’t forget about me,” Grace said, trying not to sound upset.

  Emily’s eyes looked up from the blazer she was still admiring. She saw her friend’s face, no longer obsessed with the blazer but thinking about the future.

  “Gracie… aw… best friends forever…” and she held out her index finger.

  Grace linked her index finger in Emily’s.

  “Best friends forever,” Grace said, “But I am really going to miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you, too,” Emily said.

  But Grace knew in her heart of hearts that there would be so much newness, so much entertainment and excitement, and studying for that matter, that Emily wouldn’t have much time for her. Grace’s mom had told her to expect change.

  “Just know this, Em… I will always be here for you. I know that your life is going to be busy at Harlow. Even if it’s just doing loads more homework. But our friendship never ends. Ok? And… I know who you are.”

  At the last comment, Emily stopped in her tracks. “Who she was” was exactly what she was trying to leave behind, but she hadn’t yet become something new. Grace offered her the chance to do both. To always have a safe place, but also permission to come out of her chrysalis.

  She pulled Grace’s index finger and brought her best friend in for a hug.

  “Come on,” Emily said, pulling back but keeping her arm around Grace, “Grandma is probably exhausted. Let’s get the old girl some lunch.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  THE AIRPORT WAS whizzing with excitement and high emotions. People ran around, flustered and looking late. Customers stood in check in lines, huffing and puffing because they had to wait. Fresh looking people rolled and carried luggage for weary looking travelers. People said hello. People said goodbye. There were more hugs, tears and kisses than a rom com.

  For the first time in her life, Emily would be completely, one hundred percent responsible for herself. Filled with nothing but excitement, she couldn’t believe that she didn’t have an ounce of nerves. She, Pepper, Marie, her grandma and grandpa all sat at a coffee shop in the airport, just outside security.

  It was an airport only branded shop that Emily didn’t know. She had ordered a blueberry muffin, and the others had coffee.

  “This coffee tastes like bathwater,” Grandpa said.

  “You should have one of these,” Grandma said, lifting her caramel latte up for show, “They are good whether you’re at Starbucks or some run down cafe. Not that this one is all that bad. The doughnuts looked good… How’s your muffin?” She said, turning to Emily.

  “Yeah, great,” she said, “I mean, how can you go wrong, right?” />
  Grandpa chimed in.

  “Yeah, well, I say if you can’t drink your coffee black, you shouldn’t be drinking coffee. I should have joined you, Em.”

  “Want a bite,” she asked, pointing to her muffin.

  “Oh… no… no… I’m fine.”

  The small talk did little to fill the space. Minutes ticked down like drips from a melting icicle. Slowing, methodically. Emily couldn’t stop staring at the clock. Her family tried to keep conversation flowing but she could tell they were all apprehensive.

  She had her one carry-on and had checked two gigantic suitcases. Emily wondered how on earth she would manage to get everything from baggage to the private minibus that had been tasked with picking her up.

  Her Mom had given her a bunch of coins to get a trolley in Boston which would help her handle her luggage. This gesture showed how long it had been since her Mom had been in an airport. Everything from vending machines to the trolley hold was contactless. Thankfully, she was now also equipped with her own debit and credit cards, tucked away neatly into a brand new purse her Grandma bought her when they had been out with Grace.

  Emily wondered if there would be any other students on the minibus for the ride up to New Hampshire. Emily would arrive at school a few days before the official start of term, to join some other first time students who hadn’t been able to visit the school before attending. It was called the “Gateway” program and Emily was quite pleased to see the campus and familiarize herself with everything before having to cart herself around to classes and clubs. The campus map looked as though it was a sprawling academy.

  She looked at the clock for the hundredth time and noticed it was acceptable to ask to go through security. She had wanted to ask for ages but figured it would be rude to let them know that she would have been just as happy to sit alone on the other side of security. One step closer to her new life.