“My personal life has nothing to do with any of you,” Donati bites out. He doesn’t seem perturbed by her question, and I wonder briefly if he’s had students coming on to him before.
“It’s a shame. I may need a date for the prom,” blondie tells him, teasing a pen over her plump, glossy lips. The rest of the class laughs, but I don’t. My fingers tighten around my pen, and my stomach drops at the thought of him with her. She’s the type of girl he’d go for if he were so inclined. She’s gorgeous with a perfect figure, and she looks like she could be a runway model.
Whereas I try to play coy, unless there’s someone I want to impress. Or catch the attention of. I’ve spent my life being the center of attention, especially when it comes to guys. Most girls back home would call me a slut, and they did, for a long while. Where I’m from, shaming women for being into sex is one insult the girls loved to throw around if you weren’t shy to dress up.
But right now, I’m thankful that we have to wear this god-awful uniform because I dressed it up—black skirt, the white shirt which fits a little too tight shows off the black bra I’m wearing underneath. The unwelcome noose of a tie which chokes me, along with the blazer sporting the school crest on the breast pocket. At least nobody truly stands out too much, and nobody can assume you’re trying to get attention, unless you’re me where I’ve intentionally shortened the skirt from the frumpy length to mid-thigh.
“When you’re in my class, you will respect me. You will also focus on your schoolwork. So, Miss …?” he says, looking directly at blondie as he waits for her to tell him her name.
“Oh, it’s Melody Vanderbilt,” she tells him. “But you can call me Melody, sir.” Her tone lowers into a seductive purr at the word sir. But with a glance at Mr. Donati, he doesn’t seem at all affected.
“Miss Vanderbilt, I trust you’ll behave in my class. If not, you’re welcome to visit the principal’s office.” The cold tone of his voice sends a shiver down my spine, causing me to tremble. “And that goes for anyone else in my class. Here, we learn to be professional, to ensure that when we step out of this class into the big, shitty world beyond, we know how to conduct ourselves.”
His gaze once again roves over the class, and I hold my breath. I can’t explain it, but I want his eyes on me. I’m sorely disappointed when he doesn’t even look my way. It’s stupid. I feel like a child, crushing on a man way out of my league.
But that’s never stopped me before.
And I have a feeling Mr. Donati will become my new favorite teacher.The sinking sun is still warm as I make my way home from my first day of school. Walking up the street from Black Mountain Academy in my short skirt and knee-high leggings causes attention to skitter my way. Ignoring the stares, the whispers, and the snickers from the other students, I make my way up the road.
I haven’t been the new girl before, and it’s uncomfortable. Everyone seems to speak in hushed tones when I walk past as I head up the hill toward the road which will take me to my aunt’s multi-million-dollar mansion.
I grew up around wealth and false promises that were made to show off how perfect my family was. Nothing lasts forever—either it’s taken from you, or you die. Either way, I’m no longer holding onto hope, and I’m certainly not believing of people who offer promises and bullshit wrapped up in a neat little bow.
Overnight, my life was flipped on its head when the cop cars pulled up to the house and they raided the party. I shouldn’t have been there, but I was. Caught on camera by a paparazzi asshole with my panties in hand, sandwiched between two of my best guy friends. It looked worse than it was.
I stop for a moment to take in the academy from my viewpoint. It’s an impressive building for a high school. But, considering the annual fees to attend classes here, I’m not surprised. I watch students mill around the parking lot, all in cliques. They’ve clearly been friends their whole lives, and there I was, a girl new to the world they’ve grown up in.
Being used to the city life is leaving me slightly jarred by the small town where everyone seems to know each other. Even though I grew up in the public eye, living in a city allowed me to disappear when I wanted it.
Solace is a luxury that’s hard to come by. Most people pay a lot of money for it. It seems Black Mountain has decided to offer it to me on a silver platter.