Her fingers type faster than I’ve ever heard anyone type before. After a few seconds, she takes a quick scan of the ID and then returns it to me by pushing it back across the counter top.
“You’re all set. We haven’t heard from you in a few weeks, so we’d started to think you might not be coming.”
My heart leaps up into my throat. It hadn’t occurred to me that Sadie’s parents might have warned the school ahead of time. Prepaid, non-refundable tuition or not … I realize right now how lucky I really am.
“Nope. I’m here. Just me, Sadie, ready to get started.”
I cringe inwardly. I’m usually a better liar than this.
Ms. Mason stands up and pulls out a map of the school and has just started to point out the various buildings when her eyesight shifts to take in the baggy black dress that I’m wearing.
“Most students arrive already in uniform,” she says, unable to completely hide a certain amount of disapproval in her voice. “You should have gotten yours already.”
Damn. I didn’t count on this.
I lean forward and pretend to look at the screen she’s pulled up. This is my first real test. The part of me that’s Teddy wants to run out before they can catch me, but I have to remind myself that I’m not that girl anymore. I’m not Teddy. I’m Sadie White. And Sadie White doesn’t run away. She gets what she wants.
“I thought we called ahead about that?” I say, then slap my forehead. “But of course ... you said you haven’t heard from us. My mother—she can be quite the ditz—she was supposed to tell you I never got them.”
Ms. Mason looks back down at the screen, then up at me, and nods as if she saw a note confirming what I said. Relief washes over me. Most people will just agree with you to shut you up … glad to see the people here are no different. Money only changes so much.
She tells me she should have a couple extra uniforms in my size in the back, and makes a few more notes in my file.
“Perfect. I’ll go grab those for you now.”
I’m suddenly very aware of the way my last six bucks feels in the bottom of my shoe.
“So,” I start, “how much is that going to set me back?”
Ms. Mason throws back her head and laughs. When she looks back, she has to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.
“That’s a good one,” she says, patting me on the arm. She shakes her head and starts to waddle away. She returns in a minute with several full sets. She also brings a bill for me to sign—but it’s all been charged to an account with Sadie’s parent’s names on it.
Good thing too. The uniforms are worth more than everything I’ve ever owned.
I take one more look down at myself. A couple uniforms will only get me so far, but I can’t take the risk of charging too much to the account. It’s tempting to see what else this account can buy, but that’s a slippery slope.
I know that the Whites are filthy rich … but that doesn’t mean I should take advantage of them. I’ve always made a point not to steal from the people who are taking care of me … and in a way, that’s them now.
But there’s also some things that a girl can’t live without. I promise myself right here and now that I won’t use it again unless it’s an emergency.
This is the beginning of my new life; of a new me. No more stealing, no more bad choices. It’s all about my future and making a clean go of it. I want to be the best person I can be, which I certainly haven’t been up until now.
If I can make it through all of this without getting caught I might actually have a chance at a good future, and I want that more than anything. I cannot screw this up. It’s the most important thing I’ve ever done.
Ms. Mason hands me a few last forms to fill out. It’s easy to fake until I get to the phone number. I’m halfway through writing ‘867-5309’ when she stops me.
“No, no … real one please.” She hands me an eraser and stands over my shoulder, waiting for me to fill it out properly. I hesitate as long as I dare with the secretary staring me down before I finally jot down the only number I know. It’s the only true thing on the form. It pains me to list Ms. Martin as my emergency contact, but they’ll never call her. I’ll make sure.
She looks over the page and then smiles at me.
“Welcome to Hawthorne Academy. Here’s your schedule.”
She slides the paper across the desktop to me, but doesn’t take her hand off it when I try to pick it up. She meets my eyes with a suddenly more serious look on her face.
“Now, we’re glad to have you here, but it’s important for us to note that you will need to work hard to bring your grades up. This is the most prestigious school in the state of New York, and we have a proud reputation to uphold. We expect you to uphold that legacy and our high bar of expectations. Do you understand?” She eyes me like she expects only one answer.
I nod and flash her an eager smile. Man, how bad were Sadie’s grades?