Chapter 1

Trees whizzed by as the car carried on down the road, taking its occupants closer and closer to their chosen destination. Woodland creatures turned their heads to watch as the car went by, birds in the trees ceasing to chirp and deer freezing in place on the ground. Every so often there would be a fox that would lift its head and flick its ears as it followed the sound of the rumbling engine. There was a peace over the forest that was broken by the sound of the vehicle as it passed through, disturbing the sleeping owls and the hungry snakes. It returned once the sound of the car was no longer within earshot, but all the creatures knew the disturbance would come again when it left.

Jayde sighed softly and turned her music up just a bit more to completely drown out the sound of the music her parents were playing. They had been on the road for six hours, it had been an hour since they passed through the huge metal gate to the endless forest, and their insistent need for country was giving her a headache. It didn’t help that she had had a headache for a while since she had argued with her mother late into the night then been forced to get up at six a.m. anyways so they could be on their way to this new school by seven. The new school that Jayde had argued against going to for six hours last night. Six hours that had left her with maybe three hours of sleep before they started on this stupid six-hour long car ride.

Jaydelynn Renee Vaninee wasn’t a pushover whatsoever, but her mother and stepfather would always get what they wanted because they were the adults and got to make the decisions. Even if it meant dragging her kicking and screaming to the car, then doing the same when they got to their destination. They both made sure that Jayde was aware that they would do exactly that too.

The real crazy thing, in her opinion, was this whole school and state change started with a sunburn and a fight at her school earlier that week. Through it all, Jayde really felt that her mother should have been on her side. For one, the fight had been coming anyways, and for two, it was her mother’s fault she had developed an awful allergy to being in the sun.

Speaking of which, more sunlight washed into the car as the trees thinned out, perking Jayde up. They had to be almost to where they were going if there were less trees blocking the sunlight from the road. She leaned to look between the seats in front of her and around her mother’s head.

Just ahead, Jayde could see something glinting in the sunlight. She couldn’t tell what it was until they were closer, which was another half an hour. It turned out to be a huge building, part mansion, part humongous castle. It was definitely old too, made of beautiful red bricks and a small porch with steps that led up to beautiful white doors. Something that normally wasn’t seen in person unless you were traveling around the world and being a tourist. There was a roundabout in the front, a circle that would let cars get out as easily as they got in, and they parked in front of the sidewalk leading up to the porch. To the left of the car, in the center of the roundabout, was a huge stone fountain that was still in working order. The base of it was a basic circle shape that had a level above it in the same shape. However, the third level was the base for a huge statue of a man that held a book up in his right hand with his left hand extended out like he was inviting people to the place. Water flowed from the middle of the book, creating a waterfall that landed in the basin on the second level.

Despite the fact that the place was supposed to be a school, there was absolutely no one around, no students and no teachers. Jayde sat back against her seat, trying to figure out how she was going to force herself out of the car. She just wanted to go back home to Ashland, back to her home state of Oregon, away from this new school and the rules she was sure it was going to have. Sure, Washington was beautiful, but the closest freaking town was over two hours away from where they were in the middle of the forest.

Whatever decision she would have made on her own was taken from her when her left earbud was yanked out of her ear. “Jaydelynn Renee, time to grow up and stop pouting like a child. Get out of the car.”

Jayde turned her head to glare at her stepfather, snatching her earbud back from his hand. Tucker was half-seated in the driver’s seat, leaning over the console towards her with a fierce, unyielding expression. His ‘dad’ face. Once he knew he had her attention, he raised an eyebrow and motioned with his head for her to get out of the car.

With a roll of her eyes, Jayde unbuckled and opened her door, pulling up the hood of her sweatshirt as she stepped out of the car. She was careful not to look at her mom as she also stepped out of the car, placing a wide brimmed hat on her head. Jayde slid sunglasses onto her nose as Tucker rounded the car and stood at her mother’s side. Jayde paused her music with a swipe over her phone and took her other earbud out.

Jayde turned, looking around, and barely held back a wince when sunlight whispered over her still pink cheeks. It really sucked being allergic to the sun, especially since it just set her all that more apart from her peers. It was the reason she had gotten into the fight that had gotten her expelled from the other school too.

Honestly, there had been no way to stop the fight, since it really just had been a fight that was bound to happen anyways. If there was anything that Jayde was vain about, it was her hair, and Gianna knew that. The biggest reason for the fight was that it was the moment that Jayde realized she was a hundred percent done with her ex-best friend's bullshit. Plus, Jayde was sure the bitch had pulled out a chunk of her hair.

By the time teachers were alerted to the fight and got there to separate them, Jayde's skin that hadn't been covered by her long-sleeve shirt was pretty sunburnt. Her face had borne the brunt of the sun once Gianna had flipped them around, Jayde on her back with Gianna wailing on her.

So, her face was still pink and a little sensitive as it healed.

Pulling herself from her memories, Jayde pulled her smaller duffel bag out of the back seat, putting the strap over her head to carry it crossbody. She closed the car door then walked to the trunk figuring the sooner she let her parents leave, the sooner she could get used to being stuck in the new place.

Two men walked out of the building at that time. The first was shorter with glasses, and an air of supreme confidence as he walked like royalty. The second was taller, more muscular, and had more of a quiet, scholarly sort of personality from afar.

Her mom stepped away from Tucker to greet them, her hand extended first to the shorter man. “Mr. King, it’s wonderful to see you again.”

He smiled, his face looking just like a polite mask to Jayde although it looked like real affection flickered over his features as he shook her hand. “Natashia. It’s great to see you again as well. I hope you and Mr. Reinar had an uneventful drive here.”

Jayde looked back and forth between the two, wondering how her mother knew the man. Through her mother’s work? Or did her mom go to school here?

“Yes sir, it was a great drive,” Natashia grinned, turning to the taller man. “And if it isn’t the one and only Lace Crea. I wondered where you disappeared off too. What are you up to these days?”

This time, Jayde narrowed her eyes at the back of her mother’s head. There was definitely more to the situation than what she had been told or had thought. She shifted on her feet, feeling awkward, and cleared her throat softly to get Natashia’s attention.

Natashia turned, a huge smile on her face as she met Jayde’s eyes. “Sorry about that. Yes, introductions! So, Mr. King, this is my daughter Jaydelynn,” her mother pulled her forward. “Jayde, this is your new principal, Mr. King.”

Jayde smiled and nodded politely, glancing over at the man her mom had called out as ‘Lace Crea’ and she wondered why Natashia hadn’t introduced him. “Hello.”

The man, Mr. Crea, chuckled. “She certainly is not very talkative, but she seems to have an underlying attitude waiting to jump out at the slightest provocation. Just like you were in high school, Tash.”

Tucker walked closer, joining the group with a soft laugh of his own. “Jayde is pretty much an exact replica of her mother, down to being a bit of a handful.”

Her ‘underlying attitude’ took that moment to flare up in the form of anger. It threatened to boil over the lid that Jayde tried to keep on top of it. She scowled, turning and walking back to the car. She pushed the button to pop the trunk lid, angrily stabbing the button with her nail, and pulled out the largest suitcase with her bedding. She set it down on the ground then pulled out the other suitcase and larger duffel bag before she slammed the trunk closed. Tucker’s head snapped towards her, and he glared, obviously thinking Jayde had used way too much force on his precious vehicle.

Jayde ignored him entirely, setting her large duffel on the large suitcase, leaving the other suitcase to roll her other bags over to the group.

“Natashia, please tell me that you told her. Right? When you were talking last night you told her why we were bringing her here?”