Dark Haven Academy

Liten tik

"There is no such thing as perfection."

Whoever made that statement never lived to see the Dark Haven Academy era.

The language I was most confident in aside from English was Swedish. In a past life when all was well, I would accompany my father on escapades to exotic countries and would easily pick their tongue. Swedish had always been the most fascinating by far to me and I had practiced it more than ever in recent times knowing fully well that trips to locations like that were now impossible and out of my spending limit.

So why was I forced to work on the same sentence for forty minutes straight as though I had never played a syllable of the language on my tongue? Apparently speaking Swedish wasn't enough - no no no - you had to sound Swedish too. I think it was something about ambassadors, I wouldn't know because at the time my language tutor was giving various reasons as to why nailing every rise in tone when speaking the language was important. So when she instructed me to replay the words vackra blommor with the appropriate accent as i had been taught forty-five minutes ago, i twisted the words which would've meant beautiful flowers into liten tik.

Certainly not my proudest moment.

Any person who understood Swedish even to a basic level would've kicked me out and my tutor being multi-lingual and all did exactly that. Like i said, it was certainly not my proudest moment.

After my torturous hour in my one -on -one language session was over, i decided to visit Miss Trevine's - the teacher Miss Mellor asked to me visit to you know sort out my manners. I soon understood why I was instructed to visit her in particular as she taught a module under the subject etiquettes and value and i wasn't too surprised to find her outside yelling at students

"Cassandra! Shake hands with the opposition team at once! That is no way to play ball!" the woman whom i assumed to be Miss Trevine yelled sharply at some girl. She then turned to smile at me even though i was yet to announce my appearance. Bloody vampires.

"Laurel? Laurel silver?" she called towards me and i urged myself forward to greet her baffled that she had been informed of my visit.

"Yes that's me but how do you know my-"

"Miss Mellor sent word, said you'd be coming to see me", she said laughing slightly. It was glad Miss Trevine didn't tell me to get down and give her ten like my fitness instructor did.

"She was a little on the angry side " i said sighing deeply. So even teachers shared information concerning students between themselves. Well Alexis would never be short of friends.

"No worries honey, we'll have you whipped into shape in no time." she said before excusing herself to stalk Cassandra and ensure that she be a good sportsman and shake the winning team's hand.

It turned out that she was very serious when she said I would be whipped into shape in no time as i was currently in her classroom sat on one of those chairs as i politely declined a gentleman who approached me to talk.

"Always smile child even when annoyed." She said stopping my act and tugging at the grim corners of my lips.

"Smiling gives the illusion of confidence and confidence is key." She said tucking a strand of stray hair behind my ear.

"It's obvious when I'm nervous though. I fidget, tap my foot and sometimes, I bite my lip till it bleeds." i say as I position myself as taught by Miss Trevine, smiling softly as i stare interestedly into her eyes.

"Perfect posture there, just don't let your hair fall into your face like that it might come across as awkward" she said sternly ignoring my previous statement. My back was beginning to ache after having it bent for more than a few moments.

"Walk it off." she said once she saw how uncomfortable I looked. I was relieved and stood immediately.

"Don't slouch like that when you walk" she said after I had stretched and began toying with goods on her table. I could've rolled my eyes.

"Shoulders, head and back straight." she said as I reached in front of her. Then I turned round naturally before she abruptly stopped me.

"No no no. Don't turn like a pregnant woman who’s water just broke." she said shaking her head in disapproval.

"yes much better." she said like once I began to put the effort in. okay so make everything you do see effortless when in actual fact you've dedicated hours of work into things as natural as brushing your hair to the side. Once I had mastered the idea behind it, it wasn't long before I was walking and talking like Eleanor did. But would I do it when it mattered the most?

"Now don't get too cocky. Earth to Laurel." Miss Trevine teased and i raised an eyebrow.

"Those are the basics. Next time you need to see me you're going to have to come during lesson time or schedule an appointment." She said and I groaned audibly. That was the one thing in this school, the nice teachers were always busy.

Seeing as I had worked so hard, Miss Trevine gave me a pass to visit the spa therefore enabling me to skip the remainder of my lessons.

I was laying down basking in the sweet bliss that only a Dark Haven spa could provide when my hazy dreams were shattered by Eleanor brutally interrupting my relaxation period to take me out.

"We have shopping to do." Eleanor stated and I was brainy enough to know that one does not simply argue with her. So i heaved myself up with shaky arms and wobbling legs.

"Where are we going?" i asked stumbling after her.

"We're going out. Hurry now, we have a lot to do" she said as she grasped my arm drawing me along.

"This is our chance to stand out!" she said calmly as she browsed through the racks of clothing newly planted in my wardrobe courtesy of the school.

Thanks school.

For some reason, ever since I had drawn it to Alexis' attention that the ball was in a week, everyone had gone gaga becoming more secretive about their plans than normal. Locking their doors in broad daylight with clothing wrapped in sheets delivered to their rooms at the dead of night. If I didn't know better, I'd say there was a cult going on but no, it was just girls being girls.

I decided on a Chiffon dress that stopped mid-thigh pairing it with black tights, black ankle boots and a leather jacket.

"Not too shabby." Eleanor joked once she came to get me, all dressed up in a totally Eleanor outfit.

"Here take this and don't forget to smile." she said pushing a black bag into my arms with Michael kors branded in gold. I could sell myself three times and still not be able to afford the bag.

Sad, I know.

"Don't answer any questions. Don't look at anyone. Just let me do the entire talking if any." Eleanor instructed as we walked down to our car. Paul stood outside it and I waved when I saw him.

"How long are you ladies allowed?" he asked as he opened the door for us.

"Precisely two hours. She said as she glanced at her permit card that let us leave the building. I wondered why we would need that long.

Once Paul confirmed the information, we were off to the city in pursuit of items Eleanor assured me could not be attained from the schools shopping plaza.

"Where's Alexis and Roxy?" i asked loyally.

"Oh they went last weekend while I was stuck in Technology." she stated scowling. Poor her.

"Remember girls, two hours." Paul Said before driving away in the limo, leaving us standing amidst high-street stores. I was confused as to where to start.

"Zara!" Eleanor squealed as though spotting a long lost friend but instead the only friend I spotted was the huge clothing store in which I was carelessly dragged into. After a tedious thirty minutes, Eleanor retreated from the shop with two bags full of items while all I had bought was a pair of cute socks. I was living the life.

We still hadn't found any dresses so we kept jumping in and out of various shops until we found one that had promise in it. Promise being a dress that i absolutely loved and didn't actually mind buying. It was a classic red dress, the lace covering a quarter of the arms and half of the bodice before descending to the floor – slit on one side. It was so perfect I didn't let anyone see it.

Not even Eleanor.

This was fine as I never got to see hers either. All's fair is fair. Paul arrived to pick us up not a moment later and even Eleanor was exhausted once she was seated in the car.

"Get everything you wanted ladies?" he asked looking at our numerous bags. We both smiled and nodded our heads in satisfaction. Eleanor dozed off on my shoulder before we even left the street.

liten tik - little bitch