I mustn’t be so pleased to see him. I force myself to remember Grace’s hands in his hair. Her lips on his and Henry’s beaming face when he saw her. God, it’s so messed up that I’m wasting this much headspace on him. I’ve just been through a breakup, and I don’t plan to let anyone else play with my emotions like that any time soon. So what’s my stupid heart up to, fluttering like that at the first guy I’ve met here? It’s just not fair.
Henry greets every new pupil like he’s genuinely thrilled to see them here. I don’t know how he does it, but he’s everywhere and making it all look so easy. He even manages to get the little kids smiling shyly and not looking quite so scared.
Henry straightens his shoulders a touch as a blond woman in her forties enters the room. His eyes flicker along the rows of chairs, and I get the message. I stand up with the others. My heart beats faster as Mrs.Sinclair shuts the door, gives Henry a nod and a smile, and comes to stand at the front of the room. It was never this quiet at my school when the head gave a talk, and I’m suddenly feeling ashamed of that. It has something to do with respect.
Mrs.Sinclair’s eyes rest on each of us in turn. When she looks at me, I can barely hold back a gulp. I want to make a good impression. I don’t know why that matters so much to me. She studies me, and somehow I feel like she’s looking at me longer than the others. At that moment, the question pops into my head. Does she know my father? She’s about my parents’ age; if she went to school here too, she might. I wish I could ask her right now, but of course, that’s not an option.
Mrs.Sinclair smiles and nods to us to sit down again. Shewaits until the scraping of chair legs has stopped and there’s quiet.
“On behalf of all the staff, I’d like to wish you all a very warm welcome to Dunbridge Academy.”
Henry
It’s the second time I’ve heard Mrs.Sinclair’s welcome speech, but I’m no less impressed than I was back in the first form. Quite the reverse. Once she’s introduced me to everyone as school captain and their first port of call if they have any problems, I glance casually over the rows of seats.
It feels like it was just yesterday that I was sitting there. Maeve on my left, holding my hand, Theo on my right, rolling his eyes because I’d been crying again. We’d just arrived from Jordan, where my parents were stationed at the time. I hadn’t a clue what would be in store for me at this Scottish boarding school because, although my family is British, this country had never been home to me. I was born in Cape Town, and I’d been to school in five different countries. Until I arrived here, I didn’t know what it was like to have a permanent home. Or that home isn’t just people but places too.
Just like then, the new arrivals are listening to Mrs.Sinclair with rapt faces. Her aura, straight posture, and precisely tied-back hair don’t allow you to whisper or crack jokes in her presence. At moments like these, she isn’t my best friend’s mum; she’s the head teacher of the school that made me the person I am today.
Emma’s sitting one row from the back. Seeing how intently she’s listening makes me smile.
“I’m sure that when you think about school, you think about grades,” says Mrs.Sinclair. “And yes, you will sit exams here too, but as I see it, your academic results are not the most important thing. At Dunbridge Academy, our main aim is to instill values and build character. One day, you will leave this school and go out into the world. For some of you, that won’t be for a few years yet, while for others, you are within touching distance of your final exams.” She pauses and her eyes flick to me, which gives me goose bumps. “When that day comes, I hope you will have positive memories of your time here with us to look back on, and that you will feel fortified and strong. Use your time at this school to sharpen your minds and broaden your horizons. You will have to be disciplined and work hard to get to grips with day-to-day life at Dunbridge Academy. Some of you will find that easier than others. You will have to deal with failures and setbacks. But you should always be aware that at my school, your fellow pupils are not rivals but allies.”
Mrs.Sinclair is silent for a moment. Through the closed windows, I can hear voices and quiet laughter outside.
“The pupils who make us proudest are those who leave Dunbridge Academy as young adults who stand up for themselves and for their fellow humans. To me, outstanding exam results and places at the top universities are less important than walking mindfully through this life and being kind, getting to know yourselves better, and growing. If you achieve that during your time with us, then, in my view, you will have succeeded.”
You could have heard a pin drop, and I hardly dare breathe. I feel a warmth in my belly as I see Emma nodding. For some reason, I’m certain she will succeed in all the things Mrs.Sinclair is talking about. Even if she’s only here for a year.
“It is in your own hands,” says Mrs.Sinclair, pacing a few steps to and fro in front of the first row of seats, “as to whether this time will be the best or the worst period of your life. I demand just one thing of you: Make the most of it.”
6
Emma
After Mrs.Sinclair’s talk, Henry took me and the others along to the school office. Mr.Harper, with snow-white hair and alert brown eyes, handed each of us a dark-blue bag with the school logo on it. Inside, we found everything we’d need for everyday life at the school: the lanyard and student card, our timetables, and a planner with a map of the school buildings. I didn’t have much time to look at it before Henry brought me back to the girls’ wing after a quick tour of the grounds.
He’d advised me always to use the church spire to get my bearings, because it marked the center of the school. That tip has helped me no longer feel totally lost—although it would be an exaggeration to say I know my way around now. There’s a new building next to the west wing, which houses the school hall and modern science rooms. There are more classrooms in the north wing, behind which are the sports facilities. I’m thrilled that, as well as a sports hall, there’s a proper fitness center and pool, and a stadium with an all-weather running track circling the rugby pitch.
To the left-hand side of the playing fields, there’s a path to the vegetable garden and greenhouses, which are close to the stables and riding hall. It’s huge. Gigantic fields and meadows that stretch down to a wood. There must be some great runs around here. I’d love to change out of my uniform and straight into my running gear the moment I get back to my room. But it’s dinnertime soon, and I don’t want to be late.
“I could take this as an insult, you know,” Tori declares when she knocks for me a little later to walk down to the dining room together. “I wanted to show you around, and Henry could have guessed that.”
“To be fair, he did offer first,” I say, locking my door, “when we were on the plane.”
She gives me a quizzical look. “Well,Idon’t think that’s fair, Emma.” I have no chance to reply, because a few meters down the corridor, she stops to hammer on another door.
She grins as we hear a muffled “Just a sec!”
“Come on!” Tori yells. “Or at least tell us what you’re doing in there, Ms.Henderson.” She takes a step back as the door flies open.
“You’re impossible, Victoria.” The girl glares at her in annoyance.
“Your hair’s still down,” Tori remarks, unimpressed. “And wet.”
“Yeah, ’cause you’re stressing me.”
“Have you been swimming?” Tori asks.
