CHAPTER 2

THE LETTER

After three going on four years of being all alone and celebrating my 11th, 12th, and 13th birthdays by myself, Maya saying that I was getting more and more dangerous every year. The longer I stayed alone, the more time I had for the solitude to take over. The easier it was for my temper to flare. Like last week Maya came to give me dinner. I snapped at her because she gave me shellfish, which I’m allergic to. 

Of course I got grounded for that. With nothing to do since I wasn’t in school, Inze consumed my thoughts entirely except for the occasional exchange of words with my foster mother. Every word she’d uttered that day went replayed again and again. She had said human years. What was that supposed to mean? She wasn’t human? Inze claimed to have magic but what was it? And what about me? She told me I had powers but it had been years and still nothing. Maybe she had been lying, but that wasn’t possible right? 

I was going insane with nothing much to do except for reading and obsessing over the past, so in my delusions, I convinced myself that this year was going to be different. Something exciting would happen, I would go to school. Oh who was I kidding, Maya wouldn’t let me go to school in a million years. Once I got the fantasies out of my head, I knew my 14th birthday I thought it was going to be the kind of birthday I’d had since I’d turned eleven, but I was glad to be wrong. Somehow May had sent me a letter. Maya gave it to me with my breakfast this morning. I had no idea how she had my address, but I didn’t care. 

Dear June,

I know I haven’t talked to you in more than 3 years, but I ‘m almost 18 years old now. We could live alone. Your foster mom, Maya, is not good news. Convince her to let you go to school, and then I can find you. Don’t let Maya read this or let her know you heard from me. And send a letter back letting me know what school. Also, I found out what Inze Marie Gabby meant about Mom. See you soon and I love you. Happy 14th birthday June,

-your sister May

I was shocked and scared. But I had to try. I read the letter over and over again. The words were running through my head. I love you. Then I remembered that I had to ask Maya about going to school. So much for getting rid of the delusions. I walked slowly down the stairs, turned the corner, and ran riAfter paying $500 for the uniform, Autumn took me to a supplies store where she got me a durable binder, scissors, pencils, glue, and all that sort of stuff.

The next morning, I was so excited that I even gave Maya a hug, though she pushed me away almost immediately. Then, I walked to the bus with Autumn. We talked the whole way there. She sat with her friends and I sat with a quiet girl named Fiona, she didn’t talk much so I wrote a letter back to May while nobody paid attention.

ght into my sixteen year old foster sister. 

“Sorry I wasn’t watching where I was going” 

Autumn exclaimed as she fixed her shiny hair, similar to my own shade. Some people would even say we looked like sisters with our blonde-gold hair and freckles. The only very noticeable difference was that I had dark green eyes flecked with gold, whereas Autumn’s eyes were more crystal blue than green. 

“No it’s okay.” In the corner of my eye, I spotted a book in Autumn’s arms. An idea struck me. 

“Is that a book?” I exclaimed.

“Um, yes.” Autumn replied, confusion in her eyes.

“A book? I haven’t read one of those in years!” I exclaimed, pretending that I didn’t have a bookshelf hidden in my closet. 

“You need to go to school.” She said with a weird facial expression and ran off to convince Maya. 

I snuck closer to hear the conversation. 

“Mom, she needs to go to school,” Autumn whispered.“She can’t. I’ve told you a thousand times she’s dangerous, she can’t be out of this house.” Maya replied.

“Mom, she hasn’t seen a book in years! She has to go to school before she says she doesn’t know how to write!” Autumn quietly growled. And then mumbled something that I couldn’t quite hear. 

“No, and that is final! Go to your room!”

After weeks and weeks of Autumn trying to get me to go to school, I was sitting around doing absolutely nothing. Then, one day, I heard a conversation, and I got closer.

“Please Mom, she has to go to school. I will keep an eye on her.” She begged. I was hoping she would say yes, but I wasn’t sure if she was going to consider me ‘dangerous’ again.

“Fine I’ll register her so she can go to school but keep an eye on her. Can you go tell her? I can’t bear getting close to the girl.”

I heard Autumn leaving the kitchen so I hurried up the stairs before she could notice that I hadn’t been in my room. She burst in with a huge grin. “You’re starting at Ivy Ridge Academy Private School!” 

“Yes!!!” I screamed, pretending to be surprised as I danced around my room with her even though Maya’s comment stung. I knew she didn’t like me much, but she never said she couldn’t get close to me. 

The next morning, at seven am, I took a shower and ran to Autumn’s room. She was awake, reading. 

“Whoa there speedy.” She said, looking up at me. “What do you need?” 

Autumn asked, placing a bookmark in her novel. I asked her if we could go back to school shopping, and her eyes lit up with excitement.

“Yes! School shopping is a great idea. Mom registered you last night, and they approved you. I’ll drive you to your fitting and pick up the school stuff they provide, but I’ll buy the rest at a store.”

Two hours later, I was at Ivy Ridge Academy Fitters. I couldn’t believe that a school owned its own tailoring shop. What the heck?!! A woman named Megan welcomed us and asked for my name. 

“June West.” I’d told her. She looked down, murmuring 

“West…West…West.. Ah-ha!  June West.” She looked up at Autumn. “You must be May West. I thought you were coming tomorrow for your new blazer and-”

“No? I’m Autumn Hazelle. I’ve been registered for the past 5 years.” 

May? I hadn’t even sent her a letter about where I was going to school. Autumn looked just as surprised as I felt but recollected her bearings much quicker than I had. Megan looked up at her a bit confused but shrugged and continued, 

“Alright then, do you need a new uniform then?” 

Autumn shook her head and took me to the fitting room after Megan handed me a size to try on. The uniform included a white blouse with a green and blue school emblem on it as well as a pleated blue, green and white skirt and the girls were required to wear a matching ribbon in their hair as well as an indigo blazer. To finish the look, we had to wear black dress boots with a slight heel to it. I stepped out and examined myself in the mirror. I looked like someone else with my long, straight black hair tightly french braided down my back with the ribbon. The ribbon was a deep blue that complimented my blue eyes and made the splash of freckles across my nose more prominent. My pale skin popped against the dark colors of the outfit. The boots were stylish and gave me the high school mall girl look. The blazer was nice and had convenient pockets cleverly hidden on the inside. The blouse made my breasts stand out because my bra was black and showed through. I was nervous about that part even though Autumn promised to buy me white bras. Who knew what private school kids would act like to the new girl?

After paying $500 for the uniform, Autumn took me to a supplies store where she got me a durable binder, scissors, pencils, glue, and all that sort of stuff.

The next morning, I was so excited that I even gave Maya a hug, though she pushed me away almost immediately. Then, I walked to the bus with Autumn. We talked the whole way there. She sat with her friends and I sat with a quiet girl named Fiona, she didn’t talk much so I wrote a letter back to May while nobody paid attention.

Dear May

I’m so glad you wrote to me. I am going to Ivy Ridge Academy Private School, but I doubt you needed to know that. I just went to the fitter for an outfit. Do you go to Ivy Ridge Academy Private School? I have lots of questions for you. How did you find out my school before I even wrote to you? Autumn got suspicious I think. Just one more for now, what did you mean by Maya is evil? Hope you find me soon, I love you.

-Love June