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M onday

F ollowing T he L eader

August in South Carolina was scorching I was grateful for the shade of the front porch and the sweet coolness of the concrete onthe postman to hurry

It was the day before the beginning of school I had an unusual affinity for classrooe It meant I could watch how they interacted and try to understand reality, normalcy

This year would be different

A wasp hovered in the hydrangea bushes along the front porch I ducked hbor’s yard

The mailman’s truck meandered up to the box Thewith a collection of envelopes through theI crouched below the barrier of the porch, out of sight I prepped et ready to run

The glass door swung open behind me “Is that the mail?” Marie asked My older sister stepped out on to the porch Her angular eyes squinted at the crisp ht Her brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail that hung at her neck, reaching midway on her back Her t-shirt advertised alow on her hips, and covered her feet

I didn’t understand how she could wear heavy jeans in this heat, but I didn’t really expect her to stay outside for long With my cut off blue jean shorts and a thin pink blouse, I was barely tolerating the humidity I had dirty blond hair, or chaed color depending on the lighting With green eyes and since I was shorter, about the only thing similar between my sister and I were our last names

I turned again to refocus on the mailman I could still make it

The mailman pulled away from the mailbox for the next one down the street

I flew off the top of the porch stairs, landing hard on the small sidewalk path that wound around the house I sprinted across the yard I was halfway across before Marie oing to get there first, she stopped her pursuit

I hauled out all of the h bills and advertisee eh School was printed in the corner I held on to it, crossing the yard at a slower pace My heart was pounding fro and the thrill of what I held in my hands A new school, a fresh start, and this tie This year, I wouldn’t be alone

“Hand it over,” Marie said,me halfway in the yard

I reave her the rest She took the cluster of otten to it first, she would have kept iven it to our et it back

I re for my sister to disappear When the front door closed behind her, I spun on my bare feet and sprinted down the street to Kota’s house

I couldn’t letMy family couldn’t learn my secret Not yet

The boys aiting for me

Kota’s black ri the mail I called to hi his glasses up his nose with his forefinger, ?” he asked

Dakota Lee and I have a tender friendship A week ago, he brought me into his circle of friends It was how I came to learn about the Academy, the secret school they held loyalties to The only proble about it and I wasn’t allowed to ask questions I was going to keep this promise for the sake of our friendship and for what Kota said was ers around them to which I wasn’t aware of I had to have faith when they told me to trust them It seemed surreal toto glean over tiharound me They were my first friends -- my only friends What else could I do?

I held up my envelope “Anyone else?” I asked

“I’ to hear fro over as soon as Victor confir out a similar envelope

“Hey!” Nathan shouted and jogged toward us fro pants and a red tank shirt with a Nike swoosh on the front I admired the way his biceps flexed as he held up his envelope “Let’s check them out”

We followed Kota through the side door in the garage Kota dropped the rest of the mail off in a bin near the kitchen Nathan held open a door in the hallway, revealing a set of blue carpeted stairs Nathan held his hand out, ushering me to enter I padded e, Kota’s bedroom

Nathan dropped onto his knees on the blue carpet and started to rip open his envelope I sat cross-legged next to hi a silver letter opener and cut through his envelope, unfolding the printout inside

I sed as I readyear

Homeroom Room 135

AP English - Trailer 10 - Ms Johnson

AP Geometry - Room 220 - Ms Smith

Violin - Music Room B - Mr Blackbourne

AP World History - Trailer 32 - Mr Morris

Lunch

AP Biology - Room 107B - Mr Gerald

Japanese - Room 212 - Dr Green

Gym

- Gymnasium - Mrs French

Seven classes Barely roo year, it see Maybe it had been a mistake to be so enthusiastic about this

“What’s wrong, Sang?” Nathan asked His head tilted in

I pursedif this was a good idea”

Kota knelt next toback on his heels on the floor “May I see?”

I handed it to hiers brushed as he took it from my hands but he didn’t see as rabbed my hand or bu froet used

Kota’s eyes scannedoff the list under his breath

Nathan peered over Kota’s shoulder “Holy shit,” he said “How’d you get seven?”

“She doesn’t have a study hall” Kota focused on et into the Japanese class? When did you meet Mr Blackbourne?”

Nathan’s eyes widened, awaiting the same answer

I blushed I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten to tell theistration, he brought me to his office Mr Blackbourne was in there They adjusted my schedule”