In the next days – actually just Friday and Saturday, Siobhan and I did our resumption shopping, sponsored by her parents of course. We actually didn’t need much but Siobhan will take advantage of any opportunity to buy new stuff. We spent the resumption night in my house in our pretend camp on the floor binging on chocolate and watching summer romance movies and yes she spent more time talking about Andre than she did watching the movies. Everything I know about Andre, I know against my will.
I can honestly do without knowing a person like him exists because with the stories Siobhan tells me I can’t help but worry. But I guess I should be happy that he hasn’t sent dick pictures to her yet. If he does and she shows it to me like she usually does, I’ll probably puke.
Dad came up the stairs to check on us – dad adores Siobhan. I’m his princess and yes she’s his boss’s daughter but of all my friends he loves Siobhan the most.
“Is it safe to come in?” he asked.
“Yes, dad,” Siobhan yelled.
He pushed the door open and poked his head around the door opening to peer into the room. We had turned off the lights for a better camping experience.
“How are my girls doing?” he walked into the room to join us on the floor. I had paused the movie and thankfully it wasn’t on an explicit scene. Even though Siobhan and I turned 18 early this year, dad still treats us as kids. I guess he’s only going to stop when we finally graduate and move on to the university.
“We’re good. We were just watching movies.”
“Right. Now before you kill me for behind an old man whatever I say here I say out of love for you both,” he laughed. “I want you girls to be good in school. No distractions, especially you Bianca, you’re the Head girl of a prestigious school and every student is looking up to you.”
Siobhan nudged me and grinned. I smiled. Dad was right though, as Head girl of Edwin and Co. there was a lot expected of me. The last Head girl Jessica Underwood had been so efficient in her job that she basically ran the school under the nose of Mr. Jorge, the principal. She left huge shoes to fill
“I know that dad,” I said.
Dad turned to Siobhan, his eyes turning jovial. “And you, man catcher, I want you to be more serious in school. I trust Bianca will rein you in when you girls move into your senior quarters.”
“I’ll be a good girl, dad, you know I never lie,” Siobhan crossed her heart with a mock-serious expression.
“And I definitely will keep her under control, you can count on me.”
Dad kissed us both goodnight and left. We continued our movies until we were tired then early the next morning Mr. Hayes sent his driver to come pick Siobhan and me for school. After dad and mom hauled our stuff into the car they waved us goodbye. Mom hugged me close and kissed my hair, dad hugged us both so tight telling us once again to be good girls. After spending a long time saying our goodbyes we got into the car and started our journey to the school.
We gossiped about our classmates and talked about our lives as finals. Finally, when the driver couldn’t take it anymore he turned the radio on to a music channel to drown out our voices but that proved to be a futile effort when we began to sing along with the pop songs playing.
Hours later we were traveling along the borders and a few minutes later the gates of Edwin and Co. loomed. In all the country everyone knows Edwin and Co. is the best. It was home to the children of billionaires, pop singers, love children to the mistresses of oil tycoons…name it, it’s all here in Edwin and Co.
The driver drove straight past the normal student hostels to the seniors' quarters which has its own gate and fence surrounding the different apartments built for different final-year students. The senior’s quarters were built to make concentration on final exams easy for the year three seniors but I can tell you that nothing related to school studies ever happens in the senior quarters. The last senior students had been so wild we could hear their parties over at the normal hostel. Even my role model, Jessica Underwood was wild as much as she was responsible. And I remember the budding romance she had with Head boy Christian Ward.
Here at Edwin and Co., there’s a tradition that every Head boy and girl ever always end up together and that was true for the past Head girl Annabel and her boyfriend Martin. It was the same for Christian and Jessica. I always thought they were the cutest together. I hope they're still together. One thing I can say though is I hope I never have to continue that tradition because Head boy Aaron is not the kind of person I want to end up with.
There were already a few seniors moving into their apartments. By the time I came down from the car Siobhan had already gone to different apartments to exchange greetings and stories about our vacation. I helped the driver to take our things out of the car and in return he helped me with the bags to my apartment. The Head girl’s apartment. It was larger than the others. I already know Siobhan would be spending most of her time in my apartment if she’s not making out with one of our classmates.
“Hey, Head girl.”
I turned. It was Aaron. Head boy.
“Hi, Aaron. How was your holiday?”
“It was great. Are you ready to begin your duties as Head girl of the prestigious Edwin and Co.?”
I laughed. “Well, I just arrived. Tomorrow is the first assembly and I need all the time I can to prepare my nerves for it.”
“Sure. If you ever need anything,” he winked. “I’m your next-door neighbor.”
I fought the urge not to cringe. He’s not a bad guy but that line wasn’t his best yet. And speaking of lines, thank God Andre Rios is far away from us now. Now Siobhan can focus on other guys.
“Sure,” I said to him before turning away to unlock my door so I could take my things inside. The apartment was clean and it smelled nice. The living room had a couch and an armchair. There was a side shelf with an electric kettle, coffee mugs, and books. I checked the room. It was fairly large with a bed, a rug under it, and an electric fireplace for the winter – it used to be a stone fireplace though. I know this because Jessica Underwood invited me to her room once when she interviewed her list of possible successors. My closet was huge enough to hold the excess stuff I bought. My kitchen was large, it had a working fridge. I stood and admired everything. It felt like my own space.
Suddenly my front door burst open and Siobhan burst in.
“Ohhu this place is amazing!”
I smiled as she walked into my room with a huge smile on her face.
I laughed.
I guess it’s not my space since my best friend will be here almost every minute of the day.