Page 8 of I Don't Need Your Protection
She goes over a few school rules, letting me know that all the information is on the school website, as well as a packet in my room. Normally, I’d be okay with breaking a rule or two, like anyone my age, but since my life is in danger, I need to blend in. I’m not sure exactly how I’ll blend in with wealthy kids, but maybe I’ll find someone to befriend. It sucks that I have to hide my true identity, but I want to be safe.
After she’s done, the principal gives me another smile and tells me to continue my tour with Carly. I’m not expected to attend classes until tomorrow.
“We hope you have a meaningful year here at Harrington Bay Academy, Addie,” she tells me with another grin.
I force a smile. “Thanks.”
As I make my way out of the main office, a presence slips behind me. It takes me a second to realize it’s my bodyguard. He follows me out of the office, where we meet Carly outside.
“Is it okay that you’re missing class?” I ask her.
“It’s fine. I don’t really care about school.” She shrugs. “It’s not like my scholarship is dependent on my grades. I’m what these kids call a ‘charity case.’”
“Huh?” I ask as she leads me and Caleb toward the stairs.
“I’m a scholarship student,” she explains. “Like you, right?”
“Right.”
“But my scholarship isn’t dependent on my grades like yours and other students. I’m only here because Harrington is trying to improve her image. See, my dad worked for one of her family’s companies and they had to fire some people. Including my dad. So my dad and a few others made a big issue about it, and in order to appease him, she gave me a scholarship to Harrington Bay Academy. And my dad got his job back. I’m an experiment, and if things go well, she’ll probably offer the scholarship to many underprivileged kids.” She shrugs again. “Not that I really care what school I go to, but I heard the food was good here, so I decided to attend.”
“Since freshman year?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“And do you like it?”
She pushes the golden doors open and we turn toward one of the buildings on the other side of the campus. “I guess. I mean, like I said, the food’s good and my friends are awesome. They’re the only ones keeping me sane.”
I smile, the corners of my lips quaking. I miss my friends. I had many back home, when my parents were alive, and my lifewas normal. I’ve kept in touch with some of them over the past month, but now that I’m in hiding, Addie Hayes disappeared from the face of the earth.
“What about you?” Carly asks Caleb. “Are you here on scholarship?”
We both turn to look at him. He keeps his head straight, eyes locked on the area before him. Either he didn’t hear the question or he doesn’t care enough to answer it. Truthfully, I kind of forgot he’s here, which is weird because you don’t forget a guy who looks likethat. But then again, that is his job.
Carly clears her throat and talks about some memories she has from this school. “And we’ve reached the girls’ dorm,” she announces. “The boys’ is over there.” She directs Caleb to a building on the other side.
He keeps his eyes on me. “I’ll check it out later.”
“Okay, sure.” She beams at me. “Let’s go inside.” She locks arms with me, yanking me into the building and up the stairs. Caleb disappears, but I feel his presence here.
“So let’s see…” Carly says as she taps on her phone. “You’re in room 110. That’s the last room on this floor.”
“How many floors are there?”
“Three. I’m on the first floor, too. Room 105. We’ll see each other often, so if you have any questions, I’m your girl.”
I take in a relieved breath I didn’t know my body was craving. Being alone in a new world is pretty scary, so it’s nice to have someone here for me.
“Thanks.”
“Sure. I can usually sense if I’ll get along with someone, andI can say without a doubt that you and I will be best friends, Addie.”
I smile. “I’d really like that.”
She scrunches her nose. “Just be wary of the mean witches. They’re everywhere in this school. I had one as a roommate once. Ugh.” She shivers. “But most of the kids here are cool.”
I glance around because I feel Caleb watching me, but I don’t see him anywhere. Either I’m imagining things, or he’s very good at his job. I still don’t know if he’s a student or undercover, but maybe that doesn’t matter. He’s here to keep me safe and it’s my job to make the most of my new situation.
