Page 91 of Beautifully Broken
Forged for Vengence
Chapter 1
September 2003 — High School
Have you ever looked back at your life and wondered where it all went wrong? I can pinpoint the exact moment my life was fucked over. My mother thought her life was becoming a fairy tale, mine was turning into a nightmare.
Every fifteen-year-old dreams of starting a new high school in a new state with a new stepfather. Even better when he is a super strict and controlling military general. That was the beginning of the end.
“Nova, are you ready for your first day? Smithson Academy is the best in the area, and you should be thankful William could get you enrolled this late.” my mom yells from the hallway. I’m dressed in the standard school uniform — a neatly pressed gray skirt that falls just above my knees and a crisp burgundy button-down shirt tucked in. The colors aren’t the worst, a muted mix of gray and deep red that looks decent together, almost stylish if you squint. Around my neck, the tie hangs loosely, looped like a lazy scarf, because honestly, who even knows how to tie one properly? I fidget with it absently, feeling a little rebellious and a little awkward all at once.
“Yea, Mom, ready.” I exit my room with my backpack and black Doc Martin boots on my feet, such a proper schoolgirl outfit. “Why am I going here again? Why can’t I just go to public school? Being the new kid is going to suck either way, at least that way I’d know what to expect.”
“You know William got you into this school because he’s good friends with the headmaster, and they had an opening for another military family.”
“Mom, I’m barely a military brat. William is my stepfather, and I have only known him for a month since you went on a girl’s trip and came back married.” I bitch, as I grab water and a banana to eat on the way.
We drive up to the school, and my mom drops me off at the front. Ivy crawls up the sides of the building, clinging to the walls as if it’s been there for centuries. Wide steps lead up to the front entrance, flanked by iron lamp posts that look polished enough to catch your reflection.
Perfectly manicured grass surrounds the grounds, not a blade out of place, and towering oak trees cast long shadows across the entrance. Students in sharp uniforms and some not so put together move around in small groups, laughing too loudly or speaking in quiet, serious tones, as they walk into the building.
I clutch the strap of my bag a little tighter as I head toward the main office. The doors are dark wood with brass handles, and as I push one open, it creaks softly — not old, but rich, like everything here was built to last.
As I lean against the wall, waiting to get my schedule, I watch as an adult yells at two guys in football pads. Both players are in gray football pants and burgundy shirts with the school’s hawk mascot. Those pants really do great things for a guy’s ass, hugging it and stressing the muscles. The guy I can see shows a profile with a defined jaw, straight nose, and his dark hair is a mess, probably from his helmet. I watch the scene in front of me even though I can’t really hear them.
Unable to look away from the eye candy, I miss a girl standing next to me.
“Are you Nova Samsara?” I jump as she speaks.
“Yes, who are you, how do you know my name?”
“I’m Cali, well Calliope, but Cali is easier. The headmaster asked me to show you around this week. My mom is the headmaster’s secretary, so they think I am at their beck and call.” she rolls her eyes and smiles at me.
She hands me some papers and I see that at least one is my schedule, the others look to be a map of the campus and rules. She motions for me to follow her out.
“We have a bunch of classes together, 1st and 2nd period, lunch, and 7th period. So, I will meet you near the office in the mornings and make sure you have the first few periods to get settled for the day.” She talks to me as I walk next to her, having no clue what classes she is talking about because I have notstopped long enough to bother look at my schedule. As we approach a group of lockers, she points to one. “This is your locker, number 813, and I am three lockers down. Here’s a lock for it.” she hands me a lock she pulled from her bag and turns away. Making sure I can open the locker and the lock before closing everything. I have no books or anything yet, so I just put a notebook in there for now.
I approach Cali as she closes her locker. “Your homeroom is next to mine so I can get you there and meet you outside after for first period English.” She starts off and I follow along like a lost puppy. I hate this new school stuff.
Chapter 2
The classes are the ones you’d expect in any high school: English, Math, Science, History, Gym, and Health. My electives include Social Sciences and Music. Cali is there to help me navigate all the cliques in school. Identifying who to avoid and what gossip is happening as we walk the halls between classes. Finally, it’s time for lunch and I am dreading the new girl looks I’ll receive when I walk in.
“Welcome to lunch, otherwise known as hell. Those two tables in the center by the windows are for the football players and cheerleaders; each sport has its own table but some overlap. Then you have the band geeks, nerds, stoners, and goths.” she points around as she speaks, and I try to keep up.
“Try to integrate wherever. I advise against the cheerleaders or the jocks unless they invite you.” she says as I look around.
I see the guys from the office this morning sitting at the table she said was where the football players hung out. “Who is he?” I ask, pointing out the dark-haired guy who caught my attention.
“That’s Jax. He’s a junior and our quarterback. He is nice for a jock, but all the cheerleaders want him and are territorial even though he has declined all of them. They will cut a bitch if she looks at him twice.”
Nodding, I take in the information she shares. “Where do you normally sit?”
“Typically, I grab my lunch and head to the main office. I help the headmaster over lunch and sometimes after school.” Cali looks down, playing with the edge of her shirt as she talks. It almost seems like she’s nervous or doesn’t want to talk about it. Cali goes over and grabs her food before she takes off while I look around for a table.
“Hey, new girl, blondie, come over here so we can get to know you.” I look around to see who is talking. Seeing the football guys all looking at me and theguy, Jax, motioning me over to an empty seat by him. I walk over hesitantly and set down my stuff.
“Nova.” I reply and give a nod to the table.
