novelxo Chapter Acceptance to Acroft
Dear diary,
I went with mom to St. Mary’s today. Mom found out that our great grandmother (or something like that) was buried in the cemetery there. Mom never met her grandmother— apparently she died when she was really young, not even my grandmother knew her very well. I’m not a fan of cemeteries. Cemeteries give me the creeps, but I am more than a little bit curious about my family and our past. Everything involving my family’s history seems somehow shrouded in secrets. I barely even know about my grandma besides a few visits to her hospital room when I was a kid— and my mom never talks about her childhood or growing up...
The last time I went to a cemetery was to see dad’s grave and put new flowers on his tombstone. Saint Mary’s Cemetery looks like no one ever visits and I swear I saw a tombstone that said 1675 or something like that on it. All the tombstones are breaking, or covered in ivy and ferns— super typical of a creepy place like you might see on some TV show, I mean it’s not at all a nice place like where dad is buried. Even Saint Mary’s Cathedral, in the distance, looks like it’s abandoned and broken. I bet it’s infested with bats and spiders., and while I don’t believe in ghosts, I bet they’d haunt a place like that. GROSS.
I shouldn’t say no one was there— I did see a man at another grave near ours, mom didn’t seem to notice him, but I couldn’t help but see him. The guy was crying and looked so distraught. Mom was examining the gravestone and I was done with feeling creeped out by the silent heaviness of the air so, while she was making notes in her little black notebook I went over to talk to this guy, but when I got there I found I didn’t know what to say so instead, I hugged him. Might have been the air but there was almost an electric shock that went through my body as I hugged him. Weird. I can’t even remember what he looked like now, it almost felt like a dream. When mom called my name, I patted the guy on the back and jogged back toward her and we headed home. On the way back I really wanted to dig in my mom’s purse to see what she had written in her black notebook— she was awfully quiet and refused to answer my questions about great grandma so I eventually gave up and we drove the rest of the way home in silence.
Found this journal in my bookshelf when I got home— it’s beautiful! Mom must have picked it up for me, it’s burgundy leather bound. She must have finally gotten tired of me scrawling diary entries on napkins and forgetting them around the house, or maybe she just wanted me to write my own secrets down in a little book like she did. As if I would ever have secrets to write down! Ha! Anyways I don’t really care about the reason for her generosity, I’m just grateful. What a weird day. Well I’m about to go to sleep, it’s been a long day and I’m exhausted. Wish me good dreams!
Much Love,
Cassandra Pirot
I was shaken awake. My head felt groggy, my cheeks numb— I must have been drooling, my face was damp, and my back felt awful. Where was I?
“Cassandra!”
I sat up completely disoriented. It took me a second to realize I was in the kitchen sitting exactly where I had been the night before trying to fill out that damn application. No wonder I felt like crap— I had slept in a kitchen chair all night long, my face plastered to the counter. I blinked. It was incredibly bright out now, light pouring into the kitchen via the windowed wall that out looked on Burrard Inlet. How long had I been asleep? As my eyes focused, I realized that it was Ray who had woken me. He looked concerned, his dark hair tousled, and his green eyes studying me from behind thick wire frame glasses. He wasn’t in his normal business attire yet which meant it couldn’t be past nine o’clock. He looked fresh as if he had just been from a run; gray tee, black sweats, forest green hoodie.
“Are you quite alright?” He picked up a mug from the counter and took a sip of its steaming contents, which smelled amazing.
I breathed in the coffee scented aroma as my stomach grumbled. When was the last time I ate? Yesterday at lunch?
“Cassandra?”
“Sorry Ray. I must have nodded off. Lost track of time.” I rubbed my eyes. I must look like a crazy person— my hair sweat caked and my tee nightie. I should go change and maybe shower. I probably smelled ripe...
“That’s quite alright Cass— but I really hope you know the importance of self care.”
Yup, he knew I looked like crap. Great. I sighed.
“In any case, I took the liberty of repackaging that darn application. I’m really impressed that you are so studious and interested in attending such a prestigious school— hopefully this will be followed by an even higher interest in education when you apply for university— what do you think about UBC or perhaps you’d be more interested in studying abroad? I could recommend several excellent universities in England— I have family ties there, and I’m sure they would love to take you in. I myself studied law in Australia...”
I shrugged. I hadn’t thought about university yet. I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. All I knew was I wanted to leave— travel? Maybe. I wanted a life full of adventure and excitement as far away from Ray as possible.
“Well, we’ll get there, I suppose. You are one smart cookie, just like Mariah.”
I cringed as he mentioned my mother, hoping it wasn’t too visible.
“However young lady, sleep is also just as important. Don’t you agree?” He paused, but I didn’t feel inclined to answer— so he continued. “I also took the liberty to refresh your coffee cup.”
Ahhhh damn it. He knew me so well… or was it he knew my mother this well and just guessed my tastes would be the same as hers? Right now I chose not to care, basking instead in the glorious scent of roasted coffee beans and cocoa.
“Thanks.” I mustered the strength to say, before grabbing my mug and taking a swig. It was hard to not like him in moments like this.
“Yes. Well, let’s just not tell your mother about the coffee. You know how much she despises you drinking it— though for what reason is beyond me.” He shrugged. “Why I was drinking coffee at the age of twelve and that certainly didn’t stop me from growing to my potential.” He grinned.
I automatically wondered where my mother was, she might walk in and see me with coffee and then go on some rant about how statistically speaking it was bad for teenagers with underdeveloped brains to be drinking coffee, alcohol etcetera... I darted a quick look down the hall, that was the last thing I needed right now.
“Your mother left for the day.” He continued as if he could read my thoughts. “I thought I would take you down to Acroft myself before I head to the office, see if we can’t expedite your acceptance. One of the partners at my firm mentioned he has sway with the school.” He looked away from me, put his coffee down and walked over to the stove.
My stomach dropped. I had been planning on taking it in on Monday with Mel on her day off from working in that stinking creepy country house. I needed to go with Mel. Mel had been a student there until she graduated last June. She knew the campus, knew the staff— I didn’t want to go with Ray, not even if he had connections within connections.
“Hungry?” Ray asked. He put a full plate of hot breakfast food in front of me. Steaming hash browns, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon… maple syrup.
“Wait. Are you bribing me with coffee and breakfast?” I blurted out.
Ray laughed, a deep cello-like sound. Well I hadn’t been expecting that. I thought he might be angry with me for accusing him of bribery.
“Look Cass. I talked to your mom this morning before she left for work and we both agreed that you haven’t been having a very easy go of it recently. What with all the nightmares and your friend Melanie away so much— this is me trying to help you— the coffee, the breakfast, me taking you down to Acroft. I hear they have a program similar to I.B or A.P… Whatever the kids are calling it these days. They don’t offer it to just anyone but I wanted to see if we could get you in. I mean you’re so studious— I thought-we thought you would be happy.”
“Oh.”
“Besides, I thought you might want to go back to school early— the program I’m talking about starts mid August, which is only two weeks away, instead of you having to wait till September— another full month before you get to kick that studious brain of yours into gear; and there’s no telling how much information you might be losing if it’s not active...”
I almost laughed as I shoveled food into my mouth between sips of coffee, my munching the only noise in the room. Ray did have a point, it hadn’t been an easy summer… scratch that— it hadn’t even been an easy year. I had been studying and staying long hours at Vancouver’s Public Library, reading ahead in History, English Literature… Science. I wanted to be ahead, my teachers had known that and had given me an outline for most of the subjects we were going to be learning so I could do just that— be prepared to be successful. I was rarely home, and when I was, I was plagued by the nightmare or how much my mother had changed since meeting Ray.
“Soooooo—” Ray began, watching me eat my food with enthusiasm.
“So, thanks Ray.”
“And I’ll take you down to Acroft?” He adjusted his wireframes, his eyebrows raised.
I finished putting the last of the French toast into my mouth, and jumped out of the chair I’d been camped out on for the last few hours. I swallowed the not fully chewed food and walked over to Ray, giving him a big hug. It was out of character for me, so he looked and felt shocked as I wrapped my arms around him.
“Yes.” I released him quickly, and smiled. I know he meant well, and in a way I should be glad. I would be completely out of the house if I got into the program and when I was home for the weekends I would get to hang with Melanie, so I wouldn’t ever have to be home. Basically Ray was offering me freedom on a silver platter and that sort of outweighed my frustration of not waiting to go to Acroft with Melanie. I’d text her and she would be fine, we’d still hang out on Monday, everything would be ok. “I just have to shower and then we can leave?”
“Sounds great hun.” Ray smiled and reached out to tousle my hair. “I’ll meet you in fifteen minutes down by the car.”
Yet again as I left the kitchen I wondered, who did he see when he looked at me? My mother or me? I shivered, not really wanting to know the real answer to that question. I dashed into my room to grab something to wear. I pulled open my wardrobe closet and stared at its contents. I needed to be quick, fifteen minutes was barely enough time to shower, do my hair and makeup… Let alone pick something decent to wear.
“What does one wear to try to be accepted into a new school?” My fan swept by as it rotated— I hadn’t turned it off yet. I walked over and switched it off and then I walked back to my wardrobe. When I looked up I saw it. A dress that I never would have bought myself. It was just as scarlet as the journal I’d found on my shelf— crazy coincidence or was my mother on some buying binge and forgetting to tell me. The fan must have blown some of the items out of the way so I could see it. I shivered, I sure hoped that was the case. I pulled the hanger down and stared at the dress… at its intricacies. It was too fancy really for such an occasion but I only had ten minutes till I had to be in the car.
“Crap. Well I guess this will have to do.” I muttered. I took the dress with me and my makeup bag— as if I had time.
I locked the bathroom door and stripped off my tee nightie and boy short undies. I took a minute to look at myself. I was nothing fantastic, and knowing what my mother looked like I didn’t have too much more growth in me. I was already the same height as my mother a full five feet and four inches and I had been since grade eight. I sighed as I turned on the shower and stepped in. It was relieving really to have a cold shower after the night I’d had. I started thinking about it— the nightmare. I still hadn’t written it down, I’d have to remember to do that before tonight.
I closed my eyes and turned my head towards the stream of water spewing at me out of the shower head— so cool, so fresh— so HOT! Why was it hot?? I hadn’t turned on the heat… So hot. I opened my eyes and lava was everywhere. I screamed. The shower was disappearing, I was in a lake of lava but my skin wasn’t melting. I screamed in agony, every bone on fire, everything in me telling me that this shouldn’t be possible. I reached for the faucet as it started to disappear, yanking it hard trying to turn it off.
As the water stopped the crazy lake of lava disappeared and I was once again in my bathroom under a freezing cold stream of water. I jumped out of the shower as if it was going to bite me— suddenly aware that Ray was pounding on the door.
“Cassandra? Cassandra!!!!”
I wrapped a towel around me as I shook, then I walked over to the door unlocking it, opening it an inch— just far enough to see Ray’s concerned face. He was dressed in a suit now, his hair slightly less messy, but his green eyes were wide with fright.
“Are you alright?”
I nodded. I wanted to tell him not to worry but my throat was raw from screaming.
“I heard you screaming…” His eyes searched my face.
“Sorry. I slipped in the shower, I thought I was going to fall, maybe hit my head...”
“Oh.” He breathed. “That’s good, I mean not good but-” He ran his hands through his hair. “I thought something even worse had happened to you.” He cleared his throat. “You were screaming bloody murder.”
“Sorry.” I whispered.
“Well. Get dressed and let’s go. It has been fifteen minutes now.” He tapped his watch. “I’ll head down to the car.” He nodded and left.
I shut the door and didn’t move. I stood frozen in place. What had just happened? I had never had anything like this happen to me before. I mean the reoccurring nightmare was one thing— this craziness— this had never happened before. My flip phone vibrated, text from Ray probably. I forced myself to move, made my legs move, made my arms reach for the dress. I pulled it off the hanger and over my head. I didn’t know what material this was— spandex? It was certainly stretchy.
I blushed as I looked at myself in the mirror. I’d never worn something like this before. What was my mother thinking, buying this for me? It had thin straps on the shoulders— swooped down drastically barely covering my bust leaving my entire neck to navel exposed. That wasn’t even the whole of it-it crisscrossed in the back, dipping so low down my back I was afraid that if I moved the wrong way someone would see my tush. I really should change— this dress wasn’t even really a dress— it was more straps on straps on more straps.
My phone was vibrating again. Ray must be getting impatient. My hand swooped up my phone as I realized Ray was calling me not texting me. I answered the phone.
“Okay young lady, it’s been almost twenty five minutes. Let’s get a move on.”
I stifled my urge to reply ‘yes sir.’ “Ray I’m so sorry— I haven’t had time to do my hair…”
“Cassandra! I have an appointment I can’t reschedule, that trumps time to do your hair unfortunately. Throw it up. I don’t care. Get your butt down to the car now.”
I flipped the phone shut. Great no time to change. No time to fix my hair. No time to process the crap that was happening… I pulled my hair into a high bun, and dabbed on some red lipstick. I guess this would have to do. I left the bathroom in a mess. If Ray wanted me to get my butt down to the car then I would get my butt to the car— he would have to excuse the mess.
My black purse is always near the door these days, so were several pairs of my shoes. I threw my phone into the purse, shoved some black pumps on and left the house. I loved the area we lived in. Gastown was in the middle of everything—and it was also easy to get to and from, that was if you didn’t mind constant construction and an endless stream of visitors. Ray had pulled the car around. The black town car was, for all of its luxuries, very business-like. I made my way down the steps. It was chilly here, buildings on either side of the street blocking direct sunlight, casting too many shadows. I shivered. I should have grabbed a sweater. Ray laid one on the horn. He must not have seen me yet.
I opened the door and climbed into the passenger seat. Ray’s eyes bugged out when he saw me. He looked like an owl, his green eyes that big behind his wireframe glasses.
“Cassandra.”
“Ray.” I tried to speak calmly.
“What the devil-” Ray began.
Someone let their horn rip. Ray’s mouth tightened to a line as he pulled the car away from the curb. We didn’t speak as he drove. I chose to not look at him at all as I stared out the window watching Vancouver slip by. I wished I had changed. I was probably going to get an earful when I got home, but I would tell mom if she didn’t want me to wear things like this then she shouldn’t have bought it for me. I stared at the wall we’d been driving alongside. It was old, covered in ivy and roses. Big trees peeked out from behind the top of the tall wall.
“This is it.” Ray murmured. He turned the car into a driveway— it was blocked by a pair of huge iron gates. Ray rolled down his window and reached over to a very hidden keypad. “Ray Pirot and Cassandra Pirot for an eleven o’clock interview with the dean.”
The black gates rolled backwards and we drove inwards. It all felt so official, and if I was honest, a tad spooky and dark, as if I was entering Mordor… I suddenly missed Mel, so much. She had gone here, Acroft. It couldn’t be half bad if Mel had come here. Right?
“Now Cassandra.” Ray’s tart voice broke through my thoughts. “Despite what you are wearing I expect the highest of character and behavior from you. Do you understand?”
The gates shut behind us, trapping us in. The car made its way up the wooded drive into a freshly paved parking lot. Three big buildings faced us, tall and imposing. I was suddenly contemplating making Ray get us out of here. What kind of school was walled in and gated to this extreme measure?
“Of course.”
“The Dean, Sir Desmond Melrose, is apparently a hard man to impress.” Ray pulled the car into a reserved spot. “Let me do the speaking, only speak when spoken to. I know these types. Old fashioned hierarchists... They’re only interested in two things— power and the money power can bring.”
We both exited the car.
“So what you’re saying is that they are charging you an arm and leg for tuition and you want to make sure it is worth your while?”
Ray chuckled. “Something like that.”
“So do you know where we’re meeting this mysterious dean?”
“Well— the secretary wasn’t super clear on that matter...” Ray stood up straighter and tugged nervously on the lapel of his suit jacket, glancing around as if even he was having the same heebie-jeebie feeling I was about this school.
The door of the center building opened and a woman in a navy blue suit with curly red hair made her way towards Ray and I. She looked young— twenty or so, I noticed when she approached us. Too young to be working here… Perhaps she was an intern or summer student working for the school before she headed to university?
“Mister Pirot and Cassandra Pirot, please follow me. Dean Melrose has been expecting you.” The woman’s voice was tittered with some foreign accent I couldn’t place— Slovakian? Well, she did look European, maybe she was on a foreign work exchange visa to learn English better?
Ray and I stared at the woman. “I’m sorry— you are?” Ray floundered.
“I am Dr. Gristman. I teach some of the advanced program courses here at Acroft.” She smiled, it wasn’t a friendly smile. It actually creeped me out. “It is really bad to keep the Dean waiting.”
Ray nodded, but I couldn’t make myself respond. This woman was a doctor who worked at the school teaching advanced program courses?? Yeah, stinking right! I smelled a rat— no one this young could have-
“Come Cassandra. Let’s not make a bad impression.” Ray rolled his shoulders and grinned at Dr. Gristman. “Pleased to make your acquaintance Dr. Gristman! You will have to excuse our tardiness— we’ve had a little bit of a rough morning.” He turned to glare at me. “However we are very excited to meet with the Dean after such a short notice.”
Dr. Gristman nodded and turned to begin to escort us into the school building. I couldn’t handle it any longer. Was Ray really going to turn a blind eye to how young ‘Dr.’ Gristman looked? Or perhaps he thought every woman looked as young as my mother...
“I’m sorry. You’re a doctor? Aren’t you a bit young to be a doctor?”
“Cassandra!” Ray hissed.
“No it’s alright.” Dr. Gristman replied. “Cassandra dear— if I may call you Cassandra?” Her green eyes blinked. “I have a very high IQ— in fact I skipped through grades like a frog jumping lily pads. I graduated from Acroft when I was thirteen and went straight to university to become a doctor. I hear you are also very intelligent. Perhaps in time you will have a similar story.”
I didn’t believe her. There was no way she was telling the truth. Ray seemed convinced.
“Come on Cass.” He murmured as he nodded with his head that we should follow Dr. Gristman into the main school building.
I would text Melanie when we left— I’d ask her about Dr. Gristman. I’d get the truth. For now I followed Ray and Dr. Gristman into the school building. Ray walked alongside Dr. Gristman, I trailed behind as her black heels clicked in the empty hallway. For all appearances the school looked normal. Not that I should have expected anything else— save for the heebie-jeebie feeling in my stomach. The hall we were in was lined with lockers and what looked like empty windowed classrooms beyond that, and there was a school office off to one side. It was the office we headed to now. The office door was opened, fluorescent lights on, computers whirring but no secretary sat behind the desk— in fact the office seemed vaguely empty.
“You will have to excuse us for the lack of staff.” Dr. Gristman muttered, leading us through a door beside the secretary’s desk. “The offices are through here.”
I loved how she gave no excuse for the lack of staff and then on top of that continued on as if there was nothing strange about it. I rolled my eyes. What kind of place was this?
We followed Dr. Gristman past a series of smaller offices, all dark, until we reached the end of the long hall. Dr. Gristman knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Dr. Gristman opened the door for us and ushered us in. “Dean Melrose will see you now.”
Ray squared his confident lawyer-like shoulders and walked into the Dean’s office, my application in his hand. I hesitated.
“If and I say if-” Dr. Gristman hissed at me. “You get accepted into Acroft High, Miss Cassandra Pirot— do not expect any kindness from me. Teachers here are to be respected and revered.”
“Cassandra?” Ray’s voice floated through the open doorway. “Are you coming?”
I straightened my shoulders trying to ignore the glare from Dr. Gristman who had yet to leave.
“Well.” She paused. “Get in there.” She grabbed my arm as if she intended to shove me into the office, but dropped it just as quickly, her eyes narrowing to slits. She stepped away from me. “How long have you been marked?”
I frowned. Marked? I looked down at my obviously unmarked skin. What was this woman’s problem? “Marked?”
“You are a scarlet woman.” She said it in a way that made me feel it couldn’t be a good thing.
Ray’s head popped out of the office. “Cassandra Elizabeth Pirot— shift. Get yourself in here now.”
“I will— I just need to ask Dr. Gristman something first.”
“Cassandra, Dr. Gristman isn’t here.”
I was about to argue with him when I realized that he was right— she had disappeared. I sighed and followed Ray into the office.
“Here we are.” Ray took me by the shoulders and pulled me to his side. “Dean Melrose, Desmond, may I have the pleasure of introducing my daughter, Cassandra Pirot.”
I tried not to stare but it was difficult. Dean Melrose was even younger looking than Dr. Gristman— he had to be in his early twenties at the latest. He was tall, muscular and well built, with yellow, yes, yellow eyes and thick platinum hair. He seemed to be trying to grow a beard without much luck. This was not what I had expected— I had expected an old man with gray hair and a pot belly sticking out beneath an expensive suit jacket.
“Cassandra.” Melrose stepped forward and put out his hand, which I took. He frowned for a brief moment before letting go of my hand. “So lovely to meet you.”
“Thank you Dean Melrose.” I tried to curtsy in the scarlet dress.
“I am hoping Cassandra that we will get to know each other well enough to dispense with these silly formalities.” Melrose pursed his lips, he almost down right pouted.
“Does this mean?” Ray grinned as he opened his mouth.
“Yes. Consider your daughter accepted.” He paused. “I do hope to see you at the court, Ray. I haven’t played squash in years, but I’m always up for a challenge.” He winked at me before turning a massive grin at Ray.
Ray looked like he could have been walking on clouds of cotton candy. “Thank you so very much Desmond.
“Do you mind if I have a word with your daughter?”
Ray shook his head. “Be my guest! I’ll meet you at the car Cassandra. Thank you Desmond— I mean, Dean Melrose.” Ray turned and left the office. “I’ll have my secretary phone to set up a game.”
I’ve never felt so alone.
“Cassandra. I am very curious about you.” Melrose’ head tilted in a way that looked so unnatural it creeped me out. “I have never seen someone who was marked allowed to go out and about so freely before— at least not without… But I am sure this will be rectified soon.”
This was the second time in a matter of minutes that someone had called me ‘marked’ but what did it mean?
“I’m not sure I understand Dean.”
“Maybe it is nothing. How old are you?”
“Sixteen.”
Melrose nodded, and paced the floor in front of a massive oak desk. “And how many Pirot women are there?”
“Sir?”
“Just answer the question please Cassandra.”
“Just my mother and I.”
“Are you certain?”
I was confused by this conversation. Of course there had only been my mother and I. Pirot was my father’s last name. There had been no women born on my father’s side of the family for four generations, perhaps more. I shook my head.
“There is no one else.” Unless he was talking about the women born on my mother’s side of the family, but… they weren’t-
“You are certain?”
“Yes.”
“Well. Take care Cassandra.” He stopped pacing and smiled at me, completely changing topics and dismissing me. “I’m sure you will feel safe here— try your best to fit in. Don’t ask too many questions, keep your head down and you’ll stay out of trouble. Dr. Gristman should have a list of required texts and supplies at the front office. Hurry along now, I’m sure your father is waiting.”
I wanted to tell him that this was insane, and that my father, my real father, was dead— Ray was my stepfather— but instead I nodded, ever the meek little lamb, and left the office, dragging my feet behind me. When I reached the end of the long hallway from Dean Melrose’ office and again entered the front office Dr. Gristman was standing waiting for me with a stack of papers.
“Take this.” I reached out and noticed that she was trying desperately to avoid touching me. “Everything you need to know is in these papers. School schedules— lists of supplies etcetera. I’m sure Dean Melrose explained this?”
I nodded.
“If you could see yourself out, that would be great.”
I clenched the papers in my fist and spun towards the door and hopefully some sanity.
“Oh and Cassandra— Scarlet really isn’t your color. Stay away from it and anything that goes bump in the night.”
I ran from the office down the hall and out of the building. I took a deep breath and made my way to Ray’s car. I had to call Melanie— I had to ask her what was going on.
“Congratulations Cassandra!” Ray congratulated me. He grinned the whole drive home. “I’ll be home at around six or so— but I think we, all three of us, should go out for dinner and celebrate. I’ll even let you pick the restaurant! Although perhaps let’s not tell your mother about this dress escapade...”
I slipped out of the car, grateful that was all he was going to say on the matter. “Thanks Ray.”
“Hey, that’s what fathers are for right?”
I was glad my back was to him. I didn’t want Ray to see the sadness on my face. Ray could pretend all he wanted that I was his daughter and he was my father but it would never be— legally I was now his daughter but it would take a miracle for me to ever call him dad.
“Yeah.” I whispered. “It is.”
Ray drove away as I walked to the door of our house. I let myself in and kicked off my pumps and dropped my purse. I flipped open the phone, found Mel’s number and hit the dial.
“Cass?”
“Mel, we need to talk.”