Hell on Earth

Brooks, Oregon or as I would like to call it “Hell on Earth,” is nothing but trees and mountains for miles. The drive was not bad and my parents were telling me all about Gentry Prep School. It doesn’t seem bad so far that is what I can conclude from the cheesy pamphlets my parents had offered to me as we began this journey to my new home.”Now Violet,” my mother starts, “I’m sorry that we are sending you away but we feel it will be for the better. As you can see at Gentry you have nine hour classes and you are separated from boys during all classes. Won’t that be lovely? A chance to make new friends?” “Mom, if you haven’t noticed I’m not exactly the most liked by other girls due to my total lack of social skills and my ability to hole up in the studio all day to create a masterpiece.” I say in the most snarky tone I can muster, that shuts her up.

As we drive I can not help but think of Jude. He has been my life since the start of junior year and now I am relocating to a place three hours away.He says he will visit and try an make this work but ultimately I know it won’t. An honestly I don't care if it does, he was just a silly high school boy in love and at this school there are people there in college. This definitely gives me hopes of some fresh meat in my already overflowing pot of men.Then there is Amos… He has not bothered to text me back or call me in months. The last thing he said to me is “Vi, I have to go away for awhile, I love you and will always be here. You are my destiny. Love Always, A” That simple text has kept me up at night thinking about him.

Where do I begin, I first started talking to Amos when we were twelve, right around the time that I had discovered my condition. He was my best friend (at the time) cousin, and we had hit it off. We fell in love, talked everyday and Skyped at night. However we had never met in person me living in Florence and him living in Eugene we were never capable of seeing each other or meeting. Amos helped me when my grand parent’s all died and when I totally freaked and would only wear black from head to toe. He was there, and that will remain in my mind until the day that I die. I am convinced that we are soul mates.

                         ***************

Gentry Prep School looks nothing like the brochures my parents gave me to look at. Maybe if it was fifteen years ago and nothing had changed, but the problem is things always change. Everyone is dressed nice enough and things seem to be running smoothly (as in nothing is burning or there is no riot in the courtYard.) We get out and I notice that girls are mixed in with boys and I automatically think about this being an all girls school.

“Well this is not what I expected,” my father says as he eye balls a rather cute guy with skater hair.

“Dad, I’m sure we are still separated from the boys during classes like the pamphlet says,” I say in the nicest way I can muster for his sake.

We turn and start walking across the courtyard to the main building to find a Miss Andrea Peat. As we walk I look across the courtyard and see a rather attractive guy looking at me as if he’s trying to figure out who I am. I make eye contact with him and instantly think of Amos, but there is no way Amos could be here after everything.

Miss Peat is a tiny petite lady with a knack for African decorations, her office is literally covered in masks, tribal carvings, and animal statues. She seems nice enough as she talks to my parents and ensures that I will have the best possible care and education here.

Miss Peat turns to me and ask “How are you feeling?” I just look at her as if she’s nuts.

“My parents are forcing me to finish my senior year of high school away from my boyfriend and everything I’ve ever known,” “How do you think I’m doing Miss Peat?” I say to her with my eyebrows raised and a try me look on my face.

Miss Peat purses her lips and her once gray eyes grow cloudy in an effort for her to keep her mouth around my parents. I just smirk and think to myself that I know this ladies’ game and she is not going to break me.

*****************************************************************

After my parents say their goodbyes to me I watch them get into our car and drive home. I stand there thinking that this is the first time I have been out of Florence for an extended stay. Gentry prep school, with all of its sloping lawns and high iron fence is more outdated than I was thought it was. All of my new classmates are clustered around the courtyard in groups, seeming to be in the same group by how they dress and their hair. There are the preppy blondes, brunette skaters, black haired goths, and the short haired nerds. As I’m looking at all of these people I begin to feel alone, I am unable to find the artsy kids. The kids that are all dressed eccentric and always have a paint splotch or charcoal smudge on their clothes.

A high pitched bell tolls and all of the groups file into Gentry, and I am left out in the courtyard on my own.”Violet, it's time for you to get a room assignment,” Miss Peat calls. I turn and start to walk towards her into the unknown that is now my new home.”So this is where you will be staying, Miss Peat says after we have walked through three halls and climbed three sets of stairs. I look inside and see that there are two beds, two dressers, and two mirrors. The one side is made up with twinkling white lights and there are many posters on the walls with knock off Picasso's' and Monet's. My side is bare, just a bed with white sheets and cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling.I turn to Miss Peat and say “Thank you, I’ll take it from here.” She leaves and I immediately get to cleaning and making this space mine.