Episode 2

Winter\, ahead in all her classes despite the move\, was still taking notes to appear respectful to her teachers. She had done independent studying since before she and her mother started moving around. It became more of a habit as she got older. Winter yawned as the next teacher came in for Advanced Algebraic functions. *I can relax a little on the note taking\, this is easy.* Winter shut her eyes and allowed her mind to wander. A million thoughts flooded her mind. She thought of her old friends from all her past schools\, her studies in every area\, her mother working hard for their benefit\, and her dad. When Winter thought of her father\, she developed a headache\, so she decided to focus. The second she opened her eyes\, the lunch bell rang and everyone flocked to her. "She's really beautiful" "A new student in the middle of the year!!" "Wow you're so pretty!" "Look at her eyes." "Her eyes! They're so blue." "Her hair is so long\, and shiny she must have been growing it out for a while." "She's gorgeous." Winter studied all of them as she noticed one girl get closer to her. "Hi I'm Layla. Winter\, right?" a girl with golden hair and green eyes said. Winter nodded. She said confidently to the group surrounding her "Hello everyone. I'm Winter\," she smiled brightly. "How come you moved schools?" Layla stared at Winter. Winter kept on smiling\, "My mom is an international aid for Universal Relief. Her job causes us to move around a lot." A blonde haired girl next to Layla\, seemingly excited\, said "Wow! You must get to see a lot of different places then." Winter laughed\, "I guess you can say that." The blonde haired girl's\, brown eyes danced around. "Oh I'm Mandy by the way\," she smiled. Layla looked at Mandy and then back at Winter\, "Wanna eat lunch with us?" Winter's sharp blue eyes landed on Layla's soft\, green one's as she smiled "Sure." As Winter stood\, Mandy linked her arms with Winter's\, "Come on. We'll show you where the cafeteria is."

As they walked through the luxurious hallways\, Winter noticed how close Mandy and Layla were standing in proximity to her and each other. *Your first new friends in this elite school.* "What do your parents do?" Winter looked at the girls. Mandy said\, "My mom is the fashion designer 'Elle Marinette.'" "Wow. Your mom is Elle Marinette? As in the number one fashion designer in the nation?" Winter looked at Mandy. "That's the one. And my dad is mayor of this city." "That's awesome Mandy." Winter watched as Layla flipped her hair. "What about you Layla?" "My dad is the CEO of SC inc. and my mom is the president." Layla preened. "Your parents are leaders of one of the biggest business conglomerates?" "Yeah." Winter smiled. "Your parents have such cool jobs." Winter hesitated a step and looked around as she felt someone staring at her. Her eyes locked on hazel eyes filled with something like anger. The girl with the dark bob cut turned away and disappeared around the corner. Winter tilted her head\, *hmm.* They reached the cafeteria and Winter almost gaped at its sheer grandeur. Winter looked around at the marble floors\, the heavy satin curtains\, the crystal chandeliers\, and the long\, meticulously designed oak wood  tables. *THIS is the cafeteria?* Mandy looked at Winter\, "What are you standing there for? Let's go get our food." Winter examined the different kinds of foods and their presentations. There were so many options. They were all beautiful; the lobster with caviar\, the steak with skillfully made baked potatoes\, the miso soup\, the salad. Everything was gourmet.  Winter grabbed a salad and followed Mandy and Layla to the spot of their choosing.

Winter sat down and looked around the cafeteria. She detected the hazel eyes on her again and ignored them. "Do you have any questions? About us, about the school?" Mandy daintily ate her soup. Winter looked up from her salad, "I have a few." She stared. "What's the story about this place?" Layla picked at her caviar, "Golden Academy High is an elite school that is extremely hard to get into. The students of this place are usually the children of important people. Business conglomerates, political leaders, famous actors. People with influence." Mandy's eyes narrowed, "the person who made this place is about as mysterious as they come. Most people don't know anything about him. All we know is that he's rich, he's strict and very secretive. Few have ever seen his face." Winter shifted in her seat, "Are you talking about the headmaster of this place?" Mandy nodded. Layla leaned forward, "What I want to know is... how did you get in here?" Winter tilted her head. Layla smiled, "You said your mom works for Universal Relief. You're relatively well off compared to normal people  but that doesn't earn enough money to be granted a spot here. What's your story? What does your dad do?" Winter swallowed, "My dad died when I was little. My mom and I have been on our own since then. We've moved around from place to place because of her job. This is my fourth high school in two years." Mandy's eyes widened, "Woah. Seems like you move around every semester." Winter nodded. "That's got to be tough," Layla sighed. "Eh, I kind of get used to moving. Apparently this will be the school I am going to graduate from." Winter's wandering eyes found hazel ones again and narrowed. Mandy's spoon clattered against her bowl, "Which means we can stay friends!" Winter's eyes darted to Mandy at the sound. "How long have you two been friends for?" Winter smirked. Mandy and Layla looked at each other. Layla sighed, "We've been friends since we were 2." Mandy smiled sweetly, "Our parents always made sure we've had the best of the best. And so because of that, we've been together in everything for as long as we can remember." Winter's thoughts wandered to her father, and she shook her head. Mandy looked at Winter and then smiled deviously, "Winter, do you have a boyfriend?" Winter's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden change in topic, "No. I have never had a boyfriend before." Layla looked at her, "Never?" Winter nodded. "Well surely you've kissed a boy before..." Mandy watched Winter in disbelief as she shook her head. "Kissed cheek? Held hands? Hugged?" Winter laughed, "Of course I've hugged a boy before." Mandy and Layla both sighed simultaneously. "Our precious, innocent little Winter" Mandy looked at her. Winter chuckled. The bell rang. "Well looks like lunch time is over," Winter stood. "I still can't believe how delicious the school lunch is." Mandy and Layla laughed as they all walked back to class.

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