forum I Went To The Woods Because I Wished To Live Deliberately || Brookestone Academy || Fem DPS || Closed

Started January 10, 2023 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

This is an invite-only rp 😉

@Dayzed
@menace-to-society
@FanfictionFanatic
@Winter-The-Renegade-Legionnaire

Brookestone Academy is a highly prestigious, all-girls boarding school. The students are expected to do great things when they graduate: become lawyers, doctors, politicians, scientists, etc; They certainly aren't thinking about English. Who cares about old dead poets anyway?

But when a new English teacher is hired for the start of the next semester, her class quickly discovers that she teaches like no other professor at Brookestone. And, given time, she begins something. Something wonderful. Something powerful. Something that will break the art of conformity.

So this is based on the movie Dead Poets Society (1989) with Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, and Ethan Hawke. It's literally my favorite movie of all time, so I thought why not make a gender-swapped/girls' version?

Preferably, everyone will be in the same year. Either juniors or seniors? And since there will be four students, we can do two sets of roommates 😊 Here is the page for my character, Adalise Lansing. If you have a page of your own already made, feel free to use it! If not, here's a template! (And if you want to add anything else you feel to be relevant, go for it!)

Name:
Age: (15-18)
Gender: Female
Year:
Appearance:
Clothing Style: (outside of school uniforms)
Personality:
Strengths:
Weaknesses/Flaws:
Family History/Background:
Expected Occupation:
Hobbies:
Theme Song:
Quotes: (could be a quote/quotes that your character like(s) or things she says often)
Other:

Name: Lisette Fionuir Calvert
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Year: Junior

Appearance: Lisii's eyes are sharp and angular. They look like they pierce right through your soul, sometimes coming off as a glare, even though that's her resting face more than half the time. She radiates a calm yet intimidating aura. Lisii has hazel green eyes, a bit of brown towards the middle, but mostly overtaken by olive green. Her nose is short, the bridge thin, and the tip being soft, somewhat wide, but not extremely so. Lisii's lips are medium-full, small, but plump. Because of her light complexion, she blushes easily and there is a constant redness in her cheeks, caused by a condition known as Rosacea. She tries to manage the extreme redness by applying a plethora of skin products, which sometimes help, but more often than not she simply covers it up with make-up, going in light on some days so as to not irritate her skin more, other times, she goes in full coverage to get rid of the redness. Lisii's face is heart-shaped, her features soft. She doesn't have defined cheekbones and her jawline is noticeable but it isn't sharp as some others.

Lisii's hair is a very pale blonde, bordering on being white, almost a platinum blonde, but there are hints of gold, her more natural color as she tends to dye it a lighter color than it already is. Her hair is long, coming down to her waist. It's silky and healthy as she takes good care of it and has the means to. It lays flat against her back, being straight, but sometimes in bouncy curls when she irons it, mostly curling it when she's going somewhere important or wants to make a good impression.
She styles it by pinning some pieces back, curling her bangs so they look neat and presentable, but letting her hair fall naturally. Sometimes she puts it up in a half ponytail, still liking her hair to be in its natural state. She doesn't do much to it, as it already looks very good the way it is, in her opinion, but sometimes she'll go for more elaborate hairstyles when she's in the mood, these get done at a hair salon.
Lisii stands at 5'7 and wieghs 125 lbs. More of a mesomorph body type, being slightly curvy, going onto an hourglass shape, but not quite there as there is sort of boxy attributes to her stature considering how thin she is.

Style: Lisii wears light flowy dresses, but more describing the material than the shape of the clothes. The dresses are usually a solid color, sometimes having flowery patterns on them. Her color schemes are light greens, beige, very pastel yellows, light purplish blues, and other vintage colors.
Lisii likes her dresses loose on her skin so it doesn't feel as constricting as her other clothes, which are usually skin-tight. Her favorite go-to clothes are french floral mini dresses, oftentimes with a square neckline, it's both simple yet elegant. Giving off a spring vibe.
For shoes, she'll wear high heels for formal events and shorter casual heels for doing her day-to-day activities. On occasion, she'll wear flats with ankle straps to match certain dresses.

Personality: Lisii is your typical arrogant, thinks-she's-better-than-everyone girl. She's poised, disciplined, and tolerates no disrespect. She can be sarcastic in the meanest way, showing visible disgust for people she dislikes, but willing to friend someone she thinks is better than her or who shows to be on her same level. She's not a mean girl per se, as she doesn't go after others needlessly, she only goes after those who are annoying to the point of getting on everyone's nerves. Sometimes she finds the weird kids, well, weird, and does pick on them, but in more of a light-hearted manner, though, sometimes it does not come off like that.
When you get on her good side she can be incredibly sweet, caring for those she holds dear and close to her heart. She'll smile more often and show the fragile vulnerable parts of herself to those she trusts. Lisii mostly minds her own business and holds a calm demeanor and only uses her status when needed, not rubbing it in other people's faces as she was raised to know better, though, she does pride herself on coming from a more wealthy family.
One thing about Lisii is she's pretty good at getting what she wants, as taught by her father, either by power or by her own means. She is not above seducing someone if she has to, it's not her favorite thing to do, but if she really wants something, she will resort to it. She learned early on to get as much leverage as she can to succeed in the world.
If someone tries to challenge her, she'll more than likely put them in their place. When she can't, she accepts defeat but makes a mental note to pay them back at a later date.
Lisii isn't a sad soul, or even a broken soul despite her recent loss, but still, she is human and does cry and get hurt, especially when she gets her heart broken because it takes a lot for her to let someone in. She's very guarded, another thing she was taught from an early age, so she doesn't make it a habit to date one after another, in fact, she's only dated one other person her whole life.

Strengths: Is curious about several things, brave (she's not afraid to do things others normally wouldn't), has social intelligence (she can accurately guess how someone's feeling, half the time anyways), is good at working with others, has self-control

Flaws: Under-estimates others way too much, thinks she can do no wrong (unless proven otherwise), likes to gossip (not frequently, but loves hearing about others), can be spoiled (though she also loves spoiling others), is mischievous and will get into trouble (not with others, but by her own decisions)

Family History/Background: Lisii comes from an incredibly rich family, the Calverts. Her older brother is an investor, sometimes helping in the trading of goods. This can be somewhat of a dangerous job because of the number of thieves that are willing to get their hands on these pricy pieces, but he chose this instead of being a lawyer like his family wanted him to be. He's seen as both a disappointment, but also very successful. Lisii finds inspiration in this and wants to do something similar. Not just conforming to what the family wants.
Her father is a very strict man, there is no room for error with him, and punishes those who do not follow the rules. Surprisingly so, he has a soft spot for Lisii as she is his only daughter. He has been there present for her since she was a kid, spoiling her and spending as much time as he can with her, something he did not do with Aaron, Lisii's brother.
Her mother was a soft gentle creature, teaching Lisii the ways of womanhood and what it meant to be a proper lady, though, no matter how much Lisii's mother tried to teach Lisii to be humble, it never stuck, as her father taught her to be unapologetically herself, even if it meant that others didn't like it.
Lisii's mother passed away when she was fifteen from Leukemia, she never got medical attention, not because they couldn't but because Lisii's mother requested to not receive any treatment, as she believed this was the natural order of things.

Expected Occupation: Finance Director.

Hobbies: Gardening, Singing, Art collecting, Reading, Studying, Journaling, Calligraphy, Origami, Flower arranging, Cross stitching
Theme Song: All That Glitters, Earl

Quotes: "Shut up. I wear heels bigger than your dick." // "I hope that someday when I am gone, someone somewhere, picks my soul up off of these pages and thinks, "I would have loved her,"
Other: Here's her Pinterest board: https://pin.it/5ZRRPNF

Name: Meghan Hill
Age: 16
Gender: Female
Year: Junior
Appearance: Meg is 5’8”, very athletic in build, her eyes are a deceptively warm brow, long dark brown hair that she often styles into a tight updo of some kind, which actually highlights her sharp facial structure.
Clothing Style: (outside of school uniforms) She prefers to wear a plain comfy t-shirt and a pair of cargo pants or just blue jeans with a beat-up dark green pea coat and hiking boots. She almost always carries a messenger bag which always has a journal and sketchbook inside aside.
Personality: Ever since the death of her father, Meg has become fairly jaded and withdrawn from most people, except for her remaining family. She doesn't trust easily but once it's earned, she can be fiercely protective.
Strengths: … (I always struggle with this) I want to say that she doesn't take sh*+ though she's more “lenient” with the teachers.
Weaknesses/Flaws: A bit stubborn/prideful. She hates to admit when she's in over her head.
Family History/Background: Unlike most of the “usual” students, Meg’s family had to work very hard to earn the money to pay for her tuition for Brookestone Academy. It was originally her uncle’s idea for her to go there so that she could have better opportunities than her parents and himself. No one pointed her in a specific direction for a career but when her father was shot and killed in a mugging, and considering the options available at this kind of school, she chose the below.
Expected Occupation: Forensic Scientist/Law enforcement
Hobbies: drawing, (ironically) she does like to write but it's bland like not mind writing but she needs some serious help 😉
Theme Song:
Quotes: (could be a quote/quotes that your character like(s) or things she says often)
Other:

YES LISETTE! Oooh, I love Meghan!!! 😊

Name: Gayle Torres
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Year: Junior
Appearance: Gayle is close to average height, standing at 5' 5" with a lithe build. Though her stature is really more scrawny than lithe, seeing as she isn't really the sporty type and is severely lacking in coordination or grace. The only graceful thing about her are her hands, which are the hands of a musician with long, delicate fingers that she uses to play piano. She has a warm, light brown complexion, with a little bit of acne on her cheeks. She has an abundance of freckles all over her body and face, which she sometimes tries to hide with makeup. She wears makeup occasionally, depending on her mood and how much time she gave herself to get ready that morning. When she does, it's a fairly natural style of makeup. Gayle isn't the best makeup artist, but she's definitely at least passable at it.

Gayle has wide, hazel eyes framed by naturally long lashes that manage to make her look like a deer in headlights when she is surprised or anxious, which is often. She also has fae-like, arched eyebrows that are often drawn in anxiety or nervousness. She has a medium-sized, slightly upturned nose and full rosebud lips. She often bites her lip when she is nervous, exposing her nice teeth. She had braces for several years, only recently getting them off, and now her teeth are very straight because of that.

Gayle has mid-length dark brown hair that naturally falls in tight, bouncy curls. She likes to let it be loose, but will sometimes tie it back if it gets in the way. She also likes to use cute hair accessories when she can, such as colorful hair clips or butterfly clips. She is really good at doing her hair and accessorizing in general, especially since at school they have to wear uniforms so she can't show her style through her clothes. She also usually wears earrings, having one ear piercing in each ear.

Clothing Style: Gayle has a very feminine and cute sense of style, wearing things like printed midi skirts and overalls quite often. She has more of an artistic sort of vibe in her style, being really into the arts but doing it as more of a side hobby than anything else. She likes a colorful, but not too bright, color palette in her outfit choices. She also adores cardigans and basically anything crocheted–she can crochet but usually doesn't have much time for it outside of school breaks. She also loves sweet slip dresses and fun accessories, like belts, bags, and jewelry. She has collection of cute earrings and necklaces which she is happy to share with a friend (though due to her shy and introverted nature, she doesn't have a lot). She also has several cute bags that go along with her outfits.

Personality: Gayle is a naturally introverted girl, preferring to spend time with plants or animals more than with people. She enjoys reading anything and everything, especially novels, though she doesn't read them often due to her feeling like they aren't productive enough. She also enjoys painting and crochet, which she rarely does as well. Gayle is very anxious about not only social situations but also her grades, being the oldest sibling in her family and therefore expected to set an example for her younger siblings. The stress that her family puts on her cause her to be quite anxious surrounding school, which causes her to spend a lot of her time studying and pursuing various academic pursuits. She actually does enjoy having company once she feels comfortable with someone, but it takes a while before she gets to that point. She is a bit awkward and shy in most social situations, especially if there are a lot of people involved. She shies away from any sort of parties for this reason, not enjoying being surrounded by people, especially if she doesn't know them well. She can often be found by herself, either under the shade of a tree or in her room. She cares very much about those she is close to, and will do everything to make sure that they are taking care of themselves despite not taking care of herself. Gayle is very empathetic and hates to see other people struggling, so she will step up and befriend the person sitting alone or help someone with the homework in spite of the anxiety it gives her at times.

Strengths: Very book smart, very creative and likes learning new things, adventurous when it comes to new hobbies (but not so much new people or even places), empathetic, very protective and caring of those she is close to, and follows the rules.
Weaknesses/Flaws: Sometimes is too "by the book" (in her creative pursuits she thinks more outside the box, but anything school-related she says what she thinks they want to hear), not very good with people, awkward, tends to be a people pleaser and while she cares deeply about others, she sometimes neglects her own well-being.
Family History/Background: Gayle's parents are quite wealthy, with her mother being a professor at a prestigious university and her father being a businessman. Her mother grew up fairly wealthy and went to a prestigious boarding school and then university before deciding to go into academia. Her father grew up much more humbly, having to work through high school to put himself through a community college before starting his own business, which eventually gained great success. Because of this, her father has always preached the value of hard work and her mother has always preached the value of a quality education. They are both quite naturally smart and expect their children to be the same, wanting them to have stable careers, placing extremely high expectations on Gayle specifically because she is the oldest. She has three younger siblings, the oldest of which is fourteen and in middle school, all of whom look up to her. When she was younger, she would babysit them often while her parents were working. Both of her parents are also workaholics, wanting the best for their family and not thinking of themselves in the process. This is a trait that Gayle has inherited, only thinking of others to the point of neglecting herself.
Expected Occupation: Doctor
Hobbies: Reading, painting, crocheting, fashion, piano
Theme Song: Too Precious - Em Beihold, Ribs - Lorde
Quotes: “They might not need me; but they might. I’ll let my head be just in sight; a smile as small as mine might be precisely their necessity.” - Emily Dickinson; “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.” - Emily Dickinson (i feel like these match her energy)
Other:

I love them both so much!! Gayle is so precious!

thank you! i like lisii and meghan both a lot! your pinterest board for lisii is so cool :D

jdhfdjkshf thank you!!

yw!! :))

I’m glad that you guys like Meg! I'm really looking forward to trying her out in this setting!

@EtherealDreamer

hold on, I have to make a whole new character for this, so I'll get my sheet in soon.

Name: Bernadette "Birdie" McClauson.
Age: (15-18) 17
Gender: Female
Year: junior
Appearance: Birdie is thin with features best described as sharp. She has a heart shaped face, with a small sized forehead. She has large round owl-like eyes in a dark shade of gloomy day blue. She has a roman nose that is slightly upturned at the end. Her lips are plump and round, but not very wide, giving her mouth a slight doll look. She has a long, slender neck that is slightly elongated. She has a slim and trim body style, she is naturally thin with a tendency for her joints to stick out such as her collarbones, wrists and ankles, giving her a sharp, bird-like look. She had an otherwise dark complaxion, with caramel colored skin. She had a large Her hair is set in natural loose curls, and is a chestnut brown, she hardly ever lets her hair get past her shoulders, but sometimes avoids haircuts because she's lazy, she har bangs, which she straightens to keep straight and had her bangs and side pieces of the front of her hair bleached blonde.
Clothing Style: (outside of school uniforms) https://i.paste.pics/4750ba0b46c8302113bfacf22d142a0c.png
a mix of light academia and soft girl fits, so skirts and usually oversized shirts.
Personality: Birdie is typically quiet and soft spoken, but tends to show more energy when around friends or people she sees as possible friends. She has a tendency for blunt honesty and has a big problem with feeling guilty.
Strengths: telling people the truth, pull ups, and associating songs with people.
Weaknesses/Flaws: her guilty conscience makes her over emotional and she has a problem with this because she makes impulsive decisions.
Family History/Background: Birdie is from a wealthy family, simply because of her father's will and insurance. She rarely ever dips into the large sum of $500,000 he left her, because she thinks of it as dirty money, if given anything, she'd rather have her father, not the stupid insurance money. She stays with an aunt since her father's death who constantly tries to get Birdie to reveal her father's bank account information, all of which were entrusted to Birdie while he was living. Because of Birdie's refusal to disclose this information to her aunt, her aunt, Patricia, resolves to belittling her and the memory of her father.
Expected Occupation: Detective
Hobbies: reading, making playlists and studying astronomy.
Theme Song: Are you bored yet? -Wallows.
Quotes: (could be a quote/quotes that your character like(s) or things she says often)
"I've interrupted a deep thought, haven't I? I can see it getting smaller in your eyes."
"You're just as sane as I am."
Other:

• Birdie is a big Luna Lovegood fanatic. Though she is also considered a bookworm and a Harry Potter nerd, she mainly focuses on the eccentric and weird Luna Lovegood. She loves how Luna is not afraid to be different, while most people, both in the wizarding world and in real life, work hard to be normal and fit in.

• she is half arabic, which is why people always compliment her eyes, because arabic people have darker complexions and have brown eyes most of the time.

• She introduces herself as Birdie, she hates her name and plans on legally getting it changed when she's a legal adult.

Name: Juniper MacWilliam
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Year: Junior
Appearance: Juniper is short and stout. She stands at 5' 0". She's got a broad shouldered moderately athletic build, from years of playing catcher in softball, and working on projects in her father's shop. Dainty is not would you describe her. More of a bull in a china shop. She has a tan complexion with yellow undertones, and she takes pride in her appearance. She rarely wears makeup, and adores the sun. She doesn't burn easily in the sun, and enjoys letting the sun touch her skin.
Juniper has forest green eyes, and wears a pair of teal glasses because she absolutely hates contacts. She has dark brown lashes, and dark brown medium-thick eyebrows. She has a straight nose (Greek nose), and full lips. Juniper had braces for six years, and she adores smiling now because her teeth are straight.
Juniper's hair is a few inches past her shoulder, and it's curly and unruly. (But maintained that way) It's a darker brown with natural caramel highlights from being out in the sun so much. She hates having things in her hair, unless it's a hair tie to keep her hair out of her face while she's working on a project. She just thinks that her hair is better down and natural.
Clothing Style: (outside of school uniforms) Juniper loves darker and earthy colors as well as dark reds and blues. When it's warmer, Juniper wears light clothing, and prefers tank tops, shorts and sandals. Her go to outfit when it's cooler is a pair of black jeans, a dark gray/black shirt and her favorite green flannel hoodie layered under her jean jacket which has an abundance of Star Wars patches, with a pair of hiking boots. If she's feeling that she needs something a little more dressier, she'll wear a nice sweater or cardigan with a pair of nice blue jeans with nice boots, or even a converse-esque type shoe. If she is working on a project she wears a tank top and a raggedy pair of jeans and work boots.
Personality: Juniper is as extroverted as they come. She enjoys making people laugh and has no fear when it comes to talking to new people. She enjoys a vibrant social life, and enjoys being around people. But sometimes she needs her space and time, and she chooses to go for a walk outside. She adores reading, (and writing too), and prefers the science fiction and fantasy genres. She often finds herself dreaming and wondering what life would be like if she was there.
Strengths: She works hard to make new relationships, is incredibly creative, and is street smart, she is book smart, however it takes time for her to understand bigger concepts.
Weaknesses/Flaws: She is diagnosed with ADHD, so it is difficult for her to calm down and focus sometimes. She is very loud, and is more head strong than anything. Rules bother her and she loves pushing the limits and breaking them.
Family History/Background: Her parents came to America from Scotland for bigger and better job opportunities. Her mother is a British History teacher, while her father is a blacksmith and farrier. (He makes horse shoes primarily and checks out the hooves for any problems.) She works for her dad, and sometimes if there is extra scrap metal lying around she puts it in the forge and makes her own things. Her family doesn't have an abundance of money, but they life a comfortable life. When Juniper saw that her mother had applied her for boarding school she laughed, but when she ended up on scholarship, she really had no choice but to oblige and go. It didn't bother her too much, it was just a big change in her life. Her mother inspired the ability to push towards her goals and push through, while her dad inspired dedication and a sense of perfection in what she does.
Expected Occupation: Prosthetist (A doctor that make artificial limbs for those who had limbs lost or amputated)
Hobbies: Building metal models, softball, reading, working with her hands
Theme Song: The Moon Will Sing -The Crane Wives
Quotes: (could be a quote/quotes that your character like(s) or things she says often): "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." -J. R. R. Tolkien, "Is that even possible? I never ask that question until after I've done it." -Han Solo

(Yep! It’s better that they’re all in the same grade! And now that we have everyone’s characters, let’s do this ;))

The honey-colored goldenrain trees that dotted the campus of the honorable Brookestone Academy seemed to glow a little brighter on the morning of September 1st.

It was the day of the Academy's Opening Ceremony. Girls ranging in ages from 11 to 18 were clustered together with their friends in the Academy's famous Seasons Courtyard.

It was nestled comfortably in the middle of the grounds and had been since the school was built. There were pale cobblestones beneath the girls' feet, a bubbling fountain spurting clear water, and an assortment of small trees and brightly colored flowers surrounding them. Soft yellows, reds, and oranges complemented each other and presented the fading of the seasons from summer to fall, as the courtyard was famed for.

The younger girls looked around the beautiful courtyard and anxiously whispered about what awaited them inside the doors.

Adalise Lansing looked over the courtyard as the girls chatted and began to form bonds that would most likely carry them through their time at school here. Adalise had met her dearest best friend on her first day here, after all. She was very excited to be a professor here, especially being an alumnus. The welcome from the staff had been more than what Adalise had expected. Her classroom was wonderful, and with a few touches, she could make it hers.

The Academy’s newest teacher eventually made her way inside and paced through the halls as the older girls settled into their new rooms for the semester and unpacked their belongings. It wasn't mandatory for teachers to remain on campus after the opening ceremony, but Adalise wanted to stay. Besides, it gave her time to learn a few faces and names before the first day of class.

Adalise smiled at all the new faces she passed, steering clear of girls with large suitcases and wide paths. She made sure she kept up an even stride, attempting to look like the rest of the staff did. Her Manolo Blahnik heels clicked loudly on the wooden floor of the residence hall as she walked, alerting the students of her presence and giving her an air of importance that she felt like she didn't quite know if she deserved. Or wanted, for that matter.

Lisette narrowed her eyes at the person in the mirror, she pulled at her skin slightly, the redness covering her cheeks and nose, her forehead not being as bad as it could have been. Still, she hated it and today she was having none of it. She decided to wear full coverage as it tended to boost her confidence a lot.
Today was a new day and she sure as hell would not let anything get in her way, she had to look her best. Not that she was doing this for anyone in particular, though she did like for others to stare, as self-centered as that was.
After applying the makeup, she curled her hair and pinned some pieces back. She quickly got dressed and grabbed her suitcase and briefcase and made her way downstairs. Lisette was not known for being late and today was no exception despite the way she hurried to put everything in the car. She liked being a few minutes early as had been taught by her father.

Stepping out of the car, Lisette took everything in, the familiarity of it all, this is where she felt more at peace. Like going away for a vacation, though some would not see it that way.
She turned to see a man with black hair in a short low ponytail taking her luggage out for her, bringing it to her side. He handed her the briefcase and nodded. Casimir was dressed in formal clothing and acted the part too, he was Aaron's bodyguard and best friend and he was in charge of taking her to school today.
"Aaron wishes you the best, good luck with your classes," Casimir's face was neutral, but Lisette knew that she would be missed by the way his eyes lingered on her before flickering away. After all, they had all grown up together.
"Thank you" Lisette took the briefcase and smiled at him. "Keep Aaron out of trouble will you?" She said and it was only then that Cas cracked a smile and gave her a knowing look.
"I will," He said and rounded the car, waving Lisette goodbye from inside before shifting gears and driving off.

Lisette looked around to see her peers talking amongst themselves. She mostly skimmed their faces to see if she found anyone familiar, but when she didn't she walked up to the door of the academy and promptly went in, her suitcase trailing behind her.

This year, she had been assigned a different room than the one she stayed in for the past two years. It wasn't a problem as any room would do, she just hoped it was as big as the last.
When she found the room number, she walked right in, not skipping a beat. There was no one there yet and Lisette wondered who would be the girl to stay with her.
Because Lisette's father was a direct donator to the school fund, she was allowed to do most things, like pick who she wanted to stay with, this time though, she didn't have that luxury since they had taken in more students this year. She hoped she didn't come to regret her decision of not pushing harder for having one of her friends stay with her. There was no changing that now.

Lisette put her briefcase on the bed, pulling her other luggage so it stood by the bed's frame. With that, she started to unpack, taking out her most expensive clothes and hanging them up in the wardrobe as soon as she could. They had already been wrinkled, but somewhere in Lisette's mind, the faster she put them up, the more time they had to straighten out.

Gayle was already dreading the start of school again, and she wasn't even at the academy yet. Sure, the summer hadn't entirely been a break from the mounting pressure so much as a break from the constant bombardment of stimuli that came with being at school, but she was sad it was over nonetheless. She was glad to be seeing her friends, of course, but there was so much about school that she wished she could avoid. She tugged at a loose curl anxiously, her nails already bitten to the quick in anticipation of this day. She knew that both of her parents hated that particular habit of hers. Her mother was quite passive aggressive about it, asking if she really wasn't interesting in painting her nails or express how lovely it was to see girls with slightly longer nails, but she would not say anything outright. It was her father who would bark at her not to chew her nails or bounce her leg or tug at her hair. At least she would have a break from that, she supposed, though at times it felt like her parents weren't even around enough to warrant a break. Their high-paying and high-demand jobs kept them both busy fairly often, though her mother did have a bit more time on her hands during the summer. Summer just meant babysitting and studying instead of attending school. At least she had managed to crotchet herself a few new things and paint something to put up in her room at school.

At last, the car arrived at the school, and her cousin glanced over from the passenger seat. Just like last year, between Gayle's siblings and her parents' jobs, they couldn't be bothered to drive her to the first day of school, instead saying quick goodbyes and 'I love you's before she left that morning. Ricardo, for his part, looked bored. He was in university and wouldn't start classes again for another few weeks. The car pulled to a stop, and Ricardo opened the trunk, helping Gayle get her suitcase out. She had a backpack on as well, and between those she had everything she really needed. She was very good at packing, thankfully. Ricardo made a face as he hefted the large suitcase out, setting it none too gently on the ground. It was the same routine every year.

As usual, he turned to her and gave her a smile. While the two of them had never been the best of friends, they were close enough to take an interest in each other's lives and at least message occasionally. "Good luck, Gayle," he said, and that statement meant the true end of summer, just like every year.

"Thanks, Ricardo," she sighed. "Good luck to you too. Hope your year goes well. Don't forget to call."

"I won't! I hope that you have a good year too! Make some new friends, hm?"

"I'll try." Gayle did not share his pleasant confidence. She supposed more friends wasn't a bad thing, but she did prefer to keep a smaller circle. "Bye! See you during the holidays!"

"Yeah, see you at Christmas!" With that, he got back into the car, giving her a wave before driving off. Gayle sighed again. Time to figure out who she would be roommates with this year. At least she had tried her best to look cute, hopefully giving herself some much needed confidence. She had put on a little makeup–because of course she was breaking out now–as well as using a cute new hair clip she had gotten over the summer that was shaped like a star. It held some of the shorter curls out of her face and matched the one of the necklaces she wore, a dainty silver thing. The other one had a dainty silver chain as well, with an amethyst crystal at the end. She sucked in a breath. She could do this. And so she started across the lawn, doing her best to blend into the grass in all of the noise and action of girls arriving.

(okay i do have a few questions actually. do we know who's rooming with who or do we just choose on our own? also, is this taking place in the same time period as the movie or modern day?)