Gifted Connections 1

“Can you please get dressed,” I urged her, since she seemed determined to drag her feet this morning. “Sweetie, I promise you that you will have a wonderful day!” I tried to say enthusiastically.

“And Pops is taking me to school and picking me up?” Ella asked, fear in her eyes.

“Yes,” I assured her. “Will, will be dropping you off and picking you up until you are ready to stay in the dorms during the week.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be ready,” she grumbled as she went into her room.

“You will be,” I said confidently.

I went back to my own room and made sure my new duffel bag for the week had everything I thought I may need in it. Most of my sports bras, bras, and underwear were going to be left at the dorm, but I only brought a few jeans, leggings, sweaters, and tops with me. I imagined I would be in my uniform most of the time, so no use bringing a lot with me.

I was brushing out Ella’s hair when Jemmy came into the room. “So how was the date last night?”

She even made the uniforms look provocative. It looked like she had hemmed up her skirt, so instead of falling about two inches above her knees, as mine did, it fell mid-thigh on her. Her white blouse was buttoned up, but she had left her top three buttons unbuttoned, revealing the top curve of her breasts. She had paired her uniform with white thigh highs, and she carried her gray blazer and heeled knee-high boots. She looked cute with her hair up in Princess Leia buns high up on her head, pink highlighted hair escaped her bun and framed her face.

I blushed and ducked my head. “Amazing.”

“I need more details,” she insisted.

“Do you have more than one boyfriend?” Ella asked inquisitively.

I gasped. I knew her mature perception eventually may pick up on the fact that all the guys were affectionate with me. I shot Jemmy a warning look as she began rolling around on the bed laughing.

“No,” I tried to keep my voice neutral as I braided two small braids on both sides of her head at the crown, connecting them so her hair was down, but out of her face. “The guys just like to give hugs. Haven’t they given you a lot of hugs? Are they your boyfriends?” I asked coyly.

She blushed and giggled, “No! I’m too young to have a boyfriend!”

I smiled at her. “And don’t you forget that.”

Drake hadn’t cooked us breakfast this morning. We were offered bagels, English muffins, and fresh fruit. It was chaos as Troy was packing his car up to be gone for almost a week, and Jax, Jemmy, and I loaded up Jax’s and Jemmy’s cars with our bags. Noah and Drake were the calmest since they were returning here. Will handed Ella and I meal cards, explaining that they were ‘loaded’ for us to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the week.

We quickly ate our breakfast, and then I said my goodbyes to Troy since I more than likely would see Noah and Drake throughout the week.

“Don’t forget to text me and Snap me,” Troy reminded me.

I smiled. “I will. Have a great week!”

“Thanks,” he smiled, dropping a kiss on my forehead before he jumped into his car. “You too. Good luck with your audition.”

My stomach dropped once more. I was a bundle of nerves. Luckily my audition was the first thing on my schedule this morning.

“Hurry up!” Jemmy called to me.

“Give me one second!” I called as I bent to give Ella a kiss on the cheek. “Have a great day at school. I know you’re going to make a ton of friends. Make sure you remember all of their names, so you can tell me all about them.”

“I will,” Ella seemed a little better than she did this morning. She walked over to Will so he could help her get into his car.

I jogged to Jemmy’s car. “What’s the hurry? I thought school started in thirty minutes and it only takes like seven minutes to get there?” I questioned as I got in.

“I want to stop and get a frozen coffee,” Jemmy smiled as she slipped on her sunglasses.

She drove like a mad woman. Speeding, yielding at stop signs, swerving as she played with the radio.

We got to the school and headed to the quad. This school boasted of several

different options for eating, resembling a food court and not an actual cafeteria.

“Hey, Blake,” someone called and waved to me. I waved back having no clue who it was.