Adieu! Sylvia!

[dejan]

Sylvia hated her parents. She could barely believe she was going to leave England for France. She knew her parents had to sought some problems out... but sending her away?...and to boarding school too...Geez... Life sucked. At least Sylvia could speak and read French, her mother was French and had attended the same boarding school Sylvia was travelling to this very second.
What was it called again?
St Marie College for Ladies? Or something like that...
Sylvia adjusted her tie and smoothed out the creases in her pleated skirt. The blazer she wore was tight and she could barely reach upwards. Her summer straw hat lay next to her, gleaming as the sunshine's rays glared upon it. The College was somewhere in the countryside of Marseille, leafy trees lined the autumn filled road of dry leaves. The car Sylvia was travelling bobbed softly along, sweet jazz musical swindled through the car, as the driver tapped his finger along with the beat of the music.
Sylvia looked out upon the dairy fields, full of cows and wild sheep. Stacks of hay lay rotting on the luscious greenery, as dew bounced gleefully upon the blades, and into the rich soil.
Perhaps the College wouldn't be so bad. She looked up and gasped. The car slowed into a crawl and trundled through the driveway of the most magnificent school Sylvia had ever seen before...

[Dee]

It was a castle. No, three castles, but all joined together. Birds fluttered around the top, shadows jumped down ominously onto the ground below. It was old, but full of mystery. The stones were dirt stained, but still shone under the sun. It rose high, the College's flag flapping proudly. Sylvia had never seen anything so magical or enthralling. No london school could ever match the beauty of St Marie.
The chauffeur began to unload her luggage. A homely looking middle-aged woman ran out of the castle to greet her. She was dressed in a strict black and a small bow sat elegantly upon her shiny hair. She was an imposing figure, but her eyes looked tired and kindly.
She greeted Sylvia in French and immediately ushered her inside of the castle.
Sylvia took off her hat as the woman named Madame Clerice who was the year 10 form mistress. Madame showed her briefly, the neat office, where ten pleasant looking women sat at desks.
It was eleven o'clock and Madame Clerice insisted she show Sylvia her dormitory she would share with five other girls and take a small rest and settle in. They climbed the winding staircases and finally reached a spacious room where six perfectly folded beds stood.
"You will fit in soon, dear. Do not worry. You will get used to the large space, and find your way quite easily through the corridors. I must return to the Headmistress now and report of your arrival. I will return at noon, and you'll have your lunch here. I will introduce you to the girls in your form at dinner."
She smiled curtly and swept out of the room, without waiting for a reply.
Sylvia looked around the room excitedly and immediately spotted a bed, with a paper label sitting on the bedspread. It said, "Sylvia Dorian: Welcome to St Marie."

[dejan]

Sylvia unpacked her clothing into the cupboard standing next to her four poster bed. She opened the musty window and let the healthy French countryside air rush in. She flopped on her bed and lay sprawl legged, staring at the wonderfully ornate ceilings. She kicked off her shoes and fell asleep.
She woke up at the sound of a knock. Madame Clerice stood at the door with a tray of food and a steaming mug of tea. She crossed the room and placed the tray on top of the cabinet next to the bed.
"Here's your lunch Syvlia. After you finish eating, you may walk around the grounds if you wish to get used to the air. The bell will ring for dinner, and you may proceed to the Dining Hall where I shall meet you at the entrance. Eat well."
Madame Clerice quickly swept out of the room without even a glance.
Sylvia sighed and stared out of the window and looked down upon the grounds. The weather was warming up, but still, there was not a noise to be heard or a human in sight. Suddenly, there was a loud distant clagging of a large bell.
"That must be the lunch bell," murmured Sylvia.
She quickly gulped down the tea and ate the lunch which consisted of a two sandwiches, a corn cob, a small salad and a piece of cheese.
She walked out of the room and looked up and down the empty corridors. She could hear the buzz of voices and laughter.
She held her head high and proceeded down the long and winding steps...

[~*Michelle*~]

The students stared. Several whispered and pointed, others sneered when Sylvia tried to smile. There was a tut near the door. Madame Clerice shook her head, "Madamoiselle Dorian, I specifically told you that I would introduce you at dinner. This has already shown me that you do not perhaps listen well, or do as you wish. Or perhaps, disrespect me?"
Sylvia shook her head fervishly, "Never Madame Clerice. I just forgot."
The girls smothered their sniggers.
Madame Clerice raised an arched brow, "Girls be quiet and conduct yourselves' properly." She approached Sylvia, stopped and smiled painfully, "I see that I might as well introduce you to your fellow students."
She turned around and clapped for attention, "Form 10! I have the pleasure of introducing a new student into our family. This young lady is Sylvia Dorian and she comes from England and will be staying with us. As her fellow dorm students have been informed, she will be sharing the dorm with Madamoiselle De Bouche," a tiny figured girl stood up, "Madamoiselle Le Troy-Boucy," a tall girl with an upturned nose stood up quickly, and many giggled, "Madamoiselle Chavalier," a pretty auburn haired girl stood up amid snorts of laughter, whilst she blushed furiously, "Madamoiselle Basque Vu Delle," a dark haired and very disagreeable looking girl stood up and glared at Madame Clerice," and finally, Madamoiselle Gerard," a sickly and pale looking girl stood up and looked at Sylvia frighteningly.
Madame Clerice smiled with pleasure and said, "And you shall share yoru dorm with these young ladies, Madamoiselle Dorian. Good day to you all."
She gathered herself with an air of authority and left them with a swish of her black dress.

[dejan]

"Madame Clerice is a complete cow to us," said Jennifer Basque Vu Delle, "She always tells us how to do things properly, yet she herself is a clumsy woman. Luckily, we only have for until the end of this year."
"I think she is alright," murmured Cosette Le Troy-Boucy, "Yes, sometimes she gets on your nerves, but she is not as strict as she seems."
Jennifer turned to her and hissed, "That's because you're her favourite, you and Madame Clerice should be turned out of this school."
Sylvia sat on her bed and was about to open her mouth when Marianne De Bouche stood up and yelled, "Oh I am sick and tired of you two yelling at each other." Marianne rounded upon Syvlia who looked stunned, "Can't you see who we are? We are the outcasts of the form! No one would accept us into their groups, therefore we have to share the same room with us is because there is space in here, but not in the other rooms."
Marianne stormed out of the room.
Jennifer sniggered, "She is always angry that girl."
Brigitte Chavalier who was reading a book softly said, "She is just independent and fustrated about you two trying to bite each others head off."
Jennifer and Cosette didn't reply. Sylvia sighed and looked at the clock. It was three o'clock.
The door opened and Josephine Gerard entered looking nervous, "I saw Marianne when I was walking up the stairs. Why was she looking so angry?"
Jennifer shrugged, "Is she ever not angry?"
"Jennifer! Don't say that about her!" snapped Brigitte.
Cosette looked at Sylvia, "Well I suppose we must show you more of the school until dinner is called. Come Sylvia." She looked around the room, "Are any of you coming?"
Brigitte closed her book and murmured, "Yes, I shall come."
Jennifer shrugged, "Ah yes, I think I should too. Classes are still on and I don't want to go." She looked at Josephine, "Are you coming?"
Josephine was rummaging in her drawers and looked up, "You four go ahead, I shall catch up."
Cosette was already crossing the room and the three girls followed.