A new home

The town of Thompsonville appeared abruptly through the bus window. One minute they were passing newly plowed fields then a wooded area and over a bridge and suddenly there were houses and businesses. There was a sign proclaiming that they were now in Bulldog country and that the Thompsonville Bulldogs were recent class AAA state basketball champions. The bus turned left onto Main Street and made its way through the business district for a few blocks before making another left onto 10th street. She saw the school for the first time. It looked like the photos that they had been shown but in person it seemed more massive to Kelli.

The school building had been the town's high school until a few years ago when a new one had been built. It had remained unused for several years until it came to the attention of Hailey who had approached the School board on behalf of the Sutton Foundation. After a series of talks with the city council and the school board the property had been donated to the Sutton Foundation on the promise that the building would be brought up to code and that at least twenty permanent full time jobs would be created. The old building had been extensively updated in order for the girls to live there, and a new dorm wing had been added, but the old red brick and limestone exterior had been retained.

As they rounded the corner the girls admired a new landscaped sign on the large front lawn near the flag pole letting them know that they were arriving at the Sutton Academy for Girls.

The bus pulled into the small front parking lot which ran along the entire length of the school. It stopped not at the large arched front entry to the older looking portion of the school but near the much less ornate entrance to what must be the renovated dorm wing. All of the girls were talking to each other excitedly about their new home.

"All right, settle down," Hailey said raising from her seat at the front of the bus. "I know you are all excited to explore your new home but there are some things that we will need to take care of first. Mrs. Frasier our nutritionist has been down here for a week getting the kitchen staff up to speed and they will have a nice breakfast ready for all of us in the cafeteria. We will drop our bags in the lobby and you can have a few minutes to freshen up before we eat. At breakfast I will distribute room keys. "

"Before we exit the bus I need to remind you again that since we are now out in the world all public speech about any time before today should conform to the life history of who you are now. Any violation of this policy could lead to loss of your scholarships or even imprisonment should the violation be deemed severe enough. Basically the same rules that applied at summer camp apply here except there are many more people to hear if you slip. I know that you are all good people so let's help each other not make any mistakes in front of the school staff."

Kelli didn't think that that would be an issue. After the first couple of weeks of summer camp neither she nor any of the girls she hung around with during free time talked much about what life had been like before the change. Yer restored youth and energy had made her want to look to the future, not the past.

Hailey collected herself for the next announcement. "A few more items before we go. As of now you all need to limit any public displays of affection to occasional hugs. I realize that you've all got past the uncontrollable urge stage. I am also aware that many of you also have cuddle buddies. In the dorms when no guests are about you all are free to do whatever you like with each other as long as both parties consent. However, we are in the Bible belt and it is important to keep up a respectable appearance. By respectable I mean don't do anything to make waves with the town. Speaking of the Bible belt there are several churches within walking distance, I and the rest of management would appreciate it if some of you chose to attend regularly. We know from our background checks before we approached you that none of you are particularly religious. However church is a great way to plug in to the community. Any who choose to attend services regularly will find an extra clothing allowance in their account and an extra hour of pay each week to cover continued extra clothing costs and something for the collection plate. See me by next Friday if you want to participate in the church program. Now we are going to walk in single file..."

***

Breakfast was similar to what Kelli had become used to; a hard cooked egg, a fruit and yogurt cup, and a piece whole wheat toast. To drink there was a large glass of filtered water and a small glass of unsweetened apple juice. The Mentors Now Floor mothers and administrative staff circulated around handing out envelopes with room assignments keys and school Ids.

After breakfast the girls were directed to the gym where they found the boxes that had been shipped down for them. Kelli hauled her stuff up to the third floor suite which was to be home for the next two years. She and Leanne were going to share the suite, which was fine with Kelli. She wondered what was keeping her friend. Kelli supposed that Leanne's stuff was probably at the bottom of the pile. She opened the door and slid the box into the room with her foot. She found herself in a dim windowless room. There was light streaming in through the open bedroom doors. She could see a couch and a comfortable looking chair as well as a low coffee table. After finding the light switch, the first thing that she checked out was the bathroom. It was much nicer than she had expected. White tiled walls a double sink with a large mirror and best of all a real bath tub with a detachable hand held massaging shower head. They had talked about other uses for these in group sessions. Kelli was excited at the thought of trying it out.

After finishing in the restroom she explored the bedrooms. They were exactly alike with the exception of being mirror images of each other. Two sets of fresh linens were stacked neatly on the end of each bed. Kelli thought that the room which shared a wall with the sitting room might be slightly louder than the one opposite the bath so she chose it. She decided that she would wait to make the bed.

Leanne arrived and Kelli confirmed that she had no real preference about room assignments the girls stored their belongings. There was not much to put away. They would be getting their uniforms tomorrow. According to the clock on the wall of the sitting room it would soon be time to get back to the lobby for the school tour.

***

The school itself seemes like any other school. White boards and desks in the class rooms and white tiles on the floor. There were occasional yellow and black accents and a large freshly painted bee logo on the wall of the main entry. Hailey who was to be the program administrator and dean of students introduced them to Mr. Weinberger the school principal when they got to the office. Kelli was kind of glad that he was a fifty-something year old with a paunch rather than a younger man. She did not want to complicate her life with any fantasies about the school principal. However she thought that there might be something to be said about role playing a naughty schoolgirl. None of the other staff were due to start until next week although Mr. Weinberger said they were all ready to go and had been in to start setting up their class rooms.

The best part of the school in Kelli's opinion was the student lounge which took up most of the first floor of the dorm wing. There were several conversation areas, a game room with foosball, darts and pool tables. There was even a pinball machine. There were two television lounges and a small kitchen where they could make snacks. Hailey explained that after their last physical before school started they would be able to began making some of their own food choices including eating out at local restaurants occasionally.

"How can we eat out?" one of the girls asked. "We don't have any money."

"You've been accruing money all summer. Also there is a lot to do around the school," Hailey said. "We will let you work up to ten hours a week at one and a half times minimum wage for spending money. With that and the monthly stipend you are allowed as part of the study I am sure that you will all manage.

"What stipend?" Asked another girl.

"It was in your information packet. You will all get a lump sum for the previous months as soon as we get bank accounts set up for all of you. We are going to be quite busy over the next few days. In addition to our new workout schedule we have a lot of details to take care of. Tomorrow will be a rest day except for yoga, running and school uniform distribution. After tomorrow the afternoons will be used to take care of new state identification cards with this address, bank accounts and all of the other little details. By the end of the week you will all know the school code of conduct and have your books in case you want to read ahead."

***

After lunch Hailey took the girls on what she called a 'fun run'. After running through their stretching routine she lead all 240 students plus some assorted staff a couple of laps on the track then up the hill, past the school and into the town. They ran across town and around the park. Kelli saw the new school, several restaurants, made note of a clothing consignment shop. She was able to get a good sense of the small town of Thompsonville. She was happy to note that the library was only a few blocks away from the school. During their lap around the nice little community park many people were openly curious about the large group of unfamiliar girls running about. Kelli smiled and gave a friendly wave whenever she noticed anyone looking.

When they got back to the school Hailey called a halt. "What you have just completed was our morning warm up run. I think in the future I should break you up into blocks of twenty so we don't cause traffic problems. It is just over three miles. That shouldn't be a problem for any of you after this summer. Now go clean up and explore the place on your own. I will see you at six for dinner."

***
Kelli adored her new uniforms. After they had been issued she had practically ran back to her room to try them on. She had been given a jacket with the schools crest, six blouses, two pair of trousers, two skirts, a couple of nice sweaters also with the school crest, a pair of mary jane style shoes and assorted leggings, socks ties and belts.

Fridays were dress down days but they were to dress in uniform the rest of the time. The information packet included with her clothes had included helpful information about how to wear the different bits of her school kit.

Presently she was showing Leanne how to tie the tie correctly in thanks for being shown how to adjust the length of the skirt by folding the waistband. It wasn't that she wanted to show off for anyone in particular, she just thought that as a smaller girl the skirt needed to be shorter as well.

Kelli was really looking forward to the start of classes. She wanted to see everyone looking all cute and studious. They were going to look amazing.

***

Classes were going to be tougher than Kelli expected. The curriculum was nearly identical to a well known Ivy League feeder school. Thanks to Simon's connections the school in question had been pleased to provide much valuable advice during the planning phase of the project. As a new junior, Kelli felt that she was in over her head. Chemistry 2 first hour, then Algebra 2 followed by English Lit. All of it before lunch!

There was so much that she did not remember from her first time in high school. She was pleased that there were plenty of extra study materials in the school library to help her get caught up. Some of the girls had already been talking about forming study groups and the first day was not even over yet.

The teachers had been all business, handing out the syllabi and assigning reading for the next day. That along with stern lectures about proper classroom behavior had been the bulk of her first day. She was slightly resentful of the lectures on behavior because the principal had gone over the discipline policy during the official orientation yesterday. It was all part of being a teenager again. Automatically being assumed to be irresponsible was just part of the deal.

At dinner in the cafeteria all of the girls at Kelli's table were talking about their classes and who they were sitting near, which teachers would be the toughest and which guy teachers were hot. After so many months it was no longer difficult to act like the young girl that she was now. Her entire attitude was different. Hopefulness had replaced sadness and excitement had overwhelmed boredom. Today had been another new beginning in a year of so many beginnings. In a couple of years she would go to college and build a better life. All she had to do was just follow the plan and not get caught up in any teen drama.

***

A few weeks later Kelli was in a hurry to get back from the city library. She had found the required three sources for her paper on the causes of the First World War and the books were in her back pack along with the guitar strings that Samantha the lead guitarist in Nicole's band had asked her to pick up from Holton's Music so they would have more time to practice. It was only a block out of her way. She was happy to do the favor because they were one of the three bands deemed ready to play at the weekly Saturday dance and karaoke night. A karaoke machine had been the first thing bought by the student council because they had all had so much fun with the one Holly had rented for them during the summer.

Since the beginning of the school year a large number of girls who were into music and had previously played instruments had wanted to form bands. With no sporting events to play at students taking music classes had been allowed the freedom to learn whatever they desired. Kelli had heard that Mr. Dawkins the teacher could play anything and seemed to be delighted at the change in focus from his last job. He had guided his students into forming several groups with like minded girls. Although they were allowed to focus on any style they wanted, he made them also do other styles to show their range. The guy apparently lived for the music. Kelli didn't really get it but she was happy that some of her friends were getting to do something that they probably hadn't had the opportunity to pursue in their former lives.

It had been fun to help Nicole craft her image for the show. Leanne shortened and altered a second hand turquoise prom dress to fit Nicole and had showed Kelli how to sew even more sequins onto it so that Nicole would sparkle in the stage lights. They were doing several hits from the disco era and flash and sparkle seemed appropriate. For some reason Nicole and her group were obsessed with disco.

Kelli was busy imagining seeing her friend on stage tomorrow as she trotted down Main Street. Up ahead across the street there were some guys horsing around in the parking lot of the sandwich shop on the corner. Great, she had to go right past that lot to get back to school. It looked like there might be a fight soon. Kelli decided to cross on the opposite side of the road instead of cutting across the lot like she normally did. As she got closer she could make out three bigger guys tossing a smaller guy back and forth between them and laughing.

"Dammit guys! Let me go," the one being tossed about said in a high pitched screech.

"Not 'til you tell me what you were doing with Rick the other day," the one in the camo said. "I told you we weren't through."

"We are not going out any more. You have no say about who I see," The girl said. She could now easily tell the figure in the middle was a girl with collar length brown hair. She was wearing dark yoga pants and a gray top with an open zip-up North Face jacket.

Kelli was just across the street now and had slowed to an easy walk mesmerized by the drama going on. One of the other guys, a red head in a jean jacket, was now holding the girl from behind so that she couldn't get away while camo boy was talking to her. The third guy had leaned back against a car to watch the show. Kelli did not think that any of them had noticed her yet.

"Look I told you that Becky came on to me." The apparent ex boyfriend said.

"I found you two naked in your bedroom when I came over to surprise you on your birthday, asshole. Did you think I wouldn't care?"

"That is still no reason to go slutting around with Rick."

"I wasn't the one naked. We had already broken up. He gave me a ride, and yes he did ask me to the dance but I told him I was not ready yet. I am not a slut, but you are absolutely an asshole."

The camo boy moved forward and reached into her top, grabbing her breast hard enough to cause a yelp of pain. "You are or you wouldn't have let me play with these on the first date. You are a slut because if you weren't I wouldn't have been able to put my fingers here the next night. Now let's go for a ride."

Kelli watched in disbelief as he slid his hand under the girl's waistband.

The guy leaning against the car opened the door anticipating camo boy and the redhead tossing the girl into the car.

"No!" The girl screamed lashing out ineffectively with her foot.

Before Kelli thought much about it she had shed her backpack and was trotting silently across the street. None of the people involved in the drama saw her coming. Weather it was because it was just getting dark or because she was small and moved quietly Kelli did not know or care. Before the girl could call out again Kelli had grabbed Camo-boy by the neck from behind using leverage and her momentum to put him face first on the ground. She delivered three quick punches to what she hoped were his kidneys then was up looking for the next threat as she had been taught. The guy with the hoodie had let go of the girl and was almost on top of her. She ducked and stepped to one side managing to trip him as he passed. Kelli went down as well though and found herself laying beside hoodie-guy. She wasted no time in smacking him in the head with an elbow strike as he started to get up. His head made a hollow thock sound as it smacked into the hard pavement. Camo-boy was just getting to his feet with his back to her so she kicked him in the back of his knee and gave him an elbow to the head as she turned to look for the third guy. It turned out that she didn't need to worry about him because the brunette had apparently kicked him in the balls and he was laying on his side clutching his genitals in pain.

"Come on," Kelli said. "You can call someone from my school, it is just up the street," she said pointing to the school two blocks away. "You go ahead. I'll catch up in a sec."

Kelli retrieved her book bag and easily caught up to the girl before matching her pace. They ran in silence until they were in the schoolyard.

As they walked across the yard the girl finally spoke. "Holy shitballs, that was amazing. Thank you so much. I'm Jen." She stopped and bent over continuing to gasp for breath. "Are they coming?"

"I think they are still trying to figure out what happened. I'm Kelli. Come on I need to report this to the Dean of Students."

As soon as the girls were buzzed into the lobby Kelli asked the girl running the front desk to summon Hailey. Several girls had began to gather and ask what was going on by the time Hailey arrived. Kelli had put off all questions with a simple 'tell you later' and motioned her new friend Jen to a seat in the corner where she could finish catching her breath.

Hailey arrived in a hurry. Something about the tone of the girl on desk duty let her know it was urgent. She had Jen call her parents while Kelli gave her a rundown of the event. She then called the police to have someone come by the school. Jen's parents arrived just as she cut the connection with the police dispatcher. Hailey ushered them and Jen into one of the nearby study lounges while evicting the students who had been using it. She then asked the parents to wait with their daughter until the police arrived. Hailey put in a quick call to the schools law firm and returned to sit with Kelli.

"Hey Kelli Belly, How are you doing?" Hailey asked softly.

"Honestly? I feel great. For the first time in my life I feel powerful. The training worked. I even saved the damsel in distress. I just hope I didn't mess anything up, Hailey. I thought they were going to toss that girl in the back seat of that car and drive off."

"You made a snap judgment. I think it was the correct one. Now we just have to keep you out of trouble."

"The main douche bag squeezed her breast pretty hard it might not be a bad idea to get the bruise documented."

Hailey sent one of the gawkers to get the good Nikon from the AV closet and walked off to talk to Jen's parents who had just arrived. Later, while Jen's mother had documented bruising on her breast and upper arms. Kelli had been touched when the big man had stopped thank her.

"So you are the little girl that saved my Jennifer?"

Kelli nodded. "Yes, sir"

He held out his hand. "I'm Ben Malone."

Kelli shook the offered hand. "Kelli Bellamy."

"So how did you manage to take down three varsity football players?"

"Just two, your daughter gave one of them a heck of a kick in the crotch." Ben laughed while Kelli continued. "We had a really good rape prevention course at camp. I just hope I don't get in trouble for assault."

Ben began to laugh uncontrollably. When he calmed down he said, "I know the fathers of two of those knuckleheads. They won't want the embarrassment of their big tough boys getting their butts kicked by a little girl to last any longer than it has to."

The police officer arrived to take the girls statements. By a small stroke of luck it was Officer Kevin Vonderheid. He was a handsome young guy who had recently started seeing Marissa, Kelli's floor mother, so he was somewhat familiar with the Sutton girls. He seemed more amused than anything until the Malone's showed him the bruises on Jen's arms and told him about the others. He quickly radioed in to the station to look for the boys. After he had finished taking the girls statements and was reassured that the Malone's wanted to file charges he congratulated Kelli on her quick thinking and walked out to his squad car accompanied by Marissa.