Author: Jade-State Alchemist

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Chapter One: My Life

Life sucks, that's all I have to say. It seems the world has hated me since the day I was born. My parents divorced when I was five and when I was fourteen, my father died in an automobile accident. My mother is about to marry some rich sap that treats me like I'm five. My sister enjoys tormenting me and my best friends are all on vacation for the summer. Isn't my life just grand? Oh, don't forget that my soon to be stepbrother is an annoying little twirp and summer break is nearly over. Sure, it'll be nice to see all of my friends again, but really, who likes school?

So, I end my theory on how my life sucks. If that isn't bad enough, my mother enrolled me into a private school for my last year of high school. Now that she's marrying Darren, I guess we'll be rich. Too bad she didn't look over the description. I guess I'll start when she gave me the form and told me to fill it out. Not only that, but she pushed a pamphlet for the high school in my hands and told me to mail it in when I was done. Little did she know what she had gotten me into... It all started three days ago.

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I was in the middle of my bed listening to my CD player while reading a book. The CD was a soundtrack from a play called Wicked while the book was called, Wicked the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Wicked had gotten pretty popular lately, and I was one of the people who enjoyed it. Anyways, my mom came up and knocked on the door. Just about three months ago, Darren had taken the move and had invited our family to live with him. Sure, it's nice having a large room, but I hate my stepbrother, Aaron, and his taunts. Taking off the headphones and setting the book down, I answered.

"Yeah, come in," I sat up and waited. My mom, Caryl, opened the door and walked in. Her hands held a small packet of paper. She had what seemed like a very triumphant smile on her face.

"Hello, Rei." She greeted. My real name was Rachel, but practically everybody called me Rei. Or, everybody but my teachers. I waited. Mom set the paper in front of me and I saw a pamphlet. It had some nice building on it. That couldn't possible mean something good.

"What's this?" I picked up the paper and glanced at it. The building was pretty old, but it looked nice.

"The school you're going to be going to. Aaron used to go there, but since he managed to graduate... I thought you could go!" she clapped her hands.

"Really..." I looked up at her. "What about my school now? My friends? You haven't forgotten about them, have you?"

"Of course not. But you need a decent high school, and now that we can afford it, you're going. No buts." she crossed her arms for emphasis. I sighed, looking at the papers slowly.

"But, Aaron isn't even going to college yet. He's waiting a year. Remember?"

"Rachel..." She glared. My mom has a talent for getting what she wants, and her glare proves it.

"Fine... what do I have to do?" I regret that answer.

"Fill out these sheets. Then, put them in this envelope and send them off. We'll get the results in a few days, then, you're packing. You'll be going and living at the dorms. We'll only be seeing you during vacations." I stared, speechless. Maybe this school wouldn't be that bad.

"Really? Where is it?"

"Wyoming. It's a small country area, but I think you'll find it nice. The school's supposed to be great. Now, hurry and fill the answers. I'd like you to be done in the next few hours." she left. I gulped, opening the pamphlet and started to read. I stopped ten seconds later, shocked. This wasn't some ordinary high school. It was a-a... a boy's academy. I gulped. What was this, some kind of joke? Did they really think I would fall for this?

I stood, about to storm downstairs and protest, when a thought entered my little mind. Maybe I could use this? For one, I could find all the perfect trash for getting Aaron back for all the crap he'd put me through. But, maybe, just maybe, something good could come out of it. I mean something really good. Something better than revenge. Plus, it could be fun. So, I sat back down and read.

It didn't seem so bad. I could easily change my looks and make myself look like a boy. Girls had the ability, right? My name was Rei, so that was simple. I had about ten different pairs of cargo pants and who knows how many T-shirts. It could work. All I wear are tennis shoes and the shorts I wear are from the boy's section. I could easily chop my hair and bind my chest. I'd probably just have to wear baggier shirts. In short, it could work.

I hate shopping and video games are my thing. It'd have to be easy. I'd just have to make sure nobody finds out my secret, or I'm screwed. I finished the pamphlet, and sat up. The school had a complicated system, having eight different classes. It was the same for their jr. high, so most knew how it worked. On Monday's, they have all classes. On Tuesday's and Thursday's, odds classes 1, 3, 5, and 7. Wednesday's and Friday's were evens classes 2, 4, 6, and 8. It was a large school with dorms located on one half. Only about fifty to one hundred boys attend each year. I guess this year they'd have a girl too.

I grabbed a pen from my desk and opened the form. I filled out the first page. It took me awhile since it asked for height, weight, and even eye color. I almost threw it away halfway through. I reread what I had written.

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Please fill the form below:

Name: Rei Clareton

Age: 17

Birthday: February 16

Height: 5ft. 4in.

Weight: 117 lb.

Hair color: brown-black

Eye color: blue

Uniform size (Size small, medium, large): medium

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I chose size medium so I would be sure to hide any noticeable features. I sighed and flipped the page. The next four pages had a small test to determine which classes I would be taking. In the end, I realized it had taken an hour and a half. Flopping up, I slid the sheets into the folder and sealed it. It was already labeled, so all I had to do was send it in. Standing, I trudged out of my room and down the stairs. I ran into my mom halfway there.

"Honey, are you done?" she asked.

"Yeah..." I answered. Well, now I know I won't have to worry about my mom pawning over my grades that much. Maybe I'll have a little peace to actually study. Plus, maybe my grades won't be A's, B's, and C's, with the occasional D. I'm not perfect, but a D kills me.

"Great! Go send it in!" she clapped her hands together and watched as I opened the front door and walked out onto the large lawn. We had about sixty acres now, so I had to walk about ten minutes to get to the gate and slip the envelope into the mailbox. Yawning, I walked down to the little patch of trees in the land. Sitting under the shade of one, soon I was asleep. What seemed like seconds later, I was, rather evilly, shaken awake.

"Get up! Rei, come on, don't be so evil." Aaron's annoying voice spoke. I groaned and took my time to sit up.

"What?"

"Its dinner time, moron." Aaron replied. I glared.

"Shut up." I stood and stretched. "What time is it?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Aaron..." I warned.

"It's about six. You've been gone two hours." Aaron shrugged, before starting to walk up to the rocky road and head back to the house. I frowned and ran after.

"You're so annoying!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, and suddenly, you're a boy." Aaron replied. I blushed, stopping in my tracks and looked down.

"Y-you know already?" I managed.

"Well, duh! You're mom... I mean, our mom, said you were going to be attending my old school. Does she even know it's a boys academy?" I shook my head.

"I don't think so, but, I thought it'd be fun..." I trailed off.

"Acting like a boy, huh? This is new. Whatever provoked you to do this?" Aaron looked at me carefully.

"Shut up."

"Oh, come on! You're a complete girl. How're you gonna hide that?" He folded his arms, staring at me.

"I'll, I'll find out something." I pouted.

"Okay, what about the dorms?" Oh, crap! I completely forgot about the dorms. Every person attending, but teachers, had to share a dorm room with one other person. That meant that I'd be sharing with a boy. I shuddered just thinking about it.

"Crap..." I muttered.

"Didn't think about that, did you?" Aaron laughed. I hit him with my fist. "Ow!"

"Be quiet." I ordered.

"Why should I?" he grinned.

"I said so, that's why!" I started to walk. Maybe I wouldn't be able to do this...

"I could help you, y'know," Aaron's annoying voice stated. I stopped in my tracks. Help? From Aaron?

"Why would you do that?" I asked.

"Well, I have a friend who's in the same grade as you, so you could be dorm buddies, or something." Aaron shrugged again.

"No thanks." I started again. Aaron trailed after.

"Why not?"

"I don't trust friends of yours." I replied. He made a noise, pouting.

"Oh, so nice of you to say." he mumbled. The house came into view.

"I know."

"Well, how do you plan to live? If the teachers find out, you're dead. They'll literally make sure you never get an education. They tried that with me once." Aaron shuddered.

"I guess I just won't get caught then, will I?"

"Fine, I won't help."

"Thank you." I started walking up the stairs.

"Will you tell your mom? My dad might find out sometime, and then you're screwed." Aaron had a point. Darren wasn't stupid, he just treats me like a child. I mean, considering I act childish with my best friends, he still shouldn't treat me carefully.

"Well, then we just won't tell them, will we?" I glared.

"Whoa, whoa, 'we'? Where's this 'we' coming from?" Aaron looked at me.

"You say a word about this..." I made a slicing motion across my throat. Aaron gulped.

"Fine," he turned and walked away. I grinned in triumph.

"Hah! Beat that, Aaron!" I opened the front doors and made my way to the kitchen. Darren and my mom stopped me in my tracks.

"Rei, where have you been?" Mom demanded.

"I fell asleep under the trees." I answered. Darren nodded in understanding.

"Understandable. Come, Caryl, let's leave Rei to eat." Darren pulled her away. Maybe he's not so bad, at least he knows I like my privacy. I grabbed an apple from the fridge. Filling a glass with iced tea, I shut the fridge and walked to my room. Shutting the door behind me, I took a gulp of tea and set the glass on my desk and plopped on my bed. Picking up Wicked, I turned to the page and took a bite from my apple. Placing my headphones on my ears, I turned on my CD player and began to read, listening to Wicked. I got to song eleven, Defying Gravity, and turned the CD player up. Hopefully, this would work. It was already starting to sound bad and I was really growing to regret my decision.

--

There you have it, what happened three days ago. Now, I'm in the middle of packing. I have all the items I'll need and more so. I have a few books and comic books and a bag of candy to keep me hyper when I get there. My CD player is packed with half of my CD's and I've got my collection of DVD's and my mini DVD player Darren got me for my birthday last year. I guess it's lucky I don't have a cat, or the poor creature would probably be stuffed in my bag too.

Okay, so just earlier today, I had gotten the letter of approval for the academy. A ticket for a plane ride tomorrow to Wyoming was included in the package. Here, I hoped I would live. If my mom or Darren found out, I could just say I never saw it was for a boy’s school. Now, the only thing left I had to do was go to the hair salon. I had a lot of trimming to do. My hair was about down to mid-back, so I definitely had a lot to loose. Leaving my room, I walked down the stairs and found Darren.

"Hey, Darren, I'm going out to town. Last accessories before tomorrow." I grabbed my keys and left. Walking into the large garage, I found my little truck. It was old and had been my dad's before he died. I had claimed it before it was bought. It was probably, at least fifteen-years-old now, but I didn't care. It was terrible if you compared it to the other cars in the garage, but, really, who cares? Too bad this will be the last time to drive it until I get back. Oh well.

Climbing in, I started it up and left. About thirty minutes later, I turned off my little car and walked into the hair salon. I guess now was my time to do locks for love. When the lady asked how much I wanted off, I showed her a picture. Short hair, not stupid looking, and slightly long on different ends. I kind of thought it looked like Roy Mustang's off of FullMetal Alchemist. Only, my hair was more human and was a lot worse. Some ends stuck out in slight curls because it was so short. Heck, half of it was a mess and twirled around her face. I sighed, it would have to do. Paying the lady who did it, I left and finished buying supplies.

Later, I arrived home. Walking into one of the living rooms, my mom dropped the glass she had been holding and screamed. My sister, Elizabeth, snickered behind her romance novel. She loves those books. I flinched when mom practically jumped me and looked at my hair.

"What... did... you DO? RACHEL!" she shrieked.

"I-I just wanted a change. That's all." I saw Aaron smirking in the background.

"But you look like a boy now! Why? My precious girl! You look like your... your father!" She wailed, tearing up and sobbing. I sighed. At least I knew I looked like a guy.

"It's okay, mom. It'll grow back." I tried to tell her.

"But, but it'll take forever! It took you three years to grow it as long as it was..." she sobbed.

"I know..." I looked down. It had taken a long time to grow that out. "But, now some poor kid has a bunch of hair, mom!" I exclaimed.

"You did locks for love? Wah!" she started crying louder. I flinched. Darren nodded for me to go and I left. Aaron and Elizabeth followed.

"Wow, squirt, I didn't think you'd cut your hair." He sounded amazed.

"Don't call me squirt." I growled. "Besides, how was I going to be accepted as a guy with long hair. Moron."

"Why on earth would you ever cut your hair, Rei? I never saw you to be so brave." Elizabeth remarked. Her hair was blond, like our mothers, and it went past mid-back.

"Still, I've never seen you with short hair." Aaron nodded in astonishment. I started up the stairs.

"Shut up..." I walked into my room and slammed the door in their faces.

"Hey!" Aaron's muffled voice called. I heard Elizabeth sigh loudly and huff.

"Go away." I stated back. Aaron soon left, stomping his feet. Elizabeth stayed behind.

"Rei, why did you cut your hair?" she asked.

"None of your business." I mumbled in return.

"Rei..."

"Leave me alone, Lizzy. I have to finish packing."

"Fine. Don't come crying to me when you realize how much you cut it." Elizabeth stormed off. She was a pest, being one year younger. Yet, sometimes she was nice. Sometimes. Maybe 5 percent of the time. The other 95 percent she was evil.

I sat in my desk chair and just stared at my reflection. This was new. I really looked different, more like a boy. That was good. Just wait until I got there. I could only hope everybody would think I was a girl. Sighing, I slowly nodded off. Maybe dad would be proud. At least, I sure hope he would be.

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The people are everywhere. It was murder. I'm wearing the usual outfit a boy would wear, which I happen to wear too. Forest green cargo pants and a dark blue t-shirt. I'm trying my best not to shudder at the batting eyes from all of these girls. I mean, I understand them doing it at Aaron, but this was just gross. If only they knew I was a girl. Oh well, I'll just have to suck it up. Who knows how many more girls will do this.

The plane started boarding, so I said my good byes. My mom hugged me and I returned it. Then, I turned and walked onto the plane. Taking my seat by the window, I put my stuff above my head and buckled my seatbelt. Staring out the window, I was suddenly overwhelmed by what I'm about to do. I'm about to pose as a boy, in a boy's academy, with a boy roommate. What had I gotten myself into?

The plane started to take off and I watched as the airport disappeared behind us as we took off. The clouds streamed by and I shut the window cover, leaning back against my seat. A little girl was sitting next to me.

"Mommy, mommy, why does it feel so weird?" the girl asked. The mom was asleep, so she didn't answer. "Mommy?"

"Shh..." I said. I smiled warmly at the girl, "We're in the sky, so it'll feel weird for a bit."

"Oh... but why do my ears hurt?" she asked.

"Here, hold you breath. Then yawn, they won't hurt so much." I laughed as the girl tried to yawn.

"Hey, my ears don't hurt! Thanks, mister." I stopped. She'd called me mister. I guess, in a way that was good. That meant that there was a chance I can fool the guys at the academy. I guess I can only wish.

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I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please read, review, and enjoy. I'll be grateful.

Disclaimer: There isn't one. I own the characters I made up. Anything I use is copyrighted to the creator. That goes for the entire story.