Chapter 1

For Steven it was odd packing up to go to another new school. He'd just gotten use to this one. But, when your only parent was a principle looking for a school to run, you moved around allot. Debbie Connaly was not only looking for a good high school, but a place where she could further her research. She already had her masters in psychology and was looking to get her doctorate.

Debbie wasn't interested in the college scene, it was all too cloak and dagger. And with her thesis, she didn't need anyone spying on what she was doing, ruining the whole experiment. It was surprising to find a school willing to let her use them as a continual experiment, but the women running the Raven Wood school for girls were quite interested in finding the results of her thesis.

The Raven Wood School was owned and operated by Margie Witherspoon a rich widow with three girls to take care of. So, to make sure that they got the best education, her kind of education, she created the Raven Wood School. Many of her upscale friends and other high society women thought of it as a great chance to teach their young women how to reach their true potential. Not that all they were taught was feminist propaganda or female power, but more the truth of life; every one has their own gifts and they should use them to their best ability, no matter their sex. These young women would not be crushed by the conventional male superiority unknowingly taught in the common schools. They would learn to be the best they could be, and how to make their dreams come true. The best female teachers were brought in to make the education as full and robust as possible. But with the new addition to the staff and student population, the young women would now get an education that no other school could ever provide.

"Stevey, could you please put all your clothes into one box." Debbie yelled from the other room. He hated when his mother called him that. All his friends called him Steve, he even thought of himself as Steve or even Steven, but never Stevey. She'd never change though. But, why did she want all his clothes in a box?

"Mom, I'm going to need to pack my clothes right?" Steve said as he peered around the corner into his mother's room.

"Sorry darling, didn't I tell you I've already packed all that you're going to need." Debbie turned to smile at her son. "The new school has a uniform that you have to wear, so you won't need your other clothes."

"A uniform?" Steve sighed. He hated being stuck looking just like everyone else, it was bad enough that he was still only five six at fifteen. But now he was going to get lost looking just like everyone else.

"Don't worry darling it'll look great on you." She walked over and put her hands on his shoulders and smiled down into his eyes. "You're going to make me proud." It felt odd having to look up to his mother, at his age he should be looking down on her, not up. She stood just a couple of inches taller than him. A pretty woman with long blond hair and piercing emerald eyes. Not busty, but did fill out a two piece very nicely. Steve was always embarrassed when he noticed that his mother was a woman. He just wished that his hormones were under his control, not the other way around. With her standing so close he couldn't help but blush and shuffle his feat. Why his father left her he couldn't figure. "Now go toss all that other stuff into a box for me."

"But what about on the weekends and going to town. I know that this place is like a dorm, but we won't be there all the time will we?" Steve was sure that he could keep some of his clothes. He liked a lot of them. His favorite shirt from the Misfits concert, and the long Bermuda shorts his father got for him.

"I'm sorry honey. I thought I explained it all. Raven Wood is like its own little town. There's no reason to go anywhere else. They have all the shops we'll need. But don't worry about getting bored; they have tennis courts, an Olympic size swimming pool, and all kind of activities for you and the rest of the students." She could feel him slump a little under her hands. She pulled him close and held him tight to her. "Don't worry I'll make sure you're happy when it's all over."

"All right mom." Steve wasn't sure what she meant by that, as he pulled away, but it felt ominous somehow; like someone walking over your grave. He shook the sudden chill from his bones and went to toss his clothes into a box.

Debbie stood there and watched him walk back to his room. She'd never been so worried before. She loved her son more than he could ever know, but she knew that her theory was correct. And, he was going to help her prove it. She just hoped that in the end he'd forgive her; if he didn't her theory wouldn't really matter at all. She'd lose her son forever. She wasn't sure if it was all worth the risk. Debbie took a deep breath and steeled herself. This was going to work. She would prove her theory and then make sure her son was happy afterwards. In the end every thing was going to be fine. But, with such a heavy weight on her heart, she just didn't know.

It was a long flight out to the middle of nowhere. Steve watched as the cities faded into the background. Woods and mountains claimed the landscape. After the big plane, the little Cessna they were in felt like a toy thrown into the wind. It bounced around with all the turbulence as they approached a small landing field near the school. Even from the air you couldn't see the school, it was lost in some small valley over the next hill. It was odd having a school built in the middle of the mountains with nothing around. But rich people did what they wanted. That's all Steven really knew about the school. It was a very exclusive private school for the rich, and he was just lucky to be going there. It's not like they had a choice; to get his mother they had to take him too. Steven wasn't very comforted by that thought as the plane landed.

It didn't take long for the plane to drop them off and take back to the sky. Steve dragged their bags to the side of the runway and plopped down on one of the suitcases. It was really cold, so Steven helped his mother put on her coat, and pulled a beanie over his head to keep his ears warm. There was nothing else: just the runway, surrounded by a dark creepy forest full of iced over trees. Steven couldn't help but think of all the old horror movies he liked to stay up and watch. It was like Crystal Lake - lite. It was just a few minutes after they landed that a car pulled up to the runway and a very pretty woman stepped from inside. She was wearing a long coat, but you could still see her tanned legs peeking from under the coat and her red dress. Her heels clicked across the rough concrete. As she stood before them offering her hand, Steve popped to his feet and pulled the beanie from his head. She took one look at him her smile disappeared and her hand pulled away like she was bitten. She then looked carefully at them both and her smile returned. "You must be Mrs. Connaly, am I correct?" Debbie just smiled and nodded. "So you must be Steven?"

"Yes, ma'am." Steve said as he shook her hand. "But, you can just call me Steve."

"Why thank you Steven, but as a teacher here I must keep things proper." She smiled. "My name is Mrs. Evans. I'm going to be your biology teacher."

"I'm very glad to meet you, ma'am." He smiled as he grabbed the bags and followed her to the car. All he could think was, if all the teachers looked like that he was going to like this place. Mrs. Evans was very pretty and couldn't have been more then twenty-five. She wasn't tall or short, and had a models figure. Steven was sure she had to be a swimmer with a sleek figure like that. Her raven hair fell gently about her shoulders and glistened in the morning light. Steven couldn't help but stare a bit. Steve opened the door for his mother and got into the back seat. It was odd, but Mrs. Evans seemed to watch his every move.

"It's nice to see a polite boy." Mrs. Evans said as she started the car and pulled away.

"Thank you, ma'am." Steve said with a blush. It all seemed so odd to him. It was like he was the center of attention, or at least her eyes made him feel that way. He couldn't help but blush and shift in his seat. His mother and Mrs. Evans chatted as they drove up the hill and down into the valley on the other side. Just barely listening, as he watched the landscape go by, he heard Mrs. Evans tell his mom to call her Betty. Just then they passed a large sign that said "Raven Wood School for Girls". Steven had to take a second look before the total shock overcame him. "MOM! That said Raven Wood School for Girls! I can't go to an all girls school!!"

"Didn't you know that it was an all girls school?" Mrs. Evans asked over her shoulder. His utter look of shock and horror was answer enough. She couldn't help but smile a little at his reaction. From that moment she knew she was going to love having Steven as her student. His reactions were so pure. Just by watching him she could tell that inside he was really a very shy and modest boy. His mother must have sheltered him as much as she could. Betty couldn't help but wonder if Mrs. Connaly was really that calculating.

"Calm down son." Debbie said a little more sternly than she meant, but he fell quickly in place. His eyes looked panicked like she'd never seen before. And he blushing so bad it looked like he'd been in the sun too long. She knew that Steve was shy around girls, but now she knew it was much worse than she thought. "You're just going to be one of the first. They're going to see how you workout and then maybe add a few more boys latter - making it a coed school. Aren't you proud to be the first." It was hard to bite back the fear that this might all be too much for him.

"But, Mom... isn't there another school nearby that I can go to. A normal school?" His voice pleading.

"Steven, I'll not have that kind of talk from you. This is a normal school and you'll conduct yourself like a perfect gentleman." Debbie glared at her son until he couldn't keep eye contact.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Now apologize to Mrs. Evans for your rude behavior."

"I'm really sorry Mrs. Evans. I didn't mean to be rude. I was just a little shocked is all. I'm sure this is a fine school." Steven said quietly.

"It's all right Steven." She smiled as he blushed and looked away. "I'm sure this would come as a shock to anyone." Turning to Debbie, "So, why didn't you tell poor Steven he'd be coming to an all girls school?"

"Well, I knew he'd react like this. I didn't want him worrying the whole summer about it, before we even got here. I'm sure that he'll settle in nicely now that we're here. Besides, he's very shy around girls, it'll do him good. In fact he won't even take his shirt off at the pool." Debbie and Betty laughed as they pulled into a parking space out front. It was like he was just dunked in a cold spring - he'd never been so embarrassed. He just wanted to sink into the seat and disappear.

He felt odd as he got out. He could see all these girls wandering around in their little school uniforms: a blue and gray jacket over a white button down blouse, a dress that went to just above the knee, and ankle socks with shinny black shoes. It was kind of weird how they looked alike, but different at the same time. He was going to have no problem standing out here. Not a single other male was in sight. 'At least maybe I'll have one of the male teachers to talk to.' Steven thought as he grabbed their things from the car, and followed the women towards the building. He tried to keep his head down, so no one would notice him. But, it didn't take long for someone to recognize a boy on the grounds. The word spread like wild fire. Suddenly groups of girls appeared from nowhere to wander past, getting a quick view of the new kid on the block. He felt more like a freak show than a student, as different groups of girls whispered and laughed as he walked past. He was on fire, an inferno down his face and chest, even his hands were shaking a bit. He thought the car was embarrassing, but it didn't even compare.