Chin Up, Princess || Sophie Oneshots

Sophie's gaze cut through the crowding students, trying to determine who would make good allies. But it was a public school in a different country. The standard for popular wasn't what she was used to. Regardless, she kept her head held high as she made her path to the front office. Her father should have worked his all out long before she arrived, but there was no telling how much time he'd actually put into these arrangements.

"Can I help you?" a woman behind a desk asked as she stepped in. Sophie lifted her sunglasses away from her face in a way that allowed them to hold her hair out of her face.

"I am a new student here," she said, tilting her head back slightly so her hair fell back over her shoulder. "Sophia Foster," she added.

"Foster," the woman muttered, "I have to say I was surprised when they sent us your records. You've already finished your year, and you want to compress an extra semester's worth of work into the next few months?" Sophia nodded, although she was caught off guard. Now this whole stupid idea made sense. She wasn't in America just so she'd be out of the way, she was being sent so when she got back her father could say 'Look at my daughter! She went to a school in America over her break and now she's got enough credits to graduate early.' He'd long since given up on her being respected for her composure like her siblings and began to turn her ability to maintain her GPA into a point of pride.

"Daddy's money should be more than enough to cover any... inconveniences to your teachers." she drawled, trying to play the role she assumed was expected of her. The woman frowned and Sophie offered a bright smile that didn't betray any of the apprehension she was beginning to feel. "Would you mind refreshing me on which classes I signed up for?"

"Sophia," she began, her tone making it clear she thought Sophie was a child in over her head, "Despite the... strange circumstances, this would go on your record. You GPA-"

"Is my business." she interrupted sharply. "And you cannot say this place can't use my daddy's money." She glanced around and wrinkled her nose. She could probably go over this woman's head, it sounded like her father had already worked out the details, but she'd rather get her schedule and get out of here as soon as possible. "If it would make you happy I could even have him specify a certain sum to employee bonuses."

The woman looked doubtful. "I still-" Sophie held up a hand. She couldn't be talked out of something that wasn't her choice to begin with.

"Ma'am, with all due respect, this isn't your decision to make. I just need my schedule and syllabus." she said, adding a note of annoyance to her voice.

"Alright," the woman finally relented, producing a paper from a file in her desk. "If you'll wait just a minute I'll call someone down to show you around." But Sophie was already headed to the door. She would meet her teachers today, get whatever extra work she had to do, then focus on getting it done. She figured she'd only really have to show up to take exams. She glanced down at her schedule.

1st - Sociology
2nd -
3rd -
4th - Business and Personal Finance
5th - Statistics
6th -
7th - American Literature

She frowned. There were blank spots on her schedule - even her father wouldn’t assume she could manage a full course load at triple speed - but she had hoped there might be more. She also noted that a couple of the classes were above her current grade level. She’d be surrounded by people older than her pursuing this ridiculous shortcut in her education. She bit down on her lower lip, resisting the urge to tear up the paper and walk out. This would mean she graduated earlier, and once she went to college her father wouldn’t have nearly as much power over her schedule. So, with her head held high, she walked into her first class.