Keeping Secrets

New Friends

PEYTON

I woke up early the following morning and made my way into the communal bathroom with my bath caddy in my hand, a towel over my arm, and flip-flops on my feet. I planned on having breakfast in the cafeteria before exploring the campus to familiarize myself with the layout and locate all my classrooms. It was early enough that I figured most students were still asleep. Many of them had been up late, and it was the last day to sleep in since classes started the next day.

It seemed my hypothesis was right, at least by the look of the empty bathroom. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling my shoulders relax. I was obviously well aware that I'd be facing tons of new people, but having some alone time to get ready beforehand was just what I needed.

I chose the shower stall at the end as it seemed to be the biggest one and turned the water on, letting it heat while I undressed.

There had been partying going on the night before, which kind of surprised me. Not that college kids partied, I was well aware of that, but that it took place inside a dorm room on the first night. The residence floor monitor—Elizabeth, not Liz, Beth, Eliza, or even Lizzie, but Elizabeth—had introduced herself to me and my mom while we unpacked.

She seemed to be a very much no-nonsense type of girl, despite the fact that she was barely five feet tall. She had handed me a printed sheet with all the rules, which, of course, included the typical no-alcohol policy. Most students clearly ignored that, as well as the rules for no partying, and no guests past midnight, because the party had run late, much later than midnight.

Since I didn't know anyone yet, and because I was a bit of a rule follower, and Elizabeth scared me a little, I'd stayed in my room and watched Netflix while texting Amanda.

I had expected Elizabeth to barge through my neighbor's doors to teach them a lesson at any time, but it never happened. So much for the all-important rule sheet.

The door to the bathroom burst open and a group of girls entered as I was brushing my teeth, dressed only in my pink robe, with my brown hair twisted up in a towel like a turban. It was clear that my alone time was over.

The girls looked like they were part of some sports team and from their sweaty-looking faces; I assumed they'd come straight from practice. I nodded my head at them and tried to smile, but it was a bit difficult with a toothbrush in my mouth.

"Hello." A tall girl with strawberry blond hair and large blue eyes said as she stopped next to me. "Are you new here?"

Well, yeah, isn't everyone?

I thought this was a designated freshman floor, but realizing I could be wrong, I rinsed my mouth and replied with a quick, "Yes. I moved in yesterday."

She nodded, and her sweaty ponytail bopped behind her. The other girls didn't seem to pay us any attention as they quickly filled the empty shower stalls.

"I'm Becca," the girl continued, and held her hand out for me to shake. "I'm in room 320 with the girl over there." She gestured towards a short girl with gleaming black hair who currently had her back towards us.

"Lin," Becca called out, and her roommate turned her head. "Meet... ugh.." She stopped herself and looked questioning at me.

"Peyton," I responded helpfully.

"Lin, meet Peyton. Peyton, that's Lin, my roommate."

"Nice to meet you," Lin said with a quick smile before ducking in behind a shower curtain.

"You too."

"Are you waiting for someone, or do you want to come to breakfast with us?" Becca asked as if we were already friends. "We're heading there right after this. I'm starving—practice always makes me hungry," she added, before casually undressing right in front of me.