New Years Day

Chapter Nine: *plays hedwigs theme* (Aru's pov)

(a/n) READ THIS YOU'RE BEING HELD AT GUNPOINT RUDY MEETS THE REST IN THIS CHAPTER

AND SOMEONE ELSE IS INTRODUCED TOO...

The girl in her dorm turned up her Alexa, blaring it. 

Aru rolled her eyes. "Can you keep it down?"

The girl just rolled her eyes and stuck her gum to the wall.

Later, she heard whispers about the girl in her hall getting expelled because her grades slipped so bad.

Please be her, please be her, please be her.

Proof the gods show mercy once in a while? It was her.

Two days later, her new roommate came in, suitcases packed and everything. Aru opened the door and she smiled so bright Aru jumped backwards. "Gah! Your teeth are so- bright! How are you so happy on a college campus?!" Her face immediately turned apologetic. "I'm sorry! My name's Kara."

Aru looked at her. Her chocolatey brown hair bounced off her shoulders, and her catlike eyes were big and shined, even though literally everything else around them was gray. She had a really definitive smile, and she seemed to glow no matter what, at all times of the day, like a spotlight was shining on her. Like, how do you do that? Her skin was much lighter than Aru's, and she looked like a freaking model, to sum it up. A model that Aru could never remotely be like, not even if they had the same mother.

Mini logged on. "Hey guys! How's college?"

Aru smiled sarcastically. "Fun! So fun! So much fun! So much homework! And fun!" Mini's eyes brightened and she beamed. "Really? Because I've been saying this for so long and you're always like 'No mini I hate homework' and all and-"

"I was being sarcastic."

"Oh."

"We're just waiting for Aiden." Brynne said. "Aru, have you seen him lately? He hasn't really texted me back or anything."

Yes. And he ran out for no reason, probably because he hates me.

"Uhh, no. He's in one of my classes though so I know he's alive."

"That's just great."

Kara came into the frame. "Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself before I headed out, I'm Kara!"

Mini did a little wave and Brynne smiled at her, Aru detecting a hint of... sarcasm in her expression?

Aiden logged on, arguing with someone, his roommate?

"Rudy, no. You cannot eat the stapler."

"But it looks so good!"

"Rudy, that is not what a stapler is for."

"Defending Rudy, I would love to eat a stapler." Aru said, smiling widely.

"You concern me." Aiden said, sighing and shaking his head sadly.

"Thanks!" Aru said.

"I don't think staplers are good for you." Kara said, giggling a little. How does her laugh sound so... not pig-like??

She held a blue Emily Dickinson book of poems in her hand, Aru only realizing this when Aiden chose to comment on it.

"Emily Dickinson?"

Kara grinned. "Yeah. She's my favorite poet. Her work makes me feel less... alone? Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Kara, it's nice to meet you."

Aiden smiled at her. He didn't smile at her like that when he'd logged on. "Aiden. And yeah, same. It's nice to meet you too."