For The Better

Getting Settled

Skie followed her sister and Hazel down the hall toward her dorm. On the way, Hazel stopped to talk to some girls named Daisy and Lilian, so she and Raven continued on alone.

"Ok, this is it." Raven gestured to a door. 

"Thanks. I can see that." Skie rolled her eyes a bit.

Raven glared. "Don't sass me. I'm just trying to help you."

Skie said nothing.

Raven sighed. "Fine. My dorm is 917 if you need me. I think Hazel is going to stop by to talk to you, so unpack quickly."

"Mhm." Skie said noncommittally. 

Raven gave her a look and then headed off. 

Skie entered her dorm room. There were two beds, two desks, a door leading to the bathroom, a chest of drawers, and two night stands, one by each bed. It was small, but cozy, and Skie felt slightly relieved that it was so normal looking. She had imagined prison cells. Skie noted that one bed already had a suitcase on it, so she headed over to the other one and began to unpack.

"Hi, are you Skylar?"

Skie jumped a bit and turned to see a girl standing in the doorway.

"Yeah. And you are...uh..." Skie tried to remember the name that had been written on the letter that explained the dorm setup, "Hannah?"

The girl grinned. "Yep. I'm excited to share a room with you, Skylar."

Skie smiled at the friendly girl. She was tall with strawberry blonde hair, gray eyes, and freckles  all over her nose. Her hair was long and wavy, and Skie thought she looked quite pretty. "You can call me Skie if you want."

"Skie...I like it. It suits you." Hannah smiled sweetly. "Is this your first year here?"

"Yeah, you?"

Hannah shook her head. "No, I've been going here for 5 years. My father is a teacher for 4th through 7th upper forms."

Skie nodded. "That's cool."

Hannah sighed. "I guess. I don't get away with anything though, even if my dad is one of the less strict teachers."

Skie could understand how she felt. "Yeah, that's rough."

Hannah shrugged. "Yeah, but that's life. Do you have any siblings?"

Skie nodded. "Yeah, I have an older sister, she's an upper fourth. You?"

Hannah grinned. "You're lucky. I have an older brother, he's an upper 3rd, and a little sister who's a lower 5th and a little brother who's a lower 3rd."

Skie whistled. "That's a lot of siblings."

Hannah nodded. "Yeah, I'm honestly glad to be back in school. So anyway, has your sister been going here long?"

Skie nodded. "She's been here since she was an upper first."

Hannah nodded in understanding. "Did your old school end in lower, err, fifth grade?"

"Something like that."

A knock on the door came just then, and Skie stood up to get it, grateful to be off the subject of old schools. She knew she would have to tell Hannah what had happened eventually, but she didn't want her roommate to start off hating her.

Skie opened the door, and Hazel smiled down at her. "Hello again, Skie. I'm here to show you around and explain some things, ok?"

Skie gulped. "Ok."

Hazel's eyes twinkled. "Don't look so nervous, I don't bite."

Skie relaxed a bit.

Hazel looked into the room. "Oh, hello Hannah."

"Hi Hazel!" Hannah grinned.

Skie looked confused. "You two know each other?"

Hazel nodded. "Yes, a variety of reasons have brought us together in the past. Anyway, shall we embark."

Skie smirked. She could already tell she liked Hazel. "We shall. I'll be back, Hannah."

Hannah smiled. "I'll be here."

AN: Please leave a comment! Next up, Hazel explains things to Skie. Skie is going to have a bit of trouble fitting in, so it's good that she has Hannah, who will prove to be a solid rock of a friend.