The Space Between: Beginnings

7. Dorm Room Drama

Evie twirled as she entered the dorm room. Mal chuckled and said, "E, I know you love it."

"And I know you don't. M, give this a chance. It's gonna be great!" Evie said, dreamily.

"I'm worried for Rain. Her and Audrey...let's just say I'm not sure if they'll manage. Audrey's kind of a bitch."

"Oh, Rain will manage. I know it. She's not like you," Evie winked.

"Yeah. Though I'll still be surprised if they actually end up on speaking terms with each other," Mal smirked. "We both know Rain's temper, don't we?"

"Oh, yes. Just like her mother's," Evie giggled.
***
Liir saw a muscular guy with blond hair walk into the room.

"So, you're my roomie," Liir stated.

"That I am. I take it you're Liir? My name's Trism. Feels good to see an Ozian around here," Trism remarked.

"How'd you know?" Liir asked.

"Oh, I bumped into Prince Ben a while ago. He told me," Trism grinned.

"You're of Gillikinese descent, then?"

"I'm only quarter Gillikinese. And not even from a high class family," Trism grinned.

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't say that about my family. After all, my mother was the wickedest witch there ever was in Oz."

"So Ben wasn't bluffing. Your mom is the Wicked Witch of the West. What's she like at home?" Trism asked.

"Oh, she's okay. Probably has more of a heart than you'd expect. She never talks about our father much though. Just that he was some sort of tribal warrior prince. But other than that, she kind of has trouble showing affection, but it's okay. Atleast until she loses her temper. That's what you have to watch out for. Don't get on her wicked side. Ever. You might as well end up dead," Liir grinned.

"Okay, cool," Trism winked. "I can tell we're gonna be more than just good friends."

"And I definitely look forward to it," Liir grinned.
***
"Ugh, I can't believe they're making me room with one of those freaks!" Audrey huffed as she threw herself into her bed, still managing to look graceful.

"Likewise," Rain said, looking up from the book she had been reading.

"Thogh I must admit, you're pretty enough to pass for one of us," Audrey remarked, narrowing her eyes at her roomie.

"One of you?" Rain asked, intrigued.

"A princess. An Auradon kid," Audrey explained.

"Um, that's not exactly my thing," Rain pointed out. "But then, you're not shabby for a princess either, you know."

"Wait, do you really think so?" Audrey asked, sitting up straight. Rain noticed the sparkle in Audrey's eyes at that simple compliment.

"Well, Audrey, I'm trying to be nice, after all. And yeah, I do mean it."

"Thanks. It means a lot."

"Wait, I thought Auradonians were more free with their compliments?" Rain questioned, surprised.

"Most of them are," Audrey replied, sighing. "Not my...forget it."

"Go on. I'm listening. And don't worry, you can trust me. I'm not going to tell anyone. Not Liir, not even Mal," Rain said gently, looking directly into Audrey's eyes. Audrey saw the warmth and compassion there, something she hadn't seen with her grandmother. It surprised her, for all her life she had grown up knowing that villains had no heart and were incapable of showing love and affection. And yet, her roomie was disproving that very belief. She sighed as she sat down beside Rain and whispered as if to herself, "Grammy doesn't really care. She just wants me to marry Ben and be the Queen. She thinks I'm not the princess my mom was. I never had much of a life. My friends...they just hang around me, follow me around, do what I tell them to...but I know if things go downhill, none of them will be bothered with me anymore."

"Audrey, I...I thought we had it rough. Atleast I know my mom loves me, even if she doesn't know how to show it. And she never expected me to take over the Isle or anything. She just wants me to be myself, that's all. Believe me, if anyone knows what it's like to have parents or relations who don't care that much, it's my mom. She grew up as the less favoured sibling, after all. She was no more than a caretaker to my late aunt. Especially after my grandmother died. From what I know, my grandfather- not my biological one, I mean the man who raised my mom- wasn't the most loving towards her. He was more into religious stuff. He didn't understand her. Just like your Grammy doesn't understand you. It's not your fault for wanting to live up to your parents. We all do, on some or the other level. But being forced into it...that's hard. You can't be someone you're not. Even if you force yourself to be."

"Atleast you had a childhood. Even if it wasn't ideal," Audrey sighed. "Thanks, by the way."

"For what?"

"For being here. For listening to me. No one really does that for me."

"You know, Audrey, the least we can do is be civil to each other."

"So we aren't friends yet?"

"Give it time, Audrey. Friendship doesn't come in one day. I'll let you know when I'm ready," Rain sighed, fingering her bracelet, like she did when she was nervous.

"I'll wait," Audrey smiled as she took Rain's hand in her own.