Moving Forward (Completed)

Chapter Forty Eight

"It's not too long is it?" MJ asked, twirling a bit as she tried to see the full effect of her new uniform in the mirror.

"I don't think it is." They were taking advantage of the full length mirror in the master suite's closet since MJ's room didn't have one. Katherine had made a little note to find one she could hang over the bathroom door for MJ the following weekend.

MJ's eyes widen, almost looking panicked. "It's not too short?"

"I think it's a good length, but we can get a ruler and measure if you want." It was a little joke aimed toward the mental image that appeared of nuns with yard sticks, but Katherine had been the only one to chuckle. "I'm only teasing."

"I'm more nervous than I thought I'd be..." MJ let out a huff, plopping herself down on the small bench placed between Katherine and Rafael's sides of the closet. "I'm excited to start fresh, maybe be more than the girl whose only friend is a book, but... what if I'm still that kid no one wants to be friends with?"

"MJ," Katherine sat in the empty space on the bench next to her, "you're witty and smart, you can be extremely kind, and I know for a fact other students wanted to be friends with you... they were just a little intimidated on how to go about it."

"I'm going to work on being more approachable." MJ sat taller with her statement, the determined look on her face causing Katherine to fight back a smile.

"Just be yourself and give it time. My parents moved me my senior year and Amanda and I didn't become friends until Winter break."

"You and Amanda went to high school together?"

"For a year, I thought she was a total bi..."Katherine stopped herself, pausing when MJ's grin took over the bottom half of her face, "umm..." MJ was giggling at this point. "Let's just say she could be a bit abrasive."

"Sure... we can say that."

Katherine rolled her eyes. "The point I was going to make was that I didn't actually know her. I didn't really know anyone and making friends can take time. We were paired up for an assignment and bonded over complaining about the due date being so close to midterms. She called me over winter break to see if I wanted to see a movie, something I later found out was because her parents were fighting. We became close that last semester and I got to see a side of her she kept hidden behind the rough exterior she... well... still tends show the rest of the world."

"You were roommates in college right?"

"In the dorms and then in our own apartment off campus."

MJ leaned against Katherine. "It'd be nice to make a friend that last as long as you and Amanda have."

"Yes, but don't discount new ones either. Lots of people will come and go in your life merely due to circumstances. Enjoy those people while they're there too."

"Have you made friends in New York?"

"Uh..." Katherine paused as she thought, "Rafael is technically a friend I've made in New York." MJ rolled her eyes. "I consider Ms. Winters a friend, but most of the other teachers fall more into the acquaintance category..."

"You don't hang out with Ms. Winters outside of school."

"Not normally, no. We do sometimes grab dinner or lunch while working on campus during the summer. Speaking of which, would you like to see if Mrs. Andrews would want to grab lunch one day while you're helping me get my room ready. I can text her and see when she'll be working in her own room."

"I would love that," MJ smiled.

"Are you wearing this the first day or your slacks?" Katherine tugged at the bit of skirt touching her thigh.