To Be a Princess

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"Yes, Mum, I'm sure I packed everything, stop worrying," she sighed.

"Are you sure you want to do this? I'm not forcing you at all," her mother asked, worried.

"Mum, Opi was the one who forced you to let her go, remember? Stop being such a worrywart," her younger sister reminded her.

"I know, I'm sorry, it's just so new to me. You're going to a new school across the country where I won't be able to see you,"

"I promise I'll call you whenever I can. Besides, you have Katie,"

"Exactly, Mum, so let Opi get on the train otherwise she'll be late!"

"Alright, have fun at your school!" her mother said, now smiling brightly, before walking back to the platform to get her daughter's suitcases.

"Wait, Opi, I have something for you," her sister now said, looking nervous.

"Huh?"

"I know it's not as great as the dress Mum got you, I didn't have a lot of money saved up. But I think you'll want this if you ever get homesick,"

She placed a silver locket in the palm of her older sister's hand and looked at her eagerly.

"A necklace?"

"Open it."

It was a heart-shaped locket with a small latch on the side. When Ophelia opened it, she saw two faces in it. One was a recent photo of her sister and the other was of her mother.

"Do you like it?" she asked.

"Of course, I love it! Thank you," she replied excitedly, putting the necklace on straight away.

Her sister grinned.

"Alright, here are your suitcases, now get on the train, it leaves in a few minutes," her mother said.

"Bye," she said, giving them both a final hug before gripping the handles of both her suitcases and walking into her train compartment. "Here goes nothing."

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As she walked out of the carriage that had brought her to the school, she looked up in awe at the large castle that stood in front of her. She couldn't believe that her school was a castle. Of course, she already knew what it looked like beforehand, but seeing it up close was a completely different story.

Walking through the gates of the school, she noticed a pair of blue eyes staring at her curiously just a few feet away. Suddenly, the person walked up to her.

"Excuse me, are you...." her voice trailed off.

"Do I know you?" Ophelia asked.

"Oh, sorry, no, I thought you were someone else," the girl said quickly.

"It's fine. I'm Ophelia." She fiddled with her thumbs anxiously. This girl was gazing at her intensely and it wasn't very pleasant.

"Bianca."

"Are you a new student here too?"

"No, I'm actually a second-year here."

"Oh. Sorry for asking, but why are you staring at me like that?"

Bianca looked surprised before smiling once more.

"Sorry, it's just that I feel like I've seen you somewhere, but judging by how confused you look I'm just mistaking you for someone else. Anyway, sorry for bothering you, I should go now."

"It's fine, really."

"If you see me around the school, don't be afraid to say hello!" And with that, she walked away.

That was strange. 

Walking up to the school office, she knocked on the door and a smiling lady handed her the keys to her dorm and dorm room after she spoke with her shortly.

But as she started walking down a corridor, she realized she didn't know the route to her dorm. Perfect. Looking around, Ophelia spotted a red-headed girl studying a map and thought that she would be the perfect person to ask for directions. Smiling, she walked up to the girl and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if you could show me the directions to the-"

The girl turned around before dropping her mouth open in shock.

"Charlotte?!" she questioned, taken aback.

"Excuse me?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" the girl asked, raising her voice.

"Err, my name is Ophelia? Do I know you?"

"Oh."

"You're the second person today who seemed to mix me up for someone else."

"Wait. You're sure you're not Charlotte? Do you recognize me at all?"

"Why would I? This is the first time I've seen you in my life."

"I- sorry, it's nothing. What do you want?" she asked, still sceptical of her.

"I was wondering if you knew the direction to the girls' dorms. Since you're holding a map and all."

"They're um... down that corridor, up the stairs and on the left," she replied, pointing in a direction."

"Thank you. By the way, what's your name?"

"Cassandra..." the girl was still looking at her as if she had done something wrong, which made Ophelia feel uneasy.

"Nice to meet you, Cassandra. I hope to see you around the school." Actually, she hoped not.

She started walking down the corridor, following the instructions Cassandra had given her. Still feeling puzzled, she wondered why two people had recognized her as someone else. She supposed she had basic features that perhaps looked common among some people. Long, brown hair, blue eyes and the average height for people her age. Still, it creeped her out that she could have a doppelgänger that two different people had met before. Or maybe even two doppelgängers? The thought made her shudder.

Finally, she reached the dorm number that matched the label on her keys. Stepping into the dorm, she hardly had time to take in the room before she heard a crash of what sounded like falling books coming from a room to her right. Maybe her roommate was already there?

Walking through the door, she was surprised to find herself facing a guilty-faced boy stumbling an overly-large pile of books.

"Um, what are you doing in one of the girls' dorms? Did you take a wrong turn at the corridor?" she asked in confusion.

"I um- good question. How about I take a rain check on that and answer that later, preferably never."

"Excuse me? Are you some sort of pervert snooping around my roommate's dorm?" 

"What? No! No, no! I swear, I'm just, um-"

Ophelia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"Well, unless you want me to get a teacher, get out."

Suddenly, they both heard a door slamming and the two students watched as a red-head lazily sauntered into the room. Raising her head to look at the boy, she blinked before finally noticing Ophelia standing by the wall.

"Leo?! What the heck are you doing here? And you! Cordelia, why are you in my room too?" she asked in rage.

"Ophelia. I'm your roommate. I think."

Cassandra groaned.