The cacophony of pounding footsteps and yells of "Wait up!" filled Ludovica's ears as she moved through the hallways, glaring at those who bumped into her. She looked around curiously at the students filling into dormitories, checking in with the front desk, and talking to their friends. Girls room with girls, boys room with boys. The counselors reminded them all frantically while she pushed past someone, murmuring soft apologies to them.

She stood in front of the front desk, her two-toned eyes glancing at the keys. She looked up at the attendant when she started talking, her eyes widening. Right, shit. "Ludovica D'Angeli," she told her quickly, blinking whenever she gave her the key. “Thank you.”

She turned away and glanced at the key, reading the number. A-81. She walked up the stairs, panting heavily as she reached her floor. Why do they not have a fucking elevator? She opened the door, looking at the room. Two beds on either wall, a nightstand in the middle. There was a small shelf above each; the shelf near the window was already home to a laptop.

Was her roommate already here? Damn it. She turned quickly to her bodyguards, motioning for them to place the boxes. She glanced up at Lorenzo, then smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. She smiled brightly and leaned her head against his chest.

“Tell Papà I’ll miss him.” Ludovica said, pulling away. Lorenzo nodded, shuffled around a bit, then bowed his head. He left Ludo alone to unpack.

She glanced at the other bed—black sheets over the mattress with bones stitched on it. Stuffed animals of Pokemon? She didn’t understand the concept of it. She glanced at the desk, the drawers filled with notebooks and makeup. She stared at the knitting kit on the desk, probably left by the girl.

“Are you sure you have everything?” The voice, deep and low, echoed through the hall. She looked at the muscular man in the doorway, his black hair cut into a low taper fade. Dark green eyes met with hers as a scowl broke against his lips. She made a similar one. 

“I’m sure, Riaz!” called a younger girl as she ran and bumped into her. She grunted as the tan-skinned girl stared at him, dark brown eyes adjusting towards her. Blue hair, which faded over time, fell over the girl’s face. “Oh my God! Hi! I’m Nickie!” She gripped her hand, shaking it excitedly.

Nickie. What a pretty name—God, what was she saying? She shook her head, pulling her hand away. She forced a smile, peering at the scene girl. “Ludo.” She introduced herself with a bow, a smile tugging at her lips at Nickie’s giggles.

“Well, Nicks,” the man—Riaz?—began, ruffling her hair. “I’m going to get the rest of your shit from my car, and you still have to park your bike.” Riaz turned away, raised his middle finger at Nickie, then grinned at the repeated action. 

Ludo sat on the bed, the springs creaking and jumping up. She sighed when it bounced; her eyes narrowed. She opened the box, unpacking her things: the Mimikyu plush Serafino begged her to take, the crimson red sheets Enzo brought her himself, and the millions of books she had to bring. She sneezed, then glanced at Nickie. She was staring at her.

“What?” She murmured, her eyebrow raised.

“Oh! Nothing!” Nickie said quickly, her eyes widening. “I just needed to know, um, shit, what’s your major?”

“Business.” “Why?” “Why not.”

Nickie blinked at her, then giggled. She looked up at Riaz again, frowning. She rolled her eyes and walked out of the room, waving at Ludo excitedly. Cute. A light blush came to her face as she leaned back, covering her mouth with her hand. She only felt this emotion once—with Callisto. And that was horrible.

She can still remember the heart monitor, the screams of a baby, and the shouts and screams from the halls. She clenched her hands into fists and shook her head, leaning on her side. She closed her eyes for a moment. Opening them to see her roommate in front of her, she jolted back. She scowled.

“My major’s art.” Nickie said quickly, her arms in her pockets. She stepped back as Ludo stood up, popping her back. “I didn’t ask.” The blonde-haired woman whispered. “So mean.”

Ludovica rolled her eyes and collected a few things: towels, loofahs, and shampoo. She closed the door, leaving Nickie alone. The blue-haired girl frowned and looked at her scarred hands, sitting down quietly.

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“Quit following me.” Ludo said tiredly, pinching the bridge of her nose. Nickie giggled loudly as she walked behind the heiress, her arms out. She was dressed in a black tank top with a gray skirt. Fishnet leggings covered her thighs, pained with old or new scars, and black boots sat over them.

“Why?” asked Nickie curiously, looking at the girl. She smiled at the defeated sigh of her friend, stopping in front of the cafe stand. She ordered a mocha frappuccino, while Ludovica ordered an Earl Gray.  “Try something else! Come on!”

“It’s annoying; people look at us too many times.” The heiress explained, paying for the food quickly. She gave the woman her drink, sipping her own softly. She smiled, tilting her head and looking at the braid of blond hair. “And no. Earl Gray is perfect for me.” She grinned at hergrin.

“You’re a bore! Aren’t you supposed to be some cool Don? Or some shit?” She asked, sipping through a straw. She glanced at her friend’s outfit: a small black dress with thin straps, which had tied white ribbons around them; courtesy of Nickie. The dress fell over her thighs, staying just above her knees. White heels were paired with the pretty dress.

“You look good.” Nickie commented, peering at her new book. She smiled, then leaned against Ludo. “The Final Gambit? How cliche!” She squealed as Ludo put her in a headlock, reaching for her drink.

“Girls!” snapped Mr. Nielson from his classroom. “Please get to your class. You’re interrupting my own.”

They both mocked him under their breath, moving ahead. They stood in the hallway, looked at each other, and hugged each other. They went in opposite directions; one that went up so many fucking flights of stairs, and the other that got to paint in the garden on a such beautiful sunny day as well.

Nickie Naifeh, such an interesting woman. And a beautiful one too. She smiled and looked at the bracelet on her wrist. A combination of blue, lavender, and white beads with letter charms spelling out Ludo ♥️. Her roommate had begged her to match with her. Nickie’s beads copied her own, but the charms had been placed to put Nicks ♥️.

A friend, someone other than fucking Callisto. Or Angelo. She shuddered at the thought of the latter, gagging softly. She stopped in front of her classroom, sucked in a breath, and opened the door, closing it behind her.

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Ludovica cleared her throat as she waited in the library, looking down. She shuffled, then looked at the letter in her hand. She found it on her desk in the first class, and the contents inside were just five words.

Meet me in the library.

She sighed, her fingers tapping against her arms. She got stood up, damn it. She turned slightly, yet blue hair—re-dyed to look as bright as it should—was at the corner of her eyes. Please no. She gulped at the sight of Nickie; her eyes widened. Her heart was pounding, and her hands were shaking.

“No.” She mumbled, trying to step back. It was the code; they had. She was blushing, was she? “It was the rule! Nickie, we had a rule! Please say it’s a joke.”

Her roommate stared at her, her hands filled with chocolate and flowers. She sighed. “I know about the rule, Ludo. I just—I’m sorry. But I really love you!” She told her, shoving the gifts in her arms. “I promise it’s not a joke. I know you’re scared about relationships, and you can say no. I just wanted to tell you, and if you don’t love me back, I still want to be friends!” There were tears in her eyes.

Please don’t cry.

“And I–” “Nickie.” “Please just listen to me!” “Nickie.” “Please!” “Rosa!” 

The blue-haired girl went quiet at that, her eyes full of fear. The heiress stepped forward and leaned down, an arm around her waist. She pressed their foreheads together, her eyes closed. “I do love you.” She said softly, giggling when the other girl squealed and kissed her, quickly returning it.