My jaw drops when I walk into the large castle-like building. The plush red carpeting wraps around my tennis shoe from the second we step in. The tan walls are lined with pictures of various women that dated back all the way from the 1800s. Girls sit in the center of the room on a beautiful lounge couch set. All eyes are on me from the second I walk into the room, and I instantly start to blush but keep moving.

"This way," says Dean Withers.

He leads us to a golden elevator that sits inside the lobby area of the dormitory. As he pushes the button I look around the room in more depth. There's a beautifully carved wooden staircase on either side of the elevator, that seems to go up five floors. Little designs are cut into the railings that look like ivy being sprawled around the rails. Across the room from the stairwell is a kitchen area where a few girls are cooking their own food. Stainless steel appliances are everywhere, and look way more expensive than the Walmart brand items we had at home. A plasma flat screen, bigger than anyone I've ever seen, is adorned on the wall between the stairs and the kitchen. A group of girls is gathered around it watching Project Runway.

My mom nudges me as we wait for the elevator and wide-eyed mouths, "I can't believe this is real!"

When the elevator opens Dean Withers steps inside and my mom and I follow. He reaches over and pushes the button that leads to the third floor. The elevator opens into a direct hallway. The same red plush carpeting that lined the lobby of the building is in the hallway. Every couple of feet on the walls is a mini-golden chandelier.

"This is nicer than the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in," my mother exclaims as Dean Withers chuckles and leads us down the hallway. He turns to the right and then stops at the door right on the corner. "I was worried you were going to be in some run-down place with another girl, but I don't think you'll have anything to worry about!"

I hadn't even considered that I would be sharing a room with someone for the first time. What if she smelled? Or blasted heavy metal music at three o'clock in the morning? Or worse, what if she's just rude?

"Here we are! Room 323!"

Please don't be a bitch. Please don't be a bitch.

He wraps his knuckles on the finished wood and smiles at us as I hear shuffling around the room inside. Something about this moment feels final. Like my life is going to change in a moment and now that I've committed to this path there isn't any turning back.

I look at my mom and raise my eyebrows in a nervous expression as the door swings open. Standing in the doorway is a living Barbie. She has long blonde hair that cascades down her back. Her make-up is perfectly done, and she is sporting a pair of black yoga pants and a red t-shirt.

She smiles when sees us and reveals a pair of teeth that are so perfect I know they're every dentist's wet dream. "Dean Withers!" she says with a southern accent so strong I almost wonder if she's faking it as a joke. "This must be my new roommate."

"Ms. Summers, this is Elena Ramos and her mother. Elena, this is your roommate Gala Summers."

"Pleasure to meet you!" she says sticking out her hand.

"Nice to meet you too," I say as I take her hand.

Something about Gala seems very polished. This interaction seems like she has been training her whole life to learn how to talk to people and how to present herself. She comes across warm and inviting. She steps aside out of the doorway and gestures for us to come in. "Please step inside! Make yourself at home."

I push the baggage cart into the room and look around at the large space. The room is at least two times bigger than my room back home. There is a full-sized bed on either side. Gala's side of the room is the one farthest from the door. A wall of crowns lines the shelves. Tons of sashes that say "Little Miss" something or other surround the crowns.

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Each of the beds is raised and has a set of drawers that are placed all along the frame of them. There is a large dresser that is divided into two sections for each roommate to use. A big closet goes along the wall across from the beds. A large window is above each of the beds, and a bathroom with a shower is located in the room.

"This is amazing," I say as I look around in wonder.

"Ms. Ramos, if you don't mind coming with me to fill out some paperwork I'd appreciate it."

"Of course," my mom says. She looks at me and gives me a long hug. "I'm going to hit the road after I fill these out. I have a long trip back and I have a shift when I get home," she kisses the top of my head. "I love you. Be safe, baby."

"I love you too, mom."

We stand in a silent embrace before she takes a deep breath and lets go. "I'm going to be here all day doing this if I don't leave now." She turns and waves to Gala before she follows Dean Withers out of the room.

"That was so sweet," Gala says with a smile. When the door clicks shut Gala turns to me with the same plastered smile. "I'm sorry the room is a little bit of a mess," I look around the room and notice that there isn't a single thing out of place. "I just got back from an event. I had to travel for Miss Teen Georgia."

That explains the feeling of her being so polished. Also the crowns.

"Wait, you're crowned Miss Teen Georgia?" I ask my eyebrows lifting in surprise.

"Reigning champ!" She beams.

"Wow that's like a major thing, isn't it?" I ask. "Like that's right below Miss Georgia?"

"That's the goal one day," she crosses over to her bed and sits crisscrossed on the bed. "So here's the rundown. The school is small, and each floor has 20 rooms on the level. The junior class is the smallest class. We pretty much all travel together in some form or another. Except for the electives which are grade level mixed." She talks lightning fast and my head is swimming to try and keep up with her words. "Do you know what you're doing yet for your extracurriculars?"

"Huh?" I say dazed by the conversation. "No, not yet. I meet with the guidance counselor in the morning. I'm sorry I just feel a little overwhelmed."

"This is a lot, isn't it?" asks Gala seeing my face. "Sorry to stress you out. This place has a tendency to really wring you out your first couple of days. But I'm here to help you in any way that I can."

Appreciation floods into me as I grab one of my bags off the baggage cart and lay it on my bed with the bare mattress. I open up my suitcase and grab the sheets and begin to open them. A sniffle sounds in the room and I turn to see Gala wiping tears from her eyes.

"Everything okay?" I ask her confused.

"Sorry!" says Gala as she wipes her eyes furiously. "I thought it wouldn't be weird seeing someone moving in here after she went missing, but it is very strange seeing someone new in her bed."

I feel my blood run cold in my body. I turn to Gala with a shocked expression on my face. "Who are you talking about?" I already know the answer. My heart beat is beating hellaciously fast and a cold sweat breaks across my forehead.

"Victoria-" croaks Gala.

"Gala I-"

The door to the room swings open and a stunning girl with dark skin struts into the room. Her hair falls in beautiful ringlets that go to her mid-back. She walks directly to Gala and throws her arms around her in a dramatic motion.

"Gala! Sweetie! I've missed you!"

She hasn't yet acknowledged my presence as they exchange pleasantries so I continue to put the sheets on my bed. As I put the last corner on the mattress I realize the room has gone quiet. I turn and see the girl and Gala staring at me.

I guess I've been acknowledged.

"You must be the new girl," says the room intruder. "My name is Anne-Marie Coleman. It's nice to meet you. Your roomies with Gala so I'm sure we'll see a lot of each other!"

Something about Anne-Marie doesn't sit right with me. While Gala radiated a warm and welcome energy Anne-Marie comes across standoffish and cold. "Nice to meet you," I say as I extend my hand to her.

"Oh honey please, how old are we, seventy?" she walks over and gives me a hug. "Welcome to Riveroak. I'll tell you what why don't you come and eat dinner with us and I'll introduce you to the girls and get you settled."

"Oh I really appreciate it," I tell her. "But my mom made a ton of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I think I'm just going to use this time to get settled before classes start again. Rain check until tomorrow?"

"I'll see you in an hour," says Anne-Marie definitively as she turns on her heel and walks to the door. Before she walks out of the frame she looks at me and smiles. "Oh, and wear something nice. These kids will eat you alive, and first impressions are everything."

Something about the way she said first impressions make me feel like I did not make a good impression on Anne-Marie Coleman.