Reyna's room has been postered.
Well, her roommate's side, anyway. It's the night before term starts, and everyone's just arriving at their dorms, but apparently Reyna's roommate got here early, because now Reyna's staring at a Spice Girls poster that hangs above an overflowing trunk spilling clothes onto the floor.
Reyna hasn't even met her roommate yet, but if the Spice Girls poster, Disney DVDs, and lava lamp are any indicator, she's in for a long year.
Her roommate's name is Piper, she knows that much. She's seen a picture of her, a pretty girl with braids in her hair and an undercut Reyna is secretly jealous of. They're both due to start eleventh grade.
Apparently, Piper's dad is some rich movie star, and that's why he's sent her off to boarding school. Reyna? She's only here because it's better than a foster home.
Reyna drops her trunk on the empty side of the room. It looks strange, the bare walls and naked bed next to the monstrosity that is Piper's side.
She hears footsteps and turns.
"Hey." There she is, hair feathers and all. She leans against the doorframe nonchalantly, like she has all the time in the world. "I'm Piper," she says, and shakes Reyna's hand.
"Reyna," Reyna says, and frowns. "I hope you're not planning on keeping that lava lamp on all the time." The lamp pulses with light.
"Why? Does it bother you?" Piper flops on the bed on her stomach, kicking her feet in the air, grinning. Her shoes are still on. It sets Reyna's teeth on edge.
"It could catch fire. Have you seen the collateral damage fee?"
"It does bother you." She winks. "Princess."
"Don't call me that." Reyna perches on the edge of her bed. At least she has the decency to take off her shoes. And not to…to flirt with her roommate. If you could even call it that.
"Oh, come on, it's a cool lamp."
"Fine, the lamp can stay." That's when she notices the small disco ball Piper's tacked to the ceiling. She points at it. "But that is definitely going."
Piper smirks. "We're going to have a fun year, Reyna."