Lamps blanketed the dull grey of the hallway walls with a soft, blue glow. The cold light seemed to sharpen the air; it felt chill against Pyrrha's legs and neck. She shivered as stray droplets of water snaked from her hair down the back of her shirt, tickling across her spine.
She draped her blazer and stockings, neatly folded, over one arm, brushing her hair forward to dab at it once more with her towel as she walked. The scent of rose filled her nostrils while she wrung the remaining moisture from her hair, and drew a gentle smile from her.
Warmth beckoned to her from her dorm room, a sliver of orange light snuck across the dark carpet from beneath each identical doorway. Pyrrha draped her towel across her neck, keeping her hair from the shirt it had already streaked with damp lines as she gripped the door handle.
The door tugged open and yanked Pyrrha into the room unexpectedly. She stumbled a step, off balance, and crashed into Jaune. He squeaked in surprise, flinging his hands up – probably to steady Pyrrha.
Unfortunately, he seemed to have forgotten the bowl of cereal in his hands, and while failing to steady Pyrrha, who had already regained her composure and balance, he succeeded in spilling the contents. Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes flew into the air, dropping like hail in the rain of milk that spilled onto the blazer and stockings in Pyrrha's arms.
"I'm sorry, Jaune!" Pyrrha said, taking an instinctive step back as milk splashed upwards against her bare legs and the bowl hit the carpet with a resounding 'thunk'.
"Oh shoot, my Pumpkin Pete's!" Jaune mumbled as he dropped to the floor, picking up individual pieces of soggy cereal from the carpet. Pyrrha knelt down, picking up the bowl before it could leak more milk into the floor. "Sorry, Pyrrha," Jaune added, noticing the clothes in her arms.
"It's alright." Pyrrha blushed, wiping away the milk to little effect with her already soaked towel. "I don't think it will stain at all." She opened her blazer, hanging it cautiously from the corner of a bookshelf with the towel below to catch any drips.
Nora vaulted over her bed, placing her hands on her hips like a disapproving mother as she looked at Jaune. "C'mon Jaune, why're you eating cereal at night anyway?"
"Breakfast, my dear, is the most important part of a healthy diet." Jaune explained. Pyrrha stifled a giggle; she noticed the slight shake of Ren's head as he continued to study without looking up, and the curve in the corner of his mouth as Nora next spoke.
"That's why you have pancakes, numb nuts." She growled. "Why are boys so messy anyway? This would never happen at a girls night."
Pyrrha turned, her eyebrows furrowing at Nora's complaint. "What is a 'girls night'?"
Nora's face fell. Colour drained from her cheeks, her mouth falling slightly agape as she slowly sat on the bed. She blinked and stood, steadily climbing to her feet and wandering forward with a horrified look, as if she had seen a ghost.
Her hand clasped Pyrrha's shoulder. "You mean to tell me," Nora whispered, "that you've…" She swallowed, closing her eyes for a moment, as though she struggled to find the courage to speak the words, "… you've never been to a girls night?"
"No?" Pyrrha said uncertainly, flicking a look of concern and confusion to Jaune for help. He seemed as clueless as she.
Nora drew in a deep breath through her nose. Deeper than Pyrrha would have thought her body would allow; she inhaled loudly, eyes widening as if to make room for the air inside her.
She opened her mouth and screamed. Pyrrha's hands shot to cover her ears as the words "Girls Night" pierced the air like a mighty weapon, rending doors, windows, and soundproofed walls useless beneath it.
As the ringing in Pyrrha's ears ceased, she cautiously opened one eye. Nora was busily dragging Ren and Jaune by the scruffs of their necks towards the door. She turned to Pyrrha, her face gravely serious.
"Get. Your. Jammies." She ordered.