Jessica Merrick groaned and slowly sat up. She had an awful stomachache. She clutched her teddy bear and lay back down, but quickly found herself getting up again. She looked at her watch – 6am, Saturday.

She got out of bed, grabbed her shoes and jacket, put them on, and crept out of the cabin and out to the main building. She needed a hot chocolate desperately. Roger was usually up at this time and took pity on her, especially during her girl thing.

She liked Roger, they were close. He was fairly cool, and laid back, and she quite often played a game of chess with him in the early hours.

As usual, she entered the dining hall to find him grading some papers. He looked up and smiled. "Jess, can't sleep?"

"Yep."

"Take a seat," he told her, patting the chair next to him. He rose and went in to the kitchen, to make her a hot chocolate. She took the chessboard from the shelf in the opposite corner, and sat down at the table. By the time she had set it up, he had returned. "Here you go. One hot chocolate."

"Thanks," She grinned. "I was hoping you'd be here. It would have been annoying to walk over here and find out the building was locked."

"You know me, early bird," he laughed. "So, shall we start?" She nodded, playing white. "Prepare to lose."

"Roger...when are you going to learn," she smiled, "you never win."

"There is a first time for everything," Roger replied, making his first move. "I've been practising against Barringer and Ciceros."

"Ciceros? I could have beaten him at chess age 6," Jess snorted.

"Drink your hot chocolate."

Jess, as usual, won. "I won't say I told you so."

"Good. Else you'll get an F on your next assignment," He warned her. "So, how are the classes going? You okay...not worried about anything? Or is it the nightmares keeping you awake?"

"Nope...not worried. It's just my stomach is all," she shrugged. "I get the bad dreams, but not so much any more. They are mostly about the horrible amount of school work piling up."

"Chill out, Jess, you're a straight A student," he told her. "And it's okay to take a break sometimes, you know, let the grades slip. Relax. Just don't go below a C."

"Did you really just say that?" She asked, amazed.

"Don't tell Peter," He winked. "How are things going with Shelby?"

"I'm still at the not talking to her point," she sighed. "I don't know...we'll get there. It's And very hard."

"I know. But you should try and talk to her. It might be hard, and painful. But you'll feel so much better to be friends again," Roger advised. "Trust me, I'm a counsellor."

"Hmm. Up for another game?" She asked. "And another hot choc?"

"Hot choc, sure. Game, I don't think I can. I have stuff to do. Sorry," he replied. "But come back tomorrow, same time. And I promise I'll play."

"Okay. Thanks," she nodded.

"Why don't you come with me to the staff room?" He suggested. "You can watch tv for half an hour. Provided I get to pick the show. I need to do some work in there."

"Sure. That would be great! Can I have coffee?" She asked, standing up.

"No."

"Can I watch ER?" She asked, with a huge smile.

"No."

"Why? Can I watch the rock and metal channel?" She asked.

"Possibly," he nodded. "I like rock. ER too much blood. Go ahead, I'll be along with your drink."

"Thanks Roj," she said, "You rock."

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