Red2

Her arm was sore by the time she headed back to her dorm room. She wasn't all that hungry so she just grabbed a roll and an apple and headed out the door. It was a nice night, slightly cooler than she was used to. She stopped and looked up at the stars. What was she doing here? She sighed and looked at the buildings surrounding her. She had never felt more alone than she did right now. She closed her eyes briefly then reopened them and finished her trek.

She climbed the stairs and headed for the elevator. The lobby was deserted and the only ones making noise were the ones too excited to sleep. She pushed the button and waited. Anyone who had been here for more than a year would know better than to party. The elevator was deserted and so was the hall. She unlocked her door and walked into the room. There was a lump on one of the beds that looked like a person. She sighed finished the last of her apple and dropped it in the can by her desk. She flopped down on her bed and fell asleep. The sound of water running and someone humming woke her up the next morning.

She groaned and rolled over. One eyelid popped open and then quickly closed when sunlight burned it. She rolled away from it and stumbled to her feet. Rubbed her face and made her way towards the bathroom where the singing was coming from. She knocked on the door

"Hey you just about done in there?" Sam called.

She felt gritty and needed to brush her teeth for sure. She was relieved she didn't dream again. The last thing she needed was the stress of those dreams coming back on top of having to deal with these classes. A box was sitting on her desk and she crossed over to it. She lifted the red garment out of the box. It was wrapped in plastic because it had never been worn. There were three in the box and Sam briefly recalled the guide saying something about rotating them throughout the week, while she washed the other two. Sam frowned red was definitely not her color. The bathroom door swished open

"All yours" said a chipper female voice.

Sam frowned great she was a morning person just wonderful.

"I picked up yours, when I picked up mine" said the girl

Sam turned and froze. Standing in the center of the room was a girl with green skin, she was brushing out some seriously messy chestnut brown hair. Sam just stood there and stared. She ironically was reminded of Christmas with all the red and green. The girl started to turn because Sam hadn't said anything in reply.

"Ah thank you" said Sam

She said feeling just a bit awkward that she had been staring at the girl.

"I know the color is hideous, I feel like one of those holiday figurines. You know for those little guys with the Vulcan ears" said the girl

She was leaning towards a mirror and was putting some earrings in her ears.

"Ah elves?" said Sam

"Yeah them, all I am missing is the pointy shoes and the horrible hat" said the girl

Sam giggled, okay for an alien she was alright.

"I know I'm going to look hideous in this and I don't know if I even have shoes that will go with it" said Sam

The girl put the back on her other ear and glanced towards sam.

"Whatever you choose make sure its regulation or they'll pitch a fit, I'm Lela by the way" said the girl "Samantha" said Sam

"I'm surprised they placed you with me, not that I'm complaining mind but doesn't your species get headaches when you're near us too long?" said Lela

Sam shrugged because she had no idea what she was talking about.

"Who knows besides they gave me a bunch of shots yesterday maybe one of them was for that" said Sam

She was walking towards the bathroom.

"Better hurry or you will miss breakfast" Said Lela

She didn't sound all that concerned and Sam wasn't that big on breakfast anyways. She heard the door swish shut about the time she started up the shower. Sam still made it fast because she still had to decide what she was going to wear with that uniform. She stepped out and didn't bother with the towel again. She opened her closet and dug through her bags for her undergarments.

Pulled them one and then held up the uniform. It was way too short and she hadn't shaved her legs that high up. She grabbed a pair of black biker shorts and pulled them on. Covered it with the uniform and looked for suitable shoes the only black shoes she had were a pair of sandals and some high heeled hooker boots. She shoved them both back in her bag and pulled out some red converse and some black socks with little cherries on them. They would have to do. She tugged them on grabbed her faded messenger bag covered in music group patches, shoved Her Padd inside and a note pad so she could take notes.

Some of the students in high school used to make fun of her for not typing her notes out but she was faster with a pen and paper. She shoved a couple pens into the holder and closed the bag. Grabbed her hairbrush and then secured her hair in a scrunchie that matched her socks. She flung her bag over her shoulder locked up her wardrobe and headed for the door. She closed it and keyed in the code to lock it. She walked towards the elevator at a quick pace. It was blissfully empty and when she reached the mess hall it was almost deserted.

She grabbed one of the sole remaining muffins and ate it on the way to her first class. She slipped into the back of the class just as it was about to start. The teacher hadn't even started yet and she was able to log in for roll call when it flashed on the screen in front of her. The man in the black teacher's uniform was writing something on the large glass like blackboard at the front of the room. Sam watched as the words appeared on the screen. Sam hit the button that would stream the blackboard notes to her Padd then dug out her notepad for the man's verbal lecture.

As the man talked she shorthanded notes while other students typed away on their Padd's. He asked questions and Sam did her best to follow along with what the man was teaching. The bell finally pinged and Sam closed her notepad and shoved her Padd back into her bag. She flung it over her shoulder and followed the moving group of students to the door. She blended with the throng and headed for the next class. It was mostly the same as the last one and Sam moved on to the next one when the chime sounded again. Alex fell into step with her on the way to her next class.

"So how's it going?" said Alex

Sam snorted, this felt absurdly like high school except for the fact everyone was a nerd here. Trip was walking in their direction and Alex slowed to wait for him. Sam smirked at her friend when she blushed and giggled like a school girl when he said something only marginally funny.

"So what do you ladies have next?" said trip

He was staring at Sam with a funny look on his face.

"Ethics, you?" said Alex

"The same, ah Sam was it?" said Trip

"Yep" said Sam

"What are you wearing?" said trip

He was staring at her shoes. Sam smirked at him

"Oh she always dresses a bit retro why?" said Alex

Trips eyes lingered on her legs for a bit.

"it's just that I'm not sure if that's regulation" said trip

"I looked in the manual and no one's said anything but you so far" said Sam

She really hoped they wouldn't because she had a real issue with how much leg this skirt showed already. The last thing she wanted to do was flash the male student body her underwear when she sat down. Sam noted Alex had no issue with the skirt but then again Alex always had really nice legs.

"I know but the commander is a bit of a stickler for the rules" said trip

"Noted" said Sam

Trip opened his mouth to say something more but they were at the class. Sam wanted them to sit in the back like she usually did but Alex headed for front and center. Sam swore under her breath and followed her friends. She hated sitting up front it was where the teachers usually looked for answers. She sat down with a groan and glared at Alex. She was about to chew Alex out when the teacher walked in. He was tall with dark hair in an almost widows peak hairstyle and with noticeable pointed ears.

Great another Vulcan, she thought as she pulled out her Padd and notepad. He gave her a strange look that Sam pointedly ignored. She didn't care what he thought about how she learned her work would speak for itself. She pulled a pen out and uncapped it, looking at him in expectation. He raised an eyebrow but moved on. He started writing things on the board so Sam set hers up to transfer again because he was talking as he wrote. Keys were being tapped at a furious pace all around her.

She tuned out the noises her classmates were making and just wrote. He called on several of them several times. Sam noted he called out the ones that tried to hide in the back by making them participate in the conversation. He received stumbling answers and lots of I don't knows. He moved on when the last person gave him a totally clueless answer. He was looking around the room trying to find someone to call on. Sam followed the direction of his gaze wondering if anyone in that area had even caught the answer he had just given in his lecture. His gaze shifted back to where Sam was sitting. Her stomach sunk.

"miss..?" said the teacher

"Morningstar and it is yes, every time you borrow someone's work you should cite it" said Sam

He nodded impressed that she had at least been listening. Sam wondered how many of his students didn't.

"very good Miss Morningstar, and how should you cite it and why?' said the teacher

"Within your work by either mentioning the author by name or by putting their name and the date of publication within parenthesis within your work" said Sam

He looked momentarily shocked for a second, then nodded

"Very correct" he said and moved on to another student.

By the time the bell rang Sam was feeling like she had survived a trial by fire. She put her things away and stood up to leave.

"one moment Miss Morningstar, I would like a word with you" said the teacher.

Aubrey gave her a worried look but followed trip out the door. He waited until the room was clear before he talked. She watched him look her over and she was suddenly a bit worried about being alone with him.

"Miss Morningstar is there an issue with your skirt?" said the teacher.

Sam looked down at it. It rode up to the upper part of her thighs even with the biker shorts.

"Now that you mention it does seem a bit short" said Sam

"I see Miss Morningstar I'm going to be frank with you, this is not with in regulations." He said

"Your shoes are the wrong color they are supposed to be black and the shorts are not part of the uniform. I am going to have to ask you to refrain from wearing them in the future" said the teacher

Sam frowned, now what was she going to do, the skirt was indecently short. It would show her underwear without the shorts there to block the view. He did not give her a chance to respond and instead dismissed her. Sam fumed but refrained from punching that smug bastard. She headed to her next class wondering what she would do tomorrow.

Maybe she should just resign, conformity wasn't her strong suit. She slunk into her next class and gave I don't know answers to questions she knew the answers to. Alex gave her a questioning look in the class before lunch. Sam debated on whether she wanted to finish out the day or just go back to the dorm and pack up her stuff. The bell rang and Sam picked up her bag she hadn't bothered to even take notes in this class or to set up her Padd. She headed for the door before everyone else had their stuff packed up.

"all right what gives what did he say?" said Alex

Trip had lagged behind to let the two girls talk.

"Oh just that I have to flash everyone tomorrow if I don't want to get written up and to wear black shoes" said Sam

Alex snorted.

"Come on Sam the skirt isn't that bad" said Alex

Sam shook her head no

"No it's not if you don't have hips or an ass like I do" said Sam

Alex scoffed. Sam pointed to a point on her thigh where the skirt had ridden up even with the shorts on.

"It came to right here Alex, you would be able to see everything. If I want to give a bunch of old perverts a show I'll go to Vegas and get paid for it at least" said Sam

"What's this I hear about Vegas?' said a new voice

Alex groaned and turned towards the newcomer.

"go away Kirk this is a private conversation" said Alex

The newcomer feigned injury and covered his heart with his hand

"ouch Pike that was cruel, so Vegas?" he said

Wiggling his eyebrows at Sam and Alex. Sam started walking away from them.

"Lay off Kirk and go away" said Alex

Sam could hear the clack of her boots on the tile floor behind her. Sam groaned as Alex steered her away from the doors she was about to escape through and towards the mess hall instead.

"Come on you'll feel better once you eat something, I'll even give you my pudding" said Alex

Sam lips gave a little half twitch that was as closest she came to a smile at the moment. Behind them she could hear the newcomer asking Trip a few questions.

"why not she's got very nice ones" said Kirk

Sam really didn't want to know what they were talking about from then on out. She really didn't care what Kirk though she had a nice one of. Alex dragged her into the lunch line and punched in Sam's order and then hers.

"what's your code?' said Alex

Sam sighed and reached past her to key in her passcode. She didn't even look at what Alex had ordered. Their trays slid onto the counter and Sam reluctantly grabbed hers. She followed Alex towards the table. Kirk stopped to talk to another green skinned girl and then got this embarrassed look on his face.

"He's a year ahead of us and a real player" said Alex

Sam frowned because she had been staring at Kirk's backside. She wasn't even interested so why was she staring at him. Alex sat down at one of the tables and she noted that Kirk had grabbed a tray and was heading there way and so were several other seniors. Sam frowned at her food. Alex had gotten her a chicken salad sandwich, some grapes and a two chocolate puddings.

She glanced over at Alex, to find the other woman giving her a worried look. Sam sighed because Alex had seen right through her mood and straight to her intention to leave.

"spock chewed her out about the uniform" said Kirk

He was talking to his friends as they joined them at the table. Kirk flopped down on her other side. "Don't let him get to you he's harsh to everyone" said Kirk

He smiled at her and she found herself grinning back at the man.

"Jim kirk" he said

He paused after he said it, like he was expecting something after the declaration

"Samantha Morningstar" said Sam

She took his offered hand and shook it. He looked her over and smirked

"Have to say it's a unique look though, are those converse?" said Kirk

Sam smirked and nodded yes.

"those things are like antiques, where did you find them?" said kirk

Another man and a woman sat down next to trip. The dark skinned woman kept giving Jim a dirty look like she couldn't stand him. Sam bit into her sandwich and just immersed herself in her friends company.

"he chewed you out didn't he?" said the woman

Sam looked up at her and nodded because her mouth was full of food. The woman looked Sam over with a critical eye. She felt Alex stiffen beside her. The woman frowned

"I can see why. You should have just worn the uniform the way it was intended, everyone else does" said the woman

"Oh lay off Uhura, maybe she didn't like showing that much leg" said Kirk

Sam silently cheered him on, maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all. The woman known as Uhura snorted and finished her food. She got up and left the table and Alex muttered bitch under her breath after she was gone.

Sam was marginally cheered up by the time she left lunch but as much as she hated it Uhura had been right. Everyone else was wearing the uniform as it was intended. So why couldn't she. I mean she was driving to Vegas to get a job in a strip club for crying out loud, she shouldn't have any issue with a skirt this short.

Even if it was practically a micro mini on her. Maybe she could see if they had it in pants. Sam sat in the back in her next two classes and skipped dinner. She headed back to her room and spent the rest of the night trying to come up with ways to cover up the shortness of that skirt without resorting to anything underneath it. Alex buzzed her Padd four times and Sam finally took out the battery so she could think.

She finally settled on a plan and drifted off to sleep after setting her alarms so she could catch an early morning run. She need to run through her plan mentally at least one more time and also to gather the courage to implement it. She had her things packed in case they overreacted and kicked her out.

Sam's roommate was just stirring so Sam slipped into the shower first. This time she did use a towel and exited the bathroom just as Lela stumbled out of bed. Sam pulled out her hooker boots, her dancers tape, make up case and fishnet stockings. She smirked wickedly and plucked her g string from the pile on her bed. Slid them on and grabbed her push up bra. She had reread the regulations last night and they did say you could wear stockings instead of socks.

They said nothing about heel height or boot types, Nor anything about jewelry. Sam had a plan. If those perverts wanted to see them dressed like whores then so be it. Sam slid the thigh high fish nets on and fastened them to the clips on her garter belt.

"Wow! Who is he?" said Lela

"A pesky instructor I want to see eat his words" said Sam

"Which one?" said Lela

"Spock" said Sam

She slid on the uniform Lela smirked at her

"can I help?" said Lela

Sam smiled at her.

"Do you know anything about hair?' said Sam

Lela snorted

"My sisters run one of the best salons in seven systems, do I know hair" said Lela

"Cool, sure then" said Sam

"Just let me get ready, here plug this in" said Lela

She handed Sam something that might have been a curling iron before she disappeared into the bathroom. Sam pulled out her make up and started applying it. She was comparing lipstick shades to her uniform when Lela came out of the bathroom.

"What are you doing?" said Lela She had her hands full of hair accessories and styling gear.

"trying to decide if I should be offended that our uniforms match my fuck me red lipstick or if I should just go with it and wear it" said Sam

Lela giggled.

"I would wear it but wait until after I do your hair" said Lela

She set the supplies down and gave Sam a once over. Sam picked up the dancers tape and frowned. She undid one of the stockings and wrapped her ankles one at a time while Lela organized her supplies.

"what is that?" said Lela

"Dancer's tape it helps support your ankles and prevents swelling' said Sam

"Dancer? You dance?" said Lela

She was sorting through clips and holding them up to see which ones would look best in her hair.

"Yep took four years of ballet, modern and hula when I was little. Plus gymnastics and Yoga" said Sam "wow, were you trying to go professional or something?" said Lela

She was holding two sets of clips in her hands then suddenly nodded and set one of them down.

"I did want to dance on Broadway but circumstances changed and I was heading to Vegas" said Sam "what changed?" said Lela

She grabbed a brush and started working it through Sam's hair.

"I fell into a sinkhole and ended up frozen in a glacial flow for a few hundred years" said Sam

The brushing paused.

"No way seriously, that can't happen can it?" said Lela

"Yeah it can, unfortunately" said Sam

"So you're like a really old lady" said Lela

Sam wasn't sure if the woman was trying to be insulting or not.

"Yep oldest on the planet" said Sam

Lela giggled.

"Actually I think there's a Vulcan that has you beat by a few decades" said Lela

"yes but do they look as good as I do?' said Sam

Lela giggled again and her fingers brushed Sam's neck with a touch too controlled to be casual.

"No, veatasi none of them look near as beautiful as you" said Lela

Her voice had taken on a seductive tone that for some reason worried Sam that maybe her roommate wasn't into guys.

"Ah thanks" said Sam awkwardly

"So why Vegas?" said Lela

Suddenly changing the subject into safer waters or at least marginally safer waters. Sam vowed to spend as little time in her dorm room alone with this woman as she could.

"A friend of mine went there after she graduated and got a job at one of the clubs, she was going to help me get a job there too when my dad kicked me out" said Sam

Lela paused again Sam turned towards her. The woman looked sad.

"He kicked you out?" said Lela

She sounded shocked for some reason.

"Yes we never got along to begin with, so it was bound to happen sooner or later" said Sam

She pulled her boots on and adjusted the back so the tape didn't show through the lacing in the back. Lela nodded in understanding.

"My father and I never got along either, where did you get those boots? They are so cute" said Lela "Fredrick's" said Sam

"Fredrick's?" said Lela

"Yeah Fredrick's of Hollywood, it's a lingerie slash clothing store" said Sam

"Oh!" said Lela.

She picked up the curling iron and proceeded to make ribbons of soft curls after tying the majority of it on top of Sam's head. Sam did her make-up and decided to use the bright red that matched the uniform. She unzipped the top just a little because the push up bra was making it a bit tight. Sam smacked her lips and stood up.

"Well?" said Sam

"Damn!" said Lela

Sam grabbed her leather trench coat in case it got cold and to drape across her lap in the other classes. "Hold up" said Lela

She walked over to her shelves and retrieved a small glass perfume bottle

"here wear this" said Lela

Sam eyed the bottle

"what is it?" said Sam

"It's called dreamers tears, it enhances your natural pheromones. Mine won't work on a Vulcan but yours would" said Lela

Sam smirked and opened the bottle. She dabbed a little bit at each pulse point.

"In case this goes badly thanks" said Sam

She was fighting dirty and she knew it but she didn't really care. Sam gathered her things and headed for the door.

"Wish me luck" said Sam

She ducked out of the room and walked towards the elevator. Her stomach was doing flip flops so she slid on her coat. She was nervous and starting to rethink this plan by the time she reached the mess hall. Male heads turned as she walked by and she quickly grabbed a tray and slid into the empty seat next to Alex.

"Oh my god what are you wearing?" said Alex

Sam adjusted her coat so Alex could see the full outfit.

"holy cow are you trying to get kicked out?" said Alex

Sam briefly wondered if she was indeed trying to get kicked out.

"What it's all regulation I looked them up" said Sam

Alex gave her an opened mouth stare and then groaned. Sam turned to see Kirk and McCoy walking towards them.

"Oh lord close your coat" said Alex

Sam ignored her and picked up her spoon. Both male voices stopped talking abruptly behind her.

"Well hello there, what's your name?' said kirk

He sat down next to Sam she giggled because it was funny that he didn't recognize her.

"Jim it's me Sam" said Sam

He looked her up and down his eyes lingering a bit too long on her chest.

"Sam? Sam? Samantha? "said Kirk

"Yep that's me' said Sam

She took a sip of her orange juice being very careful not to wipe off all of her lipstick.

"You look good" said McCoy

Sam turned towards him and smiled. He was staring with wide eyes at her.

"Thank you Leonard" said Sam

"So what gives with the new look? not that I am complaining mind you" said Kirk

"Oh no you're not" said Alex

"Not what?' said McCoy

"Commander Spock talked to her about her uniform yesterday" said Alex

Kirk frowned.

"What was wrong with your uniform yesterday?" said McCoy

"She was wearing some biker shorts under it yesterday "said kirk

He looked down at her legs and licked his lips.

"I like the stockings better" he said

he moved closer to her and inhaled deeply. Sam eyed him warily.