Chapter 3

L.A. A gentle breeze swept through the seventeen-year-old's hair as she smiled up at the building. She'd managed to keep her jacket close this time, and her train had been just on time. Terri quietly picked up her bags and walked towards the door, pushing it open and dragging herself inside with all her luggage. Everything was very quiet in the hallways as she slowly made her way to her room. Terri felt curious as to whom she'd be sharing with this year. Maybe Sloane? She smiled wider thinking about her friends. She couldn't wait to see them again.

Terri looked up at the room number and knocked politely. When no answer came, she quietly stepped inside to find it empty still. She'd barely put her heavy bags down on the bed most left, when she heard bumbling outside in the hallway and decided to go see what was causing it – or who, perhaps. Terri walked over to the door and opened it to see a huge travelling bag, being followed inside by a petite girl that she assumed to be around fifteen years old. "Thank you!" came a high pitched voice from behind the travelling bag.

Terri quietly closed the door behind the dark haired girl, her eyebrows crinkling lightly. The other girl seemed happy to be able to put her bag down. "Hello," she said, holding out her hand and walking towards Terri, tripping over her own travelling bag. "I'm fine!" The fifteen-year-old squeaked when Terri reached out to help. Within seconds, the girl had scrambled upright again and held out her hand once more. "I'm Leah," she whispered.

Terri hesitated an instant before shaking the girl's hand and introduced herself as well. "Hi. I'm Terri."

"I suppose we're sharing this room, then?" Leah asked.

"I guess, yeah."

"I'm sorry. I'm a very clumsy kind of person. My sisters always tend to laugh at me because of it. They share a room just a little further along the hallway, Carrie and Molly. They're twins. They have been here last year, too. I'm youngest. Have you been here last year?"

Terri nodded. "Yeah, I have. Maybe I have met your sisters, then?"

"Maybe," Leah smiled. "What do you play?" she asked, sinking down on her knees and opening her travelling bag, opening one door of the closet and starting to throw her things in the left compartment. "Oh, do you want the left side, maybe?" she asked, looking at Terri again.

"No, the right is just fine for me," Terri answered, following her roommate's example and sitting down, trying to unzip her own bag.

"So, what do you play?"

"I don't… really play," Terri replied. "I can play the piano, but I mostly sing."

"Really?" The younger girl exclaimed, smiling. "I can't sing. I play the piccolo. Carrie plays the piano, and Molly plays the cello."

"That's nice," Terri replied. If she'd ever thought Sloane to be a little weird...