I have returned! It's gonna take a little time to get back in shape after a big hiatus but I'm gonna try my best.

Thank you for your support and understanding. Please enjoy!

"What do you think of this one?"

Mei paraded out of her room for what must have been the fourth time that morning. This time she was dressed in a floral dress colored in gradients of mint green, pink, and yellow. She modeled for Lien, spinning around and striking poses.

"Uh…it's really pretty." Lien said, although it sounded more like a question.

Mei groaned before throwing her hands up in defeat.

"That's what you said about the last three. I need you to be specific."

"Why are you so concerned about looking good for a 9 AM geometry class anyway?"

"Because this is FIT, a fashion school. I can't show up wearing just anything. You may get away with…whatever that is at Colombia." She waved her finger at Lien's simple jeans and t-shirt. "But I want heads to turn when they see me."

Lien sighed, letting the small insult roll off her back.

"Want my opinion? Turn heads in that dress." Lien paused to check the clock on her phone. "Or else you won't make it to class on time." With that, she grabbed her backpack and headed for the door.

"Lien—I"

But before Mei could say anything else, her roommate closed the apartment door with a loud thud.

In reality she hadn't meant to be rude to Lien. Fashion always got her excited for both the right and wrong reasons. She'd definitely have to make it up to her roommate later tonight. But right now, she had a subway train to catch for the first day of classes. Mei checked herself in the mirror one more time before leaving.

"I guess this will have to do."

Mei felt weary by early afternoon. She didn't know if it was because of her poor behavior toward Lien that morning or the underwhelming nature of the classes so far. They'd do amazing things this semester, judging from the syllabuses. Mei just thought that sitting through 3 separate course introductions got boring really fast. It was even more disappointing because she already had homework due at the end of the week. That's college for you. However, today did have its good points. She did end up turning heads in geometry. But, the campus was brimming with fashionistas in styles Mei had fallen in love with at first glance. There would be many things to learn here that wouldn't be taught in a lecture hall.

Mei was finally in her last class of the day. She took her seat to doodle sloppy designs in her notebook. Mei was in the middle of designing a cute crop top when she heard giggles from across the room. Looking up, she saw a group of girls turned around in their seats talking to a blonde girl, dressed in a preppy white blouse and a navy blue skirt. At first she thought they were friends from how the girls had big grins on their faces. But Mei realized the blonde wasn't smiling or laughing. She kept her head down, trying her best to focus on something she had on her desk. The girls kept messing with her despite her physical discomfort. Mei continued to stare because she wondered why the girl wasn't doing anything to stand up for herself. Something in the back of her head said "no" yet she still found herself getting up from her seat. The trio of girls turned to face her when they noticed her presence.

"Can I help you?" A black-haired girl asked.

Mei stammered at her harsh tone.

"I-I think you should stop." She internally cringed. Nice start Mei.

"Stop what?"

"Messing with her." Mei briefly glanced toward the person in question but she kept her head down, her body still tense.

The black-haired girl was losing her patience. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"I'm not someone who's petty enough to mess with innocent people. Why don't you go back to high school?"

Upon hearing this, a redhead got up from her seat to walk over to Mei. They stood toe-to-toe even though the other woman towered over her.

"Hmm, well if we can't mess with him, let's mess with you."

Wait, him? Mei flashed a quick look at the blonde but they didn't correct the redhead. Then, she heard the snap of a finger and turned her attention back toward the statuesque girl. Mei had to do her best not to flinch under her blistering gaze.

"Big words for such a short little brat. You're telling us to go back to high school? You don't even look like you left elementary school." The third member of the trio, a light brunette, gave out a loud laugh at that. The cackling noise sounded abhorrent in Mei's ears. Then the redhead continued. "And girls, we've definitely got another foreigner too by that accent. Where are you from, China? That dress is, how do your people say? Super kawaii-desu!"

Mei fiercely bit into her bottom lip. Apparently this girl flunked geography. Or she was just an insensitive bitch.

The girls continued laughing as the redhead walked back toward the group, pleased with herself. Mei was quiet for a second before she let the words slip from her mouth.

"You're pathetic."

The young woman turned around.

"What did you say you little—"

"You heard me. Pa-thet-ic."

Redhead fumed. "The only thing that's pathetic here is—"

"The fact that you don't know the difference between China and Japan? Or, the fact that you have to bully other people to feel good about yourself?"

Mei was about to give out another insult but she heard the professor clearing her throat from behind the podium. She returned to her seat, grabbed her things, and returned to the group to sit in the empty seat next to the blonde. She could feel the girls glaring at her the whole time but Mei didn't mind. She'd never let them win.

5 minutes into the introduction, she felt something being placed on her desk. She looked down and saw a scrap piece of paper with 2 words scribbled on it.

Thank You

Mei smiled, before adding her own reply and placing it back on the blonde's desk.

You're Welcome

I looked up some reviews of FIT and apparently people think that the girls at that school are very catty (yikes). I'm in college and I've never had a problem with girls like this. But maybe it's an early sampling of the fashion world. The blonde "girl" is Poland. I'm thinking of making him genderfluid in this story so, we'll see how that goes.

Again thank you for your patience and support! Working on the next chapter now.