I caught up with the others on their way back to the campus and tried to immerse myself in their relatively meaningless conversation, but it wasn't doing anything to help me. My mind kept flashing back to Westin's face when I was leaving. What had I done to anger him so? It didn't make sense for him to be like that for me simply catching him staring. And if that had been what angered him, then it would have made more sense if he had looked away when I caught him, but he didn't. So I was thoroughly confused about his actions.

The whole way back to the dorms, that young man was the center of my thoughts. Sooner than I had noticed, Elizabeth and I were back at our dormitory. "I will see you at dinner, Anna." She chirped as she turned down the opposite hallway from me to her room.

I trudged up the stairs, not as deep in thought as before. I realized that now would be a good time to write the letter to my father that I had promised. So when I finally reached my room, I rooted around in my hastily filled desk for my box of stationary. At last I fished out the box and brought its contents over to my bed. Flipping the top off, I let the paper, envelopes, and pen fall out onto the sheet.

Picking up a sheet of paper and the pen, I began to write.

Dear Father,

I have reached Tele in fine shape. I have already met a few other students who are becoming my friends. There are many interesting things at this school that have captured my attention already. I hope that you have arrived safe and sound. Good luck with this war.

With love,

Anna

Well, I wasn't outright lying to him. I slipped the paper into an envelope and hopped off the bed to deposit it in the post before dinner. On the way back up to my room, a maid of sorts stopped me in the lobby. "Annabelle West?" she asked tentatively.

"Anna, please." I returned, wondering why everyone assumed that I went by Annabelle.

"Dinner is prepared in the main room. If you could follow me." She replied nervously. Apparently whoever was in charge of this dormitory had been a little strict with her. I nodded and followed her down the middle hallway of three. This one went farther back into the building, and into what I assumed were the commons.

Sitting around a large mahogany table in the middle of the room were nine other girls and a middle aged woman. The only one I recognized was Elizabeth. The maid showed me to my seat, which was thankfully next to my new friend. "Welcome, Annabelle. My name is Madame Benoit; I am in charge of this dormitory. If you have any questions about this school, you can ask me or any of my girls here."

"Thank you, Madame Benoit. But please, call me Anna." I smiled back. I tried to ignore the fact that the woman scared me slightly.

"Of course. Now please, sit down." She motioned towards my unoccupied chair. "Saturday and Sunday evenings the dormitory had dinner together. Other than those times, you will have to cook your own meals or ask Ms. Elise do so. But, let us now enjoy our meal!" she chirped. This lady seemed to have serious mood swing issues.

So all eleven of us sat down to a rather quiet dinner. I was asked about where I was from, how the journey here was, and how I was enjoying myself so far in Tele. I answered them all as graciously as I could, but I ever enjoyed being the center of attention. After a good hour and a half, we all went our separate ways to retire to our rooms. Once in my room, I moved to the window shut the sash. But when I got there, I could have sworn that I heard a thump and rustle come from the ground below. But when I opened the window and stuck my head out to look around, there was nothing.

Passing it off as just the wind, I went about my old routine of preparing for bed. I took a warm bath, letting the water work out the residual soreness from my cross-country trip. I toweled off and changed into a soft dressing gown before walking to the bureau and pulling out my brush. My mother had taught me to brush my hair with one hundred strokes before putting it into a braid while I slept. Even with this nightly curling of my hair, it remained only wavy. I went about the room and turned off the lights before crawling into bed and curling up under my warm blankets. I hoped for peace in a slumberous oblivion; but when I closed my eyes, all I could see was Westin's murderous glare.

Slowly I drifted into a fit-filled sleep. I dreamed about my father, away in a war. And about my mother: that she had somehow shown up in my room and was running her fingertips across my cheek. But then the dream went downhill. I had flash backs to that day at the café, and about Westin. I was fascinated with him, and for no apparent reason. And then I was shown his stare and his glare. I was used to not fitting in, for I never had, my whole life. But I wasn't used to being hated.

I woke with a start the next morning with sweat beaded across my forehead.

It was just a dream. It was just a dream. It was just a dream. I repeated over and over in my head to calm myself down. After a few minutes of the mental mantra, I climbed out of bed and dressed quickly. I had decided yesterday to go to the bookstore today and then walk around the campus for a bit.

So I set out early, not bothering with breakfast. I had been smart enough to grab a coat today, remembering the wind from yesterday. So I set out down the paved walkway to the east entrance of the campus. As I walked out the gateway in the brick wall that seemingly surrounding all the buildings, I saw a huge forest to my left. I would have to visit there some time. Maybe sit somewhere with a good book on a boring Sunday.

But I filed it away for later, and turned back to my original goal. I walked for a good twenty minutes before I came to the bookstore the waiter had told me about the day before. Once inside, I went immediately to my favorite authors. There were apparently no new installments of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and this book store had none of the stories that I was missing from some of my favorite authors. So begrudgingly, I left the rather useless bookstore and set out on my way back to school. But as I paced the café, my stomach decided to remind me of my lack of breakfast. But before I went anywhere near the building, I checked to make sure that none of the Marceaus were inside; which they weren't.

After a bagel and a coffee, I made my way back to school. On the way back to the dorm, I ran into Lillian; who asked if I would like her to introduce me to some of the other students that would be in some of my classes. "Alright." I replied, feigning interest. I wasn't really a people person.

So for the next few hours, I was dragged around the campus to meet at least one hundred different students. Thankfully Lillian noticed that I was getting extremely irritated and gave up on introductions so we could head back to our separate dormitories for dinner.

On the way back to mine, I saw Madeline Marceau out of the corner of my eye with her beau. It was obvious that they saw me, for they were both looking at me but neither of them had the adverse reaction of their adoptive brother. And for that I was glad. Before they had a chance to reconsider their hatred of me, I hurried along the path to my dormitory.

I practically ran up my stairs. I shut my door with a bit more force than necessary, but I doubted that anyone else was inside this early. When I looked out my window, I thought I saw something out by the gate in the wall to the woods.

I thought I saw Westin Marceau standing there looking at me.

But how could he be looking at me. He didn't know this was my room. And I didn't even know that it was him.

Before my brain could fully process the image, it was gone.

There was something definitely going on, and I wanted to get to the bottom of it. But what did it have to do with me?

We're back!

So, how did this new chapter turn out?

Was that Westin that she saw? What is going on at that school (even though we're sure you already know)? And what does it have to do with Anna?

And don't worry, Carlisle's coming sooner or later. A long with some action and Anna breaking some English pleasantries.

As always, reviews are cherished and always replied.

Sincerely,

C M + L W = idkaname