Chapter 2: A Gift
Classes end. Odette opens the door to her dorm and begins to look around. Her things are already there and sitting on top of a twin-sized bed, just for her. The larger bed, along with the rest of the furniture has been scooted over in the corner to make room for her and a new, smaller dresser has been slid in next to Sissi's.
Odette sighs. "She's not going to be happy about this," she thinks. She sets her things beside her bed and opens the smaller suitcase. In it are neatly folded, white, satin bed sheets. She folds these in half and spreads them out on her bed. She tucks the thin pillow into her lace-lined pillow case and fluffs it the best she can. The last thing she pulls out of the suitcase is a white quilt with hand-embroidered pink roses and a big stuffed bear with a silver bow and pink jacket.
Odette grins at the familiarity of her side of the room. Then her attention turns to the closet, no space left for her. She begins packing the drawers of the new dresser with her clothes. Then she decides to use the smaller suitcase for her jewelry and journal, before sliding it under her bed to hide it. She pulls a small box of chocolates from one of her bags and sits down on the side of her bed. Just then, the door opens.
In walks Elizabeth Delmas. Her hair is long and black, and her make-up has been neatly done. She wears a cute pink t-shirt with a yellow headband in her hair. Her eyes widen at the sight of her room and the silver-haired girl with the white, satin sheets on her bed. "Don't tell me my father gave you those bed sheets!" she said closing the door behind her.
Odette smirks at the thought. As if it was customary to receive bed sheets worth at least 5 grand from the principal on your first day. "I brought these from home, actually," Odette says holding out a chocolate in a gold wrapper. "Here, would you like one?"
Sissi takes the chocolate and examines it, then pops it into her mouth. The flavor is exquisite, better than any candy she had ever tasted before. Truly this girl must belong to a family of exceptional wealth. Sissi grins and tosses her book bag down next to her bed. She removes the headband and begins to brush her hair. She turns to her new roommate. "It looks like we're going to be good friends," She grins.
Odette nods and tucks the chocolates back into her suitcase. "You think so?"
"Oh, I know so," Sissi says, sitting down the brush and fixing the headband back into her hair. "Well, I'm off to the mall now! Would you like to come?"
Odette shakes her head dazed, "Thank you, but not today."
"Oh, you mustn't feel well. Well, maybe this Saturday," She says as she leaves the room.
Odette feels a pit in her stomach. She can already tell this girl will be trouble. She props her feet up and leans back on her pillow, putting on her headphones. The music takes her away, from this world, from the unfairness of everything, just like it always has. As she begins to daze out, she remembers the friendly faces that greeted her at lunch today, not leaving her to eat alone. She comes to and removes the headphones. "I believe I shall thank them for that," she says to herself, reaching into one of her suitcases and pulling out a silver box wrapped with a bow. She sighs "I hope the lunchroom is empty."
Odette enters the lunchroom and looks around. No students. However, there is still one lunch lady finishing up the cleaning. Odette sighs, "It figures," She heads over to the woman, who is up to her elbows in dirty dishwater. "I'll take care of that," Odette says. The lunch lady looks up, startled.
"Take care of what?" The woman says, shaken by the young lady before her.
"The dishes, I'll finish washing them. I need to use your stove."
The woman gawks at her stunned, "W-Well…" She stutters, "The stove is not for student use."
"I only need the stove for half an hour. I will never report you. No one will ever know you allowed me to use it."
"I- I cannot. I would be fired for sure."
Odette lowers her head annoyed, looking at the box in her hands. "Fine," She mutters under her breath, "If that's the way you want it." The woman is still staring at her in utter bewilderment. Odette slowly raises her head and stares straight into the woman's eyes. Nothing is said. After a moment, the woman removes her arms from the dishwater and walks out.
Odette stares at the box in her arms again. She shrugs, "It couldn't be helped." She walks over to the counter and pulls all of the ingredients from the box.