Chapter 5

AN: I don't plan this stuff before I write it, I just sit down and let the magic happen.

My roomie hops off the top bunk and makes her way out of the room without even a glance in my direction, she's out of my line of sight before I can even think to try and talk to her. Not that I would at the moment, anyway. I think about ignoring the invitation to go eat so that I can go back to my sulking when I realize just how hungry I am. I haven't eaten since I got here and my belly is starting to make it's displeasure known by yelling at me. Stupid body, doesn't it know that I'm busy being upset and don't have time to feed it.

While I would like to be by myself at the moment, my stomach isn't giving me any choice in the matter. I finally decide that being around people and getting food is better than being by myself and going hungry. After rolling into a sitting position I slip on my cool new white sneakers. Nothing can cheers a girl up quite like new shoes even if the are just plain sneakers. The joy the shoes brings me is momentary and I feel the sadness sink back in. I let out an exasperated sigh before getting to my feet.

I poke my head out of the door and scan the hallway, no sign of her. Feeling relieved I head down the hall that, if I remember correctly, leads to the cafeteria. As I'm walking I check out the cells as I pass them. Most of them look pretty much exactly the same as mine except for a few personal items. I don't know why but that make me feel even sadder. As I get closer to the cafeteria, I start to feel a bit nervous, but I do my best to ignore that as I walk past the guards and enter the room. I feel like I just got past a pair of bouncer and am on my way into a fun club, but unfortunately that illusion is shattered as I'm faced with a room full of tough looking ladies.

After hopping in the line I grab a tray start looking for something to eat. I'm not a super picky eater, but the food here seems to range from somewhat edible to, I'm not sure I'm willing to put that in my mouth. I see some okay looking fruit and quickly grab an orange and then decide that the stuff that looks like an interesting variation of meatloaf is my best option. I was relieved to be done making that risky choice when I turned around an was faced with a new one. It's the first day of High school all over again, except this time the wrong move could kill more than just my social life.

After a quick scan of the room I spot my roommate at a table more to the left. As much as I want to go sit with her and try to make nice, I don't that's the best decision at the moment. I check my other options and decide on a table closer to the guards that has almost no people sitting at it. None of them look like the're itching to kill anyone at least. I plop down as far away from everyone else as I can and try to see how they react to my presence. After a few seconds of indifference, I decide that my life will not be in jeopardy if I sit here, so I settle in and start peeling my orange. I'm just about to finish and start eating it when someone sits directly next to me. Trying my best to not look like I about to pee my pants, I check her out.

I let out a huge sigh of relief when I see a girl about my age who looks pretty friendly. She's very beautiful with a little button nose sprinkled with freckles, blonde hair, and bright green eyes. After she gets settled in her seat she turns and greets me, "Hi, you must be new here. I'm Erin, What's your name?". She has the cutest southern accent I have ever heard and it takes me a few seconds to respond.

"My names Caterina, but you can call me cat," I stick out my hand to shake and she gladly takes it.

"Cat? Like the animal?" As she asks this, her head cocks to the side and she raises one eyebrow in a way that is undeniably cute.

"What's that supposed to mean?" slips out before I can stop it. I always think people are trying to insult me when they say that, but my mom told me that that's just how they familiarize themselves with my name. "Sorry, force of habit," I can feel my face heating up as I apologize.

"It's cool, I'm sure you get that a lot," She rubs the back of her neck shyly and give a rather crooked grin. I may or may not have melted a little at the cuteness of the gesture. "When did you arrive at our humble abode? I don't think I've ever seen you in these parts before. I'm sure I would have remembered that," there's that grin again. I'm happy that I finally found someone in this place that's nice, I hope we can be friends.

"I got here last night. It was late enough that I missed supper and ended up passing out once I reached my cell. So far the only other person I've met beside you is a guard and my grumpy roommate," I feel a slight frown pull at my lips as I'm reminded of the unfortunate situation I'm in with my roommate, but it's wiped away as she starts speaking in that cute accent.

Who are you roomin' with? There are lots of grumpy people in these parts, but some are worse than others. I hope your's isn't too bad. If you tell me who it is I can help you avoid getting on their bad side," Hmmm... I still haven't gotten my roommate's first name. What was it that the guard called her when getting us for breakfast? Westle? Wasp? it was something with a W. My eyes scan the room in an attempt to find her in hopes that she'll spark the memory, but instead they fall on a sign for the prison 'West Hollywood Jail'. That's It!

"West! I don't know her first name, but that's what the guard called her. Do you know her? Can you tell me what her first name is?" that all spilled out of my mouth so fast that I'm a little surprised when she seems to understand it, even if she is a little taken aback by my enthusiasm.

"Calm dawn little lady, I know her. You seem to have the misfortune of rooming with a miss Jade West. Trust me, you could have done a lot worse. She's like a bull and you just so happen to be a red object," as she says this she plays with a lock of my hair, "If you can just stay out of her line of sight and keep her calm you'll be just fine, but if you mess with the bull, you'll get the horns. She's pretty high on the social ladder, but she's not as likely to take advantage of ya, like the others would, unless she takes a real shinin' to ya," Jade West, what a pretty name. It fits her so perfectly that I'm half surprised I didn't just figure it out on my own. At least I don't think I'll have to worry about Jade 'Takin' advantage of me' since she seems to hate my guts.

"I don't think that'll be a problem. We didn't meet on the best terms and she seems to hold it against me, I don't think she'll be changing her mind anytime soon. Every time I attempt to make it better she just get more angry. I'm not sure what to do," The feeling of dread is coming back and the urge to just go back to my room and cry flares up. "I think I'm done eating. I'm going to head back, but it was really nice meeting you. Maybe we can sit together again at lunch," Her face lights up like I just told her that I've ended world hunger.

"I quite enjoyed meeting you too, cat, and I would love to sit with you again at lunch," She flashes that cute little crooked grin before waving me off. I wave back before I turn and head back to my room.

AN: Let me know what you guys think about the new character. I think she may play an important role in this story, but like I said, I don't plan this kind of stuff, I just write it down.