Chapter 2

"Thank you for helping us, Thomas," my mom said as she took one of my many totes from his arms.

"It's not a big deal, really. I'm just glad to help out," he replied back.

My mom shook her head, "No, really, let us treat you to dinner tonight."

This time, it was Thomas who shook his head. "No can do, Mrs. West. I promised my friend Chris that I'd go fishing with him this evening. And besides, I volunteered to help out. You don't have to treat me for that."

I took the tote from my mom's arms and set it beside my bare bed. I had avoided unpacking until my roommate, Courtney Stone, arrived, because I had promised her I would. Also, I didn't want to unpack alone.

I had gotten Courtney's number from the guidance councilor, Ms. Utz, here at Canterwood, so we could talk and get to know each other (and plan our room decor). The first night that I had texted her, we had just gotten to know each other, but pretty much every other time, we had discussed how we were going to decorate our room.

Once again, my Mom read my mind. "Do you know when Courtney is going to get here? Even though we want to be here as long as possible, we have to get back home to take Samantha to her volleyball tournament."

I shook my head. "I'll text her really quick though." I grabbed my new phone (I had saved up money from baby-sitting and other random jobs over the summer and eventually had enough to pay for it myself), which was in a really cute (and somewhat protective) case (which was just leopard print), put in my password and clicked on the message application.

I then clicked on mine and Courtney's recent conversation and typed:

Kyla: Hey, sorry to ask, but my mom's wondering when you're going to get here. My sister, who's back home has a volleyball tournament in three and a half hours.

Almost immediately, I got a response.

Courtney: It's not a big problem. I'm pulling in now, so I'll be in the room in about half an hour. I still have to drop Jewel off in her stall.

Kyla: Okay, thanks. See you in a bit.

I turned my phone off and threw it on my bare mattress, where it bounced for a bit, before settling down.

"She said she would be here in about half an hour. Courtney still has to drop her horse off at the stable," I told my mom.

"Okay," my mom replied. "Just as long as she's almost here."

Half an hour later I heard a knock at my door. I didn't know whether it was my dad with another tote, or Courtney.

I walked over to the tall, white door and came face to face with a big purple tote.

"Can you please take this?" the person behind the tote said, voice straining.

"Hello to you too, Courtney," I retorted. I took the tote from her and set it on her side of the room.

"Yeah, hi, Kyla," Courtney replied, and then smiled. "My parents are bringing down the rest of my things, so I can stay in here with you." Like me, Courtney also had a mini backpack, not Vera Bradley, but a nice, heather grey one, that I had seen somewhere before. Also, she had a cute faux leather cross-body purse with some fringe on the zipper.

"Yeah, my parents really packed me up," Courtney said, as she noticed me examining all of her bags.

I smiled before taking her backpack and setting it on her bed.

My dad and Thomas came through my open door, my last four totes in each of their arms.

"Here you go, Kyla." Thomas set my last pieces of luggage on top of my bed.

"Thanks, Thomas," I thanked him, really grateful for the help.

He gave me one last nod, before embracing me in a big hug. "We'll miss you at the stable, but everyone knows you'll do great here."

"Thanks, again, for everything," I murmured.

He let go before walking back to the door. "I have to go now and meet Chris down at the pier, but I'll see you over Thanksgiving Break."

"Okay," I called to him. "Bye!"

My parents thanked him again before he left down the hall to go back to his truck.

"He seemed nice," Courtney said once he left the room.

"He is," I said back to her. "That was Thomas, by the way. He's a stable hand and rider back at my old stable. He's also a family friend, so he helped me load and unload all of my stuff here. He also drove Shadow."

"That was nice," Courtney added.

A half hour later, my parents left and Courtney's parents had finished lugging all of her cargo to our room.

"Before we start unpacking, I have to say, that I love your whole outfit!" she exclaimed.

I smiled. I had worn my favorite tank top (at the moment anyway), which was red with a tribal print pocket on the front. Also, I was adorn with black leggings, and a light, grey sweater. On my wrist I had two bracelets: one was a plain black one with a gold bow, and the other was a gold arrow bracelet. On my feet were my brand new white converse, and in my hair was a small, black bow.

"Thanks," I replied. "Your's outfit isn't too shabby either!" I actually meant it too. Courtney was wearing a teal and white striped shirt with some plain medium washed skinny jeans, a black headband, and some teal VANS. Also, if i'm not mistaken, there were some cute, gold heart earrings in her ears.

"Thanks," she said before turning to look at her mess. "I think we should start cleaning this place up."

I nodded. "I think that's a good idea."

An hour passed, and all I had to do was put my clothes in my nice, roomy walk-in closet.

I opened one of four totes filled to the brim with clothes and started unloading my neatly folded shirts. On the top was one of my newer shirts from American Eagle, which was plain black with a grey eagle that had darker palm trees inside. I grabbed one of the hangers that were already beside me, and hung it up on one side of my closet. Next was a cute floral shirt from PacSun, which was followed by a plain white v-neck that I put under jackets.

After hanging a lot of clothes up in the closet, I went over to Courtney's side of the room to see how she was doing, herself.

Courtney had only just started her last tote, but it was filled with shoes, so it wouldn't take her as long.

Right on the top, I saw a cute pair of coral converse that I absolutely loved.

"I wear size seven and a half, if you want to borrow any shoes." What's up with people reading my mind? Am I that easy to read these days?

"Oh, thanks!" I exclaimed. "It's weird that we wear the same size shoe."

Courtney looked over at me and smiled. "Its like we were meant to share clothes!"

"It just might be."