I found the dorms without any trouble, after all, there was a big sign reading Girls above it. There was a silver unicorn on the front of the door. I went inside. It was, wait for it, a hallway with doors on either side. There was a nameplate on each door, and I wandered down it, until I found my name. The door opened with an ominous creaking noise, to reveal an insignificant interior.

Against one wall was a bed, made with crisp white sheets and a big navy comforter. In one corner there was a desk with a pile of neatly folded clothes on it, a shelf above the desk held two books. Between the two was a window. There was a red rug in the center of the stone floor. I dropped my stuff in the middle of the room, and explored the doors on the right wall. One was a closet filled with white shirts, and red skirts, the other was an empty bathroom.

I wandered absently back into the main room, and collapsed on the bed like a puppet with it's strings cut. For a minute I just laid there, contemplating my stony welcome. Unbidden, Lockwood's face flashed in my thoughts. Well, at least he had been nice.

Encouraged by the thought of a friendly face, I stood up abruptly, and moved to the desk. I picked up my new uniform, and unfolded it gingerly. It was a fancy looking uniform, if a little stiff. There was a navy blue blazer, with a silver unicorn pin on the left hand side. A crisp, white button up shirt that looked as if the collar had been made of stiff boards, instead of fabric. There was the red, and gray, pleated plaid skirt, with the matching tie. A pair of high navy socks, and some ankle high brown boots.

"Well," I said, "I'm going to have to wear this at some point anyway."

The clothes felt stiff, awkward, and uncomfortable on me. I looked in the mirror on the back of my door. At least they fit right. The problem was, I had no idea how to tie a tie. I was holding the tie in my hand, it had already attempted to strangle me once, and I wasn't letting it near my neck until someone showed me how to do it properly. I tossed the offender onto my bed, and bent down to lace up the boots. They were in good condition, no holes, no tattered laces, no cracked soles, yet in a way they felt more uncomfortable than my old shoes.

A bell rang, and I stood up hopefully, I was looking forward to dinner. The problem? I didn't know where the cafeteria was, and I didn't even know when dinner was. I poked my head out the door, and peered back and forth. The corridor was abandoned, which was to be expected considering that classes were in, or had just been in. I left the relative comfort of my room, and shut the door behind me.

Once I left the girls dormitories, I had to admit that I was lost. Really lost. I saw a few people hurrying in the opposite direction, I tried to ask the friendliest looking one where the cafeteria was, but they hurried past, barely glancing my way. Eventually, I decided to follow the next person I saw until they a) found the cafeteria, or b) told me to stop stalking them. I looked up, and down the hallway. As was my luck, it was deserted.

After about ten minutes, I heard a door open, and shut around the next corner. Hope surged up in me, and I began to jog. I skidded around the bend, and saw a retreating back. I dashed up and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, and appraised me with no small amount of disdain. He was small, shorter than I was, and almost delicate looking. His face was plain, the only notable part of him was his carrot red hair.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Is it time for dinner?" I asked, "If so, where is the cafeteria?" He scowled,

"You're the new student aren't you, shouldn't you know where it is?"

"How am I supposed to know where anything is when I haven't even been here before today?" I asked, irritated. I thought I saw the ghost of a smirk cross his features, then he was a cold as the rest of the school.

"Fine." He said, and swiveled around, "Follow me, but next time be prepared." He strode off, and didn't look back to see if I was following him.

Eventually he reached a set of double doors that he opened. I peered over him into the room. It was a big as the entrance hall, although this space was filled with long tables, and benches. Everywhere I looked there were people in crisp white shirts, and red plaid ties.

"Lucy!" I looked around startled, searching for the disembodied voice that had called my name. I found Lockwood in the center of the throng, waving a long-fingered hand. I felt slightly relieved, and weaved my way towards him. Before I was halfway there, he appeared at my side silently. He smiled, "You need to get your food first!" He said, "Follow me." He led me to a long line of people where, with his help, I managed to get a scoop of some porridge like substance, and a banana. He led me to a table where he sat down, and patted the empty seat next to him. I sat down, feeling endlessly grateful that someone as helpful as him existed.

"Finally, Lockwood." Said a boy sitting across from me. He was a slightly podgy person, just shorter than me, with a mop of curly blonde hair, and cloudy round glasses. As I watched, he took them off and polished them irritably on the edge of his blazer. "I've been waiting for ages. I finished looking into what you asked. Who's this?"

"I'm Lucy," I said, "are you George?" He perched his glasses back onto his nose.

"Really Lockwood? Another one?" He asked. "You know what happened last time." Lockwood waved a hand airily,

"That all turned out fine didn't it? Now, what do you think this is?" He asked, and stuck a spoon into the lumpy mound on his tray.

"What happened last time?" I asked, slightly curious, and slightly suspicious.

"Oh nothing serious." Lockwood said, and stuck the spoon in his mouth. He nodded appreciatively. "Not bad." and took another bite. His words encouraged me, and I tried it. I had eaten worse, but I had also eaten better, much better.

"Anyway, Lockwood, I looked into that tower room for you." If it was possible, Lockwood perked up more,

"What did you find?" George had already finished his slop, so he started on a plum.

"Some kid died up there, jumped out the window or something." He wiped his fingers on his shirt, leaving big red stains, "His name was Victor Chen, Chinese boy. Apparently he was missing two fingers."

"But that doesn't explain why we aren't allowed up there." Lockwood said, and stood up. "I'm going to get some water, want any, Lucy, George?"

"I'll have some." I said, George declined. Once Lockwood was gone I turned back to George. "What happened last time?" I asked.

"We got somebody expelled." He said nonchalantly, "Are you going to eat that banana?" I picked it up and peeled it,

"How'd they get expelled?" I asked,

"Oh, he might not've been careful enough when he was on the roof. Someone found him up there. It was Kipps I expect." I choked on my banana, and hacked for a moment.

"The roof?" I said, with a little disbelief once I recovered. "How do you even get up there?"

"Why? Thinking of going up there yourself?" He had hit the nail on the head,

"Maybe." George grinned.

"Don't even think about it, someone like you wouldn't last a minute up there." Now that ruffled my feathers.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" I hissed angrily. His blotchy face was looking really hit-able right now.

"Well," He said, "you couldn't even find your way to the cafeteria. Kipps had to help you." So his name was Kipps, the same Kipps who had found their last friend on the roof. Something about the way George spoke his name made me take immediate dislike to him.

"I'll get on the roof." I said recklessly, "Just tell me how to, and I'll do it." George's smile grew broader.

"Jolly good, we'll come with you!" I jumped, and whirled around. Lockwood had materialized seemingly from nowhere. He set a glass of water down in front of me, and took a sip out of another cup. I eyed him,

"I thought your friend got expelled for being up there." I said. He shrugged,

"Yes well, we never got to get up there did we?" He said, pointing first at George, then at himself. "And we still need to see what's in the tower room!"

"Okay fine." I said, "When should we go?"

"Tonight." Lockwood said without hesitation.

"I thought you said not to wander around after hours." I reminded him. He grinned, and held up a finger.

"I told you not to get caught after hours." He said. "And that was only a suggestion." I felt my lips tug up at the corners, I was liking these people more and more.

"Where should we meet?" I asked.

"I'll come get you." Lockwood said, "Then we'll meet George in the library, sound good?" George nodded in confirmation, and I grinned widely.

"Deal." I said, then the bell rang.

I finished my banana, and tossed the peel on my tray. Lockwood nudged me,

"Come on, I'll show you where we're allowed to go after classes are over, yes bring your tray." The three of us threw our trash away, and stacked the trays semi-neatly next to the lunch line. I followed Lockwood, and George as they showed me where the library, the common room, and the yard. It was pouring, so we didn't go outside. I wondered whether the rain would make it troublesome to get onto the roof, but the boys didn't seem bothered, so I put it out of my mind

"And this," George said grumpily, "Is why being careful pays off." He had just saved Lockwood from an impressive fall, by grabbing the back of his shirt. The rescuer was standing proudly over the rescued, who was massaging his neck.

"It's not my fault they decided to wash the floors today." Lockwood said, and stood up, now sporting a very red neck. "Anyway, it's nearly time for lights out. They patrol the halls for the first hour, and a half. I'll get you after that." He told me. "Here, I'll show you back." I followed him, and we abandoned George, who said he was going back to the library to grab a book he had forgotten. As much as I enjoyed having someone show me where everything was, I was getting annoyed at myself for not knowing where anything was. I was tired of having to follow Lockwood everywhere. "Don't worry, you'll get your bearings soon." Lockwood said, as if he had read my mind. "It's a big school, takes everyone a little while to get used to it."

"Do I need to bring anything for tonight?" I asked, no longer tentative.

"No." Lockwood said, "Just your courage, and wit." He said, and smiled at me. I found myself smiling back. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad here after all.

"I'll do my best." I said.

"That's all I ask, here we are." We had reached my dormitories, I was opening the door when the bell rang loudly. We both jumped. "I'll be seeing you soon!" Lockwood cried, and began running back the way we came. I waved, and went inside.

I didn't change out of my uniform, I had left most of my clothes at home, and didn't want to soil anything I had left. Instead I pulled out a sketchpad, and began doodling absentmindedly. I ended up with a rough drawing of the girl I had met in the yard, Flo Bones.

I laid on my bed, I unpacked my few belongings, I looked out the window at the setting sun, I began reading the books above my desk (Fittes Academy Handbook, and Fittes Academy: a History). I explored my closet, I tapped my fingers, and when my watch read nine thirty, I heard a knock on the door.

When I opened it I was unsurprised to see Lockwood, beaming down at me.

"Ready?" He whispered. I smirked back, and nodded firmly.

"Let's go."