Chapter 38: Miranda's First Year

Miranda had her own room to herself. She did not have a roommate; mainly that was because nobody wanted to room with her. Word of her conviction spread quite fast; all criminal records were public records. Anyone could look them up.

Of course, that was a two-way street; Miranda was able to look up the records of all her peers. She quickly discovered how Lynn burned down the orphanage. She discovered everyone else's criminal past as soon as she discovered their name. The only person whose record was not showing was Amy's; perhaps it had been expunged as part of a plea bargain.

Miranda soon got used to her solitary life; one thing that she quickly realized was that she didn't have to worry about what anyone else thought of her. She kept a whiteboard outside her dorm room where she would write a sex tip of the day, mainly to humor herself. The first time, she wrote:

"SEX TIP OF THE DAY: ENJOY NOW, PEE LATER."

It was mainly to humor herself; she expected to remain a virgin for the rest of her life.

Nobody would sit with Miranda at the dining hall, either. Her sitting alone was quite the eyesore. She did, however, not let it get to her; she had not gone there to make friends. Even before she was incarcerated, she had avoided friends on purpose. She did not want to leave them depressed.

Halloween came and went; Miranda skipped the dance party.

Christmas came and went; Miranda received no presents, as her family more or less disowned her.

And then, in January, something finally happened.

January 19, 0001

January was the time of the annual ski trip. It was located at Green Mountain, located in the Kalm outskirts.

Nobody would sit with Miranda on the bus ride there, let alone ski with her. She was thus on her own. She had never skied before, and the resort did not offer lessons. So she found herself determined to learn on her own.

She tried the easiest slope first. She found the skiing very easy, as she learned to control her speed.

But soon, the easy slope got boring.

She decided to try a steeper slope; that did not turn out so well. Miranda had a fear of heights, and had quickly realized it was a bad idea. But nobody was allowed to ride the lift down; there was nowhere else she could go.

Cautiously, she started down the slope. She was soon going much faster than she had gone down the previous one, and she feared an injury.

Suddenly, the slope turned sharply, and it was too sharp for Miranda. She quickly fell on her right side.

She was not hurt, but lacked the will to get up.

So she sat there for an uncounted interval, wondering how she would finish the slope.

Just then, another skier went by, and pulled to a stop.

Her long, green hair easily gave her identity away.

"What's wrong?" Lynn taunted. "Did you fall on your ass?"

"I fell on my side," Miranda replied.

"Whatever, sicko," Lynn said as she turned around again. "You're not going to get any help from me."

With that, Lynn started skiing again, singing "Miranda fell on her ass" childishly all the way down.

A moment later, another skier went by, and, likewise, pulled to a stop.

"You okay?" he asked.

Miranda immediately recognized him. It was the red-haired inmate who she first saw on the bus; the one who had been staring into the seat in front of him.

"Not really," Miranda answered. "This slope was too much for a novice like me."

In response, the red-haired inmate made his way to the fallen Miranda and extended his hand.

"You're helping me?" she asked in surprise.

"Of course," he replied.

"Don't you know who I am?" Miranda reminded him.

"Well," he said, "you can't stay here."

Miranda smiled and grabbed his hand.

The red-haired inmate lifted her to her feet.

"Thanks," Miranda said. "I didn't think anyone would help me."

"I'm Riggs," he greeted.

"I'm Miranda," she greeted. "Miranda Kisaragi. Now's your chance to run."

"I can't run," Riggs said. "I have skis attached to my feet. And even if I could, why should I?"

"Don't you know what I did to get in here?" she asked.

"I know," Riggs answered. "But I think it was a misunderstanding. Poor judgment for sure, but a misunderstanding."

"I like your honesty," Miranda complimented.

Riggs led Miranda down the ski slope by showing her how to slowly zigzag.

"Thanks!" Miranda said with a smile when they reached the bottom.

"Don't mention it," Riggs said. "But I suggest we stick to the east slopes from now on."

"We?" asked Miranda.

Does he actually want to hang out with me? she thought.

"It was getting boring by myself," Riggs said.

"I'm Miranda Kisaragi," she reminded him.

"I know," he reminded her. "I spoke my piece. Now let's have fun."

Hours fell off the clock as the two new friends rode the lift, skied down, and repeated. The sky turned from blue to orange to black as the moon and stars came out.

Miranda and Riggs were sitting at the bottom of the slope, getting to know each other. Miranda had literally not talked to anyone in so long that she had nearly lost her social skills.

"Where are you from, anyway?" Riggs asked.

"Kalm," Miranda replied. "Though I'm sure you meant my ancestors. Wutai. You?"

"Junon," he replied. "My parents are still there. I miss them. I just hope they're okay. My worst nightmare is to walk out of here on my twenty-first birthday and realize I no longer have a family. I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

Both new friends were silent. Miranda did not feel the strength to mention her family had disowned her.

And then, Miranda started giggling.

"What?" asked Riggs. "What's so funny?"

"You've watched me fall on my butt all day," Miranda laughed. "And you're still here."

She then spoke what was on her mind.

"It's good to finally make a friend."

"I just wish everybody wasn't so uptight," sighed Riggs. "It's just a misunderstanding. I also know you saved that Easton girl from getting electrocuted."

"Maybe it's for the best," Miranda said. "I probably shouldn't get too close to anyone."

And then, suddenly, Miranda turned her head to the stars. She suddenly displayed the saddest look on her face.

Her lips began to quiver.

"What's wrong?" Riggs asked.

Miranda realized that he better know the truth early.

"I have a heart condition," she began as a tear rolled down her eye. "And they can't do anything for me."

"A heart condition?" Riggs inquired.

"A fatal one," Miranda replied as more tears came. "It started when I was ten. I was playing soccer and I collapsed on the field. It's been getting worse ever since, and it will until my heart gives out. I'm definitely going to die from it, no matter what happens."

Riggs was silent. It was news he had not expected.

"I was told I'd be lucky to live to be twelve," Miranda continued. "But, here I am. I've outlived my life expectancy by three years."

Riggs, still lost for words, placed his hand on Miranda's shoulder for support, which she gladly accepted.

"So," she continued, "please don't get too attached to me. I'll never leave Bolton. I'm not going to see my twenty-first birthday!"

Despite the warning, Miranda remained next to Riggs the entire bus ride home.

February 13, 0001

Miranda was having lunch alone in the cafeteria when a shadow suddenly covered her.

"I saw you with Riggs on the ski trip," a familiar voice observed.

Miranda looked up.

It was Lynn, standing over her with her arms folded.

"So are you two going out?" she asked, with a somewhat accusatory tone in her voice.

"What made you jump to that conclusion?" Miranda asked. "Is it because we've been hanging out together, coupled with the fact that he has a penis, and I have breasts and a vagina?"

"You didn't need to be that blunt," Lynn dismissed. "But yeah."

"Well," said Miranda, "I hate to disappoint you, but we're just friends. I'm not attracted to anyone."

"So you're asexual, then?" Lynn inquired.

"Maybe," Miranda answered. "I don't know. I've never dated anyone, so I never got a chance to feel those feelings."

"I'm surprised he wants anything to do with you," Lynn snorted.

"He knows what I'm in for," Miranda assured her. "And I know what he's in for."

October 3, 0001

To remind everyone they were strictly platonic, Miranda gave Riggs a white rose the next day (Valentine's Day), a symbol of friendship.

Miranda expected Riggs to tire of her after a week or two. Instead, they continued to hang out as winter became spring and spring became summer.

Miranda was also expecting to drop dead from her condition, but that did not happen, either.

Of course, there was gossip and speculation why anyone would want to hang out with Miranda after her notorious crime. Nobody bothered to ask Riggs, and it did not affect his social reputation at all.

And then, one day in October, Miranda's infamous deed became old news.

It happened when Miranda was sitting alone in her dorm as a knocking sound filled the room.

She answered the door.

Riggs was standing there, with an odd look of excitement on his face.

"Everything okay?" Miranda asked.

"You're never going to believe this!" Riggs exclaimed.

"What happened?!" she inquired.

"They caught the Lane cousins," he announced.

"The Lane cousins?!" she exclaimed skeptically.

"You know, those two cousins who were on the run from the law for being lovers?"

"I know who they are," Miranda clarified. "But they disappeared three years ago. I thought they must have changed their identity or gotten killed."

"Apparently not," Riggs said. "They're right outside."

MINUTES LATER….

The cousins were out in the courtyard, surrounded by a wild crowd.

Matt, one of the cousins, had blond spikey hair and blue eyes that seemed to glow. Julie, the other cousin, had raven hair and chestnut eyes.

Both were handcuffed.

"Where did they find them?" Miranda inquired.

"They turned themselves in," Riggs replied.

"That's weird," Miranda said. "I wonder where they're going to put them?"

LATER….

Julie Lane stared at the sign outside the already occupied dorm room.

It read: "SEX TIP OF THE DAY: IF IT DON'T FIT, YOU MUST QUIT."

Before Julie could knock, the door opened.

"Are you my new roomie?" Miranda asked with a smiled.

"I think so," Julie replied. "I'm Julie. Julie Lane."

"I'm Miranda," she greeted. "Miranda Kisaragi."

Julie gave an almost surprised look.

"Kisaragi?!"

"That's right," Miranda said. "Which means I'm from Wutai, not Xing.

"I know you won't like me," Julie continued. "I'm here for having an incestuous relationship with my cousin Matt, who's also here for the same reason."

Miranda shrugged.

"Whatever floats your boat," she said.

"You sure?" Julie asked.

"Trust me," Miranda insisted. "If you found out what I'm in here for, you'll never talk to me again."

Just then, Amy, dressed in her cheerleader uniform as she was on her way to a game, walked up to them and put her hand on her hip.

"Lane cousins, my peppy butt!" she shouted.

"Excuse me?" Julie inquired.

"You're a couple of frauds, and nothing more," Amy said. "The Lane cousins are dead for sure. You're just two pretenders. Julie is older than Matt. You look younger."

"I take care of myself," Julie insisted. "And why would we pretend to be incestuous cousins when it would put us here?"

"You're running or hiding something worse," Amy deduced.

Julie felt her stomach tighten.

"I think we've had enough," Miranda said as she quickly led Julie into the room and shut the door behind her.

"Thanks," Julie said.

"Don't mention it," Miranda said.

Julie smiled, but only briefly.

The suspicion was troubling.